The PPA Tour 2025-26 season finale kicks off under the Toys "R" Us banner
The PPA Tour's 2025-26 season finale, the "Toys “R” Us PPA Finals presented by JOOLA," opened on May 6, 2026 at Life Time Rancho San Clemente in San Clemente, California. Running for five days through May 10, this event has a national U.S. broadcast on the FOX terrestrial network (Sundays 5–7 p.m. EST) lined up, and it's the season's biggest tournament with Toys R Us on the roster as title sponsor.
Entry is by invitation: the top 8 in each singles and mixed doubles event, and the top 16 in men's and women's doubles. For players who couldn't qualify, a parallel 500-point pro tournament is also held, gathering more than 1,500 players.
トイザらスの冠スポンサーシップ——ジェフリーがトロフィーを渡す
This title sponsorship includes multifaceted initiatives that go beyond mere logo exposure. In addition to exposure on the national FOX and FS1 broadcasts, the mascot character "Geoffrey" is set to present the winner's trophy during Sunday's live FOX broadcast.
During the tournament, new Toys R Us creative (ad assets) will launch, along with premium on-site activations and social-media-linked content. The aim is to highlight the affinity between pickleball's message as "a sport everyone from kids to adults can enjoy" and the Toys R Us brand image built around "play."
Broadcast schedule and how to watch
The tournament will be streamed across multiple platforms. Wednesday through Friday pool play streams on PickleballTV from 2 p.m. EST. FS1 has secured an exclusive Saturday semifinal window of 7–9 p.m. EST, and the Sunday final airs nationwide on FOX terrestrial from 5–7 p.m. EST.
| Schedule | Details | Broadcast/streaming | Time (EST) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wed 5/6 – Fri 5/8 | Pool play (qualifying round) | PickleballTV | 14:00〜 |
| Thu 5/8 · Fri 5/9 | Featured matches | FS2 | Select broadcast |
| Sat 5/9 | Semifinals | FS1 (exclusive) | 19:00〜21:00 |
| Sun 5/10 | Final | FOX terrestrial (exclusive) | 17:00〜19:00 |
Competitors and storylines to watch
Federico Staksrud and Christian Alshon are the two who qualified in all three events. Anna Leigh Waters announced her withdrawal from singles on May 4 and will focus on the two doubles events. Liz Truluck moved up from the alternate list into women's singles.
In men's singles, Chris Haworth, who went undefeated to win in Atlanta, competes as the current world No. 1. Another focal point is whether 15-year-old Tama Shimabukuro can carry his Atlanta momentum into this tournament.
In men's doubles, the pair of Ben Johns and Gabe Tardio remains undefeated in the 2026 season. The biggest highlight will be whether they can close out the season undefeated.
Tournament format and points system
| Stage | Format | Points earned |
|---|---|---|
| Pool play (Wed–Fri) | Two pools of 4 players/teams each; the top 2 by win rate advance | 300 pts per win |
| Semifinals (Sat) | A tournament among the top 2 from each pool | 400pt |
| Final (Sun) | Live on FOX | 700 pts (2,000 pts total for the champion) |
The champion is awarded a total of 2,000 PPA points, a major advantage heading into the following Major League Pickleball season.
業界の反応——ピックルボール商業化の新段階を示す放送規模
トイザらスのような消費者ブランドがピックルボール大会のタイトルスポンサーに就くのは、競技の商業的成熟を示す指標だ。PPA TourはすでにVeolia（水処理大手）やJOOLAといった企業スポンサーを獲得しているが、一般消費者向けの小売ブランドの参入は裾野の広がりを象徴している。
FOX地上波での日曜ゴールデンタイム枠の確保が特に注目される。FS1での土曜夜枠と合わせ、週末2日連続でのケーブル＋地上波放送により、ピックルボールが「ニッチスポーツ」から「メインストリームのテレビコンテンツ」へ移行しつつあることが示される。
会場のLife Time Rancho San Clementeは、PPA Tour公式が「ピックルボール史上最も美しい会場のひとつ」と評しており、カリフォルニアの海岸線を背景にした映像は放送映えするロケーションとなっている。
ファン・視聴者への視聴手段と注目ポイント
For Japanese fans, streaming on PickleballTV is the most accessible way to watch. In Japan time, it's viewable Wednesday–Friday from 3 a.m., Saturday from 8–10 a.m., and the Sunday final from 6–8 a.m.
大会での注目点は3つ。ベン・ジョンズ＆タルディオペアが2026年シーズンを完全無敗で終えられるかは、ピックルボール史に残る記録がかかった一戦となる。また、アトランタで旋風を巻き起こした15歳のタマ・シマブクロの継続的な活躍、そして男子シングルスの世界ランキング1位クリス・ハワースの王座防衛がある。
PPA Finals practical information
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Tournament Name | Toys “R” Us PPA Finals presented by JOOLA |
| Run | May 6 – May 10, 2026 |
| Venues | Life Time Rancho San Clemente (California) |
| Entry eligibility | Singles and mixed top 8, doubles top 16 |
| Parallel tournament | 500-point pro tournament (for those who didn't qualify) |
| National U.S. broadcast | FOX (Sun 5–7 p.m. EST), FS1 (Sat 7–9 p.m. EST) |
| Broadcast | PickleballTV (Wed–Sun) |
Summary
トイザらスがタイトルスポンサーに就き、FOX地上波が日曜ゴールデンタイムで全米中継するPPA Finals 2026は、ピックルボールの商業化が新しい段階に入ったことを示す大会だ。ベン・ジョンズ＆タルディオの無敗記録、ハワースの王座防衛、そしてアトランタの余韻を引きずるシマブクロの動向。5月10日のFOX決勝放送に向けて、ストーリーラインは出揃った。
Recommended Reading
- The PPA Tour releases pickleball's first-ever reality show "PARTNERS" on Prime Video on May 5
- プロピックルボール初の統一ルールブック——サッカー式カード制とドロップサーブ廃止で何が変わるのか
FAQ
Where can I watch the PPA Finals?
It will be streamed on PickleballTV from Wednesday through Sunday. The Saturday semifinals air on FS1 (7–9 p.m. EST) and the Sunday final airs nationwide on FOX terrestrial (5–7 p.m. EST). In Japan time, the Sunday final is 6–8 a.m.
How is entry eligibility determined?
For singles and mixed doubles, the top 8 in each event's 2025-26 season rankings are invited; for men's and women's doubles, the top 16. Players who don't qualify can enter the parallel 500-point pro tournament held at the same time.
Why did Toys R Us become a sponsor?
Because pickleball's "enjoyable at any age" quality matched the Toys R Us brand image built around "play." A staging in which the mascot "Geoffrey" presents the trophy on FOX terrestrial is also planned.
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