anna.leigh.waters discovered pickleball in 2017 when her grandfather introduced her to the game, and she and her mother started playing at a local club. She turned pro at 12, making her the youngest professional pickleball player ever, and climbed to the top of the rankings at 15. In January, Nike signed her as its first pickleball athlete. She’s not just the best; she’s nearly unbeatable. Waters is on the 2026 TIME100 Sports: our annual list that recognizes the most influential people in sports. See who else made the list at the link in bio. Photograph courtesy of Franklin Sports