Anna Leigh Waters: The Nike Signing, The Franklin Switch, And Pickleball’s New Era | S3 E1 John Fetterman [NOZ8QzB04nr]

Link to Anna Leighs 1st Pickleballers interview that focuses on her upbringing:

Anna Leigh Waters is the most dominant pickleball player of all time the sports biggest star, the standard everyone is chasing, and now the first-ever Nike signed pickleball athlete.

In this episode, Anna Leigh sits down with Roscoe and Jared to tell the full story behind the two biggest moves in pickleball: signing with Nike, and leaving Paddletek after years to join Franklin. She breaks down shedeur sanders what the public didnt see the pressure of rumors before anything was actually signed, how she handled the internet going crazy after the leaked practice photo, and why she ultimately chose brands based on what would grow the sport long-term.

Then we get nerdy.

Anna Leigh explains the paddle testing process, why she didnt want a bidding war, how important it was to actually love the paddle, and what it felt like walking into the Masters with a brand-new setup new paddle, new Nike kit, new expectations and still winning. She also talks foam tech, Gen 1 vs newer paddles, why the singles paddle vs doubles paddle trend is coming, and what she wants to build next with Franklin (shapes, thickness, and future prototypes).

And with Nike, she shares what it was like visiting Nike HQ, sitting in all-day meetings, helping them think through true cracked windshield southwest airlines flight pickleball-specific gear, and why this partnership feels bigger than just her it feels like a milestone for the entire sport.

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1:11 Im a little sick + why this month felt electric

2:13 The pressure of rumors before anything was actually signed

4:04 The rumor mill: every paddle brand in the mix

5:46 The leaked Nike/Franklin practice photo (and how it happened)

8:25 Who was #2? How the paddle decision actually went

9:13 Why she wouldnt take money if she didnt love the paddle

10:43 First tournament with new gear: Masters pressure + adjusting fast

12:28 Singles vs doubles paddles (different shapes/thickness) is the future

14:47 Franklins Vegas presentation that won her over

17:34 Leaving Paddletek after years: the emotional side

21:06 Franklins legacy + what it means

22:24 Paddle nerd talk: Gen 1 foam

25:46 Nike talks begin: from interest to were serious

27:04 Worlds weekend + meeting Nike team (and realizing its real)

27:44 Nike idols: Federer, Serena, MJ, Agassi + what it symbolizes

29:11 Anna Leigh trending on Twitter

33:38 Trip to Nike HQ: all-day meetings + building pickleball-specific gear

35:22 The custom Nike jacket + Established 2026 + insane stats

39:10 Lets not pretend were friends Anna Bright suryansh shedge partnership honesty

41:04 Building chemistry with Anna + why it changed everything

43:48 Staying dominant: motivation, rewards, and what drives her

47:31 Olympics in 2032? Anna Leighs honest take

49:22 Trendsetter mindset: creating strategies others arent doing yet

50:33 Future of the game: aggression vs patience + equipment changes

51:36 Lifetime ball impact (help or hurt?) + singles vs doubles dynamics

52:56 Defining greatness: winning + inspiring growth

53:34 Losing: embarrassment, maturity, and perspective (Archer the dog)

56:52 If she had to drop an event: singles/doubles/mixed debate

58:46 Singles court rule changes + why shes against it

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