GRAND RAPIDS, MI - The New Jersey 5s came into the MLP Mid-Season Tournament as the only undefeated team at the Premier level.

They’re now leaving Belknap Park with that classification still intact—just $80,000 richer.

The team featuring Anna Leigh Waters, Zane Navratil, Mari Humberg, and Will Howells outlasted the D.C. Pickleball Team to secure the victory and remain undefeated on the year.

Waters—who New Jersey selected with the No. 2 overall pick in April’s draft—certainly proved her worth on Sunday as she earned wins with Humberg in women’s doubles and Howells in mixed doubles to bring on the DreamBreaker, where her team eventually triumphed.       

That’s been the formula for success for the 5s so far this season; all of their matches have gone to a deciding singles contest, save for their lone regulation victory over the Dallas Flash in Saturday’s semifinals.

At only seventeen years old, Waters has done essentially all there is to do in pro pickleball sphere, except win an MLP title.

The year is far from over—and results from Grand Rapids don’t count towards the season-long standings—but coming out on top at an event where all teams are competing has to count for something.

Waters sees even bigger things ahead for New Jersey for the rest of the 2024 campaign.

“I feel like we have great team chemistry, and I wouldn’t want to trade any of them for anybody,” she said of her teammates. “I think we have a strong rest of the season in mind.”

New Jersey will look to keep its undefeated season alive at MLP Salt Lake City running July 25-28, which will be the first MLP event to take place in Utah.

The Texas Ranchers beat in-state rivals Dallas Flash in another DreamBreaker 21-15 to finish in third place.