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| Anna Leigh Waters |
Full Name: Anna Leigh Waters | Current Status: Active — World No. 1 in Women's Singles, Women's Doubles, and Mixed Doubles on the PPA Tour; competes for the New Jersey 5s in Major League Pickleball.
She turned pro at twelve, before most of her peers had a driver's license, and has spent the years since building a case as pickleball's greatest player ever. Anna Leigh Waters has piled up more than 200 career gold medals and 45 Triple Crowns, but the number that might matter most came this September, when her team finally broke through for a Major League Pickleball championship she'd chased since her rookie draft class.
Biography Summary
Anna Leigh Waters is the most decorated player in professional pickleball's short history, holding the all-time records for career gold medals and Triple Crowns. She has been ranked World No. 1 in singles, women's doubles, and mixed doubles simultaneously, a feat almost nobody else has managed for this long.
Before pickleball, she was a competitive soccer player chasing a college scholarship. A hurricane evacuation to her grandparents' Pennsylvania home changed that path entirely, and by twelve she was already the youngest professional the sport had ever seen.
Now nineteen, she anchors the New Jersey 5s in Major League Pickleball, headlines national brand campaigns for Nike, and remains the sport's biggest commercial draw.
Early Life
Waters was born on January 26, 2007, in Allentown, Pennsylvania. Her family moved to Clinton, North Carolina, where she lived until age eight before settling in Delray Beach, Florida, in 2015.
Both of her parents were college athletes at the University of South Carolina — mother Leigh Waters played tennis, and father Stephen Waters played golf. Growing up, Anna Leigh's own focus was soccer, not paddle sports; she played competitively with ambitions of a college career.
In 2017, the family evacuated North Carolina for two weeks during Hurricane Irma and stayed at her grandparents' home in Allentown. There, almost by accident, she picked up a pickleball paddle for the first time.
She won a gold medal in women's doubles at her very first tournament, at age ten. Two years later, she turned pro — the youngest player, male or female, to ever do so.
Professional Career
Waters' career reads less like a rise and more like a run that has never really stopped. She turned pro at twelve, went undefeated in singles finals for years at a stretch, and dragged the entire women's game toward a faster, more tennis-influenced style along the way.
The Breakthrough Years (2019–2021)
Her professional debut came in 2019, and by 2020 she was competing on the PPA Tour full-time. Her first career gold medal arrived in August 2021 at the Takeya Showcase, launching a stretch where she swept singles, doubles, and mixed doubles at the same event — a Triple Crown, the first of dozens to come.
That same year she won singles, doubles, and mixed doubles gold at the US Open Pickleball Championships, partnering her mother, Leigh Waters, in doubles. The mother-daughter pairing quickly became one of the sport's signature storylines.
The Two-Handed Backhand Revolution
Waters didn't invent the two-handed backhand in pickleball, but she is the reason it became standard at the pro level. Borrowing the mechanics from her tennis background, she turned what most players treated as a defensive shot into an offensive weapon, disguising topspin dinks and speed-ups behind an identical wind-up.
By 2022, opponents openly admitted they couldn't read which shot was coming until the paddle had already made contact. That single technical choice reshaped how an entire generation of juniors now learns the game.
Undefeated in the Biggest Moments (2022–2024)
2022 brought a Triple Crown at the Skechers Invitational, a spot on Forbes' 30 Under 30 list as its youngest honoree, and a nationally televised match on CBS Sports — a first for the sport. In 2023, Major League Pickleball selected her No. 1 overall in its draft, and she partnered with former ATP pro Jack Sock for his pickleball debut at the PPA North Carolina Open.
She reached 100 career gold medals in 2024, a milestone that took her less than three years to complete, and strung together a 69-match singles win streak that same season. Through it all, she hadn't lost a singles final since June 2022, when Parris Todd beat her — a result that still stood as her last singles-final defeat heading into 2026.
A New Partner, a New Paddle, a New Team (2025–2026)
Her doubles partnership shifted in 2024 when she began pairing with Anna Bright, who has since emerged as the clearest challenger to her throne. The two have combined for double-digit golds together while also, occasionally, meeting across the net in mixed doubles.
January 2026 brought the biggest off-court shake-up of her career: she ended a seven-year run with paddle sponsor Paddletek, signed a reported multi-year, eight-figure deal with Franklin Sports, and days later became the first pickleball athlete ever signed by Nike. In early September 2026, her New Jersey 5s finally broke through for their first MLP season championship, beating the St. Louis Shock in Central Park.
