In a watershed moment for professional table tennis and mixed-gender sports competition, Lily Zhang of the Bay Area Blasters has become the first woman to reach the top of Major League Table Tennis' official power rankings, achieving a dominant 787.4 rating that places her ahead of all competitors in the league.

The historic milestone came after Zhang delivered a commanding performance against Mo Zhang, winning all three games with convincing scores of 11-4, 11-6, and 11-8. Her rating now surpasses that of Princeton's Seungmin Cho, who previously held the top position in the mixed-gender league.

For Zhang, the achievement represents more than personal glory. Speaking about what the accomplishment means to her, she expressed deep gratitude for the opportunity to inspire others. "There are some incredible players out there. So to be able to represent the girls, the women, it's obviously such an honor and pleasure," Zhang said. Looking toward the future impact of her success, she added, "I just hope that a young girl is watching, and she believes that she can join the league" and achieve similar success.

The breakthrough builds on an already remarkable season for Zhang. Just days earlier, she had earned Women's Player of the Week honors for Week 6 after winning seven of her nine matches, which boosted her power rating to 764.9. Her continued excellence has pushed her beyond that mark to the league's summit.

Zhang's credentials make her dominance unsurprising to those who follow the sport. The six-time U.S. Women's Singles National Champion has represented the United States at four Olympic Games, cementing her status as one of the most accomplished American players in table tennis history. Her international resume includes gold in Women's Team and bronze in Singles at the 2015 Pan American Games.

The timing of Zhang's achievement coincides with an extraordinary period of growth for Major League Table Tennis. The 2025-26 season has witnessed unprecedented audience engagement, with social media impressions surging past 46 million from September through December, representing a staggering 2,600 percent year-over-year increase. Video views exceeded 21.5 million during the same period, marking nearly 480 percent growth.

The league also celebrated its first sellout events in history during a three-day run in Portland, Oregon from January 9-11, demonstrating the rapidly expanding appetite for professional table tennis in the United States. MLTT Commissioner Flint Lane noted the significance of the momentum, stating, "What we're seeing this season is proof that audiences throughout the U.S. are excited about professional table tennis."

Founded in 2023, Major League Table Tennis has quickly established itself as a premier destination for the world's top players. The league features ten teams representing cities across the country and boasts dozens of Olympians on its roster, competing in an innovative team-based format.

The league continues its 2025-26 season with upcoming events in Chicago from January 16-18, where the Chicago Wind will defend their home court at Compass Arena against the Texas Smash, New York Slice, and Florida Crocs. Zhang and the Bay Area Blasters will look to maintain their momentum as the season progresses toward its conclusion.

With Zhang now firmly atop the rankings, the conversation around equality in professional sports has gained a powerful new example of what mixed-gender competition can achieve when talent is given equal opportunity to shine.