Uploaded August 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
Zane and Nico are joined by California Black Bears star Zoey Weil to break down the best MLP event of the season — MLP Orlando. They relive the Dream Breaker for the ages between the Chicago Slice and Black Bears, where 13-year-old Elsie Hendershot saved match point and clinched the win to end California's season and keep Chicago's playoff hopes alive.
Plus: the debate over player-GMs setting lineups, whether the Black Bears mortgaged their future for a 12-seed run, MLP's salary cap/floor future, Zane's wedding controversy, an MVP and Rookie of the Year debate, Guess My DUPR, and a Disney movie draft.
Nico and Zane will be back later this week with a full MLP Playoffs preview — subscribe so you don't miss it.
🏓 Enter to win the new Jelly Bean 2 paddle: giveaway.thedinkpickleball.com
👕 Check out the new performance apparel line from Six Zero: bit.ly/3T9NaDM
📩 Subscribe to our free newsletter for everything that matters in pickleball: subscribe.thedinkpickleball.com
#Pickleball #PickleballPodcast #mlp #ppa
------------------
Like the ep? Do us a favor: subscribe to our channel and leave a review on Apple or Spotify
-Follow us on IG : instagram.com/thedinkpickleball
-Join the Pro Pickleball Talk Discord → discord.gg/ZCqXrxhgsv
-For everything else we do, visit https://linktr.ee/dinkfam
-Read more about Zane and subscribe to his newsletter at zanenavratilpickleball.com
-Follow Zane on IG @zanenavratilpickleball
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0:00 Intro
2:43 Setting the stage: Chicago Slice vs. Black Bears win-or-go-home
4:37 How Chicago scouted Zoey & Sahra Dennehy
7:58 Elsie Hendershot's mixed doubles heroics
9:59 Dream Breaker: saved match points and the finish
12:41 Wanting the ball at 22-22: what makes Elsie different
17:29 Should player-GMs be setting lineups?
24:28 Did the Black Bears mortgage their future for a 12-seed run?
28:29 The tennis-background generation & Black Bears' 2027 outlook
31:14 Salary cap/floor and "buying" a championship
41:38 Dylan Frazier's trade chaos & Zane's wedding controversy
52:31 New Jersey 5s' new-look lineup: Federico, Jorja & Will Howells
1:03:12 Shock vs. Fives: the mental edge heading into the final
1:09:19 Is the Fives' super-team a "bought" championship?
1:16:49 Best MLP event ever? Orlando vs. St. Pete vs. Central Park
1:24:14 Grandstand vs. Center Court sound bleed
1:28:06 Quick playoff bracket rundown
1:28:36 MVP debate: Danni-Elle Townsend, JW Johnson, Jackie Kawamoto, Kate Fahey
1:33:43 Rookie of the Year vs. Most Improved
1:38:21 Guess My @DUPRPB
1:41:30 Disney movie draft
1:49:09 Wrap-up & what's next
Zane and Nico are joined by California Black Bears star Zoey Weil to break down the best MLP event of the season — MLP Orlando. They relive the Dream Breaker for the ages between the Chicago Slice and Black Bears, where 13-year-old Elsie Hendershot saved match point and clinched the win to end California's season and keep Chicago's playoff hopes alive.
Plus: the debate over player-GMs setting lineups, whether the Black Bears mortgaged their future for a 12-seed run, MLP's salary cap/floor future, Zane's wedding controversy, an MVP and Rookie of the Year debate, Guess My DUPR, and a Disney movie draft.
Nico and Zane will be back later this week with a full MLP Playoffs preview — subscribe so you don't miss it.
🏓 Enter to win the new Jelly Bean 2 paddle: giveaway.thedinkpickleball.com
👕 Check out the new performance apparel line from Six Zero: bit.ly/3T9NaDM
📩 Subscribe to our free newsletter for everything that matters in pickleball: subscribe.thedinkpickleball.com
#Pickleball #PickleballPodcast #mlp #ppa
------------------
Like the ep? Do us a favor: subscribe to our channel and leave a review on Apple or Spotify
-Follow us on IG : instagram.com/thedinkpickleball
-Join the Pro Pickleball Talk Discord → discord.gg/ZCqXrxhgsv
-For everything else we do, visit https://linktr.ee/dinkfam
-Read more about Zane and subscribe to his newsletter at zanenavratilpickleball.com
-Follow Zane on IG @zanenavratilpickleball
------------------
0:00 Intro
2:43 Setting the stage: Chicago Slice vs. Black Bears win-or-go-home
4:37 How Chicago scouted Zoey & Sahra Dennehy
7:58 Elsie Hendershot's mixed doubles heroics
9:59 Dream Breaker: saved match points and the finish
12:41 Wanting the ball at 22-22: what makes Elsie different
17:29 Should player-GMs be setting lineups?
24:28 Did the Black Bears mortgage their future for a 12-seed run?
28:29 The tennis-background generation & Black Bears' 2027 outlook
31:14 Salary cap/floor and "buying" a championship
41:38 Dylan Frazier's trade chaos & Zane's wedding controversy
52:31 New Jersey 5s' new-look lineup: Federico, Jorja & Will Howells
1:03:12 Shock vs. Fives: the mental edge heading into the final
1:09:19 Is the Fives' super-team a "bought" championship?
1:16:49 Best MLP event ever? Orlando vs. St. Pete vs. Central Park
1:24:14 Grandstand vs. Center Court sound bleed
1:28:06 Quick playoff bracket rundown
1:28:36 MVP debate: Danni-Elle Townsend, JW Johnson, Jackie Kawamoto, Kate Fahey
1:33:43 Rookie of the Year vs. Most Improved
1:38:21 Guess My @DUPRPB
1:41:30 Disney movie draft
1:49:09 Wrap-up & what's next
