The Defense Does NOT Rest for Anna Bright and Anna Leigh Waters

One of the things that makes Anna Bright and Anna Leigh Waters so tough to beat is their world-class defense. This is primarily evident from their scores. For example, they swept their last five gold medal matches, winning each game by an average score of 11 – 3.33.

Another stat that sheds light on the caliber of defense is “Clean Winners” allowed. A “Clean Winner” is a rally-ending shot, safely “in,” that does not hit the net cord or an opponent’s paddle. Bright and Waters are excellent at getting shots back over the net, or at least getting a paddle on them, denying their opponents the satisfaction of a well-struck winner rolling away harmlessly. 

Dave Fleming made this observation on the air during the start of Game Three of the Women’s Doubles Final at the Toys “R” Us PPA Finals: 

“We love the firepower, but what truly makes Anna Leigh Waters and Anna Bright so special is their defense under siege. They throw the ball back and make you hit another one and another one, and that can be as frustrating as the offense coming at you.”

Bright and Waters this season averaged 15.3 Clean Winners per final, allowing their opponents only 7.7 per match. During their last five finals, it was 18.6 for, and 6 against. They clearly got better as the season went along.

Air-tight defense can be measured another way, when one team does not allow the other any Clean Winners. Since the start of 2023, there have been 285 finals in Men’s, Women’s and Mixed Doubles. Only two times, once in 2023 and in that PPA Finals Women’s match, did a team clamp down and prevent their opponents from having any Clean Winners in two consecutive games. That’s what Bright and Waters did in San Clemente.

Exceptional defense. You know it when you see it, and the statistics back it up.