New Jersey 5s are your 2026 MLP champions
After back-to-back runner-up finishes, the New Jersey 5s finally lifted the season trophy — a 2–0 sweep of the St. Louis Shock in the finals. For Anna Leigh Waters, it was the last big title on her résumé. For Federico Staksrud, it came with the first-ever MLP Finals MVP award.
How the finals played out
Both matches went to a Dreambreaker after the doubles lineups split. Waters carried key singles points against Kate Fahey; Staksrud outscored Hunter Johnson in men’s singles when it mattered most.
Championship roster and paddles
| Player | Role | Paddle | In PaddleBag |
|---|---|---|---|
| Federico Staksrud | Men’s doubles / singles | JOOLA Kosmos Pro V 16mm | View paddle |
| Anna Leigh Waters | Women’s doubles / singles | Franklin C45 Aurelius 12.7mm | View paddle |
| Jorja Johnson | Women’s doubles | PIKKL Hurricane Pro X 14mm | View paddle |
| Will Howells | Men’s doubles | Franklin C45 Dynasty 14mm | View paddle |
| Noe Khlif | Reserve | JOOLA Perseus Pro V 16mm | View paddle |
Note on Anna Leigh Waters: She left Paddletek and signed a long-term deal with Franklin in January 2026. Her signature paddle is the C45 Aurelius — not a JOOLA model. The Aurelius is a 12.7mm widebody in Franklin’s C45 carbon line.
Paddle models change mid-season. We link the versions in our catalog — tap each card below for specs, community ratings, and buy links.
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