Opinion: Don't count out true pro Catherine Parenteau after split with Anna Leigh Waters

Jared Paul

Founder of The Kitchen

Last Edited

Apr 08 2025

Category

News

I want to take a second to shine a light on Catherine Parenteau, who seems to sort of gotten lost in the Anna Leigh Waters partner news.

Catherine is the true consummate pickleball professional. Since the day I discovered the sport, when The Kitchen was merely an idea, Catherine and her partner Athena were always supportive, kind and welcoming, and that has been my experience with Catherine ever since. She carries herself with true grace.

In a day and age of pickleball where youth and power seems to be taking over, and where many old school pickleball pros seem to have aged out, Catherine continuously remains at the top. This didn’t happen by chance but through crazy hard work, reinventing her game and adding a powerful offense to her insane defensive skills. Anna Leigh had the entire women’s pool to choose from and she chose Catherine, and boy were they dominant.

I am sad to see the partnership end but I’ll tell you this: Any women on tour would be lucky to have Catherine as their partner. She’s an incredible pickleball player, seems to be an even better human being, and I hope to see her standing atop podiums for years to come.

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