The defensive prowess of Anna Bright and Anna Leigh Waters has been a key factor in their success, making them a formidable team to beat in the pickleball world. Their impressive statistics and performance in recent matches, including the 2026 PPA Finals, demonstrate the effectiveness of their defense, which has been praised by commentators and analysts alike.
Measuring Defensive Excellence
One way to measure the caliber of their defense is by looking at the number of Clean Winners allowed, which refers to a rally-ending shot that is safely in and does not hit the net cord or an opponent's paddle. Bright and Waters have been excellent at getting shots back over the net, denying their opponents the satisfaction of a well-struck winner. According to statistics, they averaged 15.3 Clean Winners per final, while allowing their opponents only 7.7 per match. In their last five finals, this number improved to 18.6 for, and 6 against, demonstrating their growing defensive strength throughout the season.
A notable example of their exceptional defense was during the Women's Doubles Final at the Toys R Us PPA Finals, where they prevented their opponents from having any Clean Winners in two consecutive games. This achievement is extremely rare, with only two instances of a team accomplishing this feat in 285 finals across Men's, Women's, and Mixed Doubles since the start of 2023.
Commentator Dave Fleming highlighted the importance of their defense, stating that it is what makes Bright and Waters "so special." He noted that their ability to "throw the ball back and make you hit another one and another one" can be frustrating for their opponents, and is a key aspect of their success. The statistics back up this observation, with Bright and Waters sweeping their last five gold medal matches with an average score of 11-3.33, demonstrating the effectiveness of their defensive strategy.
Some key statistics that illustrate the defensive excellence of Bright and Waters include:
- Average Clean Winners per final: 15.3, compared to 7.7 allowed to their opponents per match
- Clean Winners in last five finals: 18.6 for, and 6 against
- Consecutive games without allowing Clean Winners: 2, achieved during the Women's Doubles Final at the Toys R Us PPA Finals
- Average score in last five gold medal matches: 11-3.33, demonstrating the effectiveness of their defensive strategy
