Best Pickleball Guide

In the rapidly growing sport of pickleball, a select group of exceptional female athletes have risen to the pinnacle of the game, showcasing unparalleled skill, determination, and strategic prowess. With each powerful stroke of their paddles and lightning-quick court coverage, these women have left an indelible mark on the global pickleball stage. This article delves into the world of pickleball’s finest female competitors, highlighting their remarkable achievements, record-breaking performances, and unwavering dedication. By examining the awe-inspiring statistics that accompany their dominance, we shed light on the cream of the crop—the best female pickleball players in the world.

Best Female Pickleball Players in the World

The following list is based on DUPR (Dynamic Universal Pickleball Rating) which is most accurate and only rating system in global pickleball.

1. Anna Leigh Waters

• 23 (DUPR Doubles Rating)
• Turned Pro: 2019
• Birthday: January 26, 2007
• Age: 16
• Height: 5′ 6″
• Plays: Right-Handed
• Paddle: Paddletek Bantam TS-5 Pro

Anna Leigh Waters is a professional pickleball player who has won several national and international titles in the sport. She started playing pickleball in 2017 with her mother, Leigh Waters, who is also her doubles partner.

Together, they have become one of the most dominant teams in the women’s doubles category, winning the 2019 and 2020 US Open Pickleball Championships, the 2020 World Pickleball Championship, and the 2021 Tournament of Champions. Anna Leigh Waters is also a successful singles player, reaching the finals of the 2020 US Open and the 2021 Tournament of Champions.

She is known for her aggressive style of play, her powerful forehand and backhand shots, and her ability to handle pressure.

2. Anna Bright

• 02 (DUPR Doubles Rating)
• Turned Pro: 2022
• Birthday: October 8, 1999
• Age: 23
• Height: 5′ 8″
• Plays: Right-Handed
• Paddle: Anna Bright Scorpeus 14mm

Anna Bright is a professional tennis and pickleball player who has achieved remarkable success in both sports. She started playing tennis at a young age and became a star player at the University of California.

In 2022, Bright made her pro debut in pickleball. She stunned the pickleball world by winning two gold medals at the APP Hilton Head Open, beating some of the top players in the sport. She also appeared on PicklePod, a popular podcast hosted by Tyson Apostol and Thomas Shields, where she shared her story and ambitions. Bright is now one of the rising stars of pickleball and has attracted many fans and partners.

Besides being a talented athlete, Bright is also a fun-loving and adventurous person. She enjoys traveling, dancing and meeting new people. She is active on social media and often posts updates and photos of her life and career. She is also passionate about giving back to the community and supporting causes that she cares about.

3. Jackie Kawamoto

• 00 (DUPR Doubles Rating)
• Turned Pro: 2020
• Birthday: April 30, 1996
• Age: 27
• Height: 5′ 3″
• Plays: Right-Handed
• Paddle: Selkirk Vanguard Power Air Invite Paddle

Jackie Kawamoto is a professional pickleball player who started playing the sport in 2019 after a successful college tennis career. She was born and raised in Maui, Hawaii, and then moved to Indianapolis in 2004. She graduated from the University of Dayton with a degree in Biology and works full-time for the NCAA.

Jackie and her twin sister Jade, who is also a pro pickleball player, were introduced to pickleball by their father. They quickly fell in love with the game and its social aspect.

Jackie has participated in several major pickleball tournaments across the country, such as Pickleball Night in America, Major League Pickleball, and the APP Tour. She has partnered with some of the top players in the sport, such as Lea Jansen, Kyle Yates, and Andrei Daescu. She has also faced some of the toughest opponents, such as Anna Leigh Waters, Catherine Parenteau, Lucy Kovalova, and Callie Smith.

Jackie’s style of play is aggressive and powerful, but she also knows how to use finesse and strategy. She has a strong forehand and backhand, which she developed from her tennis background. She also has a good serve and volley game, which helps her dominate the net. She likes to put pressure on her opponents and force them to make errors.

Jackie Kawamoto is one of the rising stars in pickleball who has a bright future ahead of her. She is a talented athlete, a hard worker, and a kind person who loves pickleball and life.

