Shock Therapy in STL: How the St. Louis Home Crowd Broke Dallas Flash’s Undefeated Run
With two dramatic wins in front of a raucous home crowd, the St. Louis Shock cemented themselves as the team to beat in Major League Pickleball.
ST. LOUIS — On a steamy summer weekend in front of a passionate, white-shirted crowd, the St. Louis Shock delivered a thunderous jolt to Major League Pickleball. Not only did they take down the previously undefeated Dallas Flash, but they did it with an emotional blend of dominance, resilience, and showtime swagger. The atmosphere was electric. The stats told the story. And the DreamBreaker, as always, delivered drama in spades.
This is pickleball on the edge — where analytics meet adrenaline, and every rally holds playoff implications. Let’s break it all down from Matty Pickles' expert commentary on the MLP STL Featured Matches and Recap podcast segment.
Thursday and Friday: Calm Before the Storm
Highlights:
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Chicago Slice edges Atlanta Bouncers 3-2 in a DreamBreaker.
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St. Louis opens with a 3-1 home victory over Columbus.
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Dallas dominates Brooklyn, except in women’s doubles.
Summary:
The early matches set the stage. The Shock warmed up in front of a receptive home crowd with a confident win. Dallas looked sharp but exposed some cracks in women’s doubles, a foreshadowing of things to come.
Saturday Feature: Dallas Flash vs. Columbus Sliders
Highlights:
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Dallas jumps to early lead.
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Parris Todd dominates firefights.
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Lea Jansen rebounds after shaky start.
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DreamBreaker goes down to the wire.
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CJ Klinger shines. Dallas falls for the first time.
Summary:
In a rematch from the Beer City Open, Dallas looked poised to repeat its dominance. But Parris Todd flipped the script. She and Lea Jansen rallied from early errors, with Jansen forcing three consecutive errors to close out the women’s doubles match. A DreamBreaker followed — a seesaw battle full of grit, emotion, and a scary moment when Hurricane Tyra Black looked shaken. But it was CJ Klinger who erupted with back-to-back 3-1 wins, giving Columbus the upset and Dallas its first loss.
Saturday Night Lights: St. Louis vs. Dallas Flash
Highlights:
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St. Louis Shock dominates early.
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Anna Bright stars with offensive firepower.
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Men's doubles: only 19 rallies; St. Louis commits just 2 errors.
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Gabe Tardio initiates 8 firefights, wins 5.
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Dallas briefly rallies in mixed doubles.
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Hayden Patriquin delivers a clinic in the closer.
Summary:
Call it revenge, redemption, or simply the magic of homecourt. The Shock were flawless. Anna Bright, Gabe Tardio, and Hayden Patriquin showed why they’re elite. In a men's doubles beatdown, St. Louis allowed just 19 rallies and suffocated Dallas with clinical defense and opportunistic offense. Dallas fought back in the mixed doubles, forcing errors and even gaining match point, but missed challenges and key mistakes gave St. Louis the edge. Patriquin sealed the win with 14 rally winners in mixed number two — a masterclass in control.
Sunday Showdown: Shock Continue Streak on ESPN2
Highlights:
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St. Louis beats Brooklyn 3-1.
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Whiteout crowd impresses on national broadcast.
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Empty seating visuals spark social commentary.
Summary:
St. Louis wrapped the weekend with another win, this time on national TV. The energy was high, but viewers noted inconsistent visuals, with empty seats in view despite a vibrant crowd. Matty Pickles praised the venue’s atmosphere but noted areas for improvement in presentation.
Final Featured Match: Columbus vs. Brooklyn – Playoff Implications
Highlights:
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Brooklyn stuns Columbus with women’s and men’s doubles wins.
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AJ Kohler and Riley Newman fuel comeback.
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Brooklyn likely secures four seed; Columbus drops to five.
Summary:
Fresh off their high from defeating Dallas, Columbus may have overlooked Brooklyn. Big mistake. Brooklyn came in sharp, clawing back in tight moments. Kohler and Newman led the way with gritty performances. Now, Brooklyn may enjoy a more favorable playoff draw — the four vs. five seeding battle could prove crucial.
Notable Stats and Storylines
Highlights:
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Dallas and St. Louis women went 2-3.
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Brooklyn’s Kalamoto & Roarabach went 5-1.
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Columbus’ Leia Jansen & Paris Todd went 3-2.
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Tardio & Patriquin are 5-0 in men’s doubles.
Summary:
While Dallas and St. Louis dominated headlines, Brooklyn quietly emerged as a cohesive unit. Their women's team outperformed the field. Meanwhile, Tardio and Patriquin are playing at another level entirely. Calls for them to pair on the PPA Tour are getting louder.
Conclusion: A League Re-Ordered
Major League Pickleball’s trip to St. Louis didn’t just shake up the standings — it may have shifted the league’s balance of power. With their undefeated record shattered, Dallas now faces questions heading into the playoffs. St. Louis, meanwhile, used their home crowd to reassert dominance. And Brooklyn, the overlooked underdogs, proved they’re more than just a spoiler.
If this was a preview of playoff pickleball, buckle up.
Because the Shock aren’t just coming.
They’re already here.
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