Columbus Sliders shock pickleball world

Inside the world of senior pro pickleball

August 26, 2025

 

The Columbus Sliders were doubted throughout the Major League Pickleball season (by us, among others). They were viewed as the weaker team by the higher seeds in the playoffs, who selected to play them not once, but twice.

And even when they made it to the final, they were still the underdogs.

It didn’t matter — Andrei Daescu, CJ Klinger, Parris Todd and Lea Jansen always believed they had the right group to push for an MLP title. That belief turned to reality this weekend, as they capped off an incredible playoff run with a win over the New Jersey 5s on Sunday. We break it all down below.

Also in this issue:

  • Inside the world of senior pro pickleball 🎙️

  • Jaume Martinez Vich and Adidas make it official 🤝

  • When on the attack, be relentless 😤

  • DUPR teams up with TeachMe.To to offer free lessons 📋

  • JOOLA offering hot deals as part of Labor Day sale 🤑

Let’s get cookin’. 🧑‍🍳

HIGHLIGHT OF THE WEEK

Will Howells goes on offense with relentless attacks

There were several times during the Major League Pickleball Finals this weekend when it seemed like all four players on the court raised their level to new heights. This game point for the New Jersey 5s duo of Will Howells and Noe Khlif was one of those times.

The Los Angeles men’s team of Ben Johns and Hunter Johnson did all they could to withstand the barrage of attacks coming at them during this rally, but in the end it was Howells who came up with a tricky inside-out putaway to end the point — and the game.

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PICKLEBALLERS PODCAST

Looking back on the origins of pro pickleball with OGs Beth Bellamy & Scott Moore

In case you missed it last week on the Pickleballers Podcast, we sat down with two legends of the senior pro game: Beth Bellamy, a top-ranked 50+ women’s pro with 99 medals, multiple US Open and National titles, former WTA tennis star and co-founder of the National Pickleball League, alongside Scott Moore, a 21-time USA Pickleball National Champion, 12-time US Open winner, Hall of Famer and founder of Pickleball Trips.

Moore discusses how pickleball is all about relationships, the greatest timeout in the sport’s history, and both players share how they stay competitive and injury-free at the highest level beyond 50. This episode is packed with history, stories, strategy and lessons, making it a must-listen for anyone passionate about the game.

🔗 Watch the full episode on YouTube or listen on Spotify

THIS WEEK ON PICKLEBALLERS: From Israel to the top of pro pickleball, Dekel Bar has seen it all. Large in stature. Huge serve. Gentle personality. Pickleball’s Gentle Giant joins the Pickleballers Podcast this week — don’t miss it.

THE PROS

Andrei Daescu just put together the most impressive MLP performance we've ever seen

Over the past two weeks, Andrei Daescu has etched his name into Major League Pickleball lore with the most dominant postseason stretch we've ever seen in the short history of the league.

The 37-year-old Romanian was the leader on and off the court for a Columbus Sliders team that came into the MLP playoffs as the No. 5 seed. Many fans and pundits (including us) gave them little chance to win a title this season after they were 20-9 in the regular season (including the Mid-Season Tournament, where they finished 5th/6th).

They were a tier below the top-seeded St. Louis Shock and No. 2 seed Dallas Flash on paper heading into the playoffs, but that didn't matter once they rolled the ball out onto the court.

After winning a dramatic three-game series over the Flash earlier this month, on Friday the Sliders swept the Shock in the semifinals.

Then on Saturday and Sunday in the MLP Finals, they faced one final hurdle to complete their improbable title run -- the New Jersey 5s, led by world No. 1 women's player Anna Leigh Waters. Columbus won the best-of-three series and hoisted the trophy Sunday evening.

If they gave out a Finals MVP award like they do in other sports, there's no doubt it would go to Daescu.

He was nearly unbeatable throughout the playoffs, compiling a 14-2 record in doubles, and he did it while playing against the very best duos in the league in the biggest moments when his team absolutely had to have the wins.

THE PROS PART II

Nashville Chefs — The Kitchen’s team — fall just short of Challenger Level title

The Las Vegas Night Owls, who had been the No. 1 team at the Challenger Level throughout the regular season, put the finishing touches on their season with a win over the Nashville Chefs — The Kitchen’s MLP Team — on Sunday.

Winning the Challenger Level title means Las Vegas — with Pablo Tellez, James Delgado, Brooke Buckner and Chao Yi Wang — will be promoted to the Premier Level for the 2026 season.

The Night Owls are deserving champs. They were the best team throughout the regular season and played some great matches this weekend.

We are incredibly proud of our Chefs team, though. We were the clear No. 2 team at the Challenger Level and our players — Marshall Brown, Anderson Scarpa, Ewa Radzikowska and Genie Erokhina — all came up huge in big moments throughout the season. It was an incredible run and we will remember our first season being involved in Major League Pickleball for a long time.

TRENDING

The writing was on the wall when Jaume Martinez Vich started using an adidas paddle a few weeks ago, but the sports equipment and apparel brand has made it official: Martinez Vich is the latest player to join the adidas Pickleball roster of pros.

Martinez Vich was using a new prototype when he made the finals in men's doubles with Matt Wright earlier this month at the PPA Tour Bristol Open. We have heard rumblings of adidas launching new paddles to the general public soon.

FREE LESSONS

DUPR partners with TeachMe.To to offer exclusive deal on pickleball lessons

DUPR — the premier pickleball rating system — recently announced a new benefit for DUPR+ members: access to an exclusive insider deal on pickleball lessons through a new partnership with TeachMe.To, a platform that makes it easy to find and book in-person sports lessons.

This collaboration gives DUPR+ members a simple way to connect with vetted, high-quality pickleball coaches in their area — and the first lesson with TeachMe.To is free for subscribers. Whether players are looking to fine-tune their technique, develop new skills, or prepare for their next tournament, they can now book trusted local instructors with just a few clicks.

“Our mission at DUPR is to help pickleball players at every level get rated, improve and enjoy the game,” said Tito Machado, CEO at DUPR. “Partnering with TeachMe.To gives our DUPR+ community access to expert coaching that can make a real difference in their play.”

Players and operators can visit www.dupr.com to sign up.

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PRODUCT OF THE WEEK

JOOLA offering hot Labor Day deals to close out summer

To wrap up the summer, JOOLA is offering huge discounts through Sept. 1 on select men's and women's apparel. Here were a few items that caught our eye in the sale.

Men's Club Printed Polo — Comes in two unique prints that will keep you cool while making you look cool. Now $32.48 (normally $79.95).

Women's Court Racerback Dress — Lightweight, breathable and fashionable. Comes in white and navy. Now $37.48 (normally $89.95).

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