Miami Pickleball Club vs Chicago Slice: The 2024 Challenger title will be decided on Sunday, and it’s a matchup between two teams with contrasting narratives. The Chicago Slice, a squad that’s been impressive all season, will face off against a fully loaded Miami Pickleball Club after both teams triumphed in their semifinal series at the USTA National Campus. It’s a clash of determination versus full strength—who will come out on top?
Chicago Overcomes Injuries to Reach Final
Chicago’s path to the final was anything but easy. Missing two of their key players—Brendon Long and Allison Harris—due to injury, the Slice showed the kind of resilience and depth that’s been their trademark all season. Wyatt Stone and Michelle Esquivel filled in admirably, helping Chicago to two consecutive wins over the Atlanta Bouncers, a team that was already fighting an uphill battle after losing Jaume Martinez Vich earlier in the series. With Jack Munro and Megan Fudge adding support, Chicago’s victory was a testament to the strength of their roster, even when not at full capacity.
Miami Ready for the Challenge
Miami’s path to the final was a little less dramatic but equally impressive. The Pickleball Club, featuring the likes of Noe Khlif, Eric Oncins, Milan Rane, and Bobbi Oshiro, comfortably dispatched the SoCal Hard Eights in their semifinal series, claiming a 2-1 victory. The first match of the series was a clean sweep for Miami, but SoCal responded with a thrilling DreamBreaker win. However, Miami’s composure and strength in the mixed doubles ultimately earned them a 3-1 victory in the final match. Now, with a healthy squad, they’ll face a Chicago team missing key pieces.
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News In Brief: Miami Pickleball Club vs Chicago Slice
Chicago and Miami faced off twice during the regular season, with Miami emerging victorious both times. With Chicago’s lineup weakened by injury, the final promises to be a fascinating contest. Miami enters as the favorite, but Chicago has already shown they can defy the odds. Sunday’s showdown at 10 am ET on the MLP YouTube channel is shaping up to be a can’t-miss event.