We are now just two weeks away from the start of the WSL Finals waiting period, which runs from September 8-16 (P.S., if you’re still around the 17th, head down to Encinitas for The Inertia‘s 5th annual EVOLVE Summit!). That gives us all time to sort out how things stand, and who has the momentum behind them when it comes to earning the 2022 world championship.
The women’s side of the draw is similar to last year’s finals. In 2021 the women’s final five were Johanne Defay in the fifth spot, followed by Stephanie Gilmore, Sally Fitzgibbons, Tatiana Weston-Webb and Carissa Moore with the number-one seed where she earned her fifth WSL title. This year sees Steph still in that first-round matchup as the number five seed. In fourth is Brisa Hennessey, followed by Tati, Johanne, and once again, Carissa. If Carissa were to win the WSL Finals this year, she’ll be just one more winning season away from tying up Steph’s seven-title record among women on the Championship Tour.
The men’s side is different. Last year saw Morgan Cibilic in fifth, followed by Conner Coffin (both have fallen off tour), Filipe Toledo, Italo Ferreira, and Gabriel Medina in first. With Gabby out for most of the year, Filipe was able to rise to the challenge and take home the number one spot. But he’ll have his work cut out for him to keep his place, as the first round matchup will see number five Kanoa Igarashi take on fourth-seed Italo Ferreira, with the winner taking on Ethan Ewing, and the winner of that matchup meeting Jack Robinson. Any of those surfers could pose a threat to Toledo in the best-two-out-of-three matchup for the 2022 WSL title, especially if they’re able to gain momentum in the opening rounds of the draw.
