Waters and Parenteau Part Ways: The end, but why?
What's the Score?
The pickleball world was surprised by the announcement that the long-standing and highly successful women's doubles partnership between Anna Leigh Waters and Catherine Parenteau has come to an end. While they remained the No. 1 team, recent losses hinted at vulnerabilities. The split appears to be driven by Waters's perception that her skill level has surpassed Parenteau's, leading her to seek a partner who can better match her current trajectory. Waters has announced her new partnership with Anna Bright for the remainder of 2025. This marks the end of a significant rivalry with Bright and her former partner Rachel Rohrabacher, who were known as "The Girlies".
Hit it deeper!
The breakup of the Waters-Parenteau partnership sent ripples through the professional pickleball scene, prompting considerable discussion and speculation. Despite their continued No. 1 ranking, their aura of invincibility had diminished following losses to teams like Anna Bright and Rachel Rohrabacher in 2024, and most recently to Jorja Johnson and Tyra Black at the Veolia North Carolina Open. Jim Kloss of Pickleball Central posits that successful pickleball partnerships typically end for one of three reasons: injury/retirement, personal reasons, or one player believing their partner is holding them back due to a perceived difference in skill level. He argues that the third reason is by far the most common, citing the splits of Ben Johns and Collin Johns, and Federico Staksrud and Pablo Tellez as examples where one player sought a partner they believed would lead to greater success.
Applying this framework to the Waters-Parenteau split, Kloss concludes that unless Parenteau is retiring, the most likely reason is that Waters believes she has surpassed Parenteau's current skill level and can achieve more with a different partner. He suggests that Waters sees Parenteau as "dropping down the ladder" in women's doubles.
The evolution of pro pickleball over the last two years, with a faster game emphasizing speedups, drives, and counterattacking over resets, may have also played a role. While resets used to be the preferred defensive shot, changes in paddle technology have shifted the advantage towards aggressive counterattacks. Kloss draws a parallel between Parenteau's situation and that of Collin Johns, noting that both are excellent right-side players who prefer resetting the ball. This style made Collin Johns a frequent target when playing with Ben Johns, and Bright and Rohrabacher similarly found success by relentlessly attacking Parenteau. Statistics from the Veolia North Carolina women’s doubles final support this, showing that Johnson and Black targeted Parenteau with 22 speedups compared to 12 aimed at Waters. Interestingly, Waters also did not perform optimally in that match, averaging eight errors per game in their losing sets.
Following the split, the news quickly emerged that Anna Leigh Waters would be partnering with Anna Bright for the remainder of 2025. Kloss analyzes the factors Waters likely considered in choosing Bright, mirroring those Ben Johns considered when partnering with Gabe Tardio: age, skill, location, and personality. Bright, at 25, is younger than Parenteau (30). She is undoubtedly a top-5 player and lives in Florida, allowing for practice together. Furthermore, her experience playing top competition and leading her MLP team suggests she can handle the pressure of partnering with the best player. Crucially, Bright brings power and countering ability to the partnership, which is what Parenteau arguably lacked, making this a similar strategic move to Ben Johns partnering with the more aggressive Gabe Tardio.
Victoria Radnothy, writing for Pickleball Central, laments the end of the rivalry between Waters/Parenteau and Bright/Rohrabacher, nicknamed "The Girlies". This rivalry had become a highlight of Championship Sundays, with closely contested matches that brought excitement and anticipation to fans. Rohrabacher herself acknowledged the importance of the rivalry in pushing both teams to improve. Waters also recognized how playing against Bright and Rohrabacher forced them to develop new strategies and ultimately made them a better team. The long, intense points with remarkable defense were the kind of highlights that showcased the high level of professional pickleball. Radnothy expresses disappointment that this compelling rivalry has ended, wondering about what could have been. She notes the irony of Waters now joining forces with Bright, using the adage, "If you can’t beat them, join them".
The World Pickleball Verdict
The dissolution of the Anna Leigh Waters and Catherine Parenteau doubles partnership marks the end of a dominant era in women's professional pickleball. While they remained at the top, the increasing challenge from other teams, particularly Bright and Rohrabacher, and the evolving, faster-paced nature of the game likely contributed to Waters's decision to seek a partner with a different skillset. The partnership with Anna Bright is a strategic move that could very well result in a new dominant force, combining Waters's all-around excellence with Bright's power and counterattacking abilities. The end of the rivalry with "The Girlies" is a loss for the sport in terms of compelling storylines and thrilling matches. However, Waters joining forces with Bright creates a new dynamic and potential for exciting future rivalries. This shake-up in the top ranks demonstrates the increasing competitiveness of professional pickleball and the willingness of top players to make significant changes in pursuit of continued success.