It didn’t take lengthy for one among pickleball’s GOATs, Anna Leigh Waters, to discover a new sponsor.
On Friday, Franklin Sports activities introduced by way of Instagram that it has signed ALW to a long-term partnership. This comes simply two days after Waters and Paddletek, her earlier sponsor, mutually parted methods after seven years.
“The Queen has Arrived,” Franklin Sports activities introduced in a video heralding ALW’s signing.
In an announcement, Franklin Sports activities stated that Waters can be competing, at the very least in the intervening time, utilizing new variations of the C45° Carbon Fiber Paddle. A signature paddle, although, can be on the best way and is scheduled to be obtainable for preorder beginning 16 January 2026.
“We couldn’t be extra excited to welcome the undisputed primary pickleball participant on the earth to the Franklin Sports activities household,” stated Adam Franklin, President of Franklin Sports activities, within the assertion. “Anna Leigh’s exceptional expertise, aggressive spirit, and fervour for the sport align completely with our mission to help athletes at each degree whereas persevering with to develop the game globally.”
Along with paddles, Franklin Sports activities may even be working with Waters to “co-design a signature line of merchandise together with pickleball paddles, pickleball baggage, and pickleball equipment.” This successfully makes the winningest participant in professional pickleball the face of Franklin Sports activities shifting ahead. And it’s most likely why ALW considered the model as “the correct associate.”
“When on the lookout for the correct associate for the way forward for my recreation, efficiency was a precedence, and I’ve been so impressed by Franklin’s dedication to paddle innovation,” Waters stated in a separate assertion. “Past the know-how, I had a right away reference to the staff and felt like a part of the household. I’ve a variety of belief on this partnership and am particularly excited to work collectively on our shared imaginative and prescient for worldwide progress.”
