Drama Unfolds in MLP Action as Anna Leigh Waters, Hayden Patriquin Get into Verbal Spat
Major League Pickleball Presented By DoorDash (MLP Presented By DoorDash) saw some real drama unfold at the 2025 MLP Orlando tournament as Anna Leigh Waters, arguably the GOAT of the women’s division, got into a verbal tussle with Hayden Patriquin, one of the best players on the distaff side.
Tensions flared in the immediate aftermath of the mixed doubles match at the USTA National Campus that saw Waters and partner Will Howells of the New Jersey 5s rout the pair of Patriquin and partner Kate Fahey of the St. Louis Shock, 11-3. It was the 5s’ sole win of the day, and as the players were leaving the court, Patriquin purportedly called Waters a “f**ing b**ch.”
It is unclear what prompted Patriquin to direct verbal venom at Waters, who has made a name in pickleball as one of its most precise power hitters. Waters, according to reports, naturally got agitated at her rival, leading to a verbal spat that supposedly was intensifying.
Cooler heads ultimately prevailed when MLP officials and members of both teams stepped in. Later, Zane Navratil of the 5s took to X and confirmed that Patriquin, indeed, shouted invectives at Waters “multiple times.” Navratil later hit the Shock’s Gabe Tardio with a powerful shot in the second mixed doubles match won by Tardio and partner Anna Bright that gave the Shock the 3-1 victory over the 5s.
Patriquin, meanwhile, reportedly expressed regret for her actions afterward as she addressed the incident.
New Jersey will be back in action at MLP Austin in May. St. Louis will look to build on their unbeaten Orlando stint when they return to action at MLP Columbus the following week.
