Would You Say "No" To This Offer?


Let's suppose you are a professional pickleball player.

You are a very good player. You and your gender doubles partner have won three or four gold medals.

But you have been beaten numerous times by the #1 team.

Then, out of the blue, the #1 player of the #1 team calls you to see if you want to partner together for the rest of the year.

You had partnered together with that #1 player two years ago and never lost.

If you accept the offer, you could potentially make more money and win more championships.

What would you do?

That's exactly the situation Anna Bright was in when Anna Leigh Waters called her and asked her to partner together for women's doubles. 

Yes, it meant ending her partnership with Rachel Rohrabacher.

Just like Anna Leigh Waters had ended her partnership with Catherine Parenteau.

So, Anna Bright agreed.

And recently at the Veolia PPA Tournament in Atlanta, the team of Waters/Bright won the gold in women's doubles over Parenteau/Rohrabacher.

However, both Anna Leigh Waters and Anna Bright have been ripped apart on social media for these decisions.

And the crowd at the tournament was decidedly rooting for Parenteau/Rohrabacher in the match against Waters/Bright.

Online, people say that was a dirty move to leave one partner for another.

They say it showed no loyalty.

They say these players are just out for themselves.

But let's look at some facts.

Many players in the PPA Tour switch partners.

JW Johnson split from Dylan Frazier.

Ben Johns split from his own brother, Collin Johns.

Tyson McGuffin has had multiple partners.

Lea Jansen has had multiple partners.

Callie Jo Smith has had multiple partners.

So have Allyce Jones, Parris Todd, Lucy Kovalova, etc. 

And remember, Anna Leigh's partner for several years was her mom, Leigh Waters.

Then, Leigh tore her ACL.

So Anna Leigh had to get a new partner.

That was approximately 2 years ago.

She then played with Anna Bright for a while, and then partnered with Catherine Parenteau.

But, when Leigh recovered and fully rehabilitated her reconstructed knee, Anna Leigh did not go back to playing with her mom.

She remained partnered with Catherine.

In fact, both Anna Leigh Waters and Anna Bright have remained with their same partners more than most players on the PPA Tour.

The other important fact is that Pro Pickleball is a business. 

These players are all trying to win championships.

They are all making decisions about what will give them the best chance of winning.

Or which partner will give them the best chance of winning championships.

So again, would you say no to that offer?

Have you ever changed jobs?

Left for more money?

Chosen a better workplace?

Made decisions you considered best for your career?

That's what Anna Leigh did!

That's what Anna Bright did!

So, why expect anything less of them?



Ben Holt

​CEO, Pickleball Living