Anna Leigh Waters: The Teenage GOAT of Pickleball

At just 19 years old, Anna Leigh Waters has already achieved a status most athletes spend a lifetime chasing: she is widely considered the Greatest of All Time (GOAT) in the sport of pickleball. With a staggering 194 gold medals to her name, Waters is the most decorated player in the history of the game.

A Career Born from a Hurricane

Waters’ journey into the world of pickleball began unexpectedly. In 2017, her family was forced to evacuate their Florida home due to Hurricane Irma. They temporarily relocated to Pennsylvania, where they discovered pickleball to pass the time. The family was immediately “hooked,” playing multiple times every day.

What started as a hobby quickly became a professional pursuit. Waters’ mother, Leigh Waters, even left her career as a lawyer to play professionally. Anna Leigh began competing against adults at the age of 12. While she initially faced some hostility from older players who struggled with the idea of losing to a middle schooler, she has since earned the universal respect of her peers and sports legends alike.

Recognition from Legends

Waters’ talent has caught the eye of some of the biggest names in sports. Tennis icon Andre Agassi has described her as “one of the great competitors” he has ever seen in any sport. Agassi even made his professional pickleball debut playing alongside Waters at the US Open—a full-circle moment for Anna Leigh’s mother, who grew up with Agassi as her own tennis idol.

Success On and Off the Court

The financial rewards of Waters’ dominance have grown alongside the sport’s popularity.

• Earnings: In 2019, a gold medal win earned Waters roughly $1,000; this year, she is expected to take home $2.5 million.
• Sponsorships: She recently signed a high-profile endorsement deal with Nike, further cementing her status as a mainstream sports star.
• PPA Stature: PPA CEO Connor Pardoe describes having Waters in the league as a “dream come true” for the organization.

The Future: Olympics and Beyond

While pickleball is the fastest-growing sport in the world, it is not yet on the Olympic roster. It will not be featured at the 2028 LA Olympics, but there is hope for its inclusion in the 2032 Brisbane Games. By then, Waters will be just 25 years old and likely still in her prime.

For now, Waters remains focused on maintaining her position at the top. “A goal of mine is just to stay on top as long as possible,” she says. Given her trajectory and unmatched skill, the era of Anna Leigh Waters shows no signs of ending.