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| Catherine Parenteau |
Full Name: Catherine Parenteau | Current Status: Active professional on the PPA Tour and in Major League Pickleball, playing under new doubles and mixed doubles partnerships in the 2026 season
Catherine Parenteau spent years as one half of the most dominant women's doubles team pickleball had ever seen. Then, in 2025, that partnership ended — and she had to prove all over again that her game wasn't just a product of who she played next to.
Biography Summary
Catherine Parenteau was a Division I tennis player with no plans to switch sports until a college coach handed her a paddle. Six months later, she was already winning at the US Open.
She built her name as one half of pickleball's most dominant women's doubles partnership, then had to reinvent her game when that partnership ended in 2025. She's now three US Open titles, two National Championships, and 36 PPA Tour titles into a career built on consistency rather than flash.
Off the court, she's known as much for her positivity and coaching work as for her results, and for a marriage that's become one of pickleball's most public love stories.
Early Life
Parenteau grew up in Montreal, Quebec, picking up a tennis racket at age four. She climbed to a top-five ranking among Canadian juniors in her age group before she'd even finished high school.
She earned a scholarship to play Division I tennis at the University of Arkansas, then transferred to Michigan State University to finish her degree and her playing career under coach Simone Jardim.
Shoulder problems started limiting her tennis ceiling, and she took a job as a tennis instructor in Florida. That's around when Jardim, by then her former coach, introduced her to a paddle sport most people hadn't heard of yet.
Professional Career
Parenteau's career splits cleanly into two chapters: a long run as one half of the sport's most feared doubles team, and the reinvention that followed when that partnership broke apart.
A Six-Month Turnaround
In 2016, Parenteau picked up pickleball for the first time. Six months later, she competed at the US Open and won the 5.0 mixed bracket outright — a debut good enough to convince her to go pro on the spot.
Her tennis-honed footwork and shot IQ carried over almost immediately, and she started climbing the USAPA and PPA rankings faster than most converts from other racket sports.
Building a Dynasty With Anna Leigh Waters
Parenteau's partnership with Anna Leigh Waters turned into one of the most one-sided pairings the sport has seen — around 31 doubles titles together at nearly a 96 percent win rate. In 2023, that dominance extended into mixed doubles history too, when Ben Johns and Waters beat Parenteau and Tyson McGuffin to complete a Triple Crown sweep on Championship Sunday.
For years, if Parenteau and Waters were entered in a bracket, everyone else was playing for silver.
Starting Over in 2025
That partnership ended in April 2025. For a player whose identity had become tangled up with one doubles team, it meant proving her game held up with someone new standing across the kitchen line from her.
By December 2025, she'd confirmed a full-time partnership with Rachel Rohrabacher, debuting together in January 2026 at the PPA Masters in Rancho Mirage. She also picked up Gabe Tardio as a mixed doubles partner heading into the new season.
Proving It Again
The early results with Rohrabacher weren't instant gold — the pair took silver at both the Veolia Atlanta Championships and the Orange County Cup in 2025, losing both finals to Waters' new partnership with Anna Bright. But Parenteau kept grinding results out across singles, doubles, and mixed heading into 2026, staying inside the PPA's top ten in all three.
Career Timeline
| Year | Milestone |
|---|---|
| 2016 | Introduced to pickleball by former tennis coach Simone Jardim; turns pro after winning the US Open 5.0 mixed bracket |
| 2019 | Silver medal, USA Pickleball National Championships, mixed doubles with Jessie Irvine |
| 2021 | Gold, US Open pro women's doubles, with partner Callie Smith |
| 2023 | Falls to Ben Johns/Anna Leigh Waters in a Triple Crown-deciding mixed doubles match |
| 2023 | Joins Team Selkirk as a sponsored athlete |
| 2024 | Marries longtime partner Athena Trouillot in Los Cabos, Mexico |
| 2025 | Doubles partnership with Anna Leigh Waters ends in April |
| 2026 | Begins full-time partnership with Rachel Rohrabacher; competes with Gabe Tardio in mixed doubles |
Major Achievements
Parenteau's résumé spans nearly a decade of top-level results across all three pickleball divisions:
- Three-time US Open Champion
- Two-time National Champion
- 36 career PPA Tour titles
- Two career Triple Crowns
- 53 career PPA Tour gold medals — second-most all-time among women
- Helped lead the LA Mad Drops to a Major League Pickleball championship
Highlights & Video
Career Statistics
| Division | PPA Rank | Points | Gold | Total Medals |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Women's Doubles | No. 6 | 12,700 | — | — |
| Mixed Doubles | No. 6 | 5,600 | — | — |
| Women's Singles | No. 7 | 5,700 | — | — |
Records
Her run with Anna Leigh Waters, at close to a 96 percent win rate across roughly 31 titles, ranks among the most dominant doubles stretches the sport has produced by any pairing, men's or women's.
