Anna Leigh Waters won a Triple Crown at the Fanatics Sportsbook North Carolina Cup presented by CIBC this weekend. You might say that was nothing out of the ordinary; in fact, you could even say it was business as usual.
However, her latest triple triumph was a particularly landmark moment as the sold-out crowd at Cary also witnessed her 100th career win.
A Particularly Poignant Place
It was a particularly poignant place to reach that figure in front of friends and family, as Cary was where she spent nearly half of her childhood.
Waters is unquestionably the most dominant pickleball player in the world, and her career is colored by several impressive stats. As the Professional Pickleball Association (Carvana PPA Tour) World No.1 in singles, doubles, and mixed doubles, she is the odds-on favorite in every match she plays, no matter the location, conditions, or her partner.
With only one loss in each event so far in 2024, she also holds more Triple Crowns (winning singles, Doubles and mixed doubles in the same event) than anyone in the sport, with an astounding 24.
All-Time Leader
Fast facts on Anna Leigh Waters’ dominance:
- Waters has 36 singles titles, 31 women’s doubles titles and 33 mixed doubles titles – she is the all-time leader on the women’s side in PPA Tour titles.
- Her 100 total gold medals are 63 more than those of her nearest competitor on the women’s side (doubles partner Catherine Parenteau is next with 37).
- Her first Gold Medal came in August 2021 when she won singles at the Takeya showcase. Her journey to 100 titles took less than three years to complete.
- She has won at least one gold medal in 41 of 45 PPA Tour events played.
- In her career, she averages 2.22 gold medals per event played.
- With 24 Triple Crowns, Waters holds more than any player in the sport – male or female.
- In 2022, she was named to Forbes’ “30 Under 30” list, the youngest honoree in the class.
“I’m Just Super Happy”
“I’m definitely thinking about this [record] right now,” said Waters when asked if she thinks about achieving records after earning her 100th PPA Tour title. “I’m just super happy. I’ve been watching the video board kind of just seeing some moments, you know, from my past titles, just my past tournaments, and it’s all coming back to me, and I’m getting emotional.
“I’m just super happy that I could get my 100th title here in Cary, North Carolina. This is where I grew up. This is where it all started. All my family is here, all my friends are here. So thank you all for the support.”
“Anna Leigh is an incredible athlete, competitor, and ambassador for the sport of pickleball,” said Connor Pardoe, Founder and CEO of the PPA Tour. Pickleball is the fastest-growing sport in America in part because of the charisma and talent of players like Anna Leigh.
“Her dominance on the court has been a joy to watch, helping to grow the game from both a participation and fan base perspective. One hundred titles is a remarkable career achievement, and at only 17 years old, she will continue to set and break records.”
