2023 Major League Pickleball Draft Recap: Anna Leigh Waters to New Jersey, Ben Johns to Seattle

In a ceremony that aired live on Tennis Channel, the 2023 Major League Pickleball Draft sponsored by Margaritaville brought together the game’s best players and a constellation of celebrity owners to Las Vegas on Thursday evening to select teams ahead of a historic season.

Anna Leigh Waters, 15, and Ben Johns, 23, the top-ranked female and male players in pro pickleball, were the No.1 and No. 2 overall draft picks, respectively.

Waters recently clinched a triple crown at the USA Pickleball National Championships in Indian Wells—winning the women’s singles, women’s doubles and mixed doubles titles at the same event—and will be heading to the New Jersey 5s.

The Delray Beach native, who made her pro debut at the age of 12, told reporter Hannah Johns it was “an amazing feeling” to be named first.

“Honestly [when I got the call] I was here in Vegas, and it was super loud. I got the phone call and I was like, ‘Wait, what did you say? Like are you sure?’ I was super excited,” Waters said.

“I'm super excited to be a part of the 5s as well. It's just an amazing feeling to be picked number one overall, both men and women.”