Ten regular season events, 200 regular season matches, one Mid-Season Tournament, a playoff play in round, and quarterfinal playoff matchups have all led us to this weekend - The Doordash MLP Finals in New York City.

Four teams in the Premier Level have made their way to the Big Apple, but only one will walk away the 2025 Major League Pickleball (MLP) champion.

Wollman Rink in Central Park will be hosting the event. What better way to cap off the 2025 MLP season than in the iconic venue of Central Park in New York City?

Let’s get into the action.

Who is involved?

There are four Premier Level teams in the MLP Finals:

#1 Seed - St. Louis Shock
#3 Seed - New Jersey 5s
#5 Seed - Columbus Sliders
#6 Seed - LA Mad Drops

In the Challenger Level, the two finalists are the #1 Las Vegas Night Owls and #2 Nashville Chefs

Schedule of Events and How to Watch the MLP Finals

Friday, Aug. 22 - Matches Begin at 11:30 a.m.

11:30 a.m.: Premier Semis - Series 1, Match 1 (COL vs. STL) on MSG Networks & Pickleballtv
1:30 p.m.: Premier Semis - Series 2, Match 1 (LA vs. NJ) on MSG Networks & PBTV
3:15 p.m.: Premier Semis - Series 1, Match 2 (COL vs. STL) on MSG Networks & PBTV
5 p.m.: Premier Semis - Series 2, Match 2 (LA vs. NJ) on CBS Sports Network
7 p.m.: MLP / HSS pro-am with former New York sports legends (David Tyree and John Wallace) and MLP players

Saturday, Aug. 23 - Matches Begin As Early at 9:45 a.m.

9:45 a.m. (if nec): ONLY if BOTH Premier Semifinal series need a Match 3: (COL vs. STL) on PBTV
Noon: TBD Match - Premier Semifinals Match 3 or Premier Finals Match 1 on CBS (national broadcast)
2 p.m.: Challenger Finals - Match 1 (No. 2 Nashville Chefs vs. No. 1 Las Vegas Night Owls) on CBS Sports Network
4 p.m. (if nec): ONLY if ONE OR BOTH Premier Semifinals need a Match 3: Premier Finals - Match 1 (teams TBD) on PBTV

Sunday, Aug. 24 - Matches Begin at 11 a.m.

11 a.m.: Challenger Finals - Match 2 on CBS Sports Network
1 p.m.: Premier Finals - Match 2 on Tennis Channel & PBTV
3 p.m.: TBD Match, as long as EITHER Premier or Challenger Finals needs a Match 3, on Tennis Channel & PBTV
5 p.m.: ONLY if BOTH Premier & Challenger Finals need a Match 3: Premier Finals - Match 3 (teams TBD) on PBTV

Weather Outlook

Mother Nature seems to be cooperating with the MLP schedule for the finals. There is a very low chance of rain throughout the three-day event. The humidity level is in the 70%-80% range, and with the temperatures in the 80s as well, it’s going to be a bit muggy.

The ball will be playing a bit slower than it did last weekend in San Diego, so players are going to have to adjust.

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How it Works

Each matchup is the best two out of three match series. There will be a total of four series played this weekend:

Premier Level Semifinal #1
Premier Level Semifinal #2
Challenger Level Finals
Premier Level Finals

As you could see in the schedule of events, there are a lot of “if necessary” third matches, so the schedule is a little in flux, depending on how quickly these series are won.

A match consists of up to five games: Women’s Doubles, Men’s Doubles, Mixed Doubles #1, Mixed Doubles #2, and a Dreambreaker, if it is all tied after the four doubles matches.

For more on the MLP rules, click here.

Preview of the Matchups

Semifinal #1 - Columbus Sliders vs. St. Louis Shock

Sliders Starters: Parris Todd, Lea Jansen, Andrei Daescu, and CJ Klinger

Sliders Subs: Marcela Hones and Ross Whittaker

Sliders Regular Season Record: 18-7, 52 points

How they got here: The Sliders pulled off the upset of the year, beating the #2 overall seed in the first round of the playoffs in an epic Dreambreaker in match #3 of the quarterfinals. For more on that, check out our recap of the first round of the playoffs:

Shock Starters: Anna Bright, Kate Fahey, Hayden Patriquin and Gabe Tardio

Shock Subs: Judit Castillo and Erik Lange

Shock Regular Season Record: 24-1, 74 points

How they got here: As the #1 overall seed, the Shock chose to play the Orlando Squeeze in the quarterfinals of the playoffs in San Diego. They beat the Squeeze in two matches, quite convincingly.

Matchup History

The Shock are 2-0 against the Sliders this year. However, the first one was in MLP Columbus, where CJ Klinger was sick, so I don’t put much weight into that one. In MLP St. Louis, just over a month ago, St. Louis beat Columbus 3-1, in a much closer match where both teams were at full strength.

Semifinal #2 - LA Mad Drops vs. New Jersey 5s

Mad Drops Starters: Catherine Parenteau, Jade Kawamoto, Ben Johns, and Hunter Johnson

Mad Drops Subs: Mehvish Safdar and Wes Burrows

Mad Drops Regular Season Record: 18-7, 49 points

How they got here: The Mad Drops made a last minute trade at the deadline to acquire Ben Johns, immediately making them title contenders. They beat the Brooklyn Pickleball Team in two fairly easy matches in the quarters to earn their spot in the semifinals.

5s Starters: Anna Leigh Waters, Meghan Dizon, Will Howells, and Noe Khlif

5s Subs: Mari Humberg and Zane Navratil

5s Regular Season Record: 20-5, 62 points

How they got here: The 5s chose to play the Texas Ranchers in the quarterfinals, after Dallas chose Columbus. The 5s won the first match handily, and then won the second match in a Dreambreaker, to earn their spot in New York.

Matchup History

The 5s are 2-0 against the Mad Drops this season. Similar to the Shock/Sliders matchup, I don't take much stock in the first match win by the 5s. It was all the way back in MLP Orlando in April, and the Mad Drops were playing with Quang Duong (no longer on the team) and AJ Koller (injury sub for Hunter Johnson). In their second matchup in MLP Dallas, less than a month ago, the 5s barely eked out a win, 22-20, in a DreamBreaker.

Challenger Level Final - Nashville Chefs vs. Las Vegas Night Owls

Chefs Starters: Ewa Radzikowska, Genie Erokhina, Marshall Brown, and Anderson Scarpa

Chefs Regular Season Record: 14-11, 51 points

How they got here: The Chefs placed Michelle Esquivel on IR right before the trade deadline and were able to trade for Genie Erokhina. In the semis in San Diego, the Chefs beat the California Black Bears in two straight matches, going 6-1 in those games.

Night Owls Starters: Brooke Buckner, Chao Yi “Zoey” Wang, Pablo Tellez, and James Delgado

Night Owls Regular Season Record: 17-8, 65 points

How they got here: The Night Owls were the best team in Challenger Level from start to finish. As the best team, they got to choose the Bay Area Breakers in the semis, and beat them easily in two matches. They also went 6-1 in their games against Bay Area.

Matchup History

The Chefs and Night Owls have played each other six times this year, with the Night Owls owning the series, 5-1. The Night Owls have beat the Chefs three times in a Dreambreaker, and twice in regulation. The Chefs only win came in a DreamBreaker.