What’s the Score?
The World Pickleball League (WPBL) Season 2 has launched with a thunderous start at the Jio World Gardens in Mumbai, characterised by lopsided scorelines and statement performances. In the opening salvos of the season, the Chennai Super Champs and Bengaluru Jawans delivered crushing defeats to their respective opponents, Dilli Dillwale and Pune United. As the dust settles on these initial blowouts, all eyes turn to the Mumbai Pickle Power franchise, led by the dynamic husband-and-wife duo Brandon and Glauka Lane, who are entering the fray with a chip on their shoulder and a vow to finish “unfinished business”.
Hit it deeper!
The season opener was a masterclass in efficiency by the Chennai Super Champs, owned by Samantha Ruth Prabhu. They dismantled Dilli Dillwale with a commanding 12-3 aggregate score, signalling their intent to avoid the slow start that plagued their previous campaign. Domenika Turkovic was the undisputed star of the tie, obliterating Alejandra Lopez in the women’s singles with a staggering 26-3 scoreline. While Dilli managed a solitary consolation win in men’s singles via Vien Hien Troung, Chennai controlled the narrative elsewhere. The mixed doubles pairing of Ly Hoang Nam and Ava Cavataio displayed grit to edge out their opponents 14-12, ensuring Chennai’s “resolution to demonstrate their credentials right from the onset” was fully realised.
Mirroring this dominance, the Bengaluru Jawans executed a near-clean sweep of Pune United on January 27. Katerina Stewart proved to be an unstoppable force, demolishing Katie Morris 30-03 in women’s singles with a display of “relentless pace and control”. Stewart’s influence extended to doubles, where she partnered with Brooke Revuelta for a 17-08 win. With Dusty Boyer securing the men’s singles and Eunggwon Kim anchoring wins in both men’s and mixed doubles, the Jawans showcased a depth that few teams may be able to match.
Amidst this backdrop of high-scoring victories, the Mumbai Pickle Power prepares to launch their campaign against the reeling Dilli Dillwale squad on January 28. The narrative for Mumbai is deeply personal. Last season, their playoff run was cut short when Brandon Lane suffered a lung infection, a health crisis that derailed the team’s momentum at the most critical moment. Now healthy, the Florida native and his Spanish wife, Glauka Carvajal Lane, are viewing this season as a “reset”.
Brandon, a former college tennis player who discovered pickleball while working gruelling hours on tennis courts, brings “controlled aggression” and big-drive capabilities to the court. Glauka, a former Spanish top-100 tennis player and Division I athlete, provides the perfect counterbalance with “athletic defense” and sharp net play. Their “lived chemistry”—forged by travelling the US in a van to chase tournaments—is their secret weapon. “We are ready to give everything back in terms of efforts and commitment,” Glauka stated, emphasising that for Mumbai, this season is about proving they belong at the top.
The World Pickleball Verdict
The opening days of WPBL Season 2 have established a terrifying precedent: the gap between the top-tier teams and the rest may be wider than anticipated. The absolute dismantling of Dilli and Pune suggests that teams like Chennai and Bengaluru have recruited not just for skill, but for ruthless efficiency.
However, the emotional core of the league currently resides with Mumbai. While Chennai has the points, Mumbai has the story. The Lanes represent the human element of the sport—resilience, partnership, and recovery. If their on-court chemistry matches their off-court narrative, the sheer mechanical dominance of teams like Chennai might soon meet its match in the form of Mumbai’s inspired determination.
Chris Beaumont
Founder and Editor-in-ChiefChris Beaumont is the founder and Editor-in-Chief of World Pickleball Magazine. Chris follows the global game closely, reporting on the latest news, developments, stories and tournaments from all five continents. He also hosts the World Pickleball Podcast, interviewing people at…
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