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.
The Toys R Us title sponsorship — Geoffrey hands over the trophy
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.
Industry reaction — "a new form of sports sponsorship"
A consumer brand like Toys R Us becoming the title sponsor of a pickleball tournament is one indicator of the sport's commercial maturity. The PPA Tour has already secured corporate sponsors such as Veolia (a major water treatment company) and JOOLA, but the entry of a mass-consumer retail brand symbolizes the broadening of its base.
Securing a Sunday prime-time slot on FOX terrestrial is also proof that pickleball is shifting from a "niche sport" to "mainstream TV content." Combined with the Saturday-night slot on FS1, back-to-back weekend cable-plus-terrestrial broadcasts are exceptional treatment for a sport other than the NFL or MLB.
The PPA Tour's official site also introduces Life Time Rancho San Clemente as "one of the most beautiful venues in pickleball history," and footage set against the California coastline makes for a broadcast-friendly location.
Impact on fans and viewers
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.
It's worth watching whether 15-year-old Tama Shimabukuro, who caused a stir in Atlanta, is also competing here. And whether the undefeated pair of Ben Johns & Tardio can finish the season completely undefeated is a matchup with a record for the ages on the line.
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
With Toys R Us as title sponsor and FOX terrestrial broadcasting nationwide in Sunday prime time, the PPA Finals 2026 is a tournament that shows pickleball's commercialization entering a new stage. Ben Johns & Tardio's undefeated record, Haworth's title defense, and the trajectory of Shimabukuro carrying over his Atlanta afterglow. Heading into the FOX final broadcast on May 10, the storylines are all set.
Recommended Reading
- The PPA Tour releases pickleball's first-ever reality show "PARTNERS" on Prime Video on May 5
- Pro pickleball's first unified rulebook — what changes with a soccer-style card system and the abolition of the drop serve
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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