Anna Leigh Waters Affirms Big-Name Status as She Signs Deal with Global Behemoth Nike – Pickleball News Asia
Let it be known that Anna Leigh Waters truly is a big deal now, not just in pickleball, but also in
On Tuesday, ALW and Nike announced a deal that would make the latter the official apparel partner of the former, ending weeks of speculation. This comes after she signed a long-term partnership with Franklin Sports to be her paddle and equipment sponsor.
“This agreement establishes Anna Leigh as the first-ever pickleball athlete to join Nike’s elite global roster,” the Portland-based company noted in an official release announcing its latest signing.
That elite global roster includes some of sports’ biggest names, from LeBron James and Sabrina Ionescu in basketball, to Cristiano Ronaldo and Kylian Mbappé in football, to Naomi Osaka and Emma Raducanu in tennis, and Sha’Carri Richardson in track and field. Legends like Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant have also been the face of Nike, as was tennis icon Andre Agassi, who is now one of pickleball’s most ardent ambassadors.
Now, Anna Leigh Waters is part of that exclusive fraternity and is the first pickleball athlete to sign with Nike. ALW is naturally stoked by this career-defining move.
“Growing up, I watched my idols wear the Swoosh in their biggest moments, so joining the Nike family is a dream realised,” said Anna Leigh Waters. “Nike is the gold standard in performance, and I can’t wait to step onto the court representing a brand that believes in the same relentless pursuit of greatness that drives me every day.”
Anna Leigh Waters’ latest power move comes on the heels of a spectacular 2025 that saw her win 38 gold medals to reach 181 for her career, along with 8 Triple Crowns to give her 39 in total. She was also featured in historic Times Square in New York and walked the red carpet at the ESPYs. In short, Anna Leigh Waters became a certified big deal in 2025 in the sporting world.
From the looks of it, Nike was watching all along
