Anna Leigh Waters Sparks Court Drama: The St. Louis Shock handed the New Jersey 5s their first loss of the 2025 MLP Orlando season with a 3-1 victory in a highly charged match at the USTA National Campus. The game featured intense moments on and off the court, including a player confrontation that added drama to the contest.
If you read lips towards the end, Leigh may be saying to ALW “you can’t go over there”. Wild sequence of events in the final MLP match of the weekend! pic.twitter.com/OamPFwwAj8
— NML Pickleball (@NmlPickleball) April 27, 2025
Early St. Louis Dominance
St. Louis took control early in the match. In women’s doubles, Anna Bright and Kate Fahey defeated Anna Leigh Waters and Meghan Dizon, handing the 5s their second loss of the day.
The Shock’s lead extended in men’s doubles, where Hayden Patriquin and Gabe Tardio won against Will Howells and Zane Navratil, giving St. Louis a 2-0 advantage before mixed doubles.
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Tensions Flare in Mixed Doubles
New Jersey made a comeback in mixed doubles with Waters and Howells defeating Fahey and Patriquin 11-3. However, as the players walked off the court, tensions exploded. Patriquin reportedly called Waters a “f**ing b**ch.” sparking an immediate confrontation between the two. Members of both teams, along with MLP officials, intervened as the altercation heated up. Zane Navratil later confirmed the exchange via Twitter.
Called her a fucking bitch multiple times
— Zane Navratil (@ZaneNavratil) April 28, 2025
Shock Finish Strong to Secure Victory
Despite the tension, St. Louis remained focused. In the second mixed doubles match, Navratil threw a powerful shot that hit Tardio, adding further intensity to the game. However, Bright and Tardio won the match comfortably, securing the Shock’s 3-1 victory. Patriquin later addressed the incident, apologizing for his words.
“Some words were said—some words that shouldn’t have been said. It is what it is. It’s just the heat of the moment. I’m sorry, and I shouldn’t have done it.” – (Patriquin)
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Impact and Next Steps
This victory marked St. Louis’ second win of the day, following their earlier win against the Brooklyn Pickleball Team. Bright’s performance was particularly notable, as she faced both her old partner Rachel Rohrabacher and her new partner, Waters, in two high-stakes matches.
“All of the nerves and anxiety and excitement kind of hit me all at once. I had a lot of trouble sleeping last night, and there were definitely some matches for me today with a lot of storylines. You just have to kind of keep things in perspective and think about the bigger picture because it’s only the start of the season.” – (Bright)
Looking forward, St. Louis will look to build on their momentum at MLP Columbus next week, while New Jersey will regroup for MLP Austin in May. Their rivalry is clearly one to watch as the season continues.
News in Brief: Anna Leigh Waters Sparks Court Drama
St. Louis Shock defeated the New Jersey 5s 3-1, handing them their first loss of the 2025 MLP Orlando season. The match included heated confrontations and intense play, with a key performance by St. Louis’ mixed doubles team securing the victory.