Anna Leigh Waters' first tournament wielding a Franklin Pickleball paddle will be next week's Carvana PPA Masters powered by Invited.
Anna Leigh Waters' first tournament wielding a Franklin Pickleball paddle will be next week's Carvana PPA Masters powered by Invited. Franklin Sports

Anna Leigh Waters, Franklin Sports announce 'long-term' deal

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This news comes two days after Waters and her longtime paddle sponsor Paddletek mutually announced the end of their partnership after seven years together.

“We couldn’t be more excited to welcome the undisputed number one pickleball player in the world to the Franklin Sports family,” said Adam Franklin, President of Franklin Sports. “Anna Leigh’s remarkable talent, competitive spirit, and passion for the game align perfectly with our mission to support athletes at every level while continuing to grow the sport globally.”

According to the release, Waters will compete with new iterations of the brand's C45° Carbon Fiber Paddle technology, with her signature paddle scheduled to be available for preorder on Jan. 16.

The partnership isn’t just for paddles, however; Waters will also collaborate with Franklin and “co-design a signature line of products including pickleball paddles, pickleball bags, and pickleball accessories.”

“When looking for the right partner for the future of my game, performance was a priority, and I’ve been so impressed by Franklin’s commitment to paddle innovation,” Waters mentioned in a statement. “Beyond the technology, I had an immediate connection with the team and felt like part of the family. I have a lot of trust in this partnership and am especially excited to work together on our shared vision for international growth."

While we know which paddle brand the 18-year-old superstar will represent at next week’s Carvana PPA Masters powered by Invited, attention will now turn to which apparel company Waters signs with after she was spotted training in Nike gear earlier this week.