The 2026 Opendoor Pickleball World Championships are in the books — and the sport’s biggest event of the year didn’t disappoint. With a tour-high 3,000 ranking points on the line at Brookhaven Country Club in Farmers Branch, Texas (Nov 2–8), the week delivered a triple crown for Anna Leigh Waters, a breakout gold for a 15-year-old, and a five-game mixed-doubles war. Here’s every champion and the moments that mattered. — Jason Regan, Regan Family Pickleball
The 30-second version
- Anna Leigh Waters won a Triple Crown — singles, women’s doubles and mixed — the 46th of her career.
- JW Johnson & 15-year-old Tama Shimabukuro stormed back from 0–2 down to win men’s doubles.
- John Lucian Goins beat former tennis star Jack Sock for men’s singles gold.
- Ben Johns & Waters survived a two-hour, five-game mixed final over the Johnson siblings.
Who won the 2026 Pickleball World Championships?
Five champions were crowned on Championship Sunday, with all three doubles finals played best-of-five. Here are the finals:
- Women’s singles: Anna Leigh Waters def. Kate Fahey, 11–3, 11–2.
- Men’s singles: John Lucian Goins def. Jack Sock, 11–5, 12–10.
- Women’s doubles: Anna Leigh Waters / Anna Bright def. Catherine Parenteau / Sofia Sewing, 11–4, 11–9, 11–5.
- Men’s doubles: JW Johnson / Tama Shimabukuro def. Christian Alshon / Andrei Daescu, 5–11, 5–11, 11–4, 11–8, 11–4.
- Mixed doubles: Ben Johns / Anna Leigh Waters def. JW Johnson / Jorja Johnson, 9–11, 11–6, 11–9, 3–11, 11–4.
Anna Leigh Waters’ Triple Crown headlines the week
The world No. 1 swept all three events she entered — her 46th career Triple Crown — and made it four straight women’s singles titles at Worlds. Her singles final barely lasted 20 minutes; her mixed final with Ben Johns took more than two hours. Waters remains the gravitational center of the pro game, and if you want to know what she swings, we keep it current on her paddle page.
A 15-year-old and a comeback for the ages
The men’s doubles final was the shock of the weekend. JW Johnson — now the top DUPR-rated player in the world — and 15-year-old Tama Shimabukuro dropped the first two games 11–5, 11–5 to Christian Alshon and Andrei Daescu, then reeled off three straight to win gold. It was the pair’s first title together in just their fifth event as a team. Alshon and Daescu had their own signature moment earlier, upsetting top seeds Ben Johns and Gabe Tardio in the semifinals.
Tennis crossover: Jack Sock reaches a Worlds final
Former ATP top-10 pro Jack Sock continued his remarkable pickleball transition, reaching the men’s singles final before falling to Goins in a tight 12–10 second game. For a sport still courting crossover fans, a familiar tennis name on Championship Sunday is exactly the kind of storyline that grows the game.
What it means
Worlds is the most important title on the calendar, and the names on the trophies — Waters, Johns, the Johnsons, and a 15-year-old phenom — tell you where the pro game is heading. Here in New England, it’s a reminder that the gear the pros trust is the same gear you can pick up and play with this weekend. Dig into the full list of pro setups on our what paddle do the pros use hub, and keep up with every tour storyline at Pro Corner.
Results via the PPA Tour. All scores verified against official tournament reporting.
Frequently asked questions
Who won the 2026 Pickleball World Championships?
Anna Leigh Waters won three titles (women’s singles, women’s doubles and mixed doubles). John Lucian Goins won men’s singles, and JW Johnson with Tama Shimabukuro won men’s doubles.
Where were the 2026 Pickleball World Championships held?
At Brookhaven Country Club in Farmers Branch, Texas, from November 2–8, 2026.
How many ranking points did Worlds award?
3,000 ranking points to the winners — the most of any event on the PPA Tour calendar, which is why it’s considered the sport’s biggest title.
Did Anna Leigh Waters win a Triple Crown?
Yes. She won women’s singles, women’s doubles (with Anna Bright) and mixed doubles (with Ben Johns) — the 46th Triple Crown of her career.
Who did Jack Sock lose to in the final?
John Lucian Goins, 11–5, 12–10, in the men’s singles final.
