The age-old debate of 'Who is truly the best pickleball player in the world?' has finally been settled, thanks to a monumental announcement from the PPA Tour. Introducing the groundbreaking World Pickleball Rankings, the sport is ushering in a new era of clarity, competition, and global ambition starting with the 2026-2027 season.
Key Takeaways from the New System:
- A single, composite World Pickleball Ranking replaces discipline-specific leaderboards.
- Performance across gender doubles, mixed doubles, and singles is now weighted and combined.
- The system tracks players' 14 best results over a 52-week window, rewarding consistent multi-discipline play.
- The new rankings will directly influence event entries, byes, and qualification for the elite PPA Finals.
Unifying the Court: The World Pickleball Rankings Arrive
The Carvana PPA Tour officially unveiled the World Pickleball Rankings on Wednesday in Dallas, introducing the sport's first unified global ranking system. Set to debut during the 2026-27 season, the new format will combine results from every PPA event worldwide into a single leaderboard.
Replacing the previous discipline-specific rankings with one overall rating, the system is designed to provide players, fans, and the media with a clear and definitive measure of who truly stands at the top of the sport.
Scores are weighted across disciplines: gender doubles at 50%, mixed doubles at 35%, and singles at 15%. Players must consistently perform across all three formats, with their 14 best results over a 52-week window contributing to their overall standing.
Beyond Bragging Rights: Real Stakes for Top Pros
The impact of these new World Pickleball Rankings extends far beyond mere bragging rights. Top-ranked players and teams will earn crucial event entries and byes, streamlining their path through tournaments. Crucially, the rankings will also determine qualification for the season-ending PPA Finals. Here, the top eight men and top eight women will clash in a multi-discipline battle to be crowned the ultimate champion.
More Than a Slogan: 'BE THE BEST.'
Accompanying this ranking revolution is the PPA Tour's powerful new rallying cry: "BE THE BEST." This aspirational message is designed to resonate with everyone in the pickleball community. Whether you're an elite professional vying for a world title or an amateur stepping onto the court for the very first time, this mantra challenges you to find your own version of "best."
Jeff Watson, the Tour's SVP of marketing and communications, describes it as an invitation, more than a slogan. It's a shared challenge, a tangible goal for every player to chase, regardless of their skill level. Expect to see "BE THE BEST." prominently featured across PPA events, marketing campaigns, and merchandise, unifying the sport's identity.
Pardoe's Vision: Credibility and Global Ambition
Connor Pardoe, founder and CEO of the Carvana PPA Tour, emphasized that these changes are vital for the sport's credibility. He argues that true greatness in pickleball has always been multi-dimensional. The new system finally provides a ranking ambitious enough to match pickleball's explosive global growth, rewarding excellence wherever and however it's earned.
This dual launch—the comprehensive World Pickleball Rankings and the unifying "BE THE BEST." slogan—marks a pivotal moment for professional pickleball. It establishes a clear hierarchy, fosters fierce competition, and inspires a worldwide community, solidifying pickleball's place on the global sporting stage. More detailed information on the ranking mechanics is available directly from the PPA Tour.
