Quick Answer · Updated June 2026
Anna Leigh Waters currently wears the Nike Zoom Challenge pickleball shoes. She signed a multi-year deal with Nike in January 2026 — the first professional pickleball player to join the brand — ending a four-year partnership with Fila. Her previous competition shoe was the Fila Women's Volley Zone, which is still available and remains one of the better-value dedicated pickleball shoes on the market.
40+ TC
Career Triple Crowns (PPA Tour)
#1
World ranking — women's singles
Jan 2026
Signed with Nike — first pickleball athlete
4 yrs
With Fila — 2021–2025
Current Shoe: Nike Zoom Challenge Pickleball
Nike Zoom Challenge Pickleball
Current Shoe · 2026
~$110–$130
Air Zoom unit (heel)
Lateral containment
Mesh + synthetic upper
Rubber toe/forefoot guard
Non-marking outsole
Nike's entry into the pickleball footwear market is a purpose-built court shoe derived from the NikeCourt Zoom GP Challenge tennis platform. The Air Zoom unit in the heel — a pressure-filled cushioning pod — delivers responsive impact absorption that springs back quickly for the next footstrike. This matters in pickleball where the kitchen game demands rapid weight shifting and repeated split-step landings over extended rally sequences.
Lateral containment is the Zoom Challenge's strongest performance feature. Synthetic overlays wrap the midfoot and ankle, preventing the internal sliding that creates friction hotspots during aggressive direction changes. The mesh panels keep airflow moving, while the reinforced rubber at the toe and forefoot handles drag-stop landings without premature outsole wear. Fit runs standard to slightly narrow — players with wider feet should size up or consider an alternative.
| Feature |
Detail |
| Cushioning | Air Zoom unit · heel and forefoot |
| Upper | Mesh + synthetic overlays |
| Outsole | Non-marking rubber · herringbone pattern |
| Weight | ~15 oz per shoe (men's US 11.5) |
| Fit | Standard to slightly narrow · true to size |
| Best for | Outdoor hard courts · aggressive movers |
| Price | ~$110–$130 |
Reasons to Buy
- ✓ Air Zoom — responsive, plush cushioning
- ✓ Outstanding lateral containment
- ✓ No break-in period required
- ✓ Strong traction on outdoor hardcourt
- ✓ Rubber toe guard for durability
Reasons Not to Buy
- ✗ Narrow fit — not for wide feet
- ✗ Upper durability below some rivals
- ✗ Premium price at ~$110–$130
Previous Shoe: Fila Women's Volley Zone (2021–2025)
For four years, the Fila Women's Volley Zone was Anna Leigh Waters' competition shoe as she built the most decorated career in professional pickleball history. Fila created a custom commemorative version when she won her 100th career tournament. The Volley Zone is still available, still a strong court shoe, and at ~$65–$75 is one of the better-value dedicated pickleball options on the market.
Fila Women's Volley Zone Pickleball
ALW Signature · 2021–2025
~$65–$75
EVA foam midsole
Herringbone rubber outsole
Synthetic + mesh upper
Best value on this list
The Fila Women's Volley Zone is a proper pickleball-specific court shoe — not a tennis shoe repurposed for the sport. The EVA foam midsole delivers adequate impact absorption for recreational to competitive play, while the herringbone rubber outsole provides reliable multi-directional traction on both indoor and outdoor courts. The synthetic and mesh upper balances structure with breathability.
For recreational players who want a proven, court-specific shoe at a mid-range price — and who followed Anna Leigh Waters during her dominant Fila years — the Volley Zone remains a well-made option. Its lower price point compared to the Nike Zoom Challenge makes it the more accessible entry into dedicated pickleball footwear.
The value case: At ~$65–$75, the Fila Volley Zone is roughly half the price of the Nike Zoom Challenge. For recreational players playing 2–3 times per week, the performance difference between the two shoes is unlikely to be noticeable. The Volley Zone delivers the fundamentals that matter: court-specific grip, adequate cushioning, and proper lateral support.
Reasons to Buy
- ✓ Best price at ~$65–$75
- ✓ Purpose-built pickleball shoe
- ✓ Works indoor and outdoor courts
- ✓ Pro-proven — worn for 4 years by the world No.1
Reasons Not to Buy
- ✗ Less heel cushioning than Nike option
- ✗ Limited colour options
Who Is Anna Leigh Waters?
Anna Leigh Waters (born January 2007, Delray Beach, Florida) is the top-ranked women's professional pickleball player in the world. She holds the record for the most career gold medals on the PPA Tour, has won over 40 Triple Crowns (winning singles, doubles, and mixed doubles at the same tournament), and became the youngest player to reach No. 1 in the world rankings — all before turning 18.
Her playing style is power-heavy and aggressive at the kitchen line, influenced by her tennis background. She frequently competes alongside her mother, professional player Leigh Waters. As of 2026, she is the most prominent face in professional pickleball and the sport's highest-profile sponsorship target — hence Nike's historic first pickleball signing.
