Pickleball is America’s fastest-growing sport, and Anna Leigh Waters, 15, of Delray Beach, Florida, is one of the best players on the professional level. Just five years ago, she picked up a pickleball paddle for the first time. Now she has endorsement deals and consistently posts impressive wins in tournaments.
Q: Why is pickleball suddenly so popular?
A: It’s a sport you can play with anyone, any age. I think Covid also played a big part because families could do something together.
Q: What’s it like for you as it becomes more popular?
A: It’s really cool to see how pickleball exploded and how celebrities are getting into it. I’m getting to ride the wave and grow with that.
Q: How do you take care of your mental health when you play?
A: Last summer at a match, I was ahead by a lot, and then my opponent started coming back. I was having some thoughts. My parents decided to get me a mental coach, and he has helped so much. I’m playing against all adults, so it can be overwhelming. It’s cool to talk about it.
Q: What do you want other teens to know about pickleball?
A: I used to think pickleball was for older people. But I would say give it a shot and play once. I know people who were skeptical, and then they tried it and loved it.