MLP Statement on Patriquin and Waters Heated Incident in Orlando

Major League Pickleball had no shortage of drama this weekend, and one incident stood above the rest. MLP has now addressed the matter in an official statement published to X (formerly Twitter).

The Incident That Rocked Major League Pickleball in Orlando

During the St. Louis Shock vs. New Jersey 5s match, tensions exploded after a fiery mixed doubles battle between Hayden Patriquin and Anna Leigh Waters.

With a 2-1 lead on the board, the Shock were one win away from sealing it, but lose and it was Dreambreaker time. After the match, as players tapped paddles at the net, things went from competitive to downright hostile.

And that's when it happened.

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Hayden Patriquin, mid-chirp, called Anna Leigh Waters a "f***ing b**ch" during the post-match paddle tap.

That's when Anna Leigh crossed the midway line, not to play, but to confront him. She got right up in his face, and from there, it escalated fast.

If you've ever seen benches clear during a baseball brawl... yeah, it had that kind of energy.

Both teams rushed in. Leigh Waters (Anna Leigh's mom and coach) was yelling. Shock ownership tried to step in. Even MLP's head ref Courtney Johnson got involved.

The chaotic moment instantly became one of the wildest scenes in Major League Pickleball history.

To make matters worse, it turns out the heated exchange was even more intense than the original video showed.

According to pro player and PicklePod co-host Zane Navratil, Hayden "called her a b***h multiple times" during the confrontation.

Major League Pickleball Releases Statement

On Monday afternoon at 1:25pm ET, Major League Pickleball took to X to publish its official statement on the matter.

It's certainly not the response fans were anticipating.

Why This Moment Hit Harder in MLP

If you know 'Big H', you know he's one of the more animated players on tour. The antics, the energy, the chirping. It's part of the package.

But his recent appearance on PicklePod suggested that 'Big H' is merely an on-court persona, reserved for competition. The real Hayden Patriquin is more down-to-earth.

The persona and the person aren't completely separate, though. And now Patriquin is receiving backlash for 'crossing the line.'

What makes it even wilder is the backstory: Hayden and Anna Leigh were actually teammates on the New Jersey 5s during Season 1 of the 2023 Major League Pickleball season. They even played mixed doubles together.

153 d. weergaven · 851 reacties | TBT: Anna Leigh Waters and Hayden Patriquin were an iconic duo for the New Jersey 5’s during 2023 MLP Season 1 🔥🔥 Who was your favorite MLP duo from last year? #majorleaguepb | Major League Pickleball

TBT: Anna Leigh Waters and Hayden Patriquin were an iconic duo for the New Jersey 5’s during 2023 MLP Season 1 🔥🔥 Who was your favorite MLP duo from last year? #majorleaguepb.

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To go from team chemistry to this blow-up in just two years? Is there more to the story?

Waters in the Crosshairs at MLP Events

Unfortunately for Anna Leigh, this isn't her first time catching heat (literally) on the MLP stage.

Back at MLP Dallas in November 2023, world #1 Federico Staksrud, while playing for the Miami Pickleball Club, screamed "Take that, b**ch!" after winning a crucial mixed doubles point against her (then playing for the Utah Black Diamonds).

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A Pattern of Profane On-Court Behavior

Federico's shout was caught on a courtside mic, setting off a massive controversy as Anna Leigh was only 16 years old at the time. He later issued a public apology, chalking it up to heat-of-the-moment emotions.

Different event, different player, but a familiar profane theme. Anna Leigh Waters once again at the center of it all.

As CBS Sports has covered in its pickleball programming, both Hayden Patriquin and Anna Leigh Waters have appeared on the biggest professional stages the sport offers, making this kind of sideline meltdown all the more jarring for the pro pickleball community.

The Growing Conversation Around MLP Player Conduct

The mixed doubles format in Major League Pickleball carries an added layer of responsibility. Male players share the court, the bench, and the paddle-tap line with female counterparts, and that context matters when language like this gets thrown around.

The live MLP trade tracker and 2026 MLP Draft coverage have shown how seriously the league is building its competitive infrastructure. Incidents like this threaten to overshadow real growth. The question now is whether the league's official response is enough to hold the line on pro pickleball conduct.

What the MLP Brawl Says About the League's Identity

The pros' reactions to the 2026 MLP Draft showed a player base that takes the league's culture seriously. The PPA Tour's stricter cheating penalties for repeat offenders also signal that professional pickleball bodies are paying closer attention to behavior. Major League Pickleball will need to signal the same.

As ESPN's SportsCenter has noted in its coverage of Anna Leigh Waters, her profile continues to rise alongside the sport itself, making this incident particularly visible on a national scale. The scrutiny on MLP has never been higher.

Your Turn: Who Crossed the Line?

We want to hear what you think.

Did Anna Leigh cross the line by storming into the St. Louis Shock's side of the court? Or was Hayden completely out of bounds for his comment?

Drop your thoughts under our Instagram post. (And be honest, you know if someone said that to you, you'd probably react too.)

Frequently Asked Questions

What exactly happened between Hayden Patriquin and Anna Leigh Waters at MLP Orlando?

During the St. Louis Shock vs. New Jersey 5s match in Orlando, Hayden Patriquin called Anna Leigh Waters a "f***ing b**ch" during the post-match paddle tap. Waters then crossed to the Shock's side of the court to confront him, triggering a chaotic sideline incident that involved both teams, coaches, team ownership, and even MLP head referee Courtney Johnson.

What did Major League Pickleball say in its official statement?

MLP released its official statement on Monday afternoon via X, formerly Twitter, though the response was not what many fans were expecting. The league addressed the incident publicly, but the tone and content of the statement caught the pickleball community off guard and sparked further debate online.

Has Anna Leigh Waters been involved in similar incidents before?

Yes, at MLP Dallas in November 2023, world #1 Federico Staksrud directed similar language at Waters after winning a mixed doubles point, with the outburst caught on a courtside microphone. Waters was only 16 years old at the time, and Staksrud later issued a public apology, attributing the comment to the heat of competition.

Were Hayden Patriquin and Anna Leigh Waters ever on the same team?

Hayden Patriquin and Anna Leigh Waters were actually teammates on the New Jersey 5s during Season 1 of the 2023 Major League Pickleball season. They even partnered together in mixed doubles, which makes the rapid deterioration of their dynamic over just two years one of the more surprising subplots of this incident.

What are the implications for player conduct in pro pickleball going forward?

This incident has intensified the conversation around conduct standards in Major League Pickleball, particularly in the mixed doubles format where men and women compete as teammates and opponents on the same court. The league's response and any disciplinary action taken against Patriquin will likely set the tone for how Major League Pickleball handles similar situations in the future.