The pickleball world is abuzz over the breaking of the sport's most successful women's doubles pairing: Anna Leigh Waters and Catherine Parenteau. Their shock defeat to Jorja Johnson and Tyra Black in the final of the North Carolina Open - a PPA Tour event - marked their last outing together.

Nobody saw it coming - not even Parenteau. But less than 24 hours after their loss in the final last week, it became a cold reality.

"On Monday, I got a call from Anna Leigh, and the call was a very nice call. She just explained to me that she was ready to try something different, and I respected her decision. It was very nice. Short and sweet," Parenteau said on The Hannah Johns Podcast. "Honestly, it was a little bit shocking. It’s not something I was aware of."

Since pairing up in 2023, the duo had dominated the PPA Tour, winning 31 titles - 14 of those coming in 2024 alone. They were nearly invincible in finals, boasting a 31-4 record in championship matches. As their partnership came to an end, they did so with an overall record of 155-6, an astonishing 96.3 percent winning percentage. They also hold the record for the most consecutive match wins at 40.

Their record against World No. 2 Rachel Rohrabacher and Anna Bright was an impressive 10-3, and they held a 21-1 record in finals against all other pairs.

Despite no longer being invincible - as their loss to Johnson and Black showed - Waters and Parenteau were still ranked the No. 1 pair on the PPA Tour. In the last week of March, they clinched the Red Rock Open. So, what caused the break-up?

While Waters has not yet opened up about her decision to split, several possible factors may have influenced her decision. One likely reason is the age difference between the two players: Waters is 18, while Parenteau is 30.

Pickleball is becoming younger, and like many other racquet sports, it favours youths at the professional level. Over the past few years, the game has evolved to become faster, with more speedups and drives. The ability to counter has become more crucial than the ability to reset.

Given the age gap, it is likely their skill and fitness levels differ. Waters - the most versatile and successful player on the tour with immense potential to win many more titles - is still on the rise, while Parenteau, at 30, may find it increasingly difficult to maintain top-level performance. Her recent performances have declined, and her ranking in women’s doubles is likely to drop.

This gave Waters a solid reason to seek a more promising and sustainable partnership. The difference in age and skill level was a major factor in other high-profile splits as well - such as when Ben Johns and Collin Johns parted ways despite considerable success. Ben was clearly a cut above, while Collin was just adjusting to the faster game.

In the championship match at the North Carolina Open, Johnson and Black consistently targeted Parenteau. She was the focus of 22 speedups, compared to 12 aimed at Waters (statistics courtesy of RealClearStats).

Why Anna Bright?

Although Waters herself did not play her best in the match, the need for a faster partner to elevate her game became apparent - and Anna Bright might be that ideal match.

Ben Johns, Waters' mixed doubles partner, may have influenced her decision to pair up again with the 25-year-old Bright.

Waters and Bright previously formed a partnership in 2023, winning seven titles together. As they reunite, they aim to build on past success and become the most dominant pair in pickleball.

Beyond the age factor, both being based in Florida will allow them to train together more consistently while enjoying the comforts of home. Their personalities also complement each other. Waters wanted a right-side player who can absorb the pressure that comes with partnering with the sport's best - and Bright, with her ability to play either side and adapt under pressure, is a great fit.

Anna Bright, currently No. 4 on the Tour, has recently announced the end of her partnership with Rachel Rohrabacher. Their pairing did not yield much success over the past five months. However, Bright’s power, precision, and composure - combined with Waters’ sharp, powerful, and tactical game - have the potential to make the Florida duo a force to be reckoned with.

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