Top Female Pickleball Players in 2025
With pickleball’s continuous growth, it’s not surprising that the sport keeps gaining players, professional or casual. The competitiveness of professional pickleball players keeps on increasing as well. Familiar faces of seasoned players who have established their names like Anna Leigh Waters, Ben Johns, and Anna Bright are still competing at the top while there are new kids on the block who are also trying to climb their way up.
We recently put together a list of the top male pickleball players of 2025. Now, it’s time to see who are the best female pickleball players of 2025.
Top Female Pickleball Players
Anna Leigh Waters
DUPR Rating
- Women’s Singles: 6.539
- Women’s Doubles: 6.669
I’m sure you’re also very familiar with Anna Leigh Waters. She is pickleball’s biggest star and is one of the most popular and top female pickleball players. Anna Leigh Waters had just turned 18 but she had already dominated pickleball for some time now. She is branded as the “Queen of the Court” because of how good she is. Anna Leigh Waters usually partners with the “King of Pickleball”, Ben Johns, on mixed doubles.
Anna Leigh Waters started playing pickleball as a professional at just 12 years old in 2019. She isn’t new to the pickleball scene since her mother, Leigh Waters, was also a pickleball pro. They used to be partners in doubles before and they were famous for their “banging” and “ripping” playing styles where they would play aggressively to wear out their opponents. Leigh Waters eventually became Anna Leigh’s “momager”.
Anna Leigh Waters won the gold medals in the recent PPA Tour for women’s singles, doubles, and mixed doubles. She also holds the top 1 rank in women’s singles, doubles, and mixed doubles in 2025, making her one of the best female pickleball players, and she doesn’t look like she’s stopping anytime soon.
Anna Leigh Waters is the face of Paddletek and she uses the paddle Bantam ALW-C 14.3mm.
Anna Bright
DUPR Rating
- Women’s Singles: –
- Women’s Doubles: 6.368
Anna Bright is one of the top female pickleball players. She is dubbed as the 2nd best of the female pickleball players. Anna Bright has been climbing the ranks and showcasing her skills in the singles and doubles. She and her doubles partner, Rachel Rohrbacher, have dominated the doubles scene in recent years. Anna Bright and Rachel Rohrbacher won the women’s doubles in the 2024 Lapiplasty Pickleball World Championships and 2nd place in the 2025 The Masters.
Just like with other pickleball professional players, Anna Bright also had experienced and excelled in tennis before becoming a pickleball pro in 2022. Currently, she is being sponsored by JOOLA and The Picklr, and she uses the JOOLA Anna Bright Scorpeus 3S 14mm pickleball paddle.
Jorja Johnson
DUPR Rating
- Women’s Singles: 5.747
- Women’s Doubles: 6.247
Jorja Johnson is one of the youngest and top female pickleball players right now (the other being Anna Leigh Waters). She is JW Johnson’s younger sister and they are one of the top doubles teams. Jorja Johnson started playing pickleball at 7 and became a professional pickleball player in 2020. Jorja Johnson has been climbing the ranks since then. Her latest achievement is winning 3rd place in women’s doubles in the PPA Masters in California with Tyra “Hurricane” Black. With Jorja Johnson’s talent and dedication, there’s no doubt that she’s becoming one of the best female pickleball players in 2025.
Jorja Johnson is currently being sponsored by Franklin Sports and Chicken N Pickle. She uses the FS Tour Dynasty 16mm pickleball paddle.
Catherine Parenteu
DUPR Rating
- Women’s Singles: 6.049
- Women’s Doubles: 6.198
Catherine Parenteu is one of the top female pickleball players who continuously excels in the sport. Before being in the pickleball scene, she was also a tennis pro. Catherine Parenteu ranked in the top 5 during her tennis days and is now one of the best female pickleball players. She became a professional pickleball player in 2016 and often partners with Anna Leigh Waters on doubles and you can bet that they often won gold.
Catherine Parenteu is being sponsored by Selkirk and Skechers and uses the Selkirk Labs Project 008.
Rachel Rohrabacher
DUPR Rating
- Women’s Singles: –
- Women’s Doubles: 6.142
Rachel Rohrabacher is a newcomer in the pickleball scene, but that doesn’t mean she can’t keep up with the top female pickleball players of 2025. Rachel Rohrabacher became a professional pickleball player in 2023, and that was also the year when she met Anna Bright. Rachel Rohrabacher and Anna Bright became doubles partners and have played against Anna Leigh Waters and Catherine Parenteu multiple times. She also partners with Federico Staksrud during mixed doubles. 2025 looks like a promising year for newcomer Rachel Rohrabacher and she is on her way to becoming one of the best female pickleball players.
Rachel Rohrabacher is being sponsored by Selkirk and she uses the SLK Halo XL paddle.
