Anna Leigh Waters is an American professional pickleball player known for winning across singles, doubles, and mixed doubles. She turned professional at 12 and became one of the sport’s leading names. Her quick reactions and attacking style make her matches exciting to watch.
Anna Leigh Waters’s net worth in 2026 is often estimated at around $3 million, although that figure remains unverified. Her earnings include professional contracts, tournament prizes, and sponsorships. At 19, she already has partnerships with Nike and Franklin Sports.
Anna Leigh Waters Biography
| Personal Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Anna Leigh Waters |
| Date of Birth | January 26, 2007 |
| Age in 2026 | 19 years |
| Nationality | American |
| Sport | Pickleball |
| Professional Debut | 2019 |
| Height | 5 feet 6 inches |
| Height in Centimetres | Approximately 168 cm |
| Playing Hand | Right |
| Mother | Leigh Waters |
| Father | Stephen Waters |
| Coach | Leigh Waters |
| Reported Residence | Boynton Beach, Florida |
| MLP Team | New Jersey 5s |
| Paddle | Franklin C45 Hybrid |
| Estimated Net Worth | Around $3 million, unverified |
| Reported Annual UPA Pay | Approximately $2 million |
Her official tour profile lists her height, playing hand, residence, and professional debut. Published reporting provides the earnings estimate, which is separate from her total wealth.
Who Is Anna Leigh Waters?
Anna Leigh Waters competes on the Professional Pickleball Association Tour, commonly called the PPA Tour. She plays women’s singles, women’s doubles, and mixed doubles. Her success across all three divisions separates her from players who specialize in one.
She also competes in Major League Pickleball, or MLP. This format places players on teams rather than treating every event as an individual tournament. Anna Leigh represents the New Jersey 5s.
Her official tour profile identifies her as world number one across the three women’s disciplines. She has become a familiar face for people following professional pickleball and its growing tournament circuit.
Anna Leigh Waters Net Worth in 2026
Anna Leigh Waters’s estimated net worth is frequently placed near $3 million. However, biography websites publish different amounts without showing a complete financial breakdown. Her actual assets and personal finances are not public.
The available earnings reports suggest a successful business alongside her sporting career. Her agent projected more than $3 million in earnings during 2024. That figure covered income rather than the amount she kept after expenses and taxes
Her sponsorship portfolio expanded again in 2026. Nike and Franklin Sports became major partners at the beginning of the year. Those agreements strengthen her earning opportunities, but their official financial terms were not disclosed.
Anna Leigh Waters Salary and Earnings
Anna Leigh reportedly receives approximately $2 million annually from the United Pickleball Association. This reported amount is separate from her outside sponsorship deals. It also should not be presented as her complete yearly income.
Unlike someone with one regular employer, her income comes from several agreements and competitions. Tournament results can affect prize money. Brand partnerships add another source of earnings beyond what happens on the court.
Her main income sources include:
- Professional playing contracts.
- Tournament prize money.
- Paddle sponsorships.
- Clothing and footwear partnerships.
- Other brand endorsement agreements.
Her known partners have included Delta, DoorDash, RXBar, and Ulta Beauty. The value of each agreement remains private. You can therefore understand her income sources without assuming an exact monthly salary.
Early Life and Introduction to Pickleball
Anna Leigh discovered pickleball in 2017 during an unexpected family trip. Her family evacuated Florida because of Hurricane Irma and stayed with relatives in Pennsylvania. Her grandfather introduced them to the game.
She was 10 at the time. What began as a family activity quickly became something she wanted to keep playing. Her mother, Leigh, also took an interest, giving them a shared sport to practice together.
Before pickleball became her main focus, Anna Leigh played competitive soccer. She also had experience with tennis. These earlier sports gave her a background in movement and competition before she entered professional tournaments.
Parents and Family
Anna Leigh’s parents are Leigh Waters and Stephen Waters. Both competed in college sports at the University of South Carolina. Leigh played tennis, while Stephen played golf.
Her mother became her doubles partner and later continued as her coach and manager. Their partnership made family involvement an important part of Anna Leigh’s career. Leigh understands both the pressure of competition and her daughter’s playing style.
Her grandfather also holds a special place in the story. He introduced the family to pickleball before anyone expected a professional career. That first experience eventually led to years of training and tournament travel.
