Pickleball remains one of the fastest-growing sports in the United States, with participation increasing 311% between 2022 and 2024, according to the Sports & Fitness Industry Association (SFIA). In 2024, there were an estimated 19.8 million pickleball players in the United States, and the number has continued to grow since then.
With the sport’s inevitable rise, Nike hopes to get in on the bandwagon by signing their first professional pickleball player.
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Top-ranked pickleball player Anna Leigh Waters, 18, becomes the first athlete in the sport to join Nike’s roster. The talent previously signed a deal with Fila, but that deal expires in 2025. Waters will be wearing Nike apparel and footwear in professional settings for the foreseeable future.
What are the terms of the deal?
Terms of the deal were not disclosed, but the deal should add to Waters’ already lucrative pickleball career. Waters, who became a professional pickleball player at age 12, reportedly earns about $2 million a year from the United States Pickleball Association.
When will Anna Leigh Waters debut her new Nike apparel?
Waters will debut her Nike apparel this week at the Cavanagh Masters in Rancho Mirage, Calif., which ends on January 18.
Anna Leigh Waters returns a ball during the Minto U.S. Pickleball Open Women’s Professional Doubles gold medal match at East Naples Community Park on May 3, 2025 in Naples, Florida. She and her mother, Leigh Waters, won the competition.
Why does Nike sign pickleball players?
Nike has always avoided getting involved in pickleball, despite the sport’s crazy growth in recent years. However, under new CEO Elliott Hill, the company’s tone appears to have changed. Nike’s new plan will expand its reach into pickleball and other emerging sports amid poor sales and plunging stock.
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Anna Leigh Waters Other Brand Offers
Waters has several big brand deals in the works recently. Just last week, Waters agreed to use a new racket and join the Franklin Sports equipment family. Waters also has deals with other big companies including Delta Air Lines, Ulta Beauty and DoorDash.
“Growing up, I watched my idols wear the Swoosh in the most important moments, so joining the Nike family is a dream come true,” Waters said in a statement after the Nike deal was announced. “Nike is the gold standard in performance, and I can’t wait to get on the court representing a brand that believes in inspiring me every day to relentlessly pursue excellence.”
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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Nike signs first pickleball deal with Anna Leigh Waters