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- Jorja Johnson opens up about being dropped by Dallas Flash
Jorja Johnson opens up about being dropped by Dallas Flash
Reviewing the BRAND NEW Selkirk Omni
The Major League Pickleball offseason was full of surprises.
The biggest one of them all was the Dallas Flash electing to drop Jorja Johnson from their roster instead of brother JW or Tyra Black. It was a tough call, but Jorja was coming off of an MVP season and was the heartbeat of the Flash.
The team was hoping to get her back in the draft, but was out-bid by the New Jersey 5s, and the rest is history. In our latest episode of the Pickleballers Podcast, Jorja breaks down what it was like behind the scenes as the decisions and drama unfolded. Learn more below.
Also in this issue:
We admire Allyce Jones’ hustle 💪
Reviewing the BRAND NEW Selkirk Omni 👀
New Jersey 5s dominate at MLP Columbus 🤡
Holbrook keeps focus on community while building brand 📈
Let’s get cookin’. 🧑🍳
HIGHLIGHT OF THE WEEK
Allyce Jones needs to be wrapped in one of those bubble suits
There are few things more impressive in pickleball than Allyce Jones’ commitment and hustle.
That was on full display in the first Major League Pickleball event of the season, as Jones put her body on the line on multiple occasions while attempting to track down shots.
In one instance, she suffered an injury, but that didn’t stop her from finishing out the match. She might honestly be the toughest player in the entire sport.
🔗 Check out these clips on Instagram, Facebook or TikTok
PICKLEBALLERS
Jorja Johnson opens up about being dropped by Dallas Flash
After being named MVP of the 2025 Major League Pickleball season, Jorja Johnson looked like the present and future face of the Dallas Flash. Then everything changed. Dallas elected to drop Jorja instead of brother JW after the season, and owner Mark Molthan was outbid by the New Jersey 5s in the draft.
In this clip from the latest Pickleballers Podcast — which features Jorja and JW alongside hosts Roscoe Bellamy and Jared Paul — Jorja reacts to the shocking turn of events and shares her thoughts on what happened behind the scenes.
🔗 Check out the latest episode on YouTube, Spotify or Apple Podcasts
FEATURED STORY
Holbrook Pickleball: Building a community of players chasing better
When Breygan and Kasen Holbrook started Holbrook Pickleball from a small college apartment in Northern Utah, they weren't trying to build just another paddle company.
They were trying to build a brand for a specific type of player.
The player who loves to compete. The player who is always looking to improve. The player who values the community that makes pickleball unique.
"We realized pretty quickly that most people aren't playing pickleball because they're trying to go pro," Breygan said. "They're playing because they love competing, they love improving and they love the people they meet along the way. That's who we wanted to build for."
That mindset has been a theme in the Holbrook family for decades.
Growing up, the brothers were raised in a household that emphasized hard work, continual improvement and taking pride in doing things the right way. Sports played a major role in their lives, and both brothers competed at a high level growing up. Over time, they became obsessed with the pursuit of better -- not just as athletes, but in all aspects of life.
When they discovered pickleball, they saw an opportunity to bring that mindset into a rapidly growing sport. What started as a few paddle designs sold locally soon evolved into something much bigger.
As the brothers spent more time on the court, they noticed something that would ultimately shape the direction of the company: The players they connected with weren't just looking for equipment -- they were looking for ways to improve.
Some were trying to win local tournaments. Others were trying to move up a skill level, learn a new shot, or simply become more confident players.
The goals looked different, but the mindset was often the same. They were all chasing better, and that realization became the foundation of the Holbrook brand.
🔗 Learn more about Holbrook’s backstory or shop all Holbrook paddles here — use code “KITCHEN” for 15% off
THE PROS
New Jersey 5s show what their ‘A’ game looks like
The New Jersey 5s showed this week why many fans and pundits considered them among the favorites heading into the 2026 Major League Pickleball season, with a dominant performance at the league’s second event in Columbus, Ohio.
After walking away with a disappointing 4th-place finish at MLP Dallas, the 5s bounced back by going undefeated at MLP Columbus with wins against both of the teams that had beaten them in Week 1 — the Columbus Sliders and St. Louis Shock.
“It means the world (to win in Columbus) because we had an incredibly emotional weekend last weekend in Dallas and a lot of people questioning us,” said Ryan Harwood, New Jersey’s owner and general manager. “I am so proud of how resilient this group was. They are professionals, they know how to bounce back, and that’s what champions do.”
The biggest surprise of the week might have been how easily New Jersey dispatched St. Louis in the 1 vs. 1 matchup on Sunday. After losing in a Dreambreaker to the Shock in Dallas, the 5s completed the sweep 11-3, 11-8, 11-9 in Columbus.
“I’m really proud of our team for showing the stuff we have,” 5s star Anna Leigh Waters said. “I feel like we’re getting better and better, and hopefully this is just a start for us.”
NO LOVE LOST
There was no shortage of drama at MLP Columbus, with too many bodybags and crashouts to count. We also had Waters letting Hayden Patriquin hear it during the New Jersey/St. Louis match, and Parris Todd sent a ball high and hard at Jaume Martinez Vich — and if you watched the new “Partners” documentary about pro pickleball, you know those two have a history. 😳
The only thing crazier than the action is Chris Cali’s breakdown of it all.
TEXAS RANCHERS MAKE A TRADE
News broke Tuesday morning about a trade involving the Texas Ranchers, Miami Pickleball Club and Carolina Hogs.
TRADE 1: Texas Ranchers receive Nico Acevedo and Aiko Yoshitomi … Miami Pickleball Club receives Dylan Frazier, Ava Cavataio and cash.
TRADE 2: Texas Ranchers receive Genie Bouchard … Carolina Hogs receive Aiko Yoshitomi.
The trade is a big bet by Texas that MLP newcomer Acevedo will continue to improve, since they’re giving up a very established player in Frazier.
GEAR
Is Selkirk’s latest paddle better than the Boomstik?
The Selkirk Omni is one of the biggest paddle launches since the Boomstik last summer, and after getting some early court time with it … we have a LOT of thoughts.
In this review we cover:
▪️ The brand new adjustable MOI weight system.
▪️ How the Omni compares to the Selkirk Boomstik.
▪️ The new Double Ring Core design.
▪️ Power, pop, feel and forgiveness.
▪️ Why Selkirk shifted toward a more all-court approach.
▪️ Potential concerns with the new weight system.
The Omni introduces removable/repositionable weights that let you customize swing weight, stability and power in seconds without tungsten tape or tools. Combined with Selkirk’s Infinigrit Surface and new core construction, this feels like a very different direction from the Boomstik, and honestly one that we think will fit most players better.
🔗 Check out our full review here or shop the Selkirk Omni here — use code “INF-KITCHEN” at checkout for a credit toward a future purchase
QUICK HITS
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