Vote Now for The 120/Life Dink Awards

Awards season is back. And once again, pickleball fans are in charge.

Voting is now open for The 2026 120/Life Dink Awards, the sport’s first and only people’s choice awards, where players, creators, and moments are decided by the fans who actually live the game.

You nominated. We counted. Then counted again. And now, it’s time to vote.

From breakout pros and fan-favorite creators to the best facilities, podcasts, and paddles in the game, this year’s ballot reflects just how big (and loud) pickleball has become.

👉 Voting is live now at DinkAwards.com
👉 Voting closes Jan 21 — don’t overthink it
🏆 Every voter is entered to win a paddle of their choice!

Below is the full list of nominees for The 2026 The Dink Awards.

Player Awards

Men's Player of The Year

• Ben Johns
• Gabe Tardio
• Christian Alshon
• Andrei Daescu
• Federico Staksrud

Women's Player of The Year

• Anna Leigh Waters
• Anna Bright
• Catherine Parenteau
• Hurricane Tyra Black
• Rachel Rohrabacher

Senior Men's Player of The Year

• Altaf Merchant
• Jose Deresi
• Steve Deakin

Senior Women's Player of The Year

• Lee Whitwell
• Julie Johnson
• Sheri Counter

Men's Breakout Player of The Year - powered by Selkirk

• Chris Haworth
• Eric Oncins
• Noe Kliff
• Roscoe Bellamy
• John Lucian Goins

Women's Breakout Player of The Year - powered by Selkirk

• Kate Fahey
• Kat Stewart
• Alix Truong
• Sofia Sewing
• Genie Bouchard

Upset of the Year - powered by DUPR

• Jade Kawamoto/Jackie Kawamoto def. Anna Leigh Waters/Anna Bright
• Anna Bright/Dekel Bar def. Anna Leigh Waters/Ben Johns
• Eric Oncins/Alix Truong def. Catherine Parenteau/Christian Alshon
• Tom Evans def. Federico Staksrud
• Columbus Sliders playoff run (def. Dallas Flash, St. Louis Shock, New Jersey 5s)

120/Life Named Title Sponsor of The Dink Awards 2025

The doctor-endorsed beverage company operates by a singular motto: supporting healthy blood pressure doesn’t have to feel intimidating or out of reach

The Dink PickleballAlex E. Weaver

Fan Favorite Player of the Year

• Anna Bright
• Anna Leigh Waters
• Ben Johns
• Jorja Johnson
• Hayden Patriquin

Best On-Court Personality

• Anna Bright
• Jaume Martinez Vich
• Tyson McGuffin
• Hayden Patriquin
• Jack Sock

College Team of the Year - powered by DUPR

• Texas
• Utah Tech
• FAU
• Arizona State
• Indiana
• Utah Valley
• Wisconsin
• Ohio State
• Washington
• UNC
• GCU
• UF
• UVA
• Miami (FL)
• JMU
• Alabama
• UConn
• Virginia Tech
• TCU
• Purdue

Creator & Media Awards

Best On-Air Personality

• Dave Fleming
• Lea Jansen
• Michelle McMahon
• Adam Stone
• Matt Manasse

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Best Pickleball Podcast

• PicklePod
• Pickleballers
• King of the Court
• Pickleball Studio
• Balls Deep
• Kew Cast
• Pickleball Cheat Code
• Cracked Paddles
• Pickleball Pursuit
• Pickleball U
• Pickleball Effect
• Bad Calls

YouTuber of the Year

• Tanner Tomasi
• Kyle Koszuta
• Zane Navratil
• Eellaup
• Ed Ju
• Friday Pickleball
• Chris Cali (Sorry Not Sorry)
• Building Pickleball
• Kevin Dong
• Shea Underwood
• Pickleball Studio
• Tyson McGuffin
• Jordan Briones
• Cliff Pickleball
• Cracked Pickleball
• Kevin Dong Pickleball

Content Creator of the Year

• Anna Bright
• Tanner Tomassi
• Mari Humberg
• Kyle Koszuta
• Zane Navartil
• Paul Lee (eellaup)
• Dom Serves
• Nico the Lefty
• Emily Visnic
• Pickleball On Ice
• Juanseanpb
• FIt2Serve
• Vinny Pickleball
• Building Pickleball
• Sydney Steineker
• Tara Fieri
• Picklewithsilas
• Troy Akin
• Pickleballbybryant
• All Things Pickleball

Best Paddle Reviewer

• John Kew
• Chris Olson
• Braydon Unsicker
• Pickleball Pursuit
• Best Pickleball Instructor
• Tanner Tomassi
• Kyle Koszuta
• Mari Humberg
• Briones Pickleball
• John Cincola
• Zane Navratil
• Callie Jo Smith
• Suzee Anderson Utah
• Reggie Sanderson Hilton head
• Jack Munro
• Wayne bullock Utah
• Ginny Alexander San Diego
• Tommy welch
• Vu Truong Vietnam

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Raise Your Pickleball IQ with the #1 Newsletter in the Sport. Get free tips, highlights, news, and reviews for all things Pickleball.

