Select Medical PPA Orange County Cup Tournament Preview: A Comprehensive Analysis

The pickleball world is buzzing with excitement as the Select Medical PPA Orange County Cup presented by Reign Storm is set to kick off on Monday, June 16, at the Life Time Rancho San Clemente, California. This prestigious event is not just another stop on the PPA Tour; it’s a pivotal moment in the 2025 season that promises high-stakes competition and thrilling matchups.

Understanding the Significance of the Orange County Cup

For those new to the professional pickleball scene, the Orange County Cup holds special importance for several reasons:

• It’s one of only two PPA Tour stops during the Major League Pickleball (MLP) season, making it a crucial event for players to earn points and maintain their rankings.
• As a “Cup” event, it offers 1.5 times the normal PPA Tour points, with winners earning a substantial 1,500 points in each event.
• The tournament’s timing and location make it a central focus for players, many of whom will remain in San Clemente for the subsequent MLP event.

This combination of factors ensures that the Orange County Cup will feature top-tier talent giving their all in every match.

How to Watch the Action Unfold

Pickleball enthusiasts can catch all the excitement on PickleballTV and the PickleballTV app, which will broadcast matches from both the Championship Court and Grandstand Court. The tournament runs from June 17th to June 22nd, with daily coverage from 1 PM to 9 PM Eastern Time. For those who prefer traditional television, ESPN2 will offer a tape-delayed broadcast on Sunday, June 17th, from 10 PM to Midnight.

Perfect Playing Conditions in San Clemente

One of the reasons San Clemente is a favorite stop on the tour is its ideal weather conditions for pickleball. Players and spectators can expect:

• Temperatures ranging from lows in the 60s to highs in the mid-70s Fahrenheit
• Minimal wind interference, with only Saturday showing wind speeds in the double digits

These conditions create the perfect environment for players to showcase their skills without weather-related distractions.

Key Storylines to Watch

Anna Leigh Waters’ Continued Dominance

Fresh off her 34th triple crown and 151st gold medal on the PPA Tour at the Atlanta Pickleball Championships in May, Anna Leigh Waters enters the Orange County Cup with the pressure off. Having achieved her goal of 150 gold medals, Waters can now play with unprecedented freedom, which could make her even more formidable.

The Life Time Ball’s Second Appearance

The tournament will feature the unique Life Time ball, which has 48 holes and is not USA Pickleball certified. This ball’s bouncier nature could give an edge to players who excel at speeding up off the bounce, potentially shaking up the usual dynamics of play.

Notable Absences

Several top players will be missing from the tournament:

• Dekel Bar withdrew due to illness
• Riley Newman is still recovering from a groin injury sustained during MLP Phoenix
• Quang Duong is serving a suspension for participating in an unsanctioned tournament in Vietnam

These absences could open up opportunities for other players to make their mark in the tournament.

The Battle for Men’s Doubles Supremacy

The men’s doubles category has seen intense competition throughout 2025, with four teams consistently vying for the top spot:

• Christian Alshon/Andrei Daescu
• Gabe Tardio/Ben Johns
• Hayden Patriquin/Federico Staksrud
• CJ Klinger/JW Johnson

The Orange County Cup could be a turning point in determining which team will emerge as the dominant force in men’s doubles for the year.

The Unpredictable Men’s Singles Category

With five different players each claiming two gold medals in men’s singles so far this season, the field is wide open. Ben Johns, coming off a win in Atlanta with the Life Time ball, enters as the favorite, but contenders like Connor Garnett and Jaume Martinez Vich could shake things up.

Breaking Down the Brackets

Women’s Singles

All eyes are on Anna Leigh Waters, who hasn’t lost a singles match in over a year. The competition will be fierce, with players like Judit Castillo, newly signed as a full-time PPA Tour player, looking to make their mark. Keep an eye on the match between Utah Black Diamonds teammates Mehvish Safdar and Allyce Jones in the Round of 64.

Potential upsets could come from 15-year-old Cailyn Campbell against Zoey Wang, Felicity Di Laura challenging Parris Todd, and Jalina Ingram facing off against Brooke Buckner.

Men’s Singles

Federico Staksrud, seeded first, is looking to break a six-month gold medal drought. Christian Alshon, despite two wins this year, is seeded eighth due to a previous knee injury, setting up a potential quarterfinal clash with Ben Johns. The Round of 64 match between podcasters Tyler Loong and Zane Navratil promises to be an interesting one to watch.

Upset potential lies with newly signed Grayson Goldin, who could face Connor Garnett in the Round of 16, and Eric Oncins, who might challenge JW Johnson in the Round of 32.

Mixed Doubles

Interesting pairings abound in mixed doubles, with St. Louis Shock teammates Anna Bright and Hayden Patriquin teaming up, and the potential for a 2022-style matchup between Matt Wright/Lucy Kovalova and Callie Smith/Jay Devilliers. The pairing of Andrei Daescu and Parris Todd, making their PPA Tour debut as a team, will be looking to prove themselves after a mixed performance in MLP.

Women’s Doubles

The dominant duo of Anna Bright and Anna Leigh Waters are coming off an impressive performance in Atlanta and are the team to beat. Rachel Rohrabacher and Catherine Parenteau, who earned silver in Atlanta, are playing together again, possibly for the last time in 2025. The pairing of Lacy Schneemann and Jorja Johnson, who previously upset Anna Leigh and Catherine in 2024, could shake things up.

Men’s Doubles

With the absence of some regular partnerships, new duos are forming, including Jay Devilliers with Grayson Goldin and Matt Wright with Roscoe Bellamy. The potential quarterfinal matchup between brothers Ben and Collin Johns could be a tournament highlight.

Looking Ahead

The Select Medical PPA Orange County Cup marks the last PPA Tour event until the Bristol Open in August. With five MLP events scheduled between now and then, players will be eager to make their mark in San Clemente before the tour’s brief hiatus.

As the pickleball world turns its attention to the sunny courts of San Clemente, fans can expect a week of intense competition, potential upsets, and the continuing evolution of professional pickleball. Whether you’re a die-hard fan or new to the sport, the Orange County Cup promises to deliver excitement and world-class play that showcases why pickleball has become one of the fastest-growing sports in America.