Anna Leigh Waters and Catherine Parenteau end doubles partnership; Waters to pair with Anna Bright
Last Edited
Apr 07 2025
Category
News
Anna Leigh Waters and Catherine Parenteau have ended their doubles partnership after two losses in the past three tournaments.
Parenteau made the announcement on social media Monday afternoon.
The pair had struggled in recent weeks, losing in the finals of the North Carolina Open this past weekend to Tyra Black and Jorja Johnson and losing in the quarterfinals of the Texas Open last month to Callie Smith and Etta Tuionetoa.
Pickleball.com reported later Monday that Waters and Anna Bright would be playing together for the remainder of 2025. Their first tournament together this year will be the Atlanta Pickleball Championships May 12-18.
"Anna Leigh, I can't express enough how grateful I am for the time we've spent together on the court," Parenteau said in a post on Instagram and X. "From the laughter to the hard-fought matches, every moment has been unforgettable. You’ve pushed me to grow as a player, and I’m so thankful for our partnership.
"Wishing you nothing but success as you continue to shine in your pickleball journey."
Read next: Gap between Anna Leigh Waters and the field could be closing faster than expected
In 2023, Waters split time on the PPA Tour with Bright and Parenteau, winning all 18 women's doubles tournaments she entered -- 11 with Parenteau and 7 with Bright.
But Waters and Parenteau then played together exclusively for all of the 2024 season, winning 14 gold medals and 3 silver medals. They had also won 5 times already this season and were still the clear No. 1 team on the women's side.
But they had been challenged more in the past several months than they were in their tournaments together in 2023 and the majority of 2024.
Anna Leigh Waters and Catherine Parenteau losses since 2024
March 2024, Austin Open finals: Anna Bright/Rachel Rohrabacher def. Waters/Parenteau
September 2024, Atlanta Slam finals: Bright/Rohrabacher def. Waters/Parenteau
November 2024, World Championships finals: Bright/Rohrabacher def. Waters/Parenteau
March 2025, Texas Open quarterfinals: Smith/Tuionetoa def. Waters/Parenteau
April 2025: North Carolina Open finals: Johnson/Black def. Waters/Parenteau
After beating Waters and Parenteau multiple times in 2024 and solidifying themselves as the No. 2 team, Bright and Rohrabacher hadn't been able to get over the hump thus far in 2025 and were also seeing more losses before the finals this year.
They were beaten by Parris Todd and Tyra Black in the semifinals at the Texas Open last month, then upset this week in the quarterfinals at the North Carolina Open by Jackie Kawamoto and Jade Kawamoto.
What happens now?
The partnership changes will no doubt have ripple effect on the rest of the women's field. Parenteau and Rohrabacher will each be looking for new partners and could pair together, but both have traditionally played the right side in women's doubles -- although they have played both sides occasionally.
It seems unlikely that Johnson and Black would split up anytime soon given their recent success, and they would be the clear-cut No. 2 team going forward behind Waters and Bright.
Join Pickleball’s Greatest Community
Subscribe to our FREE newsletter to be the most well-informed pickleball fan on the court, featuring news, giveaways, and much more!
