Gabriela Bryan Earns Third CT Win in 2025

In her fourth Final appearance in 2025, World No. 2 Gabriela Bryan (HAW) earned her third CT win of the season and the fourth of her career in dramatic fashion, defeating World No. 1 Molly Picklum (AUS) by the narrowest of margins. After an early exit at the VIVO Rio Pro, Bryan lost the Yellow Leader Jersey to Picklum and flew out to South Africa to reset and get in a few extra reps at Supertubes.

“I don’t think it’s sunk in yet,” said Bryan. “I came here early, putting in a lot of time here, and it paid off. I’m so stoked. It’s been a dream of mine to win here at J-Bay. It’s an iconic wave and one of my favourites in the world. The Yellow Jersey comes with a lot of pressure, so I definitely had less pressure in that Final. I personally like chasing something that I want to go after. The only time I want to be wearing Yellow is the first event next year.”

Bryan clinched her place in the WSL Final 5 and will compete for the World Title in the Lexus WSL Finals Fiji. The 23-year-old dispatched two-time World Champion Tyler Wright (AUS) in the Quarterfinals, before taking out the 2023 World Champion Caroline Marks (USA) in the Semifinals. 

“I can’t even believe it,” said Bryan. “From last year, where I think I missed out by one heat, and now to do it with one event left in the regular season. I get to go back to Fiji, one of my favorite places in the world, to compete for a World Title, it’s mind-blowing. It’s been a great day. I knew that waking up, that’s it’s going to be a huge day no matter what. I’m going to do everything I can to make it a great day. There are so many good things to take away, but I just tried to simplify things, because it’s so exhausting out there today, so I just focused on getting two good waves.”

World No. 1 Molly Picklum Retains Yellow Leader Jersey

World No. 1 Molly Picklum (AUS, above) will wear the Yellow Leader Jersey going into the last event of the regular season, the Lexus Tahiti Pro Presented by I-SEA. She overcame an in-form Isabella Nichols (AUS) in the Semifinals, getting one back after Nichols won their Semifinal clash in El Salvador earlier this year. Picklum, runner-up in 2023 to Lakey Peterson (USA), defeated Peterson in the Quarterfinals but had to settle for another runner-up in 2025 to Gabriela Bryan (HAW).

“It’s a one-of-a-kind wave,” said Picklum.”It definitely has a specific timing and rhythm to it. Last year I felt I could learn a lot about my surfing here, and this year I was just trying to hold the throttle down a bit more, and find that rhythm.”

Heading into this event, Picklum had clinched her spot in the WSL Final 5 early. Leading the pack going into Tahiti, the 22-year-old will be one to watch as she’s been known to charge waves of consequence, such as Teahupo’o and Cloudbreak, up next on the schedule.

Caity Simmers (USA) also secured her spot in the WSL Finals with her result today and the results of her competitors. With only two spots remaining for the women, it will all come down to the Lexus Tahiti Pro, which holds a competition window starting August 7, 2025. 

Corona Cero Open J-Bay Women’s Final Results:

1 – Gabriela Bryan (HAW) 13.60 

2 – Molly Picklum (AUS) 13.34

Corona Cero Open J-Bay Women’s Semifinal Results:

HEAT 1: Gabriela Bryan (HAW) 13.53 DEF. Caroline Marks (USA) 12.90

HEAT 2: Molly Picklum (AUS) 13.64 DEF. Isabella Nichols (AUS) 12.00

Corona Cero Open J-Bay Women’s Quarterfinal Results:

HEAT 1: Gabriela Bryan (HAW) 15.33 DEF. Tyler Wright (AUS) 11.37

HEAT 2: Caroline Marks (USA) 11.83 DEF. Caitlin Simmers (USA) 9.67

HEAT 3: Molly Picklum (AUS) 15.84 DEF. Lakey Peterson (USA) 11.27

HEAT 4: Isabella Nichols (AUS) 14.50 DEF. Bettylou Sakura Johnson (HAW) 12.37

For more information, please visit WorldSurfLeague.com