Anna Leigh Waters and Anna Bright Redefine Women’s Doubles: Anna Leigh Waters and Anna Bright won the women’s doubles gold medal at the 2025 Veolia Atlanta Pickleball Championships. They beat Rachel Rohrabacher and Catherine Parenteau in straight games: 11-4, 11-7, 11-3. This was the first major final since Anna Leigh Waters ended her long partnership with Catherine Parenteau and teamed up with Anna Bright.
Many fans called it the “breakup final” because both teams had recently changed partners. Anna Leigh Waters left Catherine Parenteau for Anna Bright. In return, Catherine Parenteau joined Rachel Rohrabacher, who had previously played with Anna Bright. The new teams created one of the most talked-about matchups of the year.
Why Waters Made the Switch
Some people on social media didn’t like Anna Leigh Waters’ decision to change partners. But others supported it. “Strictly business, not personal,” was the explanation, quoting Al Pacino from The Godfather.
The reason was clear. Just like Ben Johns switched partners in men’s doubles, Anna Leigh Waters believed the game was getting faster and needed someone with stronger offense. Anna Bright’s style fit this faster game better than Catherine Parenteau’s.
Anna Bright is also five years younger than Catherine Parenteau, who will turn 31 this summer. While many players stay strong after 30, some begin to slow down. Anna Leigh Waters made a move to prepare for that possibility.
How the Teams Performed in Atlanta
Anna Leigh Waters and Anna Bright had a smooth path to the final. They didn’t lose a single game on the way. In the semifinal, they defeated Tyra Black and Parris Todd easily with scores of 11-2, 11-7.
In the final, Catherine Parenteau and Rachel Rohrabacher played with passion. But the power and skill of Anna Leigh Waters and Anna Bright were too strong. The match ended quickly: 11-4, 11-7, 11-3.
Although the match was a bit closer than some expected, many fans still hoped Catherine Parenteau and Rachel Rohrabacher would at least make it competitive. Instead, Anna Leigh Waters and Anna Bright dominated.
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Why Parenteau and Rohrabacher Struggled
Catherine Parenteau and Rachel Rohrabacher are still top 10 players. Their silver medal showed that they are strong competitors. But when they played together, some weaknesses became clear.
Both players are better on the right side of the court. Catherine Parenteau had to play on the left, but it didn’t work against a team as strong as Anna Leigh Waters and Anna Bright. The winners attacked the middle, which is usually the left side player’s job. When Catherine Parenteau tried to cover the middle, Anna Leigh Waters and Anna Bright hit down the line instead.
This left Catherine Parenteau and Rachel Rohrabacher with a problem: neither is comfortable or strong enough on the left. That limits how far they can go. Other teams are likely to beat them before the finals as the season goes on.
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Is There a Team That Can Beat Waters and Bright?
It’s unlikely that Catherine Parenteau and Rachel Rohrabacher will beat Anna Leigh Waters and Anna Bright in 2025. The skill gap is just too large.
There is one team that could challenge them: Tyra Black and Jorja Johnson. To beat Anna Leigh Waters and Anna Bright, a team needs a strong left-side and right-side player. The women’s game has very few left-side players at the top. Besides Anna Leigh Waters and Anna Bright, only Tyra Black and sometimes Etta Tuionetoa or Vivian Glozman show the needed skill.
Also, a team needs power. Anna Leigh Waters often speeds up the game and wins fast exchanges. Anna Bright defends and counters well. Together, they are hard to stop. Tyra Black and Jorja Johnson both have power and could match up well in a fast game.
Earlier this year, Tyra Black and Jorja Johnson played well as a team. But recently, they’ve chosen different partners. At Atlanta, Tyra Black played with Parris Todd, and Jorja Johnson played with Jade Kawamoto. Neither pairing had enough power to challenge the top team.
Fahey and Pisnik are improving, but still not at the same level. Vivian Glozman has potential, but it’s too early to expect her to win a gold medal. For now, only Tyra Black and Jorja Johnson, if reunited, might give Anna Leigh Waters and Anna Bright a serious test.
What’s Next for Women’s Doubles in 2025?
Unless something changes, Waters and Anna Bright are expected to win every gold medal this year. They may even do it without losing a single game.
Other teams will continue to try, but until a strong left-right combo with enough power steps forward, Waters and Bright will stay on top. The hope for a competitive season rests on teams like Tyra Black and Jorja Johnson teaming up again.
News in Brief: Anna Leigh Waters and Anna Bright Redefine Women’s Doubles
Anna Leigh Waters and Anna Bright won the 2025 Veolia Atlanta Pickleball Championships women’s doubles title, defeating Catherine Parenteau and Rachel Rohrabacher. Waters ended her old partnership with Parenteau to join Bright. Only Tyra Black and Jorja Johnson appear capable of challenging them this year. Waters and Bright may remain unbeaten in 2025.
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