Quick answer: Team USA won the first MLP Nations Cup on November 1, 2026, and its six players did it on four different paddle brands — not one. Three play JOOLA (Ben Johns, Anna Bright, Kate Fahey), one plays PIKKL (Tyra Black), one plays Adidas (CJ Klinger), and one — former tennis pro Will Howells — has no paddle sponsor at all. JOOLA was the most-represented brand on the winning team.
The 30-second version
- Ben Johns — JOOLA Perseus Pro V 16mm
- Anna Bright — JOOLA Scorpeus Pro V 14mm
- Kate Fahey — JOOLA Agassi (her dual-signature line with Brooke Buckner)
- Tyra Black — PIKKL Hurricane Pro 14mm (PIKKL is now owned by Paddletek)
- CJ Klinger — Adidas AdiPower Pro EDT 16mm
- Will Howells — no paddle sponsor; a former college tennis player still new to the pro tour
Three JOOLA paddles carried the team
Half of Team USA’s roster — and its two biggest names — swing JOOLA. Ben Johns, the most decorated player in the sport, plays the JOOLA Perseus Pro V 16mm, the control-leaning 16mm build he has used through his 2026 run. Anna Bright, one of the best mixed players in the game, plays the thinner, more aggressive JOOLA Scorpeus Pro V 14mm. And Kate Fahey plays the JOOLA Agassi line — notable because JOOLA built it as a dual-signature paddle for Fahey and Brooke Buckner, a rare two-player signature in pickleball.
If you’ve been shopping JOOLA and couldn’t decide between the 16mm and 14mm versions, Team USA is a clean illustration: the 16mm Perseus is the control/forgiveness choice, the 14mm Scorpeus is the power/hand-speed choice. Same brand, two different jobs.
And three paddles that aren’t JOOLA at all
Tyra Black — “Hurricane” — plays the PIKKL Hurricane Pro 14mm, her own signature paddle. PIKKL was acquired by Paddletek in 2026, so in practical terms the Paddletek family had a player on the winning team too. CJ Klinger plays the Adidas AdiPower Pro EDT 16mm — one of the few Adidas paddles at the very top of the pro game.
Then there’s Will Howells, a former college tennis standout who came to pickleball late and climbed fast. As of this event he had no paddle sponsorship at all — which, on a championship team, is its own quiet statement: the gear matters less than most marketing suggests.
What this actually tells you about buying a paddle
The useful takeaway isn’t “buy what the winners play.” It’s the opposite. Six players on one championship roster split across four brands, two core thicknesses, and one of them with no deal at all. There is no single “best” paddle, and the pros prove it every event. What matters is matching a paddle to how you play — control vs. power, 16mm vs. 14mm, the shape that fits your swing.
That’s exactly what our tools are built to do. Rather than copy a pro, start from your own game.
FAQ
Who was on Team USA at the MLP Nations Cup?
Team USA’s roster was Ben Johns, Anna Bright, Kate Fahey, Tyra Black, CJ Klinger and Will Howells, captained by Johnny Goldberg. They went 5–0, beating Latin America 3–0 in the November 1 final.
What paddle does Ben Johns use?
Ben Johns plays the JOOLA Perseus Pro V 16mm, a control-oriented 16mm paddle. He has been a JOOLA signature athlete since 2021.
What paddle does Anna Bright use?
Anna Bright plays the JOOLA Scorpeus Pro V 14mm, a thinner, more power- and hand-speed-oriented paddle than Johns’ 16mm Perseus.
Did every player on Team USA use the same brand?
No. Three used JOOLA (Johns, Bright, Fahey), one used PIKKL (Tyra Black), one used Adidas (CJ Klinger), and Will Howells had no paddle sponsor. The winning team spanned four paddle situations, not one.
Should I buy the paddle the pros use?
Not automatically. Pros are paid to play specific brands, and a championship team used four different ones. The better approach is to match a paddle to your own style and budget — our paddle finder does that in a couple of questions.
Find the paddle that fits your game, not a pro’s contract: try the Paddle Finder by play style, compare specs in the full paddle database, or read how Team USA won the Nations Cup.
