Anna Leigh Waters Becomes First Pickleball Athlete on Nike's Global Roster

Anna Leigh Waters became the first pickleball athlete to join Nike's global roster when she signed an apparel and footwear partnership with the brand on January 13, 2026. The move places one of the sport's most visible pros into the marketing and product pipeline of a major global athletic company and signals growing commercial interest in pickleball at all levels.

Waters' new role as a global ambassador for Nike in pickleball apparel and footwear follows her existing paddle partnership with Franklin Sports. The arrangement is part of a broader sponsorship reset among the sport's top players, as brands and players reassess deals for a rapidly expanding pro circuit and amateur scene. For players, organizers, and club owners, the Nike relationship adds an established mainstream player to the small but growing ecosystem of pickleball-specific apparel and performance footwear.

Practical effects will show up in several ways. Nike's design and distribution scale could accelerate the availability of performance clothing and court-ready shoes engineered for the sport's lateral quickness, low-to-the-ground movement, and hard-stop footwork. That matters for club players who buy gear, tournament players who need durable apparel for long days on tour, and junior programs where recognizable brands help recruit new participants. The deal also increases the likelihood of more visible sponsorship at tournaments, branded pro kits, and retail drops that reach local sporting goods stores and online retailers.

The deal matters beyond product. Nike's global reach brings mainstream media attention and marketing muscle that can raise pickleball's profile in markets that have seen slower growth. Increased visibility can help amplify prize pools, attract more sponsors to regional events, and push more municipalities to invest in courts. For grassroots organizers, the upside is clearer access to branded apparel for events and potentially more sponsor interest in community programming and youth clinics.

For players on the pro tour, Waters' signing underscores a changing sponsorship landscape. Top players are negotiating not just paddle and accessory deals but holistic relationships that include footwear and apparel. That could reshape how athletes pitch themselves to brands and how brands structure athlete partnerships across the pro and amateur pipeline.

What comes next is product and presence. Watch for Nike-branded pickleball apparel and footwear drops, changes to pro tour visibility, and shifts in how brands package sponsorships for players. For club players and league organizers, this is a moment to expect more mainstream product options, broader media attention at big events, and potentially more sponsorship dollars flowing down to local levels.