4. Catherine Parenteau

• 96 (DUPR Doubles Rating)
• Turned Pro: 2016
• Birthday: August 26, 1994
• Age: 28
• Height: 5′ 5″
• Plays: Right-Handed
• Paddle: Selkirk Vanguard Power Air Invikta

Catherine Parenteau is a professional pickleball player who has risen to the top of the sport in a short time. She was born in Montreal, Canada and started playing tennis at the age of four. She was ranked in the top five players for her age group in Canada and played for Michigan State University.

She was introduced to pickleball by her coach Simone Jardim in 2015 and quickly became hooked on the game. She won her first tournament at the US Open in 2016 and has since won several more titles, including the US Open Pro Women’s Doubles title with partner Callie Smith in 2021.

She is currently ranked number one in women’s doubles and number three in women’s singles. Along with her partner Athena Trouillot and their French bulldog Zoey, she resides in Naples, Florida. She also works as an IPTPA certified instructor and teaches clinics around the country.

5. Leigh Waters

• 92 (DUPR Doubles Rating)
• Turned Pro: 2018
• Birthday: May 11, 1979
• Age: 43
• Height: 5′ 6″
• Plays: Right-Handed
• Paddle: Paddletek Bantam TS-5

Leigh Waters is a professional pickleball player who has made history by teaming up with her daughter, Anna Leigh Waters, in the women’s doubles division. They are the only mother-daughter duo in the sport and have won several national and international titles with their aggressive and powerful style of play.

Anna Leigh Waters is a prodigy who became the youngest professional pickleball player in history at age 12. She is currently ranked No. 1 in the world for doubles, mixed doubles, and singles by the Professional Pickleball Association. She has won 10 triple crowns and six gold medals from the USA Pickleball Nationals, among other achievements. She has also played with celebrities like Michael Phelps, Jamie Foxx, and Jack Sock.

The Waters have revolutionized pickleball with their innovative and dominant approach, which relies on strength, speed, reflexes, and defense. They prefer to speed up the game and force their opponents to make errors, rather than patiently dinking and waiting for openings. They have a loyal fan base that admires their skills and chemistry on court.

Leigh and Anna Leigh Waters are not only partners, but also coach, manager, teacher, and student to each other. They balance their pickleball career with their family life and education. They are an inspiration to many aspiring pickleball players who want to follow their footsteps.

6. Vivienne David

• 92 (DUPR Doubles Rating)
• Turned Pro: 2019
• Birthday: January 10, 1997
• Age: 26
• Height: 5′ 4″
• Plays: Right-Handed
• Paddle: CRBN-1X 16mm

Vivienne David is a professional pickleball player who was born in Canada and grew up in Florida. After years of working in her father’s tennis and pickleball store, she began playing pickleball in 2018. She quickly rose to the top of the sport, winning a singles gold medal at the 2019 World Pickleball Championship.

She moved to Texas in 2020 and has been playing full time ever since. She is sponsored by CRBN and Dreamland and plays with a CRBN 1X 16mm paddle. She is also a member of the Las Vegas Owls, a team in the Major League Pickleball. Vivienne is known for her powerful forehand, fast court movement, and two-handed backhand. She is one of the youngest and most talented players on the pro tour.

7. Parris Todd

• 92 (DUPR Doubles Rating)

If you are a fan of pickleball, you might have heard of Parris Todd, a professional pickleball player who has been dominating the sport in recent years. Parris Todd was born in California and started playing tennis at the age of five.

She showed a natural talent and passion for the game and trained at the prestigious Bollettieri Tennis Academy in Florida. She competed in junior and college tennis tournaments and reached a career-high ranking of #8 in the nation in singles and #1 in doubles.

In 2019, Parris discovered pickleball and fell in love with the sport. She decided to pursue a professional career in pickleball and joined the APP and PPA tours. She quickly rose to the top of the rankings and won over 20 medals in 2022. She also participated in Major League Pickleball, a team-based competition that features some of the best players in the world. She was part of team BLQK, which won two out of three MLP finals. Additionally, she received the Most Valuable Player (MVP) award at the season’s penultimate competition in Columbus, Ohio.

