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Pickleball

Meet Anna Leigh Waters: The 14-year-old pickleball pro is taking the sport by storm

November 17, 2022 by Tara S

By: Shad Powers Palm Springs Desert Sun

Anna Leigh Waters has established herself as one of the top female pickleball players in the world. 

She is currently ranked No. 3 in singles and No. 4 in doubles and has sponsors and prize money rolling in. 

The fact that she’s only 14 hardly comes up anymore. 

“I don’t think they think of me as 14 anymore,” Waters said as she prepared to begin play at the season-ending Pro Pickleball Association Masters event in La Quinta on Thursday. “When I first played pro as a 12-year-old, I think people were like ‘Wow, she’s pretty young,’ but now I think they think of me as just another player like them. They don’t care how old I am, they just really want to beat me.”

Pickleball’s young gun has won three singles tournaments in 2021. In the world of pickleball, she’s already a household name. 

“It’s pretty amazing and a little weird to go places and get recognized on the street or something,” said Waters, who lives in Delray Beach, Fla. “But I really enjoy getting to travel around the country and play a pro sport where my family can travel with me. I’m making memories and having experiences that I would never have without pickleball, and it’s just a really exciting time for me right now.”

Her origin story

It was Irma who got Waters into pickleball in the first place. Irma is not a coach or a relative, it’s a hurricane. 

In 2017 when Hurricane Irma was bearing down on Florida, she and her family had to evacuate and went to Pennsylvania to stay with her grandfather for a couple of weeks. 

He played pickleball and asked Anna Leigh and her mother, Leigh, if they wanted to give it a try.

Anna Leigh Waters takes a moment between points during the Pro Pickleball Association Masters tournament at the La Quinta Resort and Club, Thursday, Nov. 11, 2021, in La Quinta, Calif.

“He asked us ‘Do you want to go play pickleball?’ and my mom and I looked at each other and said ‘No, not really. We don’t want to play pickleball,'” she said with a laugh. “But, of course, we tried it and fell in love with it right away, and we played non-stop those two weeks. Then we went back home to Florida and started playing in tournaments … and now here we are at the La Quinta Resort in a professional tournament.”

When she turned pro in 2019 at age 12, she became the youngest player ever on the pro tour. She won a tournament that year, which naturally made her the youngest winner ever on tour. 

Waters is homeschooled, which she has been since the third grade, long before she picked up a pickleball racket, so she’s continued with that throughout her career. She likes to work ahead and get everything done before a tournament so she doesn’t have to think about school during a tournament. 

In what amounts to just two seasons as a pro — she didn’t play in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic — she’s won four singles titles and has made $41,875 in career earnings.

Why pickleball and not tennis?

Most top pickleball players started as tennis players and Waters is no exception. She started playing in youth tournaments at the age of eight. She had a lot of success, but not a lot of fun. 

To be honest, she hated it. 

“Pickleball is just so much more fun, that’s basically all there is to it,” Waters said. “Junior tennis tournaments are kind of terrible. After I would win a match or something, there were times I’d get threatened by other parents, and it just wasn’t fun for me. Then, when I found pickleball, I was enjoying tournaments at a recreational level, and I just kept moving up in the divisions. And now here I am at the pro level, and it’s still really fun.”

Waters still played an occasional tennis tournament even up until the pandemic hit in 2020, but since then, she’s moved entirely to pickleball. 

Playing with mom

Another reason her journey has been fun-filled is that she and her mother have been playing doubles together. Not just playing together but winning together. 

Her mother Leigh said it’s basically been any parent’s dream come true. 

“We just have way too much fun together, I love it,” she said Thursday while watching Anna Leigh play singles (their doubles competition begins Saturday.) “We have such team camaraderie as well as mother-daughter camaraderie out there. I think that gives us the advantage, that mother-daughter intuition. It’s a blast. Who wouldn’t want to play a professional sport with their kid and actually make money doing it? It’s like a win-win-win situation. It’s unreal. It’s changed our lives.”

Anna Leigh Waters talks to her mom after a set during the Pro Pickleball Association Masters tournament at the La Quinta Resort and Club, Thursday, Nov. 11, 2021, in La Quinta, Calif.

Aside from the intuitive edge, Team Waters plays with a power and an aggression not often seen in women’s pickleball. 

They began playing together in 2019 at the Texas Open when Anna Leigh filled in as her mom’s partner. And in that event, the first time they played together officially, they took second place.

Still new to the sport, they fell back on their tennis instincts of just plain hitting the ball hard whenever possible. The women’s game was more about finesse, and the truth is some people didn’t love seeing that style of play being introduced, but now it’s become all the rage.

“A lot of people attribute us for having at least something to do with changing the game, especially the women’s game,” Leigh said. “Because it was all about finesse and dinking, and we were just going with pure power and aggression.”

Anna Leigh said it was noticeable when they returned after the COVID-19 break. 

