Anna Leigh Waters keeps finding new ways to push pro pickleball into the spotlight. From attending the ESPY Awards to becoming the sport’s first Nike athlete, she’s helping to bring it into some of the most influential spaces in sports culture.

Most recently, ahead of the Super Bowl, Waters appeared on The Pat McAfee Show, where she talked pickleball and even dinked live on set—another moment showing just how fast the game is growing.

“I think it’s a great sport,” said McAfee.

When McAfee on‑air personality Ty Schmit admitted that a few years back he spent 12 hours a day playing pickleball in the run‑up to the Super Bowl, Waters couldn’t resist making a fun statement.

“So you guys know it’s a real sport then!” she mentioned.

Everyone wholeheartedly concurred. There was no “Is pickleball even a real sport?” debate on the table. 

“Are there a lot of really good players? Like do you kill everybody or is it good competition?” asked McAfee.

“I win a lot, but there’s good competition,” replied Waters. 

If only McAfee and his team realized what an understatement that really is. Seeing her stats, Waters’ “[winning] a lot” barely scratches the surface of her dominance.

What I loved most about this brief segment was seeing McAfee and his team so genuinely excited to chat about pro pickleball, even in the middle of one of the biggest weeks in sports, with the Winter Olympics starting Friday and the Super Bowl on Sunday. It’s fantastic exposure for Waters and for pro pickleball as a whole. After all, she didn’t hesitate to tell viewers to tune in to Pickleballtv.

On top of that, McAfee is a true “guy’s guy” and one of the loudest and boldest voices in sports commentary. So if he’s backing pickleball as a legitimate sport, that’s a powerful endorsement for anyone who still doubts its athleticism, competitiveness, or high level of play.

Sorry, pickleball skeptics. Pat McAfee is officially on our team.

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