STORYLINES FOR THE SELKIRK KANSAS CITY OPEN PRESENTED BY STRATUSPHERE GIN 

OVERALL TOP 5:

• NATIONAL PICKLEBALL DAY (8/8): It’s pickleball’s day, so fans should play, watch, and celebrate for all 1,440 minutes. 
• EYE OF THE TIGER: Dylan Frazier, the Missouri Tiger, playing a “home” tourney as the #1 men’s doubles seed.   
• THROWN OUT AT 3RD – Johns and Waters swept all 3 events in 2023, but are not playing singles this year, so no chance to defend their double triples. 
• JADED: Jade Kawamoto won two bronze medals at KC in ‘23 – can she double podium again?
• OPEN SESAME: This event is an Open with 1000 points going to the winners. 

VENUE/TOURNEY/TV:

• Event #14 of the year – second consecutive year in KC. 
• Broadcast start times are 11am Central Thursday through Sunday.  
• National window: Sunday on ESPN2 from 4-6pm Eastern time.  
• Full coverage on Pickleball TV (Prime Video, Roku, Samsung TV Plus, LG, and many more).

WOMEN’S SINGLES:

• Defending medalists: Waters, Parenteau, Johnson
• Is this the week top seeded Parenteau grabs her first title of 2024?
• Jorja Johnson (8) is playing inspired pickleball – could a deep singles run be next?
• 2024 Champions Buckner (3) and Castillo (6) could meet in the quarters. 
• WATCH OUT FOR: Lea Jansen (2), unretired and winning titles this year, could garner local fan support in her coach Mike Wolf’s backyard. 

MEN’S SINGLES:

• Defending medalists: Johns, McGuffin, Staksrud
• Staksrud (1) is an astounding 5,400 points ahead of Ben Johns in the 2024 race to the Finals.
• “Hometown” hero and noted Chiefs fan Jack Sock (7) will be putting on a show in a quest for gold. 
• Gabe vs. Gabe possible in round 2 – Joseph (11) vs. Tardio (22)
• WATCH OUT FOR: Chris Haworth (9) – beat Staksrud for gold at the last Carvana PPA Tour stop in San Clemente. 

MIXED DOUBLES:

• Defending medalists: Waters/Johns, Irvine/Newman, Jade Kawamoto/Rettenmaier
• Talented duo Alshon and Etta Wright (6) are in the ALW/Ben Johns quarter. 
• Hustlin’ partners Sock and Jansen (10) will be a tough out. 
• Field is so deep – H. Johnson and Todd are a highly skilled 25 seed. 
• WATCH OUT FOR: Parenteau/Staksrud (4) – 1^st tourney together and so much potential.  

WOMEN’S DOUBLES:

• Defending medalists: Parenteau/Waters, Bright/Dizon, Jade Kawamoto/Koop
• Jackie Kawamoto/Kovalova (4) – tournament #3 for them, reached quarters and semis in first two. 
• Bouchard/Sleeth (19) vs. Christian/Emmrich (15) in round 1 is a big battle of tennis backgrounds. 
• Irvine and Koop (8) – oops, were getting reps for MLP but Koop was traded to Columbus. 
• WATCH OUT FOR: Dizon/Wright (2) – is this the week they return to Sunday?

MEN’S DOUBLES:

• Defending medalists: B. Johns/Wright (C. Johns was injured), Frazier/Johnson, Ignatowich/McGuffin
• Frazier and Johnson take over the top seed and have won 4 of the last 5 tourneys. 
• Johns brothers (2) have not won since April and lost multiple MLP matches since San Clemente.
• Daescu back from suspension, playing with Matt Wright (5) – they won Austin in March. 
• WATCH OUT FOR: Patriquin/Alshon (6) – Big H keeps getting to Sunday. Can he get there in 3 consecutive tournaments with 3 different partners?