Flash Silence The Mad Drops As Duong Returns To LA Lineup
The Dallas Flash capped off their desert campaign in emphatic fashion, securing a 3-1 victory over the Los Angeles Mad Drops in a match that carried more weight than the standings might suggest. With Quang Duong returning from suspension to rejoin LA’s starting lineup for the first time this season, the stakes were high—but the defending champions from Dallas rose to the moment.
Source: Pickleball.com
Things didn’t start smoothly for the Flash. Jorja Johnson and Tyra Black—undefeated heading into the match—suffered their first loss of the season in women’s doubles, falling 3-11 to a sharp-looking Catherine Parenteau and Jade Kawamoto. That early stumble gave LA the momentum, and for a brief moment, it looked like Duong’s return might shift the balance in favor of the Mad Drops.
But Dallas wasn’t about to fold.
JW Johnson and Augie Ge stepped up under pressure in the men’s doubles, grinding out a gritty 12-10 win over Duong and Hunter Johnson. The victory didn’t just level the match—it gave Dallas a spark heading into the mixed doubles matchups, where they’ve been lethal all season.
And lethal they were.
Tyra Black and Augie Ge dismantled Kawamoto and Hunter Johnson 11-3, setting the tone early. Moments later, the Johnson siblings—JW and Jorja—followed suit with a dominant 11-4 win over Parenteau and Duong, sealing the 3-1 win in regulation.
That straight-set finish was especially important given the Mad Drops' reputation as a powerhouse DreamBreaker squad. With Duong back in the mix, LA boasts a lineup on paper that could easily swing a match in the singles-heavy tiebreak format. But Dallas never let it get that far.
Augie Ge, who hails from Phoenix, reflected on the emotional lift from the local crowd and the unusual pressure of playing catch-up instead of closing a lead.
“[Jorja and Tyra] have been carrying me for the entire season and last season as well, so I figured I would try and step up one time,” Ge said post-match. “The home crowd here helped a lot and helped us manufacture some energy after a quick turnaround from yesterday.”
The win brings Dallas to 6-0 on the season, a perfect record that underscores not just their consistency, but their ability to thrive under pressure. The Flash are showing every sign of being a team built for another title run.
As for the Mad Drops, the weekend isn't over just yet. They’ll face the Atlanta Bouncers in their final match, now with a clearer picture of where they stand—and where they’ll need to tighten up if they want to be taken seriously in the playoff hunt.
For Dallas, the message is clear: they’re still the team to beat.