Career Timeline
| Year | Milestone |
|---|---|
| 2007 | Born January 26 in Allentown, Pennsylvania |
| 2015 | Family relocates to Delray Beach, Florida |
| 2017 | Introduced to pickleball during Hurricane Irma evacuation; first gold medal at age ten |
| 2019 | Turns pro at age twelve, youngest in pickleball history |
| 2021 | First career Triple Crown at the Takeya Showcase; US Open golds in all three disciplines |
| 2022 | Triple Crown at the Skechers Invitational; Forbes 30 Under 30; first nationally televised pickleball match (CBS) |
| 2023 | No. 1 overall pick in the MLP Draft (New Jersey 5s); partners Jack Sock at PPA North Carolina Open |
| 2024 | Reaches 100 career gold medals; 69-match singles win streak; begins doubles partnership with Anna Bright |
| 2025 | Surpasses 165 career titles and 37 Triple Crowns during the season |
| 2026 | Signs with Franklin Sports and Nike (January); New Jersey 5s win first MLP Championship (September) |
Major Achievements
Waters' resume covers nearly every major honor available in professional pickleball, from individual titles to industry recognition off the court.
- All-time career leader in gold medals across singles, women's doubles, and mixed doubles combined
- All-time career leader in Triple Crowns, male or female
- No. 1 overall pick in the 2023 Major League Pickleball Draft
- 2026 Major League Pickleball season champion with the New Jersey 5s
- Multiple US Open Pickleball Championships titles across all three disciplines
- Forbes 30 Under 30 honoree (2022), the youngest athlete on the sports list that year
- First pickleball player invited to the ESPYs
- First pickleball player featured on a Times Square digital billboard
Awards & Honors
Beyond tournament silverware, Waters has become the face of pickleball's push into mainstream sports culture, earning recognition usually reserved for athletes in far more established leagues.
- Forbes 30 Under 30, Sports category (2022)
- First pickleball athlete signed to a Nike apparel and footwear deal (2026)
- Repeated PPA Tour Player of the Year-caliber seasons based on titles and win percentage
- First nationally televised pickleball match participant, CBS Sports (2022)
Career Statistics
| Category | Total |
|---|---|
| Career Gold Medals | 200+ |
| Triple Crowns | 45+ |
| Years as Pro | Seven (since 2019) |
| World Ranking | No. 1 — Singles, Women's Doubles, Mixed Doubles |
| Consecutive Singles Finals Without a Loss | 44+ (dating to June 2022) |
| MLP Draft Position (2023) | No. 1 Overall |
| MLP Season Championships | One (2026, New Jersey 5s) |
Records
Several of the marks below aren't just Waters' personal bests — they're the outright pickleball record, regardless of gender or era.
- Youngest professional pickleball player in history, turning pro at age twelve in 2019
- All-time career leader in gold medals, more than 200 and counting
- All-time career leader in Triple Crowns, at 45-plus
- One of the longest active singles win streaks on the PPA Tour, unbeaten in singles finals since June 2022
- First pickleball athlete signed by Nike (January 2026)
Net Worth
Public net-worth estimates for Anna Leigh Waters vary significantly by source, ranging from roughly $1.4 million to well over $10 million once her 2026 Franklin Sports and Nike deals are factored in. Neither company has disclosed exact contract figures, so any specific total should be treated as an unverified estimate rather than a confirmed number.
What's confirmed: she is widely reported as the highest-paid player in pickleball, earning income from PPA Tour prize money, an estimated United Pickleball Association league salary, and a sponsorship portfolio that includes Delta Air Lines, DoorDash, Ulta Beauty, Shiseido, and Biofreeze alongside Franklin and Nike.
Gear & Equipment
Waters currently plays with the Franklin C45° Aurelius signature paddle, a double-thermoformed carbon fiber model with a 12.7mm core built for power, following a January 2026 deal that ended seven years with Paddletek. She wears Nike performance apparel and footwear under her 2026 sponsorship, having previously competed in Fila's Volley Burst shoe line through 2025.
Playing Style
Waters plays an aggressive, power-first game built around her signature two-handed backhand, a shot she helped popularize league-wide. Her preparation looks identical whether she's about to hit a soft topspin dink or an explosive speed-up, which makes the shot nearly impossible to anticipate.
Coaches and opponents alike point to her court awareness as much as her power. Doubles rival Zane Navratil has said she reads the smallest hitches in an opponent's swing before they've even decided what to hit. Her soccer background shows up in elite footwork and court coverage, while deep, consistent serves and a low unforced-error rate round out a complete package.
Injuries and Challenges
Waters has largely avoided major injury layoffs, but safety concerns have occasionally shaped her schedule. In 2024 she sprained an ankle on a rollout court surface in Las Vegas, and the following year she skipped singles at the PPA North Carolina Open specifically because that event used the same surface type.
