Anna Leigh Waters unveiled a signature Nike court shoe at the Opendoor Pickleball World Championships, white, black, and gray with a sparkly overlay and an ALW crown embossed on the tongue, plus a limited merch collection and a signature hat at Nike's custom booth on Pickleball Boulevard. Anna Leigh posted a video tour of the booth on Tuesday, Nov 3, unveiling a new shoe colorway in the process. The story is at pickleball.com, with the booth tour at The Kitchen.
Anna Leigh signed with Nike in January 2026 as the first pickleball athlete on its global roster, a multi year apparel and footwear deal that ended a four year run with Fila. Nike's entry into pickleball footwear is built on the NikeCourt Zoom GP Challenge tennis platform, and the Zoom Challenge is currently the only pickleball shoe Nike makes. The Dallas debut was about buzz, not a one time sale. The signature shoes were sold at the booth only that weekend, and the AL shoe lands in retail stores this fall.
That is a compliment to the sport. The biggest brand in sports now treats pickleball as worth a signature shoe and a big stage debut. The Dallas booth was the first look, and the AL shoe lands in retail stores this fall.
Why it matters: The biggest brand in sports now makes a signature shoe for pickleball, and it debuted the shoe on the sport's biggest stage to build buzz. The Dallas booth was the first look, not the only sale. Look for the AL shoe in retail stores this fall.