Nike Makes Pickleball History as Anna Leigh Waters Headlines the 2026 PPA Masters
What’s the Score?
The professional pickleball season has officially launched with the 2026 Carvana PPA Masters at the Mission Hills Country Club in Rancho Mirage, California, marking a historic turning point for the sport’s commercial and competitive landscape. With a massive 2,000 ranking points on the line, the event is headlined by Anna Leigh Waters’ landmark apparel deal with Nike, the debut of Will Howells as a contracted tour professional, and a series of major paddle sponsorship shifts. On the court, the Round of 32 features a gauntlet of elite matchups across five pro events, broadcast nationally on PickleballTV and CBS.
Hit it deeper!
The buzz in Rancho Mirage is centred as much on the "Swoosh" as it is on the scoreboard. Anna Leigh Waters, the world’s top-ranked female player, has become the first pickleball athlete to sign with Nike, transitioning from her previous partnership with FILA. Waters described the move as a "dream realised," noting that she grew up watching her idols wear the brand. She debuted her new Nike kit on Tuesday, signaling a shift toward a sportier, high-performance aesthetic that includes a striking cobalt blue ribbed tank and fitted skirt. This news followed closely on the heels of her signing a new paddle deal with Franklin Sports.
Beyond Waters, the equipment landscape is shifting rapidly. Gabe Tardio has officially joined the Vietnamese company Facolos, a move expected to provide significant international momentum for the brand. On the competitive front, Will Howells is under intense scrutiny as he plays his first tournament since signing a pro contract. Howells’ Tuesday schedule was packed with four potential matches on the Humana Championship Court, including a high-stakes Round of 64 clash against No. 2 seed Federico Staksrud.
Today’s Round of 32 order of play (January 14th) promises elite action across all brackets. On the Humana Championship Court, notable matches include:
- Women’s Singles: (6) Catherine Parenteau vs. (25) Mari Humberg.
- Men’s Singles: (7) Jack Sock vs. (30) Tom Protzsek; (1) Hunter Johnson vs. (25) Yates Johnson.
- Mixed Doubles: (1) Waters / B. Johns vs. (28) Kovalova / Wright.
- Men’s Doubles: (1) B. Johns / Tardio vs. (29) Benitez / Trinh; (3) Jo. Johnson / Black vs. (29) Caruso / Griffith.
Other courts will feature (2) Federico Staksrud against Ryan Sherry, and Jack Sock pulling double duty in both singles and doubles with partner Noe Khlif. Injury news has also impacted the brackets, as Pablo Tellez withdrew from singles due to a knee injury, though he remains in the mixed and men's doubles draws.
The World Pickleball Verdict
The 2026 PPA Masters is no longer just a season opener; it is a declaration of pickleball's arrival in the mainstream sporting pantheon. The Nike-Waters partnership is the ultimate "seal of approval," placing a pickleball athlete alongside icons like LeBron James and Serena Williams.
This commercial maturation, combined with the influx of high-calibre talent like Will Howells and the strategic movement of players like Gabe Tardio to international brands, suggests that the "Wild West" era of the sport is over. We are now witnessing a structured, elite professional circuit that commands national television windows and global brand investment.