Preview: MLP Playoffs, Round 1

Round 1 (Quarterfinals) start tomorrow

The 2024 season is culminating in the first round of playoffs tomorrow in Dallas at the Brookhaven Country Club, which is also serving as home to PPA’s World Championships that kicks off at the conclusion of MLP.

As a refresher, here’s how the playoff rounds work:

Top 2 seeds in each league (NJ 5s and St. Louis Shock in Premier; Chicago Slice and SoCal Hard Eights in Challenger) secured a bye, and play in round 2, Nov 22-24 in Orlando. The top two in Challenger also secured their placement in the top 4 overall, meaning they guaranteed promoted to the Premier league in 2025. The two winning Challenger teams out of Dallas will also be promoted, so much is at stake in that league this weekend.

No. 3 seeds in each league were able to select their opponent for Round 1: Dallas Flash selected #6 NY Hustlers, and Miami PBC selected #6 Frisco Pandas. (No. 3 seeds also get the privilege of making all coin toss decisions on the first 2 matches: first serve, side of court, order of gender doubles, and they get to respond to the lineups in mixed doubles and any possible Dreambreaker. If the match goes to a 3rd game, a regular coin toss scenario will used. It’s not confusing at all, guys.) #4 and #5 teams in each league will also square off: DC vs. Ranchers, and Bouncers vs. Night Owls.

In all playoff rounds, matchups will be played best of 3 (they will play a full round of 3-4 games in a match, up to 3 times). If a team wins the first 2 matches, they will not play the 3rd. There’s also money on the line, with $80,000 to the ultimate winning team in Premier, and $30,000 to the winning Challenger team (teams get to decide whether to keep or distribute to their players).

Storylines We’re Watching

• Miami needs some magic: After going 2-3 on their home turf last weekend, they need to step it up to secure a promotion to Premier. Going up against the Pandas shouldn’t be too hard, but look out for Ewa Radzikowska, who is went 8-2 in NYC and 7-1 in Miami.

• Once a Bear, always a Bear: Former Cali Black Bears players Susannah Barr (Bouncers) and Rafa Hewett (Night Owls) will go head-to-head. On the season, Night Owls have had 11 Dreambreakers, winning 9. The Bouncers, on the other hand, have gone to 13 Dreambreakers, only winning 5. The Bouncers need to win in regulation for their best shot at emerging from this bracket.

• Dallas at home: The Flash Mob are expected show up strong, which we hope lights a fire under the normally subdued roster. If the crowd and Jorja can hype up their team, they could be unstoppable. The Hustlers have suffered from inconsistent performances all year. Jack and Lea will need to be focused and playing their best if they have any chance against the Flash. MLP must be expecting a lot from this match, as it’ll be exclusively on ESPN2 Sunday afternoon.

• DC vs Ranchers: We think this will be the best matchup of the weekend; expect it to go to 3 matches. The Ranchers will be back at full strength with Christian Alshon’s return, QD and his new 007 Selkirk, and Etta Wright recovered after withdrawing mid-match in Vegas. DC will undoubtedly be anchored by Rachel Rohrabacher, who had a stunning 10-2 performance in Miami. The question is, can James handle the pressure, or will he crumble as he has most of this season?

Premiering Nov 1 @ 10 a.m. MT (12 p.m. ET)