
Stewart surges past Dunlap to make first career PPA final
Kat Stewart advanced to her first career final on the PPA Tour with an 11-6, 11-8 victory over No. 18 seed Isabella Dunlap.
It looked like Dunlap might force a third game when she got up 6-1 in Game 2, but Stewart went on to score ten of the match’s final 12 points to secure the win.
The No. 40 seed hadn’t played a PPA Tour event since March and started this week in the qualifying rounds, but she has certainly proven herself with Saturday’s triumph, which came on the heels of her quarterfinal win over top seed Kaitlyn Christian.
“This is a dream run for me. I’m super happy with the level I’ve been playing at, and it just shows that all the hard work I’ve been putting in is coming to fruition,” she said afterwards. “I’m from Miami, so it was a short four-hour drive, and I just wanted to get some reps against the best.”
Stewart will face No. 3 seed Catherine Parenteau in Sunday’s final.
“I’m super excited to play Catherine. I’ve been watching her since I started playing pickleball, so it’s just gonna be a great experience for me,” she mentioned.
Dunlap will take on No. 2 seed Lea Jansen for bronze.
Related articles

Carvana PPA Tour announces 2026-2027 schedule featuring marquee U.S. and international events
The health of professional pickleball has never been stronger.
4 hours ago
-PPA Staff

Sofia Sewing joining PPA Tour in January 2027
The standout talent will be an exciting addition to the circuit.
6 hours ago
-Pickleball.com Staff

Big crowds and a big upset at Carvana Mesa Cup
The play did not disappoint as Anna Leigh Waters and Ben Johns both went into Sunday with a shot at a Triple Crown.
1 day ago
-Jim Kloss

HAWORTH TOPPLES JOHNS, WATERS DEFEATS FAHEY, #1 SEEDS TAKE DOUBLES TITLES
“You guys should know by now, we’re going to Korean barbecue and we might go to the casino. At this point, it’s kind of… how do you say it? Tradition.” —Gabe Tardio
1 day ago
-Hannah Johns