What’s the Score?
As the PPA Tour closes the book on 2025, the final women’s rankings offer a snapshot of a tour in transition. While Anna Leigh Waters (ALW) remains the undisputed, unstoppable force at World No. 1, the hierarchy beneath her has fractured into a complex three-way battle. The year-end analysis reveals a statistical tie for the number two spot between Anna Bright, Jorja Johnson, and Tyra Black, signalling the end of the clear-cut “runner-up” era and the beginning of a fierce dogfight for podium positions in 2026.
Hit it deeper!
The dominance of Anna Leigh Waters is now absolute; the analysis notes she is the best player “by a wide margin.” However, the intrigue lies in the chasing pack. Anna Bright, previously the comfortable No. 2, has shown vulnerability, partly due to mixed doubles results and losses sustained even when partnering with Waters. This slip has allowed Jorja Johnson, who enjoyed a stellar year in mixed doubles, and Tyra Black, who has cemented herself as a premier left-side specialist, to pull even. The analysis suggests that while Bright remains elite, the gap has vanished.
Further down the list, the rankings highlight the strategic importance of partnership chemistry. Catherine Parenteau (No. 5) and Rachel Rohrabacher (No. 6) find themselves in similar predicaments: they are dominant right-side players struggling to find consistent left-side partners in a field where such specialists are rare. Conversely, the Kawamoto sisters, Jade and Jackie, end the year tied at No. 8, proving that established chemistry—”the whole is better than the parts”—remains a viable strategy against raw power.
The list also forecasts a changing of the guard. Veteran Tina Pisnik (No. 11) is predicted to slide as the game becomes faster and more power-oriented. Meanwhile, younger talents like Kate Fahey (No. 18) and Kaitlyn Christian (No. 19) are identified as high-ceiling players. Both are exceptional singles players who are currently “inconsistent” at doubles but are expected to surge in the 2026 rankings once they master the nuances of the partnership game.
The World Pickleball Verdict
The 2025 rankings confirm that women’s pickleball is evolving from a game of consistency to a game of specialisation. The struggle of top players like Parenteau to find partners highlights a market inefficiency: there is a desperate shortage of elite left-side female players. This scarcity is shaping the rankings as much as individual skill. For 2026, the verdict is clear: raw talent (like Fahey and Christian) is abundant, but the ability to forge a cohesive doubles unit will determine who survives in the top 10.
