Leigh Waters Elevates Pickleball: Leigh Waters, known for coaching her daughter, World No. 1 Anna Leigh Waters, is now drawing attention off the court. At pickleball tournaments across the U.S., Waters often sports designer fashion, especially her favorite brand—Gucci—adding flair to her role as a high-profile coach.
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A New Kind of Spotlight
Leigh Waters has long been respected in the pickleball world. As a former top women’s doubles player and now full-time coach to her daughter and Christian Alshon, she’s no stranger to the spotlight. But lately, fashion—not forehands—is what people are talking about.
Waters has embraced luxury labels like Gucci and Love Shack Fancy while coaching. While most coaches opt for comfort, Waters proudly chooses style. “There’s a whole facet of my life that probably not a lot of people know about. I am super into design, both clothing design and interior design. I’ve always loved fashion so much,” she said on the Talk Pickle To Me podcast.
Fashion Was Always Part of Her Life
Before coaching full-time, Waters was a lawyer in North Carolina. She even launched her own clothing brand. “I had a clothing line for two years. I would go to New York and buy all my fabrics, I had a manufacturer in Pennsylvania, and I had a pattern maker. Talk about a tough business. I learned so much,” she shared. “I loved it because I just love fashion in general. If you go on my Instagram, I’m probably following more fashion things than pickleball things.”
Indeed, her Instagram confirms this. She follows top fashion houses like Louis Vuitton, Hermès, Chanel, Dior, and more. But her top choice? Gucci.
Why Gucci Matters
Waters’ love of Gucci began years ago. “The Gucci thing started in college when I met my sister-in-law, Heather. Whenever I had something special happen, or we were celebrating something, I always wanted Gucci,” she said.
Once she transitioned from player to coach, she saw a new opportunity. “One of the cool things about being a coach is that I can now wear whatever I want. I don’t have to necessarily wear a tennis or pickleball outfit. But, I still have a super sporty look,” Waters explained.
Courtside Looks Catch On
Waters met a Gucci sales rep a few years ago. Since then, her eye-catching outfits have become part of her courtside identity. “I’m getting way more attention for wearing my crazy Gucci outfits and I want to continue having fun with it and wearing what I want,” she said.
On Championship Sunday at the Carvana Mesa Cup, Waters wore a Love Shack Fancy dress instead of Gucci—and even made a Best Dressed List. “Because I love fashion so much, I love getting to have those little conversations with people at the tournaments about fashion. It’s like my little stress release. I get so happy talking about something different, and I get to put out a different side of me. I realize it’s not a very good investment, but retail therapy is a thing, and I am a shopping addict,” she said.
Raising the Bar for Pickleball Style
Waters isn’t the only athlete bringing style into the sport. Like tennis star Genie Bouchard, she hopes to lift pickleball’s fashion profile. “Maybe one day the sport will get to the level where these luxury brands are paying attention. It’s cool because tennis is starting to get to that level where the players have their sponsored bag, but then they’re also carrying their Gucci bag. You never know, pickleball could get there too,” she concluded.
With Waters leading the way, that future looks possible.
News in Brief: Leigh Waters Elevates Pickleball
Leigh Waters, mother and coach of Anna Leigh Waters, is gaining attention for wearing Gucci and other high-end fashion brands at pickleball events. A former lawyer with a background in clothing design, Waters enjoys blending luxury fashion with sport and hopes to inspire a new style trend in pickleball.
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