MLP Kansas City: Major League Pickleball (MLP) is set to make its debut in Kansas with an exciting new event at Elite Tennis and Wellness in Overland Park. Scheduled from August 3-5, this tournament marks MLP’s first venture into the state, adding intensity to the league’s 2024 season. Fans can look forward to witnessing top professional co-ed pickleball teams compete in what promises to be a thrilling showcase of skill and strategy.
A Landmark Event for MLP
The MLP Kansas City event is the league’s fourth regular season tournament of the year and serves as a crucial juncture in the race for the playoffs. Over three days, 15 of MLP’s 22 teams will compete in 29 matches. The competition is fierce as each team competes for vital standings points and a coveted spot in the season-ending MLP Playoffs set to take place in November.
The tournament is a key part of MLP’s expansion strategy, following its previous successful events and leading up to the highly anticipated Selkirk Kansas City Open from August 7-11. This back-to-back pickleball action highlights the growing popularity and competitive nature of the sport.
Premier and Challenger Teams Battle It Out
The event will feature ten Premier Level teams and five Challenger Level teams, each bringing their best to the courts:
Premier Level Pickleball Teams
- Arizona Drive
- Carolina Pickleball Club
- Columbus Sliders
- Dallas Flash
- D.C. Pickleball Team
- LA Mad Drops
- NY Hustlers
- Orlando Squeeze
- St. Louis Shock
- Texas Ranchers
- Utah Black Diamonds
Challenger-Level Pickleball Teams
Among the standout teams is the St. Louis Shock, a regional favorite, featuring top players such as Anna Bright, Kate Fahey, Hayden Patriquin, and Gabe Tardio. Their performance will be closely watched as they aim to leverage home advantage and secure a strong position for the playoffs.
Detailed Match Schedule
The schedule for MLP Kansas City is packed with high-stakes matches. Here’s a breakdown of the key matchups:
| Sat, Aug 3 | Championship Court | Sat, Aug 3 |
Grandstand Court
|
| 9 a.m. CT | Bay Area Breakers v California Black Bears | 9:30 a.m. |
Dallas Flash v DC Pickleball Team
|
| N/B 11 a.m. | NY Hustlers v Utah Black Diamonds | Followed By |
Texas Ranchers v AZ Drive
|
| 1 p.m. | St. Louis Shock v Dallas Flash | N/B 1:30 p.m. |
Atlanta Bouncers v California Black Bears
|
| Followed By | LA Mad Drops v Utah Black Diamonds | Followed By |
Bay Area Breakers v SoCal Hard Eights
|
| Followed By | Columbus Sliders v St. Louis Shock | – | – |
| Sun, Aug 4 | Championship Court | Sun, Aug 4 |
Grandstand Court
|
| 9 a.m. | Orlando Squeeze v Dallas Flash | 9:30 a.m. |
Bay Area Breakers v Atlanta Bouncers
|
| N/B 11 a.m. | St. Louis Shock v LA Mad Drops | Followed By |
California Black Bears v Chicago Slice
|
| 1 p.m. | Texas Ranchers v Columbus Sliders | N/B 1:30 p.m. |
Atlanta Bouncers v SoCal Hard Eights
|
| Followed By | AZ Drive v NY Hustlers | Followed By |
Utah Black Diamonds v St. Louis Shock
|
| Followed By | LA Mad Drops v Orlando Squeeze | Followed By |
SoCal Hard Eights v Chicago Slice
|
| Mon, Aug 5 | Championship Court | Mon, Aug 5 |
Grandstand Court
|
| 10 a.m. | DC Pickleball Team v AZ Drive | 10:30 a.m. |
Chicago Slice v Bay Area Breakers
|
| 12 p.m. | Dallas Flash v Columbus Sliders | Followed By |
California Black Bears v SoCal Hard Eights
|
| Followed By | DC Pickleball Team v Texas Ranchers | N/B 2:30 p.m. |
Atlanta Bouncers v Chicago Slice
|
| Followed By | NY Hustlers v Orlando Squeeze | – | – |
Viewing Options for Fans
Fans eager to catch the action have multiple options to follow the tournament:
- Pickleball TV: Championship Court matches on Saturday and Sunday, starting with the second match of the day, and all Monday matches.
- MLP YouTube Channel: Coverage of Grandstand Court matches and the first Championship Court match of the day on Saturday and Sunday.
- Linear TV Coverage:
- Saturday: FS1 will broadcast from 1-3 p.m. local CT (2-4 p.m. ET)
- Sunday: FS1 will air from 1-3 p.m. local CT (2-4 p.m. ET)
- Monday: Tennis Channel will cover from noon to 4 p.m. local CT (1-5 p.m. ET), with FS2 providing tape-delayed coverage from 7-9 p.m. local CT (8-10 p.m. ET) of one of Sunday’s matches.
News in Brief: MLP Kansas City
Major League Pickleball (MLP) debuts in Kansas with its exciting Kansas City event at Elite Tennis and Wellness from August 3-5. This marks MLP’s first venture into the state and features 15 of the league’s 22 teams in a crucial pre-playoff competition. The tournament, part of MLP’s expansion, includes ten Premier and five Challenger Level teams, with standout competitors like the St. Louis Shock.
Key matches include:
- August 3: Bay Area Breakers vs. California Black Bears at 9 a.m. CT
- August 4: Orlando Squeeze vs. Dallas Flash at 9 a.m. CT
- August 5: D.C. Pickleball Team vs. AZ Drive at 10 a.m. CT
Fans can watch on Pickleball TV, MLP YouTube, FS1, and Tennis Channel.
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