A phenom in the pickleball world, Anna Leigh Waters is pickleball’s biggest star. Upon going pro at only twelve years of age, she became the youngest professional pickleball player in history and youngest pickleball champion in history. With both parents playing D1 college sports, Anna Leigh grew up playing both tennis and soccer. She took up pickleball when her family evacuated Florida due to Hurricane Irma in 2017, which is when her grandfather introduced his new evacuees to pickleball in his Pennsylvania backyard.
Originally partnering with her mom, Leigh Waters, the two pioneered a new playing style of “banging” and “ripping” on the pickleball court. Rather than patiently dinking and waiting for their opponents to make a mistake, the Waters sped things up and muscled their way through points – an aggressive style that won them a passionate fan base. Anna Leigh now parters in doubles with Anna Bright or Catherine Parenteau, while her mom remains her coach and manager— a true “momager.” In mixed doubles, Anna Leigh Waters generally partners up with Ben Johns.
Despite her numerous successes, Waters balances being a normal teenager with playing professional pickleball exceptionally well. 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.
PPA Tour: Veolia North Carolina Open
Bracket Completed
Match #33
Apr 03
Anna Leigh Waters, Ben Johns
G1
11
-2
G2
11
-1
Travis Rettenmaier, Martina Frantova
G1
11
2
G2
11
1
Match #49
Apr 03
Anna Leigh Waters, Ben Johns
G1
11
-9
G2
11
-5
Tyson McGuffin, Lacy Schneemann
G1
11
9
G2
11
5
Match #57
Apr 03
Anna Leigh Waters, Ben Johns
G1
11
-4
G2
11
-6
Dylan Frazier, Jackie Kawamoto
G1
11
4
G2
11
6
Match #61
Apr 05
Anna Leigh Waters, Ben Johns
G1
11
-4
G2
11
-2
Federico Staksrud, Anna Bright
G1
11
4
G2
11
2
Match #64
Apr 06
Anna Leigh Waters, Ben Johns
G1
11
-8
G2
7
-11
G3
6
-11
G4
11
-3
G5
8
-11
JW Johnson, Jorja Johnson
G1
11
8
G2
7
11
G3
6
11
G4
11
3
G5
8
11
Gold:
Jorja Johnson / JW Johnson
Silver:
Anna Leigh Waters / Ben Johns
Bronze:
Anna Bright / Federico Staksrud
Bracket Completed
Match #1
Apr 04
Anna Leigh Waters, Catherine Parenteau
G1
11
-2
G2
11
-0
Sophie Abrams, Hailee Haymore
G1
11
2
G2
11
0
Match #17
Apr 04
Anna Leigh Waters, Catherine Parenteau
G1
11
-4
G2
11
-0
Angie Walker, Alex Walker
G1
11
4
G2
11
0
Match #25
Apr 04
Anna Leigh Waters, Catherine Parenteau
G1
11
-3
G2
11
-7
Kate Fahey, Tina Pisnik
G1
11
3
G2
11
7
Match #29
Apr 05
Anna Leigh Waters, Catherine Parenteau
G1
11
-5
G2
11
-7
Parris Todd, Lacy Schneemann
G1
11
5
G2
11
7
Match #32
Apr 06
Anna Leigh Waters, Catherine Parenteau
G1
11
-1
G2
6
-11
G3
4
-11
G4
7
-11
Jorja Johnson, Tyra Hurricane Black
G1
11
1
G2
6
11
G3
4
11
G4
7
11
Gold:
Jorja Johnson / Tyra Hurricane Black
Silver:
Anna Leigh Waters / Catherine Parenteau
Bronze:
Jade Kawamoto / Jackie Kawamoto