Chicago Slice Halt Losing Streak, Edge Out Utah Black Diamonds In DreamBreaker Thriller

After a challenging stretch of defeats, the Chicago Slice (4-10, 14 points) reignited their season with a high-stakes victory over the Utah Black Diamonds (6-9, 19 points), closing out their Florida weekend on a much-needed high note. The turning point came in a tense DreamBreaker, where a composed team performance—anchored by Callie Smith and newly acquired Vivian Glozman—secured a dramatic 21-19 win.

Coming into Sunday’s showdown, Chicago had endured three straight sweeps, raising questions about their form and cohesion. But the team showed resilience under pressure, forcing the deciding tiebreaker thanks to critical wins in women’s doubles (Smith/Glozman) and mixed doubles (Smith/Max Freeman).

Source: Pickleball.com

Callie Smith Leads By Example

Callie Smith once again proved to be Chicago’s emotional and tactical cornerstone. In the DreamBreaker, she delivered when it mattered most, outscoring Genie Erokhina 5-3 across two rotations and energizing her squad with relentless play.

“We wanted to bring the energy and come out strong, and that’s what we did,” Smith said post-match. “We stuck together and just fought for every point—that’s what pickleball is about. That’s what sports is about, and I’m just really proud of this team today.”

Glozman’s Impact Felt Immediately

The win also marked a strong debut for Vivian Glozman, who had just been traded to Chicago from the Atlanta Bouncers days before the match. In her first weekend with the Slice—her third team of the season—Glozman made an immediate impact, sealing the final point of the DreamBreaker against Allyce Jones.

“It’s been crazy,” Glozman said of her whirlwind season. “I think I’m the most traded player in MLP, but my team has been so supportive throughout the whole thing. Callie has been such a great leader and teammate, and I think she really pulled us through this one.”

Momentum Heading Into Mid-Season Tournament

Despite finishing their Sunshine State run with a 2-4 record, the Slice walk away with momentum—and perhaps, a new sense of identity. Their next test will come at the Edward Jones MLP Mid-Season Tournament, taking place July 9–13 in Grand Rapids, Michigan.

With new faces settling in and a renewed spark on court, Chicago may just be finding their rhythm at the right time.