Meet the Women Dominating Pro Pickleball in 2026

Women's pickleball right now is stacked. Genuinely, legitimately stacked — the depth of talent, the rivalries, the sheer number of players putting up numbers that would be absurd in almost any other sport. Here are the names you need to know if you're not already following along closely.

Anna Leigh Waters — still the standard everyone else is measured against.

There isn't really a debate here. Waters enters this season with nearly two hundred career titles across singles, doubles, and mixed doubles, and a win rate in gold medal matches that sits somewhere around the "is this actually fair" range. She's also racked up more Triple Crowns (winning all three disciplines at a single event) than anyone in PPA Tour history, several times winning three or more events in a row. At this point, the more interesting question isn't whether she'll win — it's by how much, and who might finally close the gap.

Anna Bright — the most in-demand partner in the sport.

Bright's partnership with Waters in women's doubles has been close to flawless this season, and her mixed doubles run alongside Hayden Patriquin has quietly become one of the best storylines in the sport (see: their long-awaited breakthrough win over Waters and Ben Johns after a string of painfully close losses). If there's a "best doubles partner to have in your corner" award, Bright's a serious contender.

Jorja Johnson — the rising force behind MLP's hottest team.

As part of the New Jersey 5s' dominant women's doubles pairing, Jorja Johnson has been a huge piece of the team's near-unbeaten run this MLP season. She's exactly the kind of player who reminds you that the "next generation" isn't coming — it's already here, and it's already winning titles.

Sofia Sewing — quietly racking up history.

Sewing has continued building her case as one of the sport's most complete competitors, adding to the still-small list of players who've completed a Triple Crown on the APP Tour — a genuinely rare feat that speaks to just how well-rounded her game is across singles, doubles, and mixed.

Rachel Rohrabacher — a fixture in the sport's biggest finals.

Rohrabacher has continued to show up on the sport's biggest stages this season, competing at the highest level of mixed doubles alongside top partners. She's also, unfortunately, been part of one of the season's more sobering storylines after being injured in an on-court incident at MLP New York — a reminder that even at the top of the sport, these athletes are putting themselves on the line every single weekend.

Why this matters for the rest of us.

Watching this level of talent isn't just entertainment — it's genuinely useful. The footwork, the patience in the kitchen, the shot selection under pressure — all of it trickles down. Next time you're at open play, borrow a page from one of these players and watch your own game level up a little.

Who's your favorite to watch right now? Let us know — we could talk about this stuff all day.

— Cross Court Social Club