The 2025-26 Professional Pickleball Association season came to a thrilling close at the 2026 Toys R' Us Tour Finals in San Clemente, California, and the story of the weekend was simple: the top seeds dominated. All five No. 1 seeds walked away with titles, proving that consistency and skill matter most over a grueling 20-plus event season.
Held at the familiar Life Time Fitness in San Clemente, the Tour Finals featured a unique group stage format that guaranteed high-quality matches from the very start. Every game mattered, and the intensity only ramped up as several finals were broadcast nationally. It was a fitting capstone to a season where the elite players truly separated themselves from the pack.
In women's doubles, Anna Bright and Anna Leigh Waters capped off a fantastic season together by taking the title. Their chemistry on the court was undeniable, and their victory in San Clemente was the perfect ending to a year of teamwork and dominance.
Men's singles saw Christopher Haworth continue his incredible run. Despite a rocky start in the group stage—where the top seed actually lost a match—Haworth regrouped and battled through the knockout rounds to claim the Tour Finals crown. It was a testament to his resilience and why he's been so tough to beat all season.
The format was simple but intense: eight qualifiers per division were split into two preliminary pools for round-robin play. The top two from each pool advanced to the semifinals, where a brief knockout round determined the champions. No bronze medal matches were played, so every point carried extra weight. Players earned 300 points for a group stage win, 400 for a semifinal win, and 700 for a finals victory. A perfect, undefeated weekend was worth a maximum of 2,000 points.
For fans of the sport, the Tour Finals delivered exactly what you'd hope for: drama, elite-level play, and a clear statement that the best in the game are there for a reason. Whether you're a player looking to improve your own game or just a fan of great competition, this event was a reminder of why pickleball continues to grow at such a rapid pace.