Team USA came, saw, and conquered. But the inaugural Major League Pickleball Nations Cup may have delivered something even more important than a champion.
Eight teams representing different regions of the world gathered at Brookhaven Country Club in Farmers Branch, Texas, for three days of international competition. The event featured plenty of national pride, new faces, and an enthusiastic atmosphere as players competed under the MLP format.
When the dust settled, Team USA stood atop the podium after an undefeated run, capped by a 3-0 sweep of Latin America in Sunday's championship.
Here are the biggest takeaways from the inaugural Nations Cup.
Top Storylines
1. Team USA Dominates, Ben Johns Shines
Let's be honest: Team USA was supposed to win this tournament.
With Ben Johns, CJ Klinger, Will Howells, Anna Bright, Tyra Black, and Kate Fahey on the roster, the Americans had a significant advantage in both star power and depth.
And they delivered.
Team USA finished a perfect 5-0, winning 14 of its 18 individual doubles games. Four of its five victories came without needing a DreamBreaker, including a convincing championship performance against Latin America.
Johns was particularly impressive, helping anchor the men's doubles and mixed doubles lineups. In the final, he partnered with Klinger for an 11-1 demolition of Eric Oncins and Nico Acevedo before teaming with Bright to clinch the title.
While the Americans were clearly the tournament's most talented team, the rest of the world showed it could compete with the best.
2. International Players Get Their MLP Moment
Perhaps the most important aspect of the Nations Cup was the opportunity it provided to international players who have never experienced Major League Pickleball.
For many players, this was their first chance to compete in the league's unique team format, complete with on-court coaching, teammates cheering from the sidelines, and the pressure of representing something bigger than themselves.
Players from countries including Vietnam, Malaysia, the Philippines, China, India, and several European nations had the opportunity to showcase their abilities alongside established professionals.
Team Asia Domestic was arguably the tournament's biggest surprise, finishing 2-1 in pool play and taking Team USA to a DreamBreaker before ultimately falling 21-18.
The international talent gap remains significant, but events like this provide meaningful exposure and experience to players hoping to close it.
3. The Players and Fans Embrace International Competition
If there was one thing the Nations Cup demonstrated, it's that national pride and the MLP format make an entertaining combination.
Players celebrated victories with their teammates, fans enthusiastically supported their regions, and the competition appeared to generate a level of excitement that went beyond the results.
Even Team USA's established stars seemed to appreciate the opportunity to represent their country.
Anna Bright described the experience as more enjoyable than she had anticipated, highlighting the crowd's USA chants and the opportunity to compete for something beyond individual accomplishments.
She also expressed hope that the tournament would continue in future years.
That sentiment seems worth taking seriously. Pickleball's international growth is frequently discussed, but the Nations Cup provided a tangible opportunity to celebrate it.
4. Let's Hope the Nations Cup Becomes an Annual Tradition
The inaugural event wasn't perfect, and the competitive imbalance between some teams was evident.
But that's hardly surprising for a sport still developing internationally.
As professional pickleball expands into new countries, the depth of international talent should improve. Future editions could feature stronger regional teams, more competitive matches, and perhaps additional countries or regions.
There is also something refreshing about watching players compete for national pride rather than ranking points, prize money, or their usual professional teams.
The Nations Cup feels like an event worth building upon, and hopefully, this was only the beginning.
Championship Final
Team USA defeats Team Latin America, 3-0
- Women's Doubles: Anna Bright/Kate Fahey def. Mari Humberg/Alexa Schull, 11-9
- Men's Doubles: Ben Johns/CJ Klinger def. Eric Oncins/Nico Acevedo, 11-1
- Mixed Doubles: Anna Bright/Ben Johns def. Alexa Schull/Eric Oncins, 11-6
Team Latin America entered the championship having won three consecutive matches, including a semifinal victory over Asia Domestic. But the Americans proved to be a different challenge altogether.
Bright and Fahey survived a competitive women's doubles opener before Johns and Klinger delivered arguably the most dominant performance of the championship, surrendering just one point in men's doubles. Johns and Bright then finished the job in mixed doubles, leaving little doubt about which team deserved the inaugural title.
USA saved some of its best pickleball for the final, while Latin America deserves credit for reaching the championship after opening the tournament with a 3-0 loss to Europe East.
Semifinal Results
Team USA defeats Team Europe East, 3-1
- Women's Doubles: USA wins, 11-3
- Men's Doubles: USA wins, 11-6
- Mixed Doubles 1: Europe East wins, 14-12
- Mixed Doubles 2: USA wins, 11-7
Team USA raced to a 2-0 advantage before Andrei Daescu and Daria Walczak kept Europe East alive with a thrilling 14-12 mixed doubles victory over Tyra Black and Will Howells. However, Johns and Bright closed out the match in the second mixed doubles game to send the Americans into the final.
Team Latin America defeats Team Asia Domestic, 3-1
- Women's Doubles: Latin America wins, 11-3
- Men's Doubles: Asia Domestic wins, 11-9
- Mixed Doubles 1: Latin America wins, 11-3
- Mixed Doubles 2: Latin America wins, 11-3
Asia Domestic continued its impressive tournament by splitting the opening two games, but Latin America's mixed doubles combinations proved too strong. Back-to-back 11-3 victories secured Latin America's place in the championship match.
Pool Play Recap
Group A: USA and Asia Domestic Advance
Team USA finished atop Group A with a perfect 3-0 record, but its toughest challenge came from an unexpected opponent.
Asia Domestic pushed the Americans to the tournament's only DreamBreaker, eventually falling 21-18 after taking both men's doubles and the first mixed doubles game.
Asia Domestic finished 2-1 to claim the second semifinal spot, while Europe West (1-2) and Canada (0-3) were eliminated.
Group B: Three Teams Finish 2-1
Group B delivered the tournament's tightest race, with Latin America, Europe East, and Australia all finishing pool play at 2-1.
Latin America claimed the top spot on tiebreakers, followed by Europe East, while Australia narrowly missed the semifinals despite winning two matches.
The Australians defeated both Asia International and Europe East, but a 3-0 loss to Latin America ultimately proved costly, kicking the Aussies out of the semifinal.
Asia International finished 0-3.
The bottom line: Team USA was unquestionably the best team at the inaugural MLP Nations Cup. But the most encouraging development may have been the enthusiasm, international participation, and potential for future growth.
Hopefully, the Nations Cup becomes a permanent fixture on the professional pickleball calendar.
Love Pickleball? Join 100k+ readers for free weekly tips, news & gear deals.
Subscribe to The Dink
