Anna Leigh Waters

Anna Leigh Waters is pickleball’s world champion and a true phenom in the sport. Currently ranked world No. 1 in women’s singles, doubles, and mixed doubles, the 18-year-old has already redefined the game with her aggressive, fast-paced playing style and remarkable dominance on the professional tour. She has captured more than 160 gold medals and 36 triple crowns, sweeping most of her events in both Major League Pickleball (MLP) and the PPA Tour, where she is widely regarded as the most dominant athlete in the sport.

Waters made history at just 12 years old when she became the youngest professional pickleball player and champion in history. She discovered pickleball in 2017 when her family evacuated Florida during Hurricane Irma and her grandfather introduced them to the game in his Pennsylvania backyard. Originally teaming up with her mom, Leigh Waters, who remains her coach and manager, Anna Leigh helped pioneer a new, aggressive style of play that won her a passionate following.

A Florida native, Waters balances her professional career with being a teenager, quick to laugh and connect with fans while showing fierce determination on the court. Off the court, she enjoys fashion, cooking, travel, gaming, and shopping.