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Best Pickleball Instructor - Powered by PPR

• Tanner Tomassi
• Kyle Koszuta
• Mari Humberg
• Briones Pickleball
• John Cincola
• Zane Navratil
• Callie Jo Smith
• Suzee Anderson Utah
• Reggie Sanderson Hilton head
• Jack Munro
• Wayne bullock Utah
• Ginny Alexander San Diego
• Tommy welch
• Vu Truong Vietnam

Best Pickleball Journalist

• Erik Tice
• Alex Lantz
• NML
• Will Daughton
• Todd Boss
• Alex Weaver

Influential Voice

• Zane Navratil
• Jason Aspes
• Jimmy Miller
• Connor Pardoe
• Thomas Shields

Gear, Events, & Experience Awards

Best Dressed Player of The Year

• Hurricane Tyra Black
• Parris Todd
• Anna Bright
• Jorja Johnson
• Hannah Blatt

Paddle of the Year

• Selkirk Boomstick
• Joola Pro IV
• Bread and Butter Loco
• RPM Friction Pro
• Ronbus Quanta
• Gearbox GX2 Power
• Franklin C45
• CRBN TruFoam Genesis
• Luzz Cannon
• 11Six24 Alpha Pro Power

Best International Tournament

• PPA Asia
• PPA Australia
• English Open
• Pickleball World Cup
• Indian Open or India Tour
• The Dink Minor League Pickleball China

The Dink Introduces “Best Pickleball Facility” — A New Fan-Voted Award for 2025

Pickleball has changed fast. And dedicated pickleball clubs have popped up across the country, reimagining what a pickleball facility can be, building community from the ground up, and raising the bar for the player experience. To recognize that growth, The Dink is introducing a brand-new category for the 120/Life

The Dink PickleballLuke Burton

Best Pickleball Facility West Coast

• The Hub - Campbell CA
• The Hub - Alameda CA
• Side Out Tsunami - Seattle WA
• Premier Pickleball Club - Redmond OR
• San Clemente Lifetime - San Clemente CA
• Los Cab - Fountain Valley, CA
• Best Pickleball Facility Rocky Mountains
• The Flying Pickle - Meridian ID
• The Picklr - Lehi - UT
• Relish - Louisville CO
• Peak Racquet Club - Mussoula MT
• 3rd Shot Pickleball - Reno NV

Best Pickleball Facility Southwest

• Cranky Pickle - New Braunfels TX
• Picklr - Austin TX
• Pickler Universe Carollton - Dallas TX
• Arizona Athletic Grounds - Mesa AZ
• Smashers Pickleball - San Antonio TX
• Austin Pickle Ranch - Austin TX

Best Pickleball Facility Midwest

• Match Point - Columbus OH
• SPF - Chicago IL
• DINX Social Club - Highland Park IL
• The Picklr - Noblesville IA
• The Pickle Lodge - Cinci OH
• Pickleball 365 - Fairhaven MI
• Pickle & Chill - Columbus OH
• Midwest Pickleball Club - Omaha NE

Best Pickleball Facility Southeast

• Pictona - Holly Hill FL
• Let's Go Pickleball - Peachtree City GA
• Down The Line - Annandale VA
• The Fort - Fort Lauderdale FL
• Replay - Boynton Beach FL
• St Pete Athletic - St Pete FL
• Bounce - Baltimore MD
• Rally - Charlotte, NC
• The Pickle Bar - Summerville SC

Best Pickleball Facility Northeast

• PickleBOS - Boston MA
• Bounce Pickleball - Malvern PA
• Ascent Pickleball - New Castle PA
• Gotham - Long Island City NY
• Life Time Penn1 - NY NY
• The Picklr - Fairlawn NJ
• Hells Kitchen Pickleball - NY NY
• Pickle Spot - Orange CT