The votes are in — and this year, the fans showed out.
More than 10,000 people cast their ballots in The 120/Life Dink Awards, and we can’t thank you enough for taking the time to weigh in, debate, and support the people and teams that make this sport what it is.
A huge thank you as well to our title sponsor, 120/Life, for backing the awards and helping us bring this celebration to life.
If you want to hear PickPod co-hosts Zane Navratil and Nico the Lefty discuss the full list of player winners, along with special guest Anna Bright, you can do that right now:
Next week, we'll be rolling out the next batch of winners – the Creator & Media category – with the week following announcing the rest of the awards: Paddle of the Year, Best Pickleball Facility, and Best International Tournament.
But without further ado, here are your 2025 The 120/Life Dink Awards winners in the Player category.
Men's Player of The Year
Winner: Ben Johns
Once again, Ben claims the crown for men's player of the year. Will he ever be dethroned? He has won every year of the Dink Awards and is clearly still the GOAT of pickleball in the hearts of fans. Ben won a whopping 26 gold medals in 2025, with the next closest man earning 12.
With the men's game getting increasingly competitive, time will tell whether we'll see a new champion of this category.
Scroll through below to see all the winners:
Women's Player of The Year
Winner: Anna Leigh Waters
Like Ben, Anna Leigh Waters is continuing her unstoppable reign as player of the year. No surprise here, she is triple-crowning left and right with no signs of slowing down. Anna Leigh won 39 total golds and eight triple crowns in 2025 – she was the only player to win a triple crown on the PPA Tour in 2025.
Alex E. Weaver
Men's Breakout Player of The Year
Winner: Chris Haworth
Chris is the definition of a breakout player. After an incredible run on the APP Tour, Chris came to the PPA in August of 2025 with no points and managed to climb to No. 4 in men's singles within a matter of months.
Chris won the Fasenra Virginia Beach Cup and the Florida Dairy Farmers Daytona Beach Open, while also medaling in two other events. From zero points to fourth in the world – if that doesn't define breakout player of the year, I don't know what does.
Alex E. Weaver
Women's Breakout Player of The Year
Winner: Alix Truong
The 21-year-old really made a name for herself on both the PPA Tour and the PPA Tour Asia circuit in 2025. Truong has been a pro since 2022, but really made leaps this past year. Let's look at some of her accomplishments:
- Earned eight medals overall in 2025
- Won four gold medals on the PPA Asia Tour, including double gold at the Hangzhou Open (mixed and women's doubles)
- Ended the year the 7th ranked woman in mixed doubles and 20th ranked woman in women's doubles on the PPA Tour
Upset of the Year
Winner: Kawamoto Sisters defeat Anna Leigh Waters and Anna Bright
The Kawamoto sisters have always been a force to be reckoned with, and they proved it back in September of 2025 when they beat Anna Leigh Waters and Anna Bright in a phenomenal 3-game match.
Jade and Jackie beat the #1 seed 11-9 in the third game of the semifinals in women's doubles at the Veolia Cincinnati Showcase. They would go on to beat Jorja Johnson and Hurricane Tyra Black in the finals for their first gold medal of their careers.
Best Dressed
Winner: Hurricane Tyra Black
Whether it’s the fit, the confidence, or the attention to detail, Tyra has turned pre-match style into a competitive advantage — and she’s become a constant fixture on The Dink’s best-dressed lists for a reason.
Emily Visnic
College Team of the Year
Winner: Texas
Dominant from start to finish, Texas proved once again why it sits at the top of the college pickleball landscape, earning College Team of the Year honors for the second straight season.
The Longhorn Pickleball Club won the 2025 National Championship on the Collegiate Pickleball Tour.
Fan Favorite Pro
Winner: Anna Bright
From dominant performances to an unapologetically real personality, Anna Bright gives fans plenty to love. She brings the fire on court, the humor off it, and consistently delivers great content, making her a no-brainer Fan Favorite Pro.
Anna Bright
Fan Favorite Major League Pickleball Team
Winner: Dallas Flash
Texas shows out once again. While the Dallas Flash may have just missed out on the MLP crown this year, they’re still big winners, earning Fan Favorite MLP Team honors thanks to a stacked roster and a fan base that clearly loves them.
Despite not winning the full season title, the Flash did take home some hardware in 2025 – they won the MLP Mid-Season Tournament in July.
Best On-Court Personality
Winner: Anna Bright
Plenty of pros are happy to show up, lock in, play their match, and move on. Anna Bright brings something different. Her competitive fire is palpable, the kind of energy you can feel through the screen, and it’s exactly why we’re not surprised she claims Best On-Court Personality this year.
Alex E. Weaver
Senior Men's Player of The Year
Winner: Steve Deakin
Talk about a run for the ages. Steve Deakin played in PPA Tour senior pro mixed doubles in six tournaments with Julie Johnson and they won five golds and one silver. He played in 11 PPA Tour senior men's doubles tournaments and won 11 gold medals, and didn't drop one game.
Senior Women's Player of The Year
Winner: Julie Johnson
Speaking of Julie Johnson, we know she is one of the best coaches in the game, but she can also play. She won five golds and a silver in senior pro mixed doubles with Steve Deakin, losing just four games in total during that run. In senior women's doubles Julie won two golds and a bronze title.
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