Net Worth
Catherine Parenteau's net worth is not confirmed by any official financial disclosure. Published estimates vary widely, from roughly $700,000 to as much as $5 million, so any specific figure should be treated as speculative.
Her income comes from PPA and MLP prize money, sponsorships with Selkirk and Skechers, clinics, and her own "CP" branded gear line.
Gear & Equipment
Parenteau plays Selkirk's Boomstik elongated paddle for doubles and the SLK Era for singles, a partnership that began when she joined Team Selkirk in 2023. She wears Skechers on court as part of the same sponsorship family.
Playing Style
Her game is built on consistency over flash — clean footwork carried over from tennis, patient shot selection, and a knack for outlasting opponents in long rallies rather than trying to end points early.
Training, Diet & Fitness
Parenteau has talked openly about pairing physical training with mental habits like meditation and journaling, tools she credits with helping her manage pressure during long tournament stretches.
Personal Life
Parenteau married Athena Trouillot in Los Cabos, Mexico, in August 2024, after nearly a decade together. The two met playing tennis at Michigan State, and Trouillot now works as Parenteau's on-court coach.
The couple lives in Naples, Florida, with their French bulldog, Zoey. Outside pickleball, Parenteau is a self-described hockey fan who still loves watching and playing tennis.
Official Social Media Profiles
Legacy
Parenteau is also an IPTPA-certified instructor, teaching at Collier's Reserve in Naples when she's not on tour — work that's quietly extended her influence on the sport well beyond her own scoreline.
Between the Waters partnership and her push to prove herself again afterward, she's become something of a case study in what happens when a great player has to separate her identity from a great team.
Interesting Facts
- Started tennis at age four and reached the top five in Canadian junior rankings.
- Played Division I tennis at both the University of Arkansas and Michigan State.
- Won the US Open 5.0 mixed bracket just six months after picking up a paddle.
- Won roughly 31 doubles titles with Anna Leigh Waters at a near-96 percent win rate.
- Lost a 2023 Triple Crown decider alongside Tyson McGuffin against Ben Johns and Anna Leigh Waters.
- Married her longtime partner and coach, Athena Trouillot, in Los Cabos, Mexico.
- Is an IPTPA-certified pickleball instructor in Naples, Florida.
- Helped lead the LA Mad Drops to a Major League Pickleball championship.
- Has a French bulldog named Zoey.
- Uses meditation and journaling as part of her competitive routine.
- Started a full-time doubles partnership with Rachel Rohrabacher in January 2026.
- Is a self-described hockey fan and still plays tennis recreationally.
Frequently Asked Questions
How old is Catherine Parenteau?
She was born on August 26, 1994, making her 32 years old as of September 2026.
Where is Catherine Parenteau from?
She was born and raised in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, and now lives in Naples, Florida.
Who is Catherine Parenteau's doubles partner?
As of the 2026 season, she plays women's doubles with Rachel Rohrabacher and mixed doubles with Gabe Tardio, following the end of her longtime partnership with Anna Leigh Waters in 2025.
Is Catherine Parenteau married?
Yes, she married her longtime partner Athena Trouillot in August 2024 in Los Cabos, Mexico.
What paddle does Catherine Parenteau use?
She plays Selkirk's Boomstik elongated paddle for doubles and the SLK Era for singles.
How many titles has Catherine Parenteau won?
She has won 36 career PPA Tour titles, including three US Open Championships and two Triple Crowns.
What is Catherine Parenteau's net worth?
Estimates vary widely, from roughly $700,000 to as much as $5 million, with no figure officially confirmed.
The Final Verdict
Catherine Parenteau's career didn't end when her partnership with Anna Leigh Waters did — it just started a new chapter. That's arguably the more impressive story: a player good enough to be great next to almost anyone.
From a walk-on pickleball debut to three US Open titles and a rebuilt doubles game in her thirties, she's made a habit of adjusting without losing her edge.
Did you follow the Parenteau-Waters run at its peak, or are you more excited about her new partnerships in 2026? Share your take in the comments below.