One of Parris’s most remarkable achievements was winning the triple crown at the 2023 US Open Pickleball Championships, which means she won gold medals in singles, doubles, and mixed doubles. She was the first woman to accomplish this feat in the history of the US Open. She defeated Salome Devidze, the #1 ranked player on the APP tour, in singles; partnered with Simone Jardim, a six-time US Open champion, in doubles; and teamed up with Kyle Yates, a four-time US Open champion, in mixed doubles.

Parris is known for her aggressive and powerful style of play, as well as her athleticism and footwork. She uses a Selkirk Sport paddle and wears Alo Yoga clothing as her sponsors. She also drinks A-GAME, a hydration sports drink that helps her perform at her best. She is represented by GSE Worldwide, a global leader in athlete talent management.

8. Callie Jo Smith

• 88 (DUPR Doubles Rating)
• Turned Pro: 2019
• Birthday: September 4, 1991
• Age: 31
• Height: 5′ 10″
• Plays: Right-Handed
• Paddle: Onix Evoke Premier

Callie Smith is a professional pickleball player who has won several tournaments and championships in the sport.

Callie Smith started playing pickleball when she was 12 years old and quickly fell in love with the game. She joined a local club and competed in various tournaments and leagues. She soon became one of the top players in her age group and region. She decided to pursue pickleball as a career and enrolled in a college that offered a pickleball scholarship.

Callie Smith has since won several national and international titles in pickleball, including the US Open, the World Championships, and the Pan American Games. She is known for her aggressive and versatile style of play, as well as her sportsmanship and charisma. She has also become a role model and ambassador for the sport, promoting its growth and popularity around the world.

Callie Smith is also an entrepreneur who has launched her own line of pickleball products, including the Callie Smith Pickleball Carrier. The carrier is a backpack that can hold up to six paddles and 12 balls, as well as other accessories such as water bottles, towels, and snacks. The carrier is made of durable and lightweight material that is water-resistant and easy to clean. The carrier also features a padded back panel and shoulder straps for comfort and support.

9. Jade Kawamoto

• 88 (DUPR Doubles Rating)
• Turned Pro: 2020
• Birthday: April 30, 1996
• Age: 27
• Height: 5′ 3″
• Plays: Left-Handed
• Paddle: Selkirk Vanguard Power Air Invite Paddle

Jade Kawamoto is a professional pickleball player who lives in Indianapolis, Indiana. She and her twin sister Jackie, who is also a pro pickleball player, grew up playing tennis in Greenwood, Indiana, and graduated from the University of Dayton in 2018. They started playing pickleball in 2019 after their dad introduced them to the sport. They quickly became competitive and entered their first professional tournament in 2020.

Jade plays with a Selkirk Vanguard Power Air Invite Paddle, which is designed for players who want more power and control. She prefers playing doubles over singles, as she enjoys the strategy and social aspect of the game. She sometimes plays with her sister as a partner, and sometimes against her as an opponent. She holds the bragging rights over her sister for now, as she won the last time they faced each other in a tournament.

Jade is not only a talented pickleball player, but also a passionate advocate for Alzheimer’s research. She and her sister hosted a tournament in Greenwood in July 2022 to raise money for the Alzheimer’s Association Greater Indiana chapter. They also played in an exhibition match and mingled with the participants. Jade works full-time for the NCAA and has a degree in environmental biology.

10. Lea Jansen

• 85 (DUPR Doubles Rating)
• Turned Pro: 2021
• Birthday: July 9, 1992
• Age: 30
• Height: 5′ 10″
• Plays: Right-Handed
• Paddle: JOOLA Solaire CFS 14 Composite Paddle

Lea Jansen is a professional pickleball player who competes in the Professional Pickleball Association (PPA) Tour. She is known for her competitiveness and fiery on-court persona, as well as her impressive skills and achievements.

Lea Jansen was born on July 9, 1992 in Spokane, Washington, where she started playing tennis at the age of 8. She later went on to play at the university level at Washington State University and was the best player from the Pacific Northwest in every age group she competed in. She graduated with a degree in accounting and worked as an accountant before pursuing her MBA in healthcare management.

