Anna Leigh Waters just captured her 200th PPA Tour title, and she has worn plenty of memorable outfits along the way. To celebrate the milestone, here are some of my personal favorites from her career.
A Time Capsule From Her Early Days
One of the earliest photos I could find of Waters on a pickleball court feels like a time capsule. Her Nike shoes, Paddletek shirt and vintage paddle all date the shot, and the 11-year-old in the picture had no idea how much pickleball would change her life.
Some things have stayed the same. Her signature visor and braid have remained a staple of her on-court look.
The Blue Set Heard Around the World
This stunning bright-blue set became one of Waters’ most iconic looks when she announced her signing with Nike as a professional athlete. It marked a major milestone in her career and in the evolution of professional pickleball.
When a global powerhouse like Nike invests in one of the sport’s top athletes, it signals how far the game has come. The partnership helped legitimize pickleball on a larger stage and showed that it is no longer just a backyard pastime. It is a growing professional sport with a bright future.
Matching Looks With Mom
In the early days of Waters’ career, she competed alongside her mother, Leigh, and seeing the mother-daughter duo coordinate their outfits was always a treat. Both women have an eye for fashion. Their matching FILA looks with polo shrugs were among my favorites. I think those shrugs were ahead of their time. The outfits were equal parts stylish and charming, which made the matching moment even more special.
Celebrating No. 100
You cannot celebrate Waters’ 200th title without looking back at what she wore for her 100th. At the 2024 PPA North Carolina, she reached that milestone in a gorgeous turquoise FILA dress with a scalloped hemline. The look blended cute and sporty perfectly, and it remains one of my personal favorites.
Polos and Twirly Skirts
Waters wore several variations of collared polo tops paired with tiered, twirly skirts, and I adored every version. The pink, navy and cream colorways felt feminine and playful and photographed beautifully on the court. These looks will always rank among my all-time favorite outfits in professional pickleball fashion.
Purple Nike Perfection
Rounding out my top looks is a stunning purple Nike set Waters wore at the PPA Greater Zion Cup. Between the geometric cutout detailing, open-back design and matching skirt, the outfit is sporty perfection. She finished it with white crew socks and light green-and-white shoes featuring a purple Nike swoosh. The attention to detail makes this look an absolute winner.
Waters’ fashion has come a long way, and her FILA and Nike eras offer plenty to revisit as she continues to build her record.
