Anna Leigh Waters Pickleball Interview: Anna Leigh Waters, top-ranked women’s pickleball player and star of the New Jersey 5s, appeared live on ESPN’s SportsCenter on Thursday. The segment was part of SportsCenter: 50 States in 50 Days and took place at Belknap Park in Grand Rapids, Michigan, during the Beer City Open and the Edward Jones MLP Mid-Season Tournament presented by DoorDash. She was interviewed live by ESPN reporter Christine Williamson to share her thoughts on the sport.
Pickleball’s Legitimacy and Olympic Dreams
Christine Williamson asked Anna Leigh Waters about how some people don’t consider pickleball a “real” sport.
“Before I started playing, I was honestly one of those doubters, and once I got on the court, I was like, ‘I get the hype.’ This is a ‘real’ sport. It takes athleticism, it takes hard work, so I would say to those people just get out on the court and try it for yourselves.”
Waters also shared her dream of seeing pickleball added to the Olympic Games.
“Selfishly, it would mean a lot to me, just because I would love to compete in the Olympics and represent the U.S., but for pickleball, I think it would be huge. It would add just another level of that legitimacy. It definitely should be there, in my opinion. I think a lot of people are working on it, so I’m hoping that I can play in the Olympics and everyone can watch in the future.”
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Why Pickleball Is Growing Fast
Waters explained that pickleball is for everyone—no matter the age or gender—and that’s a big reason why it’s growing so fast.
“I think because anybody, any age, any gender can play the sport. When I was 10 years old, I was playing with my 70-year-old grandfather. We were still able to rally on the court, which you can’t really do in other sports. I also think there’s a huge community in pickleball. I feel like in other sports there’s a lot of tension, but in pickleball we’re just all friends. This huge community just makes people’s lives better. They meet new friends, lifelong friends, which has happened for me, too, so it’s just a sport for everyone.”
Tournament Energy and Being No. 1
When asked about the atmosphere at tournaments, Waters encouraged more people to attend.
“You should definitely come to a pickleball tournament. The vibe is immaculate. Everyone’s talking, cheering. Even if you’re not cheering for a specific team, everybody still claps, everybody’s rowdy. People here are having a great time and being loud, and that’s what we want on the court. We want all that energy.”
As the world’s top player, she spoke about how it feels and the pressure it brings.
“It’s crazy. I try not to think about it too much, and try not to put too much pressure on myself. I’ve been playing this sport for a while, so I think just having that security in the back of my head, like, ‘Ok, I’ve been doing this for a while. It’s not like I just started playing and I’m No. 1,’ so it feels pretty natural now, which is pretty cool to say. I’m just having a blast and enjoying every moment of it.”
“For sure. You definitely get people’s best when they play you because they have no pressure and you have all the pressure to win those matches. But, I also think that builds character, builds strength, and builds confidence, and I think I’ve grown as a person from it because I’ve faced so much adversity.”
Playing with Her Mom and Future Goals
Waters also talked about playing with her mother, Leigh Waters, who was once the top-ranked player herself.
“My mom was actually No. 1 in the world before I was, so it must be like a genetic thing. It runs in the family. The first time I beat my mom, I was like, ‘Oh my gosh. This is crazy.’ The dynamic in the family after that was a little strange because I was 11 when it happened, and my mom was like, ‘My 11-year-old is not supposed to beat me right now.’ But, then we started playing together. I was traveling the country with my mom. We were playing a professional sport and winning. We were No. 1 in the world together at one point, so just having all these memories, playing with and against my mom, it’s been amazing and it’s something that I’ll always remember.”
She ended the interview by sharing her hopes for the future of pickleball.
“It’s growing internationally right now, but I hope it grows even more internationally. I think the more people we can get to play pickleball, the better. The youth factor is also important. I was younger when I started playing pickleball, and I was like the only kid who played. Now, sometimes we go to pickleball tournaments and there are 200 kids there. I think it’s definitely growing internationally and among youth, but we can definitely do more there.”
As one of the sport’s top stars, Anna Leigh Waters continues to promote pickleball on big platforms like SportsCenter. Her message about the sport’s growth, community, and future shows why pickleball is more than just a game—it’s becoming a global movement.
News in Brief: Anna Leigh Waters Pickleball Interview
Anna Leigh Waters appeared live on SportsCenter from Grand Rapids, Michigan, during a major pickleball tournament. She spoke about the sport’s rise, the Olympic dream, and her journey as the world’s top player. Waters highlighted the sport’s community, energy, and international potential for future growth.