Every sport has its Mount Rushmore of greatness. Michael Jordan’s noggin would be on basketball’s mountain, while Babe Ruth and Tom Brady would be on baseball’s and football’s, respectively. But who deserves to have their heads on a fictional mountain for pickleball? These five female pickleball players would be a great place to start.
Simone Jardim
We’d be remiss if we didn’t begin our list with the legendary Simon Jardim. Without Jardim’s remarkable achievements—including her 90 medal wins—the sport may not have flourished as much as it has in the past decade.
Jardim’s most impressive achievement is being a two-time US Open Pickleball Championships Triple Crown winner. A Triple Crown winner must win the singles, doubles, and mixed doubles tournaments to receive the recognition.
When you combine that with her 36 PPA titles, she certainly earns the “Queen of Pickleball” moniker. Jardim recently retired from being a solo competitor but still dabbles in doubles events.
2) Irina Tereschenko
Not far behind Jardim is another pillar of pickleball greatness, Irena Tereschenko. Hailing from Moscow, Tereschenko has been playing pickleball since 2016 when her old tennis coach at Texas Tech, Chris Miller, thought she’d do well at the game.
Not only did Tereschenko win the Pickleball Tournament of Champions in her inaugural competition, but she also transitioned to pickleball full-time afterward. This feat was an easy decision for the former tennis player. Since becoming a pro, Tereschenko has had five majors and a pair of USA Pickleball Association titles.
3) Lea Jansen
No question, Jardim and Tereschenko’s feats will stand the test of time. However, their records may be in jeopardy with the current crop of young superstars staking their claim as the game’s best. A trio of newcomers, including Lea Jansen, is at the top of their game.
Jansen has two PPA titles and medals in all three pickleball events, even though she’s only been on the scene since 2021. Like Tereschenko, Jansen has a background in playing tennis at the collegiate level. But at 25 years old, Jansen decided to give pickleball a try in 2019. It only took her two years to hit the pro circuit and rack up some wins.
4) Catherine Parenteau
Catherine Parenteau proves that pickleball is a global game, considering the Canadian has several medals and titles under her belt. She won her first title at the 2018 USA Pickleball Association Nationals, but she has since added 29 PPA medals and a pair of 2021 doubles championships. Although Parenteau still focuses on her pro career, she enjoys teaching the game to others and hosting clinics.
5) Anna Leigh Waters
The highlight of most 16-year-olds’ lives is getting their driver’s license and first car. But Anna Leigh Waters had bigger aspirations and made those dreams come true. Waters is in the top five in the women’s world rankings for all three divisions. Unsurprisingly, Waters is the youngest professional pickleball champion, having won tournaments at as young as 12.
These
five female pickleball players you should know are comprised of all-time greats and rising stars. Maybe you can find a way to challenge Waters, Jansen, and Parenteau while donning Fromuth Pickleball’s
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