MLP Kansas City Preview: As Major League Pickleball (MLP) moves to Kansas City this weekend, ten of the twelve teams will be in action, while New Jersey and Carolina sit out. New Jersey, having found their stride, might wish they were playing, whereas Carolina is likely relieved to have the time to work on team chemistry. The action kicks off on Saturday and runs through Monday, with pivotal matches that could reshape the playoff landscape.
Saturday’s Doubleheader: Dallas Faces DC and St. Louis
Saturday features Dallas in two significant matches. Dallas, currently in first place, opens the day against DC, a team clinging to the sixth and final playoff spot. With the recent addition of Vivian Glozman, DC has strengthened its roster, making this match a tough battle as both teams field strong doubles pairs. Following a short break, Dallas faces off against St. Louis, the third-ranked team. These matches are critical for Dallas to solidify its position and secure one of the two playoff byes. However, any misstep could threaten their lead.
New York, led by Jack Sock, returns to action after sitting out MLP Salt Lake City. They are set to play against last-place Utah. As one of the seven teams competing for six playoff spots, New York needs to capitalize on every match to improve their standing.
Texas, currently second in total points, takes on Arizona. Arizona, sitting in ninth, is out of the playoff picture but desperately needs a win to revive their chances.
Sunday: Orlando Against Dallas and LA
Sunday’s action begins with Dallas taking on a struggling Orlando team. Despite having the most expensive roster in terms of auction dollars, Orlando has underperformed and sits in 11th place. Their slim playoff hopes depend on a strong performance in Kansas City, given their fewer matches played compared to other teams.
Orlando follows up with a match against LA, which will be missing top player Thomas Wilson. Blaine Hovenier, the MVP of MLP Salt Lake City, will need to continue his stellar play to keep LA in the hunt.
Monday: DC’s Crucial Matches Against Arizona and Texas
Monday features only four matches, starting with DC against Arizona. Although Arizona is low in the standings, they have the talent to challenge DC. For DC, a win is crucial to enhance their playoff prospects. Arizona, on the other hand, will be fighting to string together victories to stay in the playoff race.
Later, DC faces a tough match against Texas. With three matches in Kansas City, Texas aims to secure the maximum nine team points to remain in competition for a playoff bye.
The Playoff Race Heats Up
Kansas City marks the fourth of eight MLP events that count toward the playoff standings. While this represents the midpoint of the season, many teams will have completed more than half of their 23 matches. After Kansas City, top teams like Dallas, Texas, and St. Louis will each have played 18 matches. Among the playoff contenders, New York will have played 13 matches, LA and DC 12, and New Jersey only 9. This disparity means that when a team is in action, securing points is imperative, as relying on other teams’ losses is not a viable strategy.
Teams such as Arizona and Orlando, currently far from playoff position, need to achieve significant point totals—around nine points this weekend—to stay within reach of the playoffs. Otherwise, they risk falling too far behind with too few matches left to make a comeback.
News in Brief: MLP Kansas City Preview
As Major League Pickleball (MLP) heads to Kansas City, ten of twelve teams will compete while New Jersey and Carolina sit out. Key matches start Saturday with first-place Dallas facing DC, a team in sixth place, and later, third-ranked St. Louis. New York, led by Jack Sock, plays last-place Utah, needing wins for playoff position. Texas, second in points, battles ninth-place Arizona.
Sunday’s action includes Dallas versus struggling Orlando and LA, missing top player Thomas Wilson, against Orlando. Monday features DC’s critical matches against Arizona and Texas. Kansas City marks the midpoint of the season, crucial for teams like Arizona and Orlando to earn vital points and stay in the playoff race.
Also Read: Thompson Pickleball Launches Truefeel Sidewall Paddle: A Game-Changer