“When we first started playing pickleball, we played it like tennis, we never totally changed our game,” Anna Leigh said. “We’re known as ‘Bangers.’ Some people sort of resent us or that style, but now it seems like recently pickleball has changed and it’s become way faster and it seems like everybody is starting to play like that. When we got back from COVID-19, it was like a totally different sport almost, and everybody was starting to do what we were doing.”

Moving forward

Anna Leigh won her opening match on Thursday, defeating Kaitlyn Christian 11-4, 11-1 as she began to move through the women’s bracket. She then rallied in the second set to beat Callie Smith 11-8, 12-10 in the semifinals. She will play for the women’s singles championship on Sunday against Lea Jansen who knocked off World No. 1 Catherine Parenteau 9-11, 11-6, 11-6. 

She will play mixed doubles on Friday with one of the most recognizable players on the men’s side, Tyson McGuffin. Then on Saturday, it will be women’s doubles with her mom. And then Sunday will be the championship matches. She will definitely be in the women’s singles final, she hopes to be involved in all three. 

“It felt good to get out there because the last tournament I played, I lost in the finals and didn’t have the energy I usually bring to the court,” she said from a shady spot after Thursday’s opening-round win, avoiding the 90-plus degree temperatures. “So today my goal was to not just win, but to play to my strengths, you know, have a lot of energy, hit my shots and everything. And I did that.” 

Of course, Waters wants to win every time she steps out on the court, but she feels like at this stage in her life it’s really just about getting better and more comfortable in big events like this. Wins or losses will come, but each event makes her better. That’s her philosophy. 

And she feels like the sport in general is on the rise, and showing no signs of slowing down. That’s exciting to her. 

“Right now in the last year the sport has grown so much and I think it’s going to keep growing and bigger sponsors are going to get involved and it’s just going to become a bigger sport in general,” she said. “Like it will be just like other pro sports that people are watching on TV and things like that.”

Whatever happens in the future, the Waters family is just enjoying the present. How could you not? 

“There’s not many sports where at this age she could be a professional athlete,” Leigh said. “But she’s so composed on the court, and she’s a good sport out there but also a fierce competitor. I couldn’t be more proud. And with each tournament she’s getting better and better. It’s definitely a fun ride.”

Shad Powers is a sports columnist for The Desert Sun. Reach him at [email protected]. 

Filed Under: AOTM, Pickleball, Women's Sports, Youth Sports Tagged With: Anna Leigh Waters

Anna Leigh Waters Pickleball Player

November 17, 2022 by Tara S

By Carlee Lightle

Anna Leigh Waters is one of the biggest names in the country in women’s pickleball. Waters is just 14 years old and has already seen success comparable to Kyle Yates! Before 2017, Anna lived a quiet life in Delray Beach, Florida. Her gold medal-winning career was kickstarted by tropical storm-turned-hurricane Irma, a supportive mom, and a background in tennis. 

Over the last two years, Anna has started playing in tournaments, competing in mixed doubles matches, and creating a name for herself. Here’s her story. 

The Career of Anna Leigh Waters 

The Career of Anna Leigh Waters 

Anna Leigh Waters has had a career that many athletes can only dream of. Despite only playing pickleball for five years, Anna has had a successful career that has no sign of slowing down anytime soon.

Introduction to Pickleball

She was first introduced to pickleball in the summer of 2017. A 10-year-old Anna took a trip to her grandparent’s house in Pennsylvania with her mom Leigh Waters. 

The trip was prompted by the unfortunate arrival of hurricane Irma as an approaching tropical storm escalated. Who knows where she would be today if the trip never happened!

Both Anna and Leigh played pickleball daily during their two-week stay to pass the time. The duo quickly found a passion for the sport and realized their potential success as singles and a duo in the pickleball world. 

By the time they left Pennsylvania, they had decided to explore their talents more seriously.

Two years later, Anna Leigh became a part of the pro pickleball association. She started winning tournaments as soon as she started playing the sport professionally.

Her first major win happened during a Waters VS Simone Jordin and Corrine Car match. 

Ranking 

Anna consistently holds her rank in the top 5 best women’s players in the world. She competes in women’s doubles, singles, and mixed doubles.

What is Anna Leigh Waters’s Net Worth?

What is Anna Leigh Waters's Net Worth

The exact net worth of Anna isn’t public information, but it’s been estimated that she is worth around 1.4 million dollars! That money comes from multiple sources, but her brand partnerships are the biggest source of consistent income.

Partnerships

Brands can work with popular players to promote their product on the court, similar to the Nascar branding you see on the driver’s cars and uniforms. 

Thankfully pickleball partnerships are a bit more subtle but still very beneficial for both the brand and the player!

Anna currently has partnerships with PaddleTek, Faye and Florie, and Lasso.

Anna Leigh Waters Personal Details

Since Anna is new to the professional game, there are a lot of details that the public doesn’t know just yet. She’s too young to be married or have kids, she hasn’t attended college, and her career skyrocketed overnight because of her sheer athletic abilities.

