Anna Leigh Waters joins the Picklepod to break down the Fives’ MLP championship win, the pressure of the DreamBreaker, and the team decisions that helped them get over the hump.
She shares how Federico Staksrud changed the team, why beating the St. Louis Shock made the victory even more special, and how she handles criticism, social media noise, and the pressure of being considered the face of pickleball.
Anna Leigh also talks about the players she loves competing against, the parts of her game she’s still working to improve, and the mystery behind her question-mark Franklin paddle.
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0:00 What was the difference this year?
2:29 The addition of Fed
4:39 Leading a team with roster decisions
6:16 Does it feel better beating the Shock?
8:26 Who is the most satisfying to beat?
10:04 Blocking out the opinions online
13:53 The greatest competitor Zane has ever seen
17:53 What are you working on now?
19:31 ALW’s only weakness
21:28 The New Anna Leigh Waters signature paddle?
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