STORYLINES FOR THE PICKLEBALL CENTRAL INDOOR NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS (January 19-25, 2026)

NOTE: written before conclusion of Carvana Masters, so storylines could evolve from results in California.

OVERALL TOP 5:

• BABY IT’S COLD OUTSIDE: Playing inside – who will take advantage of the faster conditions?
• GOLDEN OPPORTUNITY: No Ben Johns and Anna Leigh Waters is just playing women’s doubles.
• CHEMISTRY LESSON: Many new teams will be looking to gel (Staksrud and Klinger, for example).
• STATE OF PICKLEBALL?: Will any of the local MN pros break through and find a medal?
• OPEN FOR BUSINESS: 1,000 points to the winners.

VENUE/TOURNEY/TV:

• Back at Life Time Lakeville after a hiatus in 2025.
• Event #2 in 2026 features a progressive draw, one round per bracket per day.
• Coverage on PickleballTV begins with the round of 16 and starts at 10am Central Thursday through Sunday.
• Tennis Channel coverage 1-4pm Central on Thursday and Friday.
• No defending medalists.

MEN’S SINGLES:

• Hunter Johnson is the top seed and Federico Staksrud (2) are the only players with byes to round of 32.
• Ben Johns, Jack Sock not playing singles or any events in MN.
• Bro, seriously? Hunter and Yates Johnson could square off again – this time in R16.
• Great potential R16 matchup: Garnett (4) vs. McGuffin (18)
• WATCH OUT FOR: Christian Alshon (3) – won 3 times in 2025.

WOMEN’S SINGLES:

• Kaitlyn Christian (1) and Brooke Buckner (2) top the seeds.
• Potential Quarterfinal matchup to watch: Parris Todd (4) vs. Catherine Parenteau (5)
• Potential Quarterfinal matchup to watch part 2: Lea Jansen (3) vs. Judit Castillo (7)
• WATCH OUT FOR: Parris Todd (4) returns from one tournament suspension – can she medal?

MIXED DOUBLES:

• Anna Bright and Hayden Patriquin carry the 1 by their name in Lakeville.
• Is this the breakthrough week for the (2) seed Tyra Black and Christian Alshon? No mixed golds for either.
• R16 can’t miss potential matchup: A Truong/Staksrud (5) vs. Dizon/Oncins (9)
• R16 can’t miss potential matchup 2: Pisnik/Khlif (8) vs. Jansen/Frazier (11)
• WATCH OUT FOR: Catherine Pareteau/Gabe Tardio (3) – how do they fare in tourney #2 of their partnership?

WOMEN’S DOUBLES:

• Waters and Bright are the (1) seed – will the ALW “just lob it” serve scrape the ceiling indoors?
• Parenteau and Rohrabacher (2) are the second seed and get the only other bye to the R16.
• Potential R16 match to watch: Pisnik/Campbell (9) vs. Buckner/Wang (7)
• Potential Q to watch: Schneemann/Dizon (4) vs. Jansen/Smith (8)
• WATCH OUT FOR: Waters and Bright (1) – with Waters only playing one event…look out.

MEN’S DOUBLES:

• Top seed is the old but new pairing of Tardio/Daescu who won back to back in 2024.
• Potential R16 match to watch: Alshon/Patriquin (2) vs. Howells/Khlif (14)
• Potential Q to watch: Oncins/Frazier (4) vs. Garnett/Ge (8)
• WATCH OUT FOR: CJ Klinger and Federico Staksrud (3) – Ice/Church baby. So talented, can they find chemistry?