Mexico Waves and DC Matrix Win Pro Padel League LA

Franchise Padel Crowns Its LA Champions

The Pro Padel League wrapped up its second 2026 stop on Sunday at Barker Hangar in Santa Monica, California, with Mexico Waves and DC Matrix lifting the men's and women's trophies respectively. The four-day event at the iconic aviation venue in Santa Monica drew some of the strongest franchise rosters of the young PPL season, reinforcing the league's ambition to build a permanent foothold on the US West Coast.

Mexico Waves Dominate in Three Sets

The men's final pitched Mexico Waves against Florida Goats in what turned into a match of swings and momentum shifts. Mexico Waves opened with authority, taking the first set 6-4 on the back of dominant net play from David Gala and Maxi Arce. Florida Goats hit back through Luis Hernández Quesada and Juani de Pascual, levelling the tie at one set apiece with a 6-3 second set. The super tie-break proved a procession: Mexico Waves were ruthless, winning 10-2 to seal the franchise's first Los Angeles title.

Gala, currently ranked world number 34 on the FIP circuit, had arrived in LA directly from his national team duties — Spain has selected him for the Mediterranean Games padel debut in Taranto starting August 22. His PPL showing underlines the depth of talent the franchise format is attracting even mid-season when top players juggle multiple commitments.

DC Matrix Take Women's Title in Super Tie-Break

The women's final was no less competitive. DC Matrix, led by Ara Martínez and Marina Guinart, squared off against Houston Volts — represented by Ari Cañellas and Laia Rodríguez — in a match that went the full distance before a super tie-break settled affairs in DC Matrix's favour. The Washington-based franchise secured back-to-back PPL titles after also winning the New York stop earlier in the season, making them the dominant force in the women's bracket so far in 2026.

Houston Volts had been among the strongest women's teams in the league's opening rounds, and the closeness of the final reflected the competition's growing quality. The PPL format, which pairs franchise-ownership with imported elite talent, is evidently capable of producing high-pressure finals even at its second event of the season.

Building the North American Scene

The Los Angeles event is the second of three PPL stops planned for 2026, following the New York opener. With roughly 10 franchises currently competing across men's and women's divisions, the league is pursuing a similar blueprint to North American sports franchises — fixed ownership, salary structures and city identity — rather than the individualised entry model of the main FIP circuit.

The Santa Monica venue, chosen partly for its visual impact and event production capacity, attracted a visible local audience, with PPL organisers reporting growing walk-in attendance across the four days. No attendance figure was confirmed at time of publication.

The PPL's next 2026 stop is expected later this autumn. In the meantime, several PPL roster players — including Gala — will compete at the Taranto Mediterranean Games before the circuit resumes with Premier Padel's Madrid P1, which runs qualifying from August 29 at Club Pro Padel Coslada before the main draw moves to Movistar Arena from September 1.