The 2025 Major League Pickleball (MLP) playoffs kicked off in San Diego with a mix of expected outcomes and surprising upsets, most notably Columbus Slider Andrei Daescu leading his team to a stunning victory over the defending champions, Dallas Flash. The playoffs featured strategic team selections, such as Dallas choosing to face Columbus instead of a lower-ranked opponent, a decision that backfired dramatically. Key players like Ben Johns dominated the weekend with exceptional performances, while Brooklyn’s Dekel Bar returned from injury but struggled. The Premier League semifinals will feature St. Louis, New Jersey, Columbus, and LA Mad Drops, setting up highly anticipated matchups for the finals in New York City.
In the Challenger League, top teams Las Vegas and Nashville advanced to the finals after solid performances, with Las Vegas’s James Delgado and Nashville’s Genie Erokhina standing out. The playoffs also saw roster changes, including Brooklyn’s Dekel Bar returning and Bay Area Breakers reinstating Jonathan Truong. Fan-voted season awards were announced, highlighting Jorja Johnson as MVP and Kate Fahey as Most Improved Player in the Premier League. The weekend underscored the unpredictability and competitive intensity of MLP, with Dallas’s missteps and Columbus’s energized play as key storylines heading into the championship weekend.