Tyra “Hurricane” Black
DUPR Rating
- Women’s Singles: –
- Women’s Doubles: 6.116
Hurricane Tyra Black is one of the rising to the top female pickleball players. Hurricane Tyra Black isn’t new to the world of racket sports because she came from a family of tennis pros. Her father, Sylvester Black, and sister, Alicia “Tornado” Black were professional tennis players. Hurricane Tyra Black was a tennis pro herself before becoming a professional pickleball player in 2023. She had her first-ever gold win in The Takeya Showcase PPA Tournament in 2023. This was a proud moment for Hurricane Tyra Black because she won against Anna Leigh Waters during this tournament, proving that although new, she is one of the best female pickleball players.
Hurricane Tyra Black is currently sponsored by PIKKL and Reebok. She uses the Hurricane Pro 14mm Carbon Fiber Pickleball Paddle by PIKKL.
In a Nutshell
These top female pickleball players had a year in 2024 and they are not stopping in 2025. Anna Leigh Waters has proved again that she is the best of the female pickleball players as she holds the number 1 rank. Other seasoned professional pickleball players like Anna Bright, Jorja Johnson, and Catherine Parenteu also continue to hold their place on top while newcomers like Rachel Rohrabacher and Hurricane Tyra Black prove that they can keep up with the seasoned players despite being new to the sport and that they can fight their way up the success ladder. The year had just started and we are all excited to see the journey that these powerful women will have for 2025.
Frequently Asked Questions About the Top Female Pickleball Players
Who are some of the top female pickleball players in 2025?
- Anna Leigh Waters: The dominant force in women's pickleball, holding top rankings in singles, doubles, and mixed doubles. Known as the "Queen of the Court."
- Anna Bright: A top contender and rising star, known for her strong doubles partnership with Rachel Rohrabacher.
- Jorja Johnson: A young and talented player, making a name for herself in both singles and doubles.
- Catherine Parenteau: A seasoned player with a background in tennis, consistently performing at a high level.
- Rachel Rohrabacher: A relative newcomer who has quickly risen through the ranks, forming a successful doubles partnership with Anna Bright.
- Tyra "Hurricane" Black: A rising star with a background in tennis, known for her powerful game and impressive wins.
What factors contribute to a female pickleball player's success?
- Skillset: Mastering a variety of shots, including serves, returns, dinks, lobs, volleys, and overheads.
- Physical Fitness: Agility, speed, endurance, and hand-eye coordination are crucial for success.
- Mental Toughness: Maintaining focus, handling pressure, and bouncing back from setbacks are essential.
- Strategic Thinking: Developing effective game plans and adapting to different opponents.
- Partnership Dynamics (Doubles): Strong communication, court awareness, and complementary playing styles are important for doubles success.
- Experience: Experience in high-level competition and learning from past matches.
How has Anna Leigh Waters achieved such dominance in pickleball?
- Early Start: She began playing professionally at a very young age, giving her a significant advantage in experience.
- Natural Talent: She possesses exceptional hand-eye coordination, athleticism, and court sense.
- Strong Coaching and Support: She has benefited from excellent coaching and a supportive family, including her mother, Leigh Waters, a former pro.
- Dedication and Hard Work: She puts in the necessary time and effort to hone her skills and maintain her top ranking.
What are some of the challenges facing female professional pickleball players?
- Maintaining Consistency: The level of competition is constantly rising, requiring players to consistently perform at their best.
- Managing Physical Demands: The sport can be physically demanding, requiring players to stay in top shape and avoid injuries.
- Balancing Competition and Personal Life: Traveling for tournaments and maintaining a rigorous training schedule can be challenging.
- Financial Stability: Building a sustainable career in professional pickleball can be difficult, requiring sponsorships and endorsements.
How can aspiring female pickleball players improve their game?
- Consistent Practice: Regular practice is essential for skill development and improvement.
- Professional Coaching: Working with experienced coaches can provide valuable feedback and guidance.
- Tournament Experience: Participating in tournaments at various levels can help players gain experience and improve their game.
- Physical Conditioning: Maintaining a high level of fitness is crucial for success.
- Mental Training: Developing mental toughness and focus can help players perform under pressure.
Key Takeaways
| Key Takeaway | Description |
|---|---|
| Anna Leigh Waters | "Queen of the Court," dominates in singles, doubles, and mixed doubles, sponsored by Paddletek. |
| Anna Bright | Consistently climbing ranks, strong doubles player with Rachel Rohrbacher, sponsored by JOOLA. |
| Jorja Johnson | Young and talented, strong doubles player, sister of JW Johnson, sponsored by Franklin Sports. |
| Catherine Parenteau | Seasoned pro, often partners with Anna Leigh Waters, sponsored by Selkirk. |
| Rachel Rohrabacher | Newcomer making waves, strong doubles player with Anna Bright, sponsored by Selkirk. |
| Tyra "Hurricane" Black | Rising star, tennis background, notable win against Anna Leigh Waters, sponsored by PIKKL. |
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