While we’re excited to learn more about Anna as her career progresses, let’s review what we know so far! 

Age

Anna is currently 14 years old. She was born on January 26, 2007. She first went pro when she was 12 years old. 

Her pro tour proved to the world that Anna could play with the best players around. Today, she has won more than one gold medal with no sign of slowing down.

Early Life

Anna was homeschooled by her mother, Leigh. Homeschooling was a personal choice for the family, but the extra time it allowed for Anna to play sports was a definite perk!

Waters has always been drawn to sports. Before becoming a pro player, Anna was successful on the court as a tennis player. 

Despite her success in tennis, she has said she never enjoyed playing the way she enjoys getting to play pickleball.

The transition from tennis to pickleball is a common theme in many of the highest-ranked players. 

She had a history of winning any tennis tournament she signed up to play in. As she got acclimated to the new game of pickleball and playing with pickleball paddles, she knocked everyone’s expectations out of the park. 

Anna Leigh Waters Personal Details

Athletic Build

Anna is 5’6” and weighs 123 pounds. While she doesn’t look intimidating with such small stature, the sport of pickleball is about a lot more than sheer physical force. 

Anna uses her small size to her advantage when competing against difficult opponents. 

Her aggressive style of playing makes her a fierce competitor, regardless of her size. 

Family Life

Anna Leigh has always been close with her family. She was homeschooled from a young age, which is part of why she was able to go pro at such a young age. 

Anna is especially close with her mom and women’s doubles teammate, Leigh Waters. 

Major Wins

Anna and Leigh won most of the tournaments they would sign up to play in around the country. At the Texas Open, they won. The same can be said about the US Open and the USAPA Nationals. 

What Paddle Does Anna Leigh Waters Use?

What Paddle Does Anna Leigh Waters Use?

Any pro pickleball player will tell you that not all paddles are created equal. Paddles that work for some players aren’t compatible with other players, so finding the sweet spot is a challenge when you’re starting. 

Anna uses a Bantam TS-5 custom paddle made by PaddleTek. This paddle delivers power, speed, and precision with every swing.

Power comes from the Bantam Polycore interior. The paddle feels light in your hand, allowing for light swings that hit hard during a match or tournament.

She also loves that it can be customized with her favorite colors! Check out the Bantam TS-5 and other PaddleTek paddles here. 

Paddletek Bantam TS-5 Pickleball Paddle

Paddletek Bantam TS-5 Pickleball Paddle

Check Price

Watch Out For Anna Leigh On the Court! 

As one of the youngest pro players in the sport, Anna Leigh Waters is one to watch as she continues to smash through each tournament, claiming victory along the way. It’s always exciting to see a young athlete grow with their sport, and she is definitely one of pickleball’s brightest stars. 

Filed Under: AOTM, Pickleball, Women in Sports, Women's Sports, Youth Sports Tagged With: Anna Leigh Waters

Meet Anna Leigh Waters

November 17, 2022 by Tara S

Anna Leigh Waters is Top 5 in the world in women’s professional pickleball and competes in all three divisions: Women’s Doubles, Mixed Doubles, and Singles. Upon going pro at only twelve years of age, she became the youngest professional pickleball player in history. She partners with her mom, Leigh Waters, and helped develop the two’s family trait of “banging” and “ripping” on the pickleball court. When the Waters made their debut in pickleball, they pioneered a new playing style that relies on power and reflex volleys paired with rock-solid defense and resets. Rather than patiently dinking and waiting for their opponents to make a mistake, the Waters prefer to speed things up and muscle their way through points – an aggressive style that has won them a passionate fan base. Anna Leigh Waters is also a fierce competitor when it comes to Singles and Mixed Doubles and generally partners up with JW Johnson, Kyle Yates, or Tyson McGuffin for the latter event.

Waters is a national champion in Women’s Doubles, winning her first gold medal at the 2021 Orlando Cup. She also took golds in Singles at the Newport Beach Showcase, the Orlando Cup, and the Texas Open – all in 2021. Waters finished first in Women’s Doubles at the Tournament of Champions, as well as at the Margaritaville USA Pickleball Nationals Championship. She is the youngest professional pickleball champion in history, capturing titles at only twelve years of age. She is a bronze medalist in Singles at the 2021 U.S. Open and a silver and bronze medalist (Women’s Doubles and Mixed Doubles, respectively) at the 2021 Acrytech Atlanta Open.

Waters, along with her mom, took the whole of 2020 off from pickleball due to concerns about COVID-19, but has lost no time working her way back up to the top since her return to the Pro Circuit in 2021. Waters seems to balance her pro pickleball career, normal teenagerhood, and competitive travel soccer with ease. She is quick to smile and laugh on-court, but her passion and fire leaves no one in doubt about what she wants the result to be. Outside of pickleball, she enjoys soccer, shopping, cooking, and fashion.

Filed Under: AOTM, Athlete Spotlight, Pickleball, Women in Sports, Women's Sports, Youth Sports Tagged With: Anna Leigh Waters

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