The Kitchen Women’s Top 20: Waters Leads, Jade Kawamoto Surges
What's the Score?
The Kitchen published its November 2025 ranking of the Top 20 Women’s Pickleball Players, confirming Anna Leigh Waters (No. 1) as the undisputed leader, or "GOAT". The most dramatic movement came from Jade Kawamoto (⬆️ 8), who climbed eight spots after a spectacular run of results, including winning gold with her sister at the Cincinnati Showcase.
Hit it deeper!
The women’s rankings were developed with consultation from an anonymous women's pro player and adhered to specific guidelines: gender doubles results accounted for 70% of the weight, mixed doubles for 30%, and PPA Tour results were favoured 70% over MLP results.
Anna Leigh Waters (↔️ 1) is recognised for her continued excellence. Since switching women’s doubles partners, she has secured a Triple Crown in her last three PPA Tour events. Anna Bright (↔️ 2) held her spot, buoyed by reaching 10 women’s doubles finals this season (six golds with Waters, four silvers with Rachel Rohrabacher). Jorja Johnson (↔️ 3) maintained her position, noted for being half of the next-best mixed doubles team outside of Waters and Johns, and for achieving a gold and three silver women’s doubles medals since August.
Tyra Black (⬆️ 4) moved up one spot, having reached the podium in 13 women’s doubles tournaments this season. Her ascent was primarily driven by a pivotal victory alongside Jorja Johnson over the highly dominant Waters and Bright pair at the Las Vegas Open in late August. Catherine Parenteau (⬇️ 5) dropped slightly but was commended as the "ultimate pro," consistently reaching Sunday play (for the final or bronze match) in all six tournaments since August.
Jade Kawamoto’s (⬆️ 8) eight-spot climb was the most significant. Her recent achievements include winning gold with her sister, Jackie Kawamoto, at the major Cincinnati Showcase event, earning two bronze medals with Catherine Parenteau, and finishing fourth at the Pickleball World Championships with Rachel Rohrabacher. Her sister, Jackie Kawamoto (⬆️ 10), also moved up, now boasting one gold and one bronze medal in women's doubles this season.
Rachel Rohrabacher (↔️ 6) was noted for making it to eight women’s doubles finals this season, securing silver each time, along with two bronze medals.
The World Pickleball Verdict
The women’s rankings demonstrate that while Anna Leigh Waters remains in a league of her own, the competitive depth has significantly increased, with the Kawamoto sisters and Tyra Black rapidly moving into the upper echelon. Jade Kawamoto's dramatic rise underscores the power of strong partnership cohesion and peak performances in major events. The consistency of players like Anna Bright and Catherine Parenteau, combined with the new threats emerging from the middle of the pack, ensures that the women's professional doubles circuit is becoming increasingly dynamic and unpredictable beneath the No. 1 spot.