Lea Jansen began playing pickleball during summer of 2019 and became obsessed with the game. She decided to turn pro in 2021 and moved to Austin, Texas to train with the many pros living there. Since then, she has won medals in all three competitions (singles, doubles, and mixed doubles), with the highlights including winning two PPA gold medals at the Rocky Mountain Championship and the Orange County Cup. She is currently ranked #2 in the world in women’s singles.

Lea Jansen plays with a JOOLA Solaire CFS 14 Composite Paddle, which is designed for control and finesse. Lea Jansen is not only a talented pickleball player, but also a type 1 diabetic who enjoys cooking and experimenting with sugar-free baking. She also loves spending time with her dogs and doing outdoor activities such as skiing, hiking, and snowshoeing. She is an inspiration to many pickleball fans and aspiring players who admire her work ethic, passion, and personality.

Conclusion:

In conclusion, the ranking of the best female pickleball players in the world, based on the DUPR rating system, is ever-evolving as these players continue to grow and push the boundaries of their abilities. These remarkable athletes consistently redefine what it means to be among the top female pickleball players in the world.

Who is the best female pickleball player of all time?

Who is the best female pickleball player of all time? This is a difficult question to answer, as there are many talented and accomplished women who have excelled in this sport. However, based on their achievements, rankings, and popularity, here are some of the candidates for the title of the best female pickleball player ever.

Simone Jardim

Simone Jardim is widely regarded as one of the best female pickleball players in the world. She is a former tennis professional from Brazil who switched to pickleball in 2015 and quickly rose to the top of the game. She has won multiple US Open titles, PPA Tour titles, and USA Pickleball National Championships in singles, doubles, and mixed doubles. She is also a co-founder and co-director of Peak Performance Pickleball Academy, where she coaches and trains other players. She currently ranks #1 in women’s singles and #2 in women’s doubles worldwide .

Anna Leigh Waters:

Anna Leigh Waters is a young pickleball prodigy who started playing the sport at the age of 10 with her mother Leigh Waters, who is also a professional player. At the age of 12, she became the youngest professional pickleball player in history when she competed in her first pro event. Since then, she has won numerous PPA Tour titles, US Open titles, and USA Pickleball National Championships in singles, doubles, and mixed doubles. She has also captured seven PPA Triple Crowns, which means winning all three events in one tournament. She currently ranks #4 in women’s singles and #1 in women’s doubles worldwide.

Catherine Parenteau:

Catherine Parenteau is another former tennis professional who switched to pickleball in 2016. She is originally from Canada but moved to the United States to play tennis at Michigan State University, where she met her coach Simone Jardim. Within six months of starting pickleball, she won her first US Open title in the 5.0 skill level mixed bracket. Since then, she has won two more US Open titles and 16 PPA Tour titles in singles, doubles, and mixed doubles. She currently ranks #2 in women’s singles and #3 in women’s doubles worldwide.

Lucy Kovalova:

Lucy Kovalova is a former tennis player from Slovakia who moved to the United States for college. She played tennis at Wichita State University and became a formidable doubles player. She switched to pickleball while at university and soon became one of the top players in the sport. She won the women’s triple crown at the 2018 USA National Championships, which means winning gold medals in women’s singles, women’s doubles, and mixed doubles. She has also won several US Open titles and PPA Tour titles in singles, doubles, and mixed doubles. She currently ranks #5 in women’s singles and #4 in women’s doubles worldwide.

Irina Tereschenko:

Irina Tereschenko is a former tennis player who has been playing and teaching racquet sports for over 20 years. She turned pro in pickleball in 2016 and won her first major title at the 2016 USA National Championships with her partner Lucy Kovalova. She has also won the 2018 USA National Championships and the 2019 US Open in singles and doubles. She is known for her powerful and accurate shots and her versatility in playing all three events. She currently ranks #6 in women’s singles and #5 in women’s doubles worldwide.

FAQs

Who is currently number 1 female pickleball player in the world?

Youngest pro player in history, Anna Leigh Waters excels in all divisions, employing a powerful and aggressive playing style. She’s a national champion and has won multiple golds in Singles and Doubles events.