Wednesday, March 18, 2026

Behind-the-Scenes of Anna Leigh Waters' Nike Headquarters Trip

 

I Signed With Nike...


Introduction Follow along as Anna Leigh Waters travels to the Nike World Headquarters in Oregon to celebrate becoming the first professional pickleball player to sign with Nike. This video highlights her travel, meetings, campus tour, and birthday celebrations at the PHK campus.

Video Timeline & Summary

  • Travel Day to Oregon (0:00 - 1:49): News clips announce Anna Leigh's signing, followed by her journey from Salt Lake City to Oregon with her mom, ending with a late-night quest for a milkshake and fries.
  • Morning Preparation (1:49 - 2:26): Anna Leigh gets her hair and makeup done at the hotel and expresses her excitement about meeting the team in person.
  • Arrival and Welcome at Nike Campus (2:26 - 3:59): Arriving at the Mia Hamm building, Anna Leigh is greeted with a birthday surprise. She discusses product preferences and is formally welcomed into the Nike family as a trailblazing athlete.
  • Surprise Photo Reveal and Meetings (3:59 - 4:35): Anna Leigh discovers a massive, life-size photo of herself displayed on the campus wall and engages in productive meetings with the Nike team.
  • Personalized Gift and Campus History (4:35 - 5:48): She receives a customized jacket featuring her hometown coordinates and her dog, Archie. A tour guide explains the campus renaming in honor of Phil Knight and mentions the Ronaldo field.
  • Campus Tour and Facilities (5:48 - 6:30): The tour continues to the Tiger Woods meeting center, the Shoe Dog Bridge, and shows various surfaces used for product testing in the laboratory.
  • Conclusion and Reflections (6:30 - 7:50): Nike leadership offers congratulations on her signing and upcoming competitions. Anna Leigh wraps up the day, reflecting on experiencing the surreal reality of being a Nike athlete.

Saturday, March 14, 2026

2026 PPA Tour: Veolia Texas Open Highlights



Round Of 16

  • Anna Leigh Waters vs. Hannah Blatt (0:11-3:02)
  • Anna Leigh Waters / Ben Johns vs. Millie Rane / Connor Garnett (13:29-18:44)
  • Anna Leigh Waters / Anna Bright vs. Zoe Wild / Sam Parker (28:56-34:45)

Quarter Finals

  • 12:28 Ben Johns / Anna Leigh Waters vs. Tyra Hurricane Black / Noe Khlif
  • 23:08 Anna Leigh Waters / Anna Bright vs. Lea Jansen / Callie Smith
  • 31:43 Anna Leigh Waters vs. Lea Jansen

Semi Finals

  • 08:10 Anna Leigh Waters / Ben Johns vs Catherine Parenteau / Gabriel Tardio
  • 42:25 Anna Bright / Anna Leigh Waters vs Rachel Rohrabacher / Catherine Parenteau
  • 51:39 Anna Leigh Waters vs Kaitlyn Christian

Finals

  • 06:10 Anna Leigh Waters & Anna Bright vs Parris Todd & Alix Truong
  • 14:47 Anna Leigh Waters & Ben Johns vs Anna Bright & Hayden Patriquin
  • 34:22 Anna Leigh Waters & Kate Fahey

Anna Leigh Waters YouTube Playlists


Monday, March 9, 2026

2026 PPA Tour: Newport Beach Open Highlights

 


Finals

  • 00:00 Mixed Doubles: Ben Johns & Anna Leigh Waters vs. Tina Pisnik & Eric Lange
  • 07:24 Women's Doubles: Anna Leigh Waters & Catherine Parenteau vs. Laura Bacher & Paris Todd
  • 14:52 Women's Singles: Anna Leigh Waters vs. Lea Jansen

Semifinals 
  • 09:49 Anna Leigh Waters vs. Kaitlyn Christian
  • 25:16 Anna Leigh Waters / Ben Johns vs. Parris Todd / Andrei Daescu
  • 33:31 Anna Leigh Waters / Anna Bright vs. Lea Jansen / Callie Smith

Quarter Finals
  • 00:00 Anna Leigh Waters vs. Mary Brascia
  • 16:22 Anna Leigh Waters / Ben Johns vs. Rachel Rohrabacher / Gabe Tardio
  • 35:36 Anna Leigh Waters / Anna Bright vs. Kaitlin Campbell / Mari Humberg

Round Of 16
  • 00:00 Anna Leigh Waters vs. Jelina Ingram
  • 19:10 Anna Leigh Waters / Ben Johns vs. Lea Jansen / Dylan Frazier
  • 22:46 Anna Bright / Anna Leigh Waters vs Callie Smith / Mari Humberg 


Anna Leigh Waters YouTube Playlists

Tuesday, March 3, 2026

Rising Star of the Court: Anna Leigh Waters

 

A Deep Dive into the World of Professional Pickleball

In this episode of Holding Court, host Kourtney Turner sits down with Anna Leigh Waters, the world's number one female pickleball player. This insightful interview explores how Waters transitioned from youth sports to professional dominance, the unique experience of competing alongside her mother, and her recent milestone as the first athlete signed by Nike for pickleball.


  • How did you discover pickleball? (2:00) During a family evacuation due to Hurricane Irma in 2017, Waters and her mother tried the sport at her grandfather's suggestion in Pennsylvania. They were immediately hooked, finding it far from just an "old person's sport."
  • When did you realize you had professional potential? (3:40) Success came quickly as she climbed local tournament rankings. A key turning point was realizing she needed glasses, which improved her gameplay significantly. Shortly after, she and her mom began competing as a team, eventually beating the world's number one team when Waters was 12.
  • What is it like playing doubles with your mom? (6:35) Waters explains that the partnership strengthened their relationship. They maintained a mutual, professional respect on the court, avoiding the typical "parent-coach" friction, which has allowed their bond to thrive off-court as well.
  • Is it harder to reach the top or stay there? (11:15) Staying at the top is more difficult. As the number one player, she faces constant pressure because every opponent is highly motivated to beat her, often playing their best games to challenge her ranking.
  • How do you handle the pressure of social media? (18:10) While she initially limited her presence to maintain a normal childhood, she now uses social media to show her off-court personality—like her love for cooking, fashion, and her dog, Archer—while learning to ignore the harsh comments that come with being in the spotlight.
  • What was the reaction to the Nike partnership? (23:00) Getting the call from Nike was surreal. Beyond the personal achievement, she notes that Nike entering the sport gives professional pickleball a new level of legitimacy and visibility.
  • What are your future goals for the sport? (34:35) Waters aims to be remembered as one of the greatest to play the game while actively working to grow the sport globally, particularly among youth players.