The Columbus Sliders' Cinderella Major League Pickleball Run

An hour after walking off the court in New York City, I’m still trying to process what just happened. The Columbus Sliders, a team most written off as a mid-pack story at best, are the 2025 Major League Pickleball champions. And they didn’t sneak in the back door. They kicked it down. They beat the Dallas Flash, the defending champs. They toppled the number one seeded Saint Louis Shock. And in the finals, they came back from a match down to take out my squad, the Jersey 5s, last year’s runner-up and midseason champions. That’s not just a Cinderella story. That’s a statement. The Sliders weren’t supposed to be here. When St. Louis had the option to pick their semifinal opponent, they deliberately chose Columbus, feeding the “nobody respects us” narrative. They saw Andre Daescu and C.J. Klinger as less threatening than facing Johns or Hunter in a DreamBreaker. Big mistake. Columbus played angry. Leah Jansen and Paris Todd set the tone, attacking Kate Fahy relentlessly and handing the Shock their first major crack in months. Daescu and Klinger, both skyscrapers at the net, suffocated St. Louis with reach and aggression. That win wasn’t luck. It was executed on a brutal, simple strategy: pick your target, attack without mercy, and don’t blink. I’ll also say this: Central Park was magical, but the rollout courts are a problem. The low bounces tilted play toward tall, aggressive teams who live off the air ball. That played directly into Columbus’s hands. Players who back off the line or rely on bounce speedups get punished. It’s not an excuse, but it mattered. As pros, we know: you adapt or you die. Columbus adapted. When it came time for the finals, my Jersey 5s had history, chemistry, and firepower. But the Sliders carried something more dangerous: momentum. Down a match, they never panicked. They pressed harder. They forced us into their pace. And when it came down to the DreamBreaker moments, they had just enough to close the door. I’ve been on the winning end of those knife-edge breakers before. This time, I watched the door slam shut. As a competitor, I hate losing. As a captain, I hate watching my team fall short after a season of grind. But as a pro, I’ve got to give it to the Columbus Sliders. They embraced the underdog role, turned every doubt into fuel, and walked away with the trophy. It was a Cinderella run, but not one built on fairy dust. It was built on discipline, strategy, and a refusal to play by anyone else’s script. And for us? Back to the lab. Back to the grind. Because in Major League Pickleball, no crown lasts forever. If you’re interested in in-person coaching, clinics, or virtual coaching, send me a note here! https://www.zanenavratilpickleball.com/pages/contact Sqairz XR Pickleball Shoes: 🔥 Get the Sqairz XRZ Pickleball Shoes Here!: https://www.tkqlhce.com/click-101357574-17026154 Grab Zane Navratil Signature ProXR Pickleball Paddle on our website and use the code “ZNPSubscriber” for 10% off and free shipping! https://zanenavratilpickleball.com/shop/ Subscribe to my monthly newsletter to stay up to date with me on and off the court! https://zanenavratilpickleball.com/ Enhance your practice sessions and improve your game with a Lobster ball machine. Use code ZANE5 for 5% off any pickleball machine and accessories. https://www.lobstersports.com/collections/pickleball-machines I’m on Cameo! https://cameo.com/zanenavratilpickleball Stop Alzheimer’s Now (SAN) is a non-profit dedicated to ending Alzheimer’s through research and awareness initiatives. Join us in the fight to Stop Alzheimer’s NOW! https://www.stopalzheimersnow.org/ UPTIME Energy supports your mind and body with clean, balanced energy—designed to help you stay focused, feel good, and perform your best every day. https://www.uptimeenergy.com/ Source: Zane Navratil Pickleball

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