Education
Anna Leigh was homeschooled from third grade. She later completed high school through online classes and graduated a year early. This arrangement helped her balance schoolwork with training and travel.
She has said the combination felt normal because she had followed it for years. Her schedule also allowed time for interests outside competition. Those include cooking, baking, and spending time with friends.
Anna Leigh Waters’s Professional Career
An early opportunity came when her mother needed a replacement doubles partner at a Dallas tournament. Anna Leigh filled in at 11, and they finished with a silver medal. The result showed that she could compete against experienced players.
She officially turned professional in 2019 at age 12. Her early progress brought attention because she was competing successfully while still very young. Playing beside her mother helped introduce her to professional competition.
Her career later expanded across all three tournament divisions. She developed successful partnerships while continuing to compete alone in singles. That range became one of the strongest features of her record.
Singles, Doubles, and Mixed Doubles
In singles, Anna Leigh covers the court without a partner. Women’s doubles requires coordination with another female player. Mixed doubles pairs a woman and a man on the same side.
Her notable partners include Ben Johns in mixed doubles and Anna Bright in women’s doubles. The official Hanoi Cup announcement named those partnerships for its 2026 event. She has also played women’s doubles with Catherine Parenteau.
Titles and Career Records
Anna Leigh’s official PPA profile listed 198 titles when checked for this article. That total included 65 singles titles, 66 doubles titles, and 67 mixed doubles titles. These are tour records that can change after further events.
During the 2025 season, she won 38 gold medals across 17 tournaments. She also earned eight triple crowns. Those victories brought her career triple crown total to 39 by the end of that season.
A triple crown means winning singles, doubles, and mixed doubles at the same tournament. For readers new to pickleball, it shows success across three different challenges. Winning one requires both individual performance and strong teamwork.
Nike and Franklin Sponsorships
Anna Leigh signed a long term paddle agreement with Franklin Sports in January 2026. The partnership marked a major change in her equipment sponsorship. Her official tour profile now lists the Franklin C45 Hybrid as her paddle.
Later that month, she became Nike’s first sponsored pickleball athlete. The agreement covers apparel and footwear over multiple years. She previously wore Fila through an earlier partnership.
The Nike signing gave her another major connection beyond specialist pickleball equipment. However, the company did not announce the contract’s financial value. Its importance is clear without attaching an unsupported salary figure.
Major League Pickleball and the New Jersey 5s
Anna Leigh plays for the New Jersey 5s in Major League Pickleball. The team was founded in 2022 by Gary Vaynerchuk and Ryan Harwood. Its matches bring together women’s doubles, men’s doubles, and mixed doubles.
The New Jersey 5s won the 2026 MLP championship. Their official website celebrated the title, and the team’s press page recorded a final victory over St. Louis Shock. This added a team achievement to Anna Leigh’s individual tournament record.
Age and Height
Anna Leigh Waters is 19 years old in 2026. She was born on January 26, 2007. Her eighteenth birthday was celebrated publicly by the pickleball community in January 2025.
Her official listed height is 5 feet 6 inches, or approximately 168 centimetres. She plays right handed. These details appear in her PPA athlete profile.
Personal Life and Interests
Away from tournaments, Anna Leigh enjoys cooking and baking. She also spends time with friends when her schedule allows. These activities give her a break from training and competition.
Her public appearances have extended beyond pickleball events. In July 2025, she became the first athlete from the sport to attend the ESPY Awards. The appearance reflected her growing recognition outside regular tournament audiences.
Frequently Asked Questions
How Much Is Anna Leigh Waters Worth?
Some profiles estimate her net worth at around $3 million. Her actual financial total has not been confirmed publicly.
What Is Anna Leigh Waters’s Salary?
Reports place her annual UPA pay at approximately $2 million. Sponsorship income adds to her other earnings.
Who Coaches Anna Leigh Waters?
Her mother, Leigh Waters, serves as her coach. They previously competed together in women’s doubles.
What Paddle Does Anna Leigh Waters Use?
Her official PPA profile lists the Franklin C45 Hybrid.
What Team Does She Play For?
She represents the New Jersey 5s, the 2026 Major League Pickleball champions.
