The victory marks a career-defining turnaround for the Carbondale native, who narrowly missed the trophy in his first two professional seasons. Entering the season finale with a razor-thin two-point lead over Canadian rival Cory Johnston, McKinney faced immense pressure on Johnston’s home waters. A slow start on the final day threatened to derail his campaign, but a clutch 6-pound bass late in the afternoon secured the title and a $100,000 payday, pushing his career earnings past $900,000.

McKinney’s path to the trophy involved navigating a high-stakes season that included a disastrous 90th-place finish at Santee Cooper and a critical recovery at the Pasquotank River. His consistency across the nine-event schedule, which featured a mix of forward-facing sonar and traditional formats, ultimately yielded 735 points. Cory Johnston finished the season in second place with 731 points, followed by Georgia’s Drew Cook. Reflecting on the win, McKinney noted that the victory validates his performance under the sport's evolving technical requirements, firmly closing the door on debates regarding his consistency as a top-tier competitor.