Training, Diet & Fitness
Waters trains roughly three days a week for about two hours per session when she isn't competing, favoring shorter, higher-intensity work over long grinding sessions given her packed tournament calendar. Her coaching team has included her mother, Leigh Waters, along with Brandon Oakes and Jack Llewellyn.
Balancing homeschooling with a full pro circuit schedule shaped much of her adolescence, with her grandmother handling much of her early academic instruction so she could train and travel without falling behind.
Personal Life
Waters remains close with her family, particularly her mother and longtime coach, Leigh Waters, with whom she's shared a doubles court for much of her career. Her father, Stephen Waters, played college golf at South Carolina alongside Leigh's tennis career at the same school.
She's based in the Delray Beach and Boynton Beach area of Florida, where she grew up after the family's move from North Carolina. Waters is represented by VaynerSports, an arm of Gary Vaynerchuk's organization tied to her New Jersey 5s ownership group, and she keeps most details of her personal relationships out of the public eye.
Official Social Media Profiles
- Instagram: @anna.leigh.waters
- TikTok: @anna.leigh.waters
- PPA Tour Profile: ppatour.com
Controversies & Public Attention
Waters' rise hasn't been without friction. Her mother and doubles partner, Leigh Waters, drew backlash during what fans nicknamed "Lobgate" over lob tactics used during a PPA Vegas event. Anna Leigh has also faced criticism for animated on-court celebrations, including a moment in 2023 when she appeared to celebrate after a disputed point during a loss to Hurricane Tyra Black, a clip that went viral and drew mixed reactions about the sport's professionalism.
Separately, a heated exchange with rival Federico Staksrud led to a technical foul against him after comments made toward Waters during a match; both players later addressed the incident publicly and moved past it.
Legacy
Whatever pickleball becomes over the next decade, its record book will still start with her name attached to nearly every meaningful career total. She didn't just win more than anyone else; she changed the mechanics of how the sport's best players hit a backhand.
Nike's decision to sign a pickleball athlete for the first time, specifically her, tells its own story about how far the sport has traveled commercially — and how much of that distance she personally covered.
Interesting Facts
- She turned pro at age twelve, the youngest player in pickleball history to do so.
- Before pickleball, she was a serious youth soccer player with college aspirations.
- She discovered the sport almost by accident, during a Hurricane Irma evacuation to Pennsylvania.
- Her mother, Leigh Waters, is both her longtime coach and a frequent doubles partner.
- Both of her parents were Division I athletes at the University of South Carolina.
- She was the youngest honoree on Forbes' 30 Under 30 sports list in 2022.
- She played in pickleball's first nationally televised match on CBS Sports in 2022.
- She was the first pickleball player invited to the ESPY Awards.
- She became the first pickleball athlete ever signed by Nike, in January 2026.
- She was homeschooled for much of her teenage years to accommodate her training schedule.
- She has played exhibition matches against athletes from other sports, including Michael Phelps, Jordan Spieth, and Scottie Scheffler.
Frequently Asked Questions
How old is Anna Leigh Waters?
She was born January 26, 2007, making her 19 years old as of 2026.
Where was Anna Leigh Waters born?
She was born in Allentown, Pennsylvania, and later moved with her family to Clinton, North Carolina, before settling in Delray Beach, Florida, in 2015.
Who is Anna Leigh Waters' coach?
Her mother, Leigh Waters, a former Division I tennis player at the University of South Carolina, has served as her primary coach and occasional doubles partner throughout her career.
What paddle does Anna Leigh Waters use?
She plays with the Franklin C45° Aurelius signature paddle, following a January 2026 deal with Franklin Sports that ended her seven-year partnership with Paddletek.
Is Anna Leigh Waters sponsored by Nike?
Yes. She signed with Nike in January 2026, becoming the first pickleball athlete in the brand's history to join its roster for apparel and footwear.
What MLP team does Anna Leigh Waters play for?
She plays for the New Jersey 5s, who selected her No. 1 overall in the 2023 MLP Draft and won their first season championship with her in September 2026.
What is Anna Leigh Waters' net worth?
Estimates vary widely, from roughly $1.4 million to over $10 million depending on how sponsorship deals are valued, since neither Franklin Sports nor Nike has disclosed exact contract terms.
The Final Verdict
Anna Leigh Waters didn't just arrive early to professional pickleball — she arrived and never really left the top of it. Every major record in the sport's short history either belongs to her outright or will eventually have to answer to her.
With Nike on her jersey, a first MLP title finally in hand, and her rivalry with Anna Bright only getting sharper, the next chapter looks less like a victory lap and more like a continuation of the same relentless pace she's kept since she was twelve.
Did you watch Anna Leigh Waters come up through the PPA Tour, or catch the New Jersey 5s' MLP title run this year? Share your favorite match or memory in the comments below — corrections and firsthand details are always welcome.
