What happened on 'DWTS: The Next Pro'? Episode 3 injury changes everything
What happened on 'DWTS: The Next Pro'? Episode 3 injury changes everything
Lori Comstock, USA TODAY NETWORKTue, July 28, 2026 at 1:13 AM UTC
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Natalie Jolley left "Dancing with the Stars: The Next Pro" during Episode 3 on Monday night after she was not medically cleared to compete following an eye injury suffered during rehearsals.
The departure came after Jolley was accidentally struck in the eye by fellow contestant Stephani Sosa and taken to the hospital for evaluation.
Although judges later placed Selena Hamilton and Tristen Sanders in jeopardy, no dancer was eliminated during the episode. Instead, Jolley's medical withdrawal reduced the field from nine dancers to eight.
Here's who left "DWTS: The Next Pro" tonight, what happened during Episode 3 and which eight dancers advanced.
Who went home on 'DWTS: The Next Pro' tonight?
No dancer was eliminated during Episode 3.
However, Natalie Jolley exited the competition after she was not medically cleared to compete following an eye injury suffered during rehearsals.
The decision spared Selena Hamilton and Tristen Sanders, who had been placed in jeopardy, and allowed the remaining eight dancers to advance to next week's partner-selection challenge.
What happened on 'DWTS: The Next Pro' Episode 3?
The new "Dancing with the Stars" competition series began with 12 dancers competing for a coveted pro spot on "DWTS" Season 35 and is now down to eight contestants.
Episode 3 took an unexpected turn when Natalie Jolley was accidentally struck in the eye during rehearsals by Stephani Sosa and was later taken to the hospital for evaluation. Natalie was not medically cleared to continue competing and did not participate in the night's second challenge.
The remaining dancers first faced a surprise rehearsal evaluation from judges Mark Ballas and Shirley Ballas. After receiving criticism, Nina Mayster and Tristen Sanders were named team captains and tasked with selecting teams for a second challenge.
Team Nina (Tango)
Allen Genkin
AJ Pritchard
Adele Zaikman
Team Tristen (Paso Doble)
Stephani Sosa
Selena Hamilton
Erik Linder
Judges gave mixed reviews to Team Tristen's Paso Doble. Britt Stewart praised the powerful opening but said the dancers looked more like individuals than a team and suggested Tristen appeared "lost" at times. Mark Ballas praised Selena's talent but criticized her spatial awareness, while Shirley Ballas pointed to timing issues throughout the routine.
Team Nina received stronger feedback overall. Although Allen briefly fell during the performance, Mark quickly brushed off the mistake. Judges praised Nina's improvement, Adele's musicality and AJ's teamwork, with Shirley Ballas singling out AJ's growth as one of the night's biggest positives.
The judges ultimately named Team Tango the winner of the challenge, praising its synchronization and teamwork. That result gave Nina, Allen, AJ and Adele immunity from elimination.
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Team Paso Doble remained vulnerable, leading judges to place Selena Hamilton and Tristen Sanders in jeopardy. However, neither dancer was eliminated. Instead, Natalie exited the competition after she was not medically cleared to continue, bringing the field down from nine dancers to eight heading into next week's episode.
Who is in the 'DWTS: The Next Pro' cast?
"Dancing with the Stars: The Next Pro" cast list included 12 original dancers. Eight dancers remain after Natalie Jolley was medically eliminated.
Adele Zaikman, 24, Los Angeles — Latin dancer and Blackpool Dance Festival champion.
AJ Pritchard, 31, London, England — Former "Strictly Come Dancing" professional dancer and reality TV veteran.
Allen Genkin, 36, San Jose, California — Won DWTS' "Ballroom Battle" challenge in 2012 and now co-owns a California dance studio.
Benjamin 'Benji' Castro, 25, Miami — "So You Think You Can Dance" Season 16 finalist trained in ballet, ballroom, contemporary and acrobatics. (Eliminated in Episode 2)
Briar Nolet, 27, Los Angeles — Actor and dancer known for "The Next Step" and NBC's "World of Dance." (Eliminated in premiere)
Erik Linder, 26, Tampa, Florida — Ballroom and Latin dancer who previously appeared on "America's Got Talent" and performed on DWTS.
Jake Monreal, 22, Miami — Former "DWTS Juniors" contestant and "So You Think You Can Dance" alum. (Eliminated in premiere)
Natalie Jolley, 20, New YorkCity — Eight-time U.S. national champion and four-time World Smooth champion ballroom dancer. (Medically removed in Episode 3)
Nina Mayster, 28, Philadelphia — Latin dancer, national champion and dance studio owner.
Selena Hamilton, 21, Los Angeles — Commercial dancer who has performed with artists including Doechii and Lindsey Stirling.
Stephani Sosa, 26, Los Angeles — Former DWTS troupe member and sister of current DWTS pro Ezra Sosa.
Tristen Sanders, 28, Atlanta, Georgia — Ballroom and hip-hop dancer who transitioned from competitive gymnastics.
Following Natalie's medical withdrawal, eight dancers remain in the competition after the eliminations of Briar Nolet and Jake Monreal in the premiere and Benji Castro in Episode 2.
What is next on 'DWTS: The Next Pro'?
Next week's episode raises the stakes as Jenna Johnson challenges the remaining eight dancers to perform either a Rumba or Argentine Tango.
For the first time this season, contestants will choose their own partners. The lowest-scoring pair will be eliminated.
'DWTS: The Next Pro' schedule: When is the next episode of 'DWTS'?
"DWTS: The Next Pro" returns next Monday on ABC.
The remaining eight dancers will compete in the partner-selection challenge as the competition moves closer to the finale.
Where to watch 'DWTS: The Next Pro'
"Dancing with the Stars: The Next Pro" airs Mondays at 8 p.m. ET on ABC. New episodes stream the next day on Disney+ and Hulu.
The new "Dancing with the Stars" spinoff follows 12 dancers competing for a professional spot on "DWTS" Season 35. Robert Irwin hosts, while Mark Ballas and Shirley Ballas serve as judges, alongside guest judges that have included Derek Hough, Brandon Armstrong and Britt Stewart. Jenna Johnson will join as mentor and judge on Episode 4.
Watch 'DWTS: The Next Pro' on Disney+
DWTS Season 35: When does 'Dancing with the Stars' start?
ABC has confirmed that "Dancing with the Stars" Season 35 will premiere in fall 2026, though an exact premiere date has not yet been announced.
The winner of "Dancing with the Stars: The Next Pro" will earn a professional dancer spot on the upcoming season.
ABC has already announced several Season 35 cast members, including "Summer House" star Ciara Miller, reality TV personalities Maura Higgins and Guillermo Rodriguez, and Savannah Bananas player Jackson Olson.
Lori Comstock is a New Jersey-based reporter covering trending news with USA TODAY Network's Mid-Atlantic Connect Team. She covers news in the Northeast, including New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Washington DC, Maryland, and Virginia. Reach her at LComstock@usatodayco.com.
This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: What happened on 'DWTS: The Next Pro'? Episode 3 injury changes everything
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