Pro pickleball has genuine superstars now, with rivalries, storylines, and enough talent that the rankings churn every season. Here are the players worth knowing when you tune in — with the honest caveat that positions change week to week, so we link the official rankings for the current order.
Who is the best men’s player?
Ben Johns is the closest thing pickleball has to a Tiger Woods or Serena — a player who has defined an era. He’s spent years as the world’s top-ranked man and has excelled across all three disciplines at once: singles, men’s doubles (often alongside his brother Collin), and mixed. His game is built on control, spin, and a shot-selection IQ that’s a level above almost everyone. Even as a wave of younger, more athletic players pushes him, Johns remains the benchmark every other pro measures against.
Who is the best women’s player?
Anna Leigh Waters has dominated women’s pickleball since she was a teenager, holding the top ranking in both singles and doubles for long stretches. She often plays doubles with her mother, Leigh Waters — one of the sport’s best stories — and her game is defined by speed, relentless hands at the net, and a competitiveness that overwhelms opponents. For years the women’s question has been less “who beats Anna Leigh” and more “who can push her,” which tells you how far ahead she’s been.
Which challengers should you watch?
The men’s field behind Johns is deep and getting deeper. Federico Staksrud, an Argentine powerhouse, has the pace and mental toughness to trouble anyone and has spent time at the very top of the singles rankings. A new generation of hard-hitting younger players — names like Hayden Patriquin and other fast-rising pros — keep breaking through, which is exactly why the rankings shuffle so often now. On the women’s side, a rotating cast of veterans and teenagers keeps trying to close the gap on Waters. The through-line: the talent pool is expanding fast, and today’s “next big thing” can be next season’s champion.
Why do the rankings change so much?
Because pro pickleball is young and the athletic ceiling is rising every year. Players from tennis and other sports keep converting, teenagers keep maturing, and the money and training have gotten serious enough to raise everyone’s level. A player can be ranked outside the top five and win a marquee title months later. That volatility is part of the fun — but it also means any “top 10” list is a snapshot. For the current, official order, check the PPA Tour player rankings, which update through the season.
How do the pros get so good — and can you steal anything?
Yes, actually. The pro game looks like power, but it’s won on the soft game and shot selection — the same skills that win your local 3.5 matches. Watching how Johns resets under pressure, how Waters uses her hands at the kitchen, or how the best teams construct points is a genuine (free) coaching session. If watching makes you want to level up your own game, our Learn hub breaks these exact skills down, from the third-shot drop to dinking to hands battles.
What makes a pro different from a strong local player?
It’s tempting to think the pros just hit harder, but the real gaps are subtler. Elite pros have hands — reflex speed at the net that lets them counter a speed-up you or I would never touch. They have shot tolerance, meaning they’ll patiently dink twenty balls waiting for the one mistake, where amateurs crack first. And they have disguise and shot selection: they hide their intentions until the last instant and almost never pick the low-percentage option. Raw power is the most visible trait and the least important — plenty of bangers never crack the rankings because the top players simply reset their pace and wait them out. When you watch, look past the highlights to the boring, patient dinking; that’s where pro points are actually won.
The doubles and mixed stars worth knowing
Singles gets the individual glory, but pickleball is a doubles-first sport, and some players build their names as elite partners. The Johns brothers, Ben and Collin, have been one of the most dominant men’s doubles teams in the sport. On the women’s and mixed side, a rotating cast of top partnerships trades titles, and mixed doubles — one man, one woman per side — has become some of the most tactical, watchable pickleball there is, because it exposes matchups and forces teams to hunt the perceived weaker player. If your own game is doubles (and for most rec players it is), the doubles and mixed pros are the ones to study: their positioning, stacking, and communication translate directly to your Saturday games. Our guides on doubles strategy and stacking break down what they’re doing.
How do you actually follow a player’s career?
Because the tours run so many events, following one player is the easiest way to make pro pickleball feel coherent. Pick someone whose game you like, then track them through the PPA Tour brackets and their MLP franchise across the season. Each player has official rankings, head-to-head histories, and a home tour where their results live — start at the PPA Tour rankings and follow the names up the board. Over a season you’ll learn the rivalries, the partnerships, and the storylines, and suddenly a random Sunday final has real stakes. We’ll spotlight a different pro here in the Pro Corner regularly, so you’ll always have a new player to get to know.
Frequently asked questions
Who is the number one pickleball player?
Ben Johns has been the dominant men’s player and Anna Leigh Waters the top woman for years. Rankings shift through the season — check the official PPA Tour rankings for the current number one.
Who is Ben Johns?
Ben Johns is widely considered the greatest men’s pickleball player so far, a long-time world number one who competes at the top in singles, doubles, and mixed doubles.
Who is Anna Leigh Waters?
Anna Leigh Waters is the dominant women’s pickleball player, a phenom who reached number one as a teenager and frequently plays doubles with her mother, Leigh Waters.
Where can I see current pro rankings?
The official PPA Tour rankings at ppatour.com/player-rankings are updated through the season and are the best source for the current order.
Can watching the pros make me better?
Yes. The pro game is won on the soft game, resets, and shot selection — the same skills that win recreational matches. Watching how the best players construct points is a free lesson you can apply to your own game.