The Canadian National Pickleball League’s Western Split at IPOP in Burnaby, BC, July 19–20, didn’t just meet expectations it smashed them. Fans packed the venue and watched as the Vancouver Owls soared on home turf, racking up a 5-1 record with the unstoppable Anna Dyachenko going a perfect 8-0 in her matches. The Owls now sit in second place at 8-4 for the season, trailing the defending champion Montreal Lions by two matches and one match ahead of the London Smash and Prairie Pronghorns as the race to the playoffs heats up.

The Prairie Pronghorns charged hard into Burnaby, feeding off the energy from new signing Mikael Gaumond. With a 5-1 record in the Split, the Pronghorns now find themselves firmly in the league’s top four, just in time for the crucial closing stretch. Their blend of veteran savvy and fresh talent has become a hallmark of their campaign.

The Detroit-Windsor Drive came in hoping to climb the standings, but early losses forced some lineup changes. Despite a tough 1-5 weekend, there’s a silver lining: Evan Hollinsky went 5-1 in his matches and most of their losses were tiebreaks, showing the team is just inches away from a breakthrough. The Drive will be hungry at the Metropolitan Split, with the playoffs looming and everything still to play for.

The Northern Lights started brightly with a win but couldn’t sustain momentum, finishing 1-5. The team’s mixed doubles lineup showed real growth thanks to the steady play of Marie-Christine Salvas, but struggles in both men’s and women’s doubles held them back. The upcoming Metro Split offers one last shot to put it all together.

Now, with the Western Split in the books, focus shifts east to the Metropolitan Split September 6–7 at Court X in Oakville, ON a critical showcase before the playoffs.

Here’s how the rest of the field stacks up ahead of this crucial showdown:

• The Montreal Lions, battling through adversity, remain first overall but need four wins at the Metro Split to lock down top spot before October’s playoffs.
• The London Smash are surging, powered by Jessica Kawamoto’s near-perfect performance at the last split. Their 7-5 record puts them in third and they’ll look to keep their hot streak alive.
• Toronto United sits in fifth (6-6) but have their sights set higher, boosted by Sneha Iyer’s consistency. They’ll need a strong showing in Oakville to leapfrog up the standings.
• The Brewers are full of potential and close calls. With leaders Mark Cleminson and Amanda Rosati at the helm, the squad is determined to finally start closing those narrow losses and stake a playoff claim.

With playoff seeding still in flux, expect every match at the Metropolitan Split to feel like a finals preview. Will the Owls overtake the Lions? Can the Pronghorns keep charging? Will a sleeper team catch fire at the right time? The final chapter of the season starts September 6 in Oakville—and it’s wide open. Fans, get ready: the road to the playoffs will be decided at Court X, where the stakes have never been higher.