Waters sat down with host Christine Williamson onsite from the MLP Mid-Season Tournament to address the pickleball haters, the pressure she feels as the world no. 1, and her Olympic dreams.

The interview was a much-hyped appearance as part of ESPN's "50 States in 50 Days" tour.

Waters is competing to defend her team’s title at the Major League Pickleball Mid-Season Tournament in Grand Rapids, MI, and remains focused but optimistic: “I’m just taking it kind of match by match, but I know we’ve won it before, so we can win it again,” she told host Christine Williamson.

Watch the goat 🐐 on ESPN2! 🙌 Live interview with Christine Williamson! 🎤 @AnnaLeighWaters @itsthebaldgirl @espn @SportsCenter pic.twitter.com/66ZPmfo3Np

— Major League Pickleball (@MajorLeaguePB) July 10, 2025

Despite her dominance, Waters admitted she was once a skeptic: “Before I started playing, I was honestly one of those doubters. Once I got on the court, I was like, 'I get the hype.'”

Waters fielded the question everyone expected: What do you say to those people who question whether pickleball is a real sport?

"This is a real sport," she said. "It takes athleticism. It takes hard work. I would say to those people, 'Just get on the court and try it for yourselves.'" She credited pickleball’s rapid rise to its accessibility and community: “Any age, any gender can play. When I was 10 years old I was playing with my 70-year-old grandfather.”

As for the pro tournament vibes: "Immaculate," she said, enc... FULL ARTICLE FOUND ON: https://www.thedinkpickleball.com/highlights-anna-leigh-waters-gets-real-on-espns-sportscenter/