Is Kate Fahey the Most Improved Player of the 2024 MLP Season: The Premier Level Most Improved Player Award nominations for 2024 showed four exceptional players: Quang Duong (Texas Ranchers), Kate Fahey (St. Louis Shock), Augustus Ge (Dallas Flash), and Rachel Rohrabacher (D.C. Pickleball Team). While each brought unique strengths to the court, the debate largely boiled down to Kate Fahey versus Quang Duong, with the other nominees leaving less compelling cases for the title.
Evaluating Augustus Ge and Rachel Rohrabacher
Augustus “Augie” Ge, drafted 38th overall, had an impressive season, finishing 13th in match win percentage. However, his performance didn’t exhibit the transformative growth expected for this award. Already a strong player at the start, Ge’s improvement was little rather than groundbreaking.
Rachel Rohrabacher’s nomination raised some eyebrows. Selected 14th overall and the fourth woman drafted, Rohrabacher came into the season as an established talent. She dominated for the D.C. Pickleball Team, winning 70% of her matches and showing unmatched consistency. While deserving of MVP consideration, Rohrabacher’s steady brilliance left little room for a “Most Improved” narrative.
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The Case for Kate Fahey
Kate Fahey, drafted 42nd overall by the St. Louis Shock, entered the Premier Level as a relatively unknown player. Early struggles in mixed doubles with partner Gabe Tardio highlighted her need for growth—she often backed off the kitchen line in firefights, and her consistency was lacking.
Fast forward to the latter part of the season, and Fahey’s transformation was undeniable. She dominated singles on the PPA Tour, formed a formidable women’s doubles partnership with Anna Bright (ranking second in game win percentage), and posted an impressive 60.71% win percentage in Dreambreaker points, ranking fifth overall.
Perhaps the most striking indicator of her improvement was in mixed doubles. At the start of 2024, Fahey and Tardio managed a dismal 11.11% win percentage in their first four events, the worst of all mixed doubles duos. By MLP Las Vegas, they turned their fortunes around, achieving a 60% win percentage, with wins over teams that included Quang Duong and Tina Pisnik.
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Why Not Quang Duong?
While Quang Duong had an outstanding season, his growth trajectory was less dramatic. Starting the season strong and maintaining consistency, he showed elite skills but lacked the substantial leap required to earn the “Most Improved” label.
Duong’s work ethic and potential to become a top-ten player across all three disciplines by 2025 are undeniable, but his 2024 performance didn’t display the same level of progression as Fahey’s.
Kate Fahey’s rise, marked by tangible improvements across multiple disciplines and her emergence as a complete player, solidifies her claim to the Premier Level Most Improved Player Award for 2024. Her evolution from a raw talent to a dominant force on the PPA Tour shows what this award is all about.
News in Brief: Is Kate Fahey the Most Improved Player of the 2024 MLP Season
The Premier Level Most Improved Player Award narrowed to two names: Kate Fahey and Quang Duong. Fahey’s rise from an unknown talent to a PPA Tour powerhouse outshone Duong’s steady, consistent season. Drafted 42nd, Fahey turned early struggles into success, dominating singles and mixed doubles by season’s end.
In contrast, Duong’s strong start plateaued, showing skill but less dramatic improvement. Fahey’s achievements, including a Dreambreaker win percentage of 60.71%, earned her the title.
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