What’s the Score?
The people have spoken. Over 10,000 fans cast their votes in the 2025 Dink Awards, and the results confirm that the sport’s hierarchy remains intact. Ben Johns and Anna Leigh Waters have once again been crowned the Men’s and Women’s Players of the Year, continuing their absolute dominance over professional pickleball.
Hit it Deeper!
The awards, sponsored by 120/Life, celebrated excellence across the sport, but the top prizes held few surprises. Ben Johns, described as the “GOAT” by fans, secured the Men’s Player of the Year title after a season that saw him capture a staggering 26 gold medals—more than double his closest competitor, who managed only 12.
On the women’s side, Anna Leigh Waters was even more prolific. Waters was named Women’s Player of the Year after winning 39 total gold medals and achieving eight Triple Crowns on the PPA Tour in 2025. She was the only player to achieve a Triple Crown all year, underscoring the gap between her and the rest of the field.
However, the awards also highlighted the new blood injecting excitement into the tour. Chris Haworth won Men’s Breakout Player of the Year. His rise was meteoric; he joined the PPA Tour in August 2025 with zero points and finished the year ranked No. 4 in singles, winning titles at Virginia Beach and Daytona Beach. The Women’s Breakout Player was Alix Truong, who leveraged a strong showing on the PPA Asia Tour (four golds) to climb the global rankings.
Other notable winners included:
- Upset of the Year: The Kawamoto sisters (Jade and Jackie) for their stunning victory over the powerhouse team of Anna Leigh Waters and Anna Bright at the Veolia Cincinnati Showcase.
- Fan Favourite & Personality: Anna Bright cleaned up in the personality categories, winning both Fan Favourite Pro and Best On-Court Personality for her fiery demeanour and engaging content.
- Senior Players of the Year: Steve Deakin (11 golds in senior men’s doubles) and Julie Johnson took top honours for the senior circuit.
- Best Dressed: Hurricane Tyra Black was recognised for her on-court style.
The World Pickleball Verdict
The 2025 Dink Awards tell a tale of two realities. At the very top, the sport is static: Johns and Waters are immovable objects. Their medal counts are almost comical compared to their peers. However, looking just below the summit reveals a sport in dynamic flux.
The recognition of Chris Haworth is particularly significant. For a player to go from unranked to World No. 4 in five months suggests that the talent pool is deepening and that athleticism from other sports (tennis) is translating faster than ever. Furthermore, the popularity of Anna Bright proves that fans are craving personality and storytelling just as much as they crave wins. Pickleball is evolving into a true spectator product, where “characters” like Bright and “villains” (or at least disruptors) like the Kawamoto sisters drive engagement. The dynasty of Johns and Waters is safe for now, but the supporting cast is getting much, much stronger.