'Immensely Proud': Rohrabacher Reflects on Golden Partnership with Bright After Split
What's the Score?
Rachel Rohrabacher has publicly addressed the recent dissolution of her highly successful women's doubles partnership with Anna Bright. In a heartfelt post on Instagram, Rohrabacher expressed immense pride in their accomplishments together and conveyed her best wishes to Bright for her future endeavours. The split comes as Bright joins forces with World No. 1 Anna Leigh Waters for the remainder of the 2025 PPA Tour season.
Hit it deeper!
The partnership between Rachel Rohrabacher and Anna Bright, affectionately known as "The Girlies" within the professional pickleball circuit, had been a dominant force in the women's doubles category. Their on-court chemistry and competitive spirit resulted in an impressive overall record of 91 wins and only 16 losses. Notably, they secured eight prestigious gold medals in various tournaments, firmly establishing themselves as the primary challengers to the formidable duo of Anna Leigh Waters and her former partner Catherine Parenteau. Their matches against Waters and Parenteau were often highly anticipated and considered the pinnacle of women's doubles competition, contributing significantly to the growing excitement and viewership of professional pickleball.
In her Instagram post reflecting on their time together, Rohrabacher expressed deep gratitude for the opportunity to have partnered with such an exceptional competitor and individual in Anna Bright. She highlighted the pivotal role Bright played in her professional pickleball journey, recalling that Bright took a chance on her when she was just starting out and still relatively unproven in the sport. Rohrabacher acknowledged that many observers had doubts about Bright's decision at the time, but that "one act of faith turned into a career I never imagined, in a sport I’ve come to love so much". She further emphasized that she would always look back on their partnership, from their time together on the Orlando Squeeze team to their "Girlies" era, with "nothing but gratitude and love".
Looking ahead, Rohrabacher acknowledged that they are now heading in different directions professionally. While the specifics of Rohrabacher's next partner remain unknown as the PPA Tour is set to resume in mid-May for the Veolia Atlanta Pickleball Championships, she has time to consider her options. In her statement, she extended her best wishes to Anna Bright as she embarks on her new partnership with Anna Leigh Waters. Rohrabacher concluded her reflection by expressing heartfelt thanks to all the fans who supported them, believed in them, and watched them grow as a team over the past two years. While recognizing the closure of this chapter, she conveyed her excitement for what the future holds.
In a personal note shared within her post, Rohrabacher also confirmed that she recently underwent a successful medical procedure to remove some basal cell cancerous spots. Despite this, she affirmed her commitment to competing for the D.C. Pickleball Team at the upcoming MLP Orlando event later this month.
The World Pickleball Verdict
The split of the highly successful partnership between Rachel Rohrabacher and Anna Bright signifies a notable shift in the landscape of women's professional pickleball doubles. Their collaboration produced a remarkable record and a compelling rivalry with the top-ranked team, making their separation a significant event within the sport. Rohrabacher's gracious and appreciative reflection on their partnership speaks to the strong bond they forged and the mutual respect they share. Bright's decision to team up with Anna Leigh Waters creates a new formidable duo and alters the competitive dynamics at the top of the game. For Rohrabacher, the future holds both uncertainty and opportunity as she looks for a new partner. Her continued commitment to the sport, despite a recent medical procedure, underscores her dedication and resilience. The reactions from fans and fellow players likely reflect a mix of sadness at the end of a beloved partnership and anticipation for the new team configurations that will emerge, highlighting the ever-evolving and dynamic nature of professional pickleball.