Nike vs Fila: Which Should You Buy?
| |
Nike Zoom Challenge |
Fila Volley Zone |
| ALW wore it | 2026–present | 2021–2025 |
| Price | ~$110–$130 | ~$65–$75 |
| Cushioning | Air Zoom — excellent | EVA foam — good |
| Court grip | Excellent | Very good |
| Fit | Narrow — standard feet | Wider — most foot types |
| Best for | Competitive / outdoor | Recreational / both surfaces |
| Buy |
Amazon → |
Amazon → |
Why Footwear Matters for Anna Leigh Waters' Playing Style
Anna Leigh Waters plays an aggressive, court-coverage style that makes extreme physical demands on footwear. Her game involves:
⚡
Explosive lateral movement. Pro-level kitchen exchanges involve dozens of explosive side-to-side weight transfers per rally. The shoe must hold the foot laterally through these movements without slipping inside or creating friction hotspots. Both the Nike's synthetic overlays and the Fila's structured upper address this.
🌟
Tournament duration. At major PPA events, top players compete across singles, doubles, and mixed doubles on the same day. A shoe must maintain its cushioning and support quality across 4–6+ hours of continuous court time — a compression test that eliminates foam-only midsoles quickly.
🏈
Mixed indoor/outdoor surfaces. The PPA Tour plays on both indoor stadium courts and outdoor hardcourt surfaces. A non-marking herringbone outsole that performs on both — which both the Nike and Fila use — is the baseline requirement.
What to Look For in Your Own Pickleball Shoes
A herringbone or multi-directional rubber outsole that grips on lateral and diagonal cuts — not just forward motion. Running shoes on a pickleball court create unpredictable grip patterns that increase ankle sprain risk.
A firm
midsole and structured
upper that resists lateral roll during direction changes. The most common pickleball injury is a lateral ankle sprain — lateral stability directly reduces this risk.
Pickleball's kitchen game loads the forefoot on every split-step. Adequate cushioning reduces cumulative joint impact, particularly important on outdoor concrete courts.
Non-marking outsole
Required at almost all pickleball facilities. Standard rubber-soled court shoes leave black marks on indoor surfaces. Check that your shoe states “non-marking” before turning up at a club.
SportShoeWorld Verdict
Nike now. Fila is still worth buying.
Anna Leigh Waters currently competes in the Nike Zoom Challenge following her January 2026 Nike signing. If you want the shoe she plays in today, that's your answer. If you want the shoe that accompanied her through four years of career-defining dominance at a significantly lower price, the Fila Women's Volley Zone remains available and is one of the better-value dedicated pickleball shoes on the market. Both are proper pickleball shoes. Both deliver the court-specific grip, lateral support, and cushioning that distinguish dedicated pickleball footwear from repurposed running shoes.
Frequently Asked Questions
What shoes does Anna Leigh Waters wear in 2026? +
Anna Leigh Waters currently wears the Nike Zoom Challenge pickleball shoes. She signed a multi-year deal with Nike in January 2026 — the first professional pickleball player to be signed with the brand. Her previous competition shoe from 2021 through 2025 was the Fila Women's Volley Zone.
Did Anna Leigh Waters leave Fila? +
Yes. Her apparel and footwear deal with Fila expired at the end of 2025. In January 2026, she announced a multi-year deal with Nike as their first pickleball athlete and global pickleball ambassador. She wore Fila — primarily the Volley Zone and Volley Burst models — from approximately 2021 through the end of 2025.
Are the Nike Zoom Challenge good for recreational players? +
Yes. The Nike Zoom Challenge delivers genuine pickleball performance — responsive Air Zoom cushioning, strong lateral
stability, and reliable court grip. The main caveat: the shoe runs narrow. Players with standard to slightly narrow feet will find it comfortable; players with wider feet should try before buying or consider the Fila Volley Zone which has a more forgiving fit. At ~$110–$130 it is a mid-premium option.
Is the Fila Women's Volley Zone still worth buying? +
Yes. The Fila Women's Volley Zone is a proper pickleball-specific shoe that delivers court grip, adequate
cushioning, and lateral support at roughly half the price of the Nike Zoom Challenge. For recreational players playing 2–3 times per week, it remains one of the best value-for-money dedicated pickleball shoes available, and its wider fit suits more foot types than the Nike option.
What features should I look for in pickleball shoes? +
Four things: (1) Court-specific
traction — herringbone rubber outsole for multi-directional grip; (2) Lateral
stability — firm midsole and structured upper to support direction changes; (3) Forefoot
cushioning — impact absorption for hard court play; (4) Non-marking outsole — required at most facilities. Avoid running shoes — their outsoles are designed for forward motion only and create unstable lateral grip on court.
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