Top 3 overall storylines in Salt Lake City:

• After a strong showing in Dallas, will the New Jersey 5s earn the 4 points needed to secure the #3 seed in the playoffs? 

• How will the hometown, all-Utah, Black Diamonds perform with the late season addition of Etta Tuionetoa?

• Which team will grab the final playoff spot? Miami currently has it. Chicago and Atlanta have a chance to overtake them.  

Storylines per Premier team participating in Salt Lake City:

Atlanta Bouncers (4 wins, 16 losses, 14 standings points, 13^th place in points/match): They will need to pull off 2-3 upsets against the likes of Orlando, Texas, Utah, or New Jersey or they will be watching the playoffs on the Pickleballtv app.   

Chicago Slice (5-15, 18 points, 11^th place): So much potential in a team that has under-achieved. BUT the playoffs are within reach if they play well in Utah – their July 31^st match vs. Miami is a must win in their hopes to grab the 10^th and final playoff position.  

Miami Pickleball Club (7-13, 19 points, 10^th place): With its top 2 players traded out (Noe Khlif to New Jersey and Millie Rane to Orlando), can they hold on to the final playoff spot? Could a win in their last match vs. the hometown Black Diamonds be what it takes to qualify?

New Jersey 5s (17-4, 53 points, 3^rd place) – Noe Khlif was indoctrinated into Clown Town and the team played very well around him in his debut. Meghan Dizon was terrific in Dallas. Will Mari Humberg (or Zane Navratil if playoff positioning is secured) get into the lineup in Utah?

Orlando Squeeze (12-8, 34 points, 8^th place): Samantha Parker was traded out and Millie Rane was added as the Squeeze look to have a strong end to their season and get ready for the playoffs. Rane makes her Squeeze debut in Utah – will she find chemistry quickly with her Orlando partners? 

Texas Ranchers (11-9, 36 points, 7^th place): Will the Texas Ranchers have a huge week in Utah and grab the 14 standings points needed to overtake the LA Mad Drops for the 6^th seed? The top 6 seeds earn a bye out of the play-in round of the playoffs. 

Utah Black Diamonds (8-12, 23 points, 9^th place): This team will be a very tough out in the playoffs with the addition of former MLP Champion (and Utah resident) Etta Tuionetoa to the roster. Will they have a strong showing in their backyard to propel them into the playoffs?

9 Premier teams not playing in Salt Lake City (and their regular season is complete):

The St. Louis Shock are the regular season champion and #1 seed heading into the playoffs. 

The defending champs, the Dallas Flash, are the 2 seed. 

Locked into the playoffs: Brooklyn Pickleball Team, Columbus Sliders, and LA Mad Drops

Out of the playoffs: Phoenix Flames, Carolina Hogs, SoCal Hard 8s, NY Hustlers

All 6 Challenger teams will be competing – top 2 storylines:

• Will all 4 players of the #1 team, the Las Vegas Night Owls, maintain their position at the top of the individual player rankings?

• Will the Nashville Chefs lock down the #2 seed and first round bye in the playoffs?

NOTE: All 6 Challenger teams make the playoffs. Seeds 1 and 2 get a first-round bye, with seeds 3-6 playing a single elimination match to advance to the semi-finals. 

Marquee matchups: 

• Thursday, July 31st @ 5:30pm Mountain: Utah Black Diamonds vs. Texas Ranchers: Will the new look, all-Utah, Black Diamonds ride the wave of the home crown to a win in their 1^st match in this event? 

• Sunday, August 3rd @ 4:30pm Mountain: Orlando Squeeze vs. New Jersey 5s: Could this be a playoff preview in the last regular season match of the 2025 MLP regular season?

Location/times:

• The Picklr: 559 Deseret Dr Kaysville, UT 84037 (indoor event).

• Play on Championship Court starts at noon Mountain on Thursday and Friday, and 11am Saturday and Sunday. 

• Catch the action on Pickleballtv.