Anna Leigh Waters Picks Bright, Drops Parenteau

If you’ve been hanging around 11 PICKLES—especially in our little nubbin pickles corner—you probably had a hunch this was coming.

After a legendary run, Catherine Parenteau and Anna Leigh Waters are officially done as a doubles team. The duo that delivered 31 titles, a 96% win rate, and a 40-match streak just wrapped up their run after falling short in the finals at the North Carolina Open.

The split came quietly—a sincere goodbye from Parenteau on social, and just like that, Waters had already locked in a new partner for next month. No drama. Just a major shift in the power structure of women’s pickleball.

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Watch Parenteau's interview sharing how it happened:

It’s the end of an era—but also the start of something different. We’ve been tracking the shifts all season: rising threats like Jorja Johnson and Tyra Black, a more crowded top tier, and subtle signs of friction with Anna Bright. If you missed it, check out our deep dive on how Parenteau and Waters dominated final rounds—a reminder of just how locked-in they were at their peak.

Let’s unpack what led to the split, what Waters’ next move reveals, and what this means for the future of women’s doubles.

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Timeline of the Partnership: A Reign Built on Consistency

Once Waters committed to Parenteau full-time in late summer 2023, things took off fast. Prior to that, she’d been rotating between Parenteau and Bright after her mother, Leigh Waters, stepped away from the tour.

But once the Parenteau-Waters partnership locked in, they went on a tear.

The numbers were ridiculous:

• 31 titles together, including 14 in 2024 alone
• 155 wins and just 6 losses as a team
• 40 consecutive match wins at their peak
• A 10–3 edge over Bright and Rachel Rohrabacher in finals
• Over a year ranked #1 in women’s doubles on the PPA Tour

Even in early 2025, they stayed dominant—winning five of their first seven events. But the losses they took weren’t flukes. One came at the hands of Smith and Tuioneotoa. The other, which many now call the tipping point, was a finals loss to Johnson and Black in North Carolina.

For the first time in over a year, the duo looked mortal.

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Decoding the Decision: Why the Split Now?

Neither player has said much publicly, but the pieces are there. The breakup came less than 24 hours after the North Carolina loss. Parenteau’s message? All class. All gratitude. But it also had the tone of someone who’d known this was coming.

Meanwhile, Waters was already confirmed to play the next major with Anna Bright at the Veolia Atlanta Championships. That’s not a last-minute phone call. That’s a move that had been in the works.

And let’s be honest: Waters and Bright reuniting makes strategic sense. Back in 2023, their partnership had raw electricity—seven titles, huge wins, and highlight after highlight. But the timing didn’t allow them to fully commit. Now? They’re both seasoned, sharper, and maybe more ready to make it work.

Still, it’s not without risk. Two aggressive players. Two dominant court presences. It’s been the talk of group chats, Reddit threads, and side-court whispers all year: “If they click, they could dominate.” “If they don’t, it’s fireworks for the wrong reasons.”

What’s changed this time around is why Waters is making the switch. The field is deeper. The wins are tougher. In 2024, she could control matches with discipline and margin. In 2025? That margin is gone.

This isn't just a new chapter—it’s a calculated bet to stay ahead of a surging pack.

Waters and Bright Join Forces: A Strategic Reunion

So what’s different this time?

The last time Anna Leigh Waters and Anna Bright played together in 2023, they were explosive. Seven titles, plenty of swagger, and a playing style that overwhelmed most teams. But they were young. Still figuring things out. And back then, Waters wasn’t tied to anyone exclusively.

Now it’s different.

This isn’t a fill-in. This is Waters choosing Bright over everyone else in the field—and doing it with a full season ahead of them. Their first appearance together? The Veolia Atlanta Championships—a Slam with max points, max pressure, and all eyes on how this new-old pairing performs.

What makes this move interesting isn’t just the firepower (though that’s obviously there). It’s that Waters, who built her recent success on consistency and control with Catherine Parenteau, is now shifting gears. Bright brings speed, aggression, unpredictability—basically, chaos in a good way.

And this time, it might work even better.

Both players are more seasoned now. Bright has weathered long seasons, built chemistry with different partners, and grown into a more patient strategist. Waters, meanwhile, knows how to command the court without trying to win every point herself. That’s the version of her that became #1—and the version that might make this reunion more dangerous than the first.

This isn’t about chasing highlight reels. It’s about staying on top.

We’ll be tracking their performance at the Veolia Atlanta Championships closely—check our coverage at 11 PICKLES for match breakdowns, stats, and a look at how this pairing might reshape the women’s doubles rankings.

Parenteau’s Path Forward: Waiting Game or Power Move?

While Anna Leigh Waters wasted no time announcing her next move, Catherine Parenteau is playing it a little differently. As of now, there’s been no official word on who she’ll team up with next in women’s doubles—and honestly, that’s kind of exciting.

Parenteau has options. And she knows it.

Her name still carries weight on the tour, especially with her mixed doubles success this season alongside Federico Staksrud. That partnership has delivered consistent results, and it’s helped remind everyone that Parenteau’s versatility across formats is no fluke.

In women’s doubles, a few names have been floated in the 11 PICKLES slack, Reddit threads, and across court-side conversations. One of the most logical? Rachel Rohrabacher. They’re both sponsored by Selkirk, both have strong left-right flexibility, and both bring calm, calculated energy to the court. That kind of synergy doesn’t take months to build.

Then there’s Parris Todd—a proven partner Parenteau already won a title with at the 2023 Vulcan Tournament of Champions. Fans have also mentioned the Kawamoto twins, or even a bold shake-up like Jackie Kawamoto or Allyce Jones.

Whoever it is, don’t expect a rushed decision.

Parenteau is too experienced to chase a quick fix. If anything, this is a chance to reset—find a partner that complements her defensive instincts, court vision, and ability to slow the game down when everyone else is trying to speed it up.

In a field that’s suddenly wide open, don’t count her out. She’s still one of the smartest players in the game—and if she finds the right match, the next chapter could be just as dominant as the last.

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