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On this episode of The PicklePod, we break down the biggest story in the sport right now: Anna Leigh Waters signing with Nike—why it’s bigger than any paddle deal, what it means for the PPA, and how it could completely reshape pickleball’s place in pop culture. Is she officially the face of the sport? And who’s actually happier about the deal than Anna Leigh herself?

Plus, Nico returns for episode two and wastes zero time making enemies. We dive into bold 2026 over/under predictions, including:

- Will Ben Johns ever win another singles gold?

- How many matches will Anna Leigh actually lose this year?

- Are contract terminations finally slowing down?

- Can Jack Sock (or any former tennis star) win a PPA title?

We also react to YouTube and Twitter comments roasting the show, debate pickleball media beefs, preview the Masters, blind-rank the best tournaments in the world, and somehow end up talking about fist fights, venison sticks, and why pickleball Twitter might be the worst place on the internet.

As always, it’s pickleball analysis you won’t hear anywhere else—equal parts hot takes, insider perspective, and chaos.

👇 Drop your takes in the comments

👍 Like & subscribe for weekly pickleball chaos

Like, subscribe, and welcome to PicklePod 2.0.

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0:00 Intro

3:12 Vote for Viral Moment of the Year

6:27 Anna Leigh Waters signs with Franklin/Nike

9:29 Nico faces his critics

16:43 Anna Bright mixed doubles partner count

21:14 Ben Johns' last singles gold

23:31 Termination count in 2026

29:11 Tennis players can’t close the gap

32:50 Will ALW lose at all this year

41:50 Gino the Righty claps back

44:35 Blind ranking battle

53:51 Rumors surrounding APP

1:00:29 Pickleball court case #2

1:09:44 Zane digs for kind comments

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