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Nike
has signed a deal with No. 1-ranked pickleball player Anna Leigh Waters making her the first pickleball athlete to join Nike’s roster.
While the terms of the deal were not disclosed, Waters will represent Nike for both apparel and footwear across all of her events and professional tournaments. The 18-year-old will also serve as a global pickleball ambassador for Nike. She previously had an apparel and footwear deal with Fila that expired in 2025.
Pickleball has seen explosive growth in recent years, but up until now, Nike has been slow to jump on the trend. The company is currently in the midst of a turnaround plan under new CEO Elliott Hill after lagging sales and a stock slump.
