ANAHEIM, Calif. — Dallas Drive delivered its first win of the 2026 Pro Cheer League season Saturday night at the Anaheim Convention Center, taking the win from Miami Metal in a tight contest that reshaped the league standings heading into the championship.
Dallas finished the match with 12 points, just ahead of Miami Metal with 11. Atlanta Air placed third with nine points, and Golden State Grit finished fourth with eight.
The victory also earned Dallas the league’s $15,000 team prize and moved the Drive within two points of first place in the Pro Cheer League standings.
The Anaheim match marked the first time this season that all four teams captured at least one quarter win, a sign of increasing parity across the league as teams prepare for the championship event later this month.
“Hats off to the Dallas Drive for rising to the moment and keeping their title hopes alive,” Pro Cheer League Commissioner John Newby said. “But the biggest takeaway tonight was the level of competition. There were no easy wins and each team put in the work and showed the preparation this sport demands.”
Strong Opening Quarter Sets the Tone
Dallas set the pace early with a prepared routine that judges described as dynamic from start to finish. Judge Denise Dicharry called the performance “a comprehensive routine with nonstop dynamics from the front of the mat to the back.”
The Drive narrowly captured the first quarter, with Miami Metal finishing second, Golden State Grit third and Atlanta Air fourth.
From there, the remaining quarters shifted into the Pro Cheer League’s head-to-head event format. Teams competed in rapid matchups to determine seeding, with winners advancing to battle for the top points available in each round.
Miami Claims Second Quarter
The second quarter opened with Hangtime, where athletes compete to send a flyer highest into the air.
Dallas captain Maddie Hayes remained undefeated in the event this season, defeating Golden State’s entry to advance. Miami’s Hailey D’Lynn won a replay decision against Atlanta Air to set up a matchup with Dallas.
Miami ultimately secured the quarter during All Girl Endurance, where four female athletes from each team perform tick-tocks for 45 seconds. Julia Romero matched the league record with 46 repetitions, helping Miami capture the round after an early fall by Dallas.
Atlanta claimed third place in the quarter with a narrow win over Golden State in All Girl Big Trick.
Atlanta Upsets in Third Quarter
Bullseye opened the third quarter, a fan-favorite event where athletes complete a tumbling pass before attempting to land on a target.
Miami’s Kory Little delivered a historic moment, landing the first perfect bullseye in league history by hitting the center of the target.
“That was probably luck,” Little said during a mid-quarter interview. “But I came here to show out for my Stunt family watching and to make sure everyone knows we’re hungry for the title.”
Atlanta Air then upset Dallas in their Bullseye matchup to advance to the winners bracket. The Air continued their momentum in Coed Big Trick, where newcomers Sam Ditta and Tyson Carter defeated Miami’s established duo of Hailey D’Lynn Smith and Josh Hill.
Meanwhile, Dallas remained in contention with a narrow victory over Golden State in Last Pass, highlighted by a standout tumbling sequence from Kobe Williams.
Asa Ware’s Tumbling Clears the Way
The decisive moment came in the fourth quarter when the Highest Tumbler event returned to determine seeding for the final rounds.
Dallas needed a win to guarantee the overall match victory.
Drive athlete Asa Ware cleared the 7-foot-9 bar, despite never reaching that height in previous attempts this season. The successful pass triggered a celebration on the Dallas sideline and secured the match win.
“We’ve been so close time after time, so it feels rewarding to finally celebrate a win,” Dallas Drive coach Tucker Hunter said. “We told the athletes not to put too much pressure on themselves in that event, and they delivered a special moment.”
Golden State later claimed the Coed Endurance matchup, while Atlanta secured a Flash Pyramid win over Miami to close the quarter.
As the final scores were confirmed, Dallas athletes gathered at center stage in celebration.
“We are used to being the underdogs,” Dallas athlete Anuhea Keene said. “People think we bring the entertainment, but the best thing Dallas does is perform when the lights and music are on.”
Championship Awaits in Nashville
With the regular season complete, the Pro Cheer League championship is scheduled for March 27 in Nashville. Each round at the championship will carry double the points of a regular-season match, leaving the title race wide open.
Final Results — Anaheim Match
Dallas Drive — 12
Miami Metal — 11
Atlanta Air — 9
Golden State Grit — 8
The Pro Cheer League championship will take place at 8 p.m. ET in Nashville and will air live on ION, with replays available through Varsity TV.
