Anna Leigh Waters discovered pickleball when her family evacuated Florida during Hurricane Irma in 2017, thanks to her grandfather introducing the game in his Pennsylvania backyard.
Now at 17, Waters, a former tennis player, has become the leading figure in the sport. Her agent, Kelly Wolf from Octagon, revealed in a recent phone interview that she is on track to be the highest-paid pickleball player—male or female—earning over $3 million this year.
In comparison, Ben Johns, the top-ranked male player in the PPA, mentioned in May that his earnings would exceed $2.5 million from salaries and endorsements.
Ranked No. 1 globally in singles, doubles, and mixed doubles, Waters has secured numerous endorsement deals with brands such as Fila (apparel and footwear), Paddletek (pickleball paddles), Carvana (vehicle sales), Lock Laces (elastic shoelaces), Pickleball4America (events including the US Open Pickleball Championships), Shiseido (suncare products), Cetaphil (skincare), Biofreeze (topical pain relief), and Collectbobbles (bobbleheads).
Anna Leigh Waters, who turns 18 in January, recently shared her remarkable financial success. Despite still living with her parents, she earns over seven figures annually. Her agent, Kelly Wolf, emphasized that Waters’ impressive endorsement deals are unparalleled in the world of pickleball. “Anna Leigh is her own little cottage industry, to be quite honest,” she added.
Leigh Waters, a former Division I tennis player, is Anna Leigh’s mother and doubles partner. Their professional pickleball journey began six years ago when Anna Leigh, then 11, stepped in to replace a partner who dropped out of a doubles tournament. Surprisingly, they secured a silver medal, prompting Leigh to launch Anna Leigh’s professional career officially.
In 2019, at the age of 12, Anna Leigh became the youngest professional pickleball player ever. She graduated high school a year early through online classes to focus on her athletic pursuits. Despite missing out on traditional high school experiences, she enjoys a fulfilling life as a professional athlete.
Waters finds joy in activities beyond pickleball, such as cooking, baking, and spending time with friends. Her early exposure to homeschooling has made her adaptable to balancing sports and academics, allowing her to seamlessly integrate her athletic career into her daily life.
Pickleball, a fun blend of tennis and ping pong played with paddles and a wiffle ball, has skyrocketed in popularity, reaching 13.6 million players in the U.S. in just a few years.
Waters recalls her early experiences at pickleball tournaments when hotel staff would often ask, “Why are you in town?” Her response of “pickleball” was typically met with confusion: “What’s that?” Now, the reactions have shifted to enthusiasm, with responses like, “Oh my gosh, I love that sport! I just started playing” or “That’s my favorite sport to enjoy with friends.”
Reflecting on her journey, Waters noted that when she first started, tournaments were often held on makeshift courts taped off on tennis courts or even in gymnasiums. It was just a fun activity for a small group of people. However, the pandemic changed everything. Families began flocking to parks and building courts in their driveways, finding a joyful way to spend time together. As the world emerged from COVID, tournaments grew significantly, with larger venues and increased support from national and global sponsors.
Waters has had the chance to play pickleball with former tennis star Jack Sock and has seen legends like John McEnroe, Andre Agassi, Novak Djokovic, James Blake, Steffi Graf, and Maria Sharapova participate in exhibitions. “It’s really cool,” she said. “At my last tournament in Las Vegas, Andre Agassi even watched one of my singles matches, which was an amazing experience.”
Waters currently plays for the New Jersey 5’s in Major League Pickleball, a league that boasts franchise owners like Tom Brady and LeBron James.
Earlier this month, the team showcased their skills at CityPickle at Wollman Rink in Central Park, winning all five of their matches—four in regulation and one in a tiebreaker. Waters had a stellar performance, going a perfect 10-0, bringing her season record to 26-2.
Ryan Harwood, the general manager of the New Jersey 5’s, described the event as a “massive moment” for raising awareness among decision-makers on Madison Avenue regarding sponsorship and media rights deals.
“I think it’s great for the sport,” Waters said before the event. “With eight million people in New York, just the fact that we’re playing in Central Park means that many who aren’t there to watch pickleball will still see it. They’ll be exposed to high-level pickleball, and that’s important for growing the game.”
