Anna Lee Waters: Rising Pickleball Star

At just 19, Anna Lee Waters has quickly established herself as the top pickleball player globally on the Pro Tour, a journey that began nearly a decade ago almost by accident. She turned pro when she was only 12 after stepping in as a last-minute partner for her mother, who was a former professional player.

In a recent podcast episode titled “Welcome to the party,” Waters shared that her entry into pickleball was somewhat serendipitous. “It just happened by chance,” she remarked. Starting out at the lowest competitive level, she progressed through the ranks with each tournament. She later discovered she needed glasses, which significantly improved her game.

Reflecting on how it all started, Waters recalled, “My mom was a professional pickleball player, and one of her partners had to back out last minute. She asked me to fill in, and we ended up winning a silver medal. The only team we lost to was among the top players in the world. My mom thought I had potential.” Just months later, they defeated the No. 1 team globally. By the end of 2019, both Waters and her mother held the No. 1 spot in their doubles category.

Now, Waters is often mentioned alongside Ben Johns as one of the best players in the sport, with an impressive count of 181 gold medals and 39 Triple Crowns—an achievement indicating her mastery in singles, doubles, and mixed competitions.

Turning 19 earlier this year, Waters made headlines by signing a multi-year sponsorship deal with Nike, marking her as the first pro in pickleball to secure such a contract. With 186,000 followers on Instagram, she has also partnered with brands like Delta Air Lines, DoorDash, and Ulta Beauty, reportedly earning around $2 million annually from the National Pickleball Association.