Anna Leigh Waters

Anna Leigh Waters

19 yr oldFemaleGolf, FL

6.94 👥 / 6.45 👤
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67 tournaments, 198 events.

Anna Leigh Waters is an 18-year-old phenomenon who has been the #1 ranked women's pickleball player since before she could legally drive. Born in Delray Beach, Florida, she transitioned from youth soccer (where she admits she was "a very good assister" because she lacked speed and power) to pickleball and immediately started collecting titles like Pokemon cards. She plays for the New Jersey 5s in MLP and is sponsored by Franklin, Nike, and DoorDash.

Waters competes alongside her mom, Leigh Waters, in women's doubles, forming what might be the most dominant mother-daughter duo in any sport, ever. Their partnership has produced a world #1 doubles ranking and, according to Anna Leigh, "a crazy bond" built on thousands of hours of travel and training together. Follow her on Instagram @anna.leigh.waters or her YouTube channel. With 37 women's titles in 2025 alone (30 more than the next closest player) and four consecutive Triple Crowns, she's not just winning the sport. She's lapping it.

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Fun Fact
She threw her paddle and stormed off the court after a bad loss early in her career. She's openly said "I'm not proud of that at all" and credits that meltdown as the wake-up call that made her mature as a competitor.
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"Before I started playing, I was honestly one of those doubters. Once I got on the court, I was like, 'I get the hype.' This is a real sport."
— ESPN SportsCenter with Christine Williamson, July 2025
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