Any time we’ve ever asked who people want us to have on Pickleballers, Anna Bright is at the top of the list. This week we made it happen — the world No. 2 women’s player joins us for the Season 3 finale to share her journey from junior tennis to the top of pro pickleball.

The episode is a wide-ranging discussion about her rise as one of the game’s biggest stars both on and off the court. She dives into “The Girlies” breakup with longtime partner Rachel Rohrabacher, saying “no” to Anna Leigh Waters and so much more! The episode is already on pace to be our MOST WATCHED EPISODE EVER!

AND if you’re looking meet new pickleball friends… we’d highly recommend joining one of our HONCHO amateur leagues. There are leagues in 70+ cities across the nation, all with different skill brackets. Use code KITCHEN for the early-bird discount.

Also in this issue:

• This one had to hurt 🫣

• Amateur players rank their favorite paddle brands 🏆

• We’re giving away 10 brand-new 11SIX24 Vapor Power 2 paddles 🙌

• Can anyone beat Anna Leigh Waters in singles? 🤔

• We review the grittiest paddle on the market 👀

Let’s get cookin’. 🧑‍🍳

GIVEAWAY

We’re giving away 10 brand-new 11SIX24 Vapor Power 2 paddles!

We are partnering with 11SIX24 to give away 10 Vapor Power 2 pickleball paddles. ⚡️

HOW TO ENTER

1. LIKE this post

2. TAG a few friends (every tag is a new entry!)

3. FOLLOW @thekitchenpickleball and @11six24_pickleball

4. SHARE this post to your stories

***YOU MUST COMPLETE ALL STEPS TO BE ELIGIBLE***

We will choose 10 random winners on April 13! 🥳

🔗 Check out our review of the 11SIX24 Vapor Power 2 here or shop all 11SIX24 paddles here — use code “KITCHEN” for $10 off

LOWLIGHT OF THE WEEK

We can feel his pain through the screen

Our guy on the right might have been smiling on the outside after this point, but we know on the inside he was feeling nothing but pain.

Not only did he get body bagged from the baseline — he got hit exactly where no man wants to get hit. The reaction from the woman on the left says it all.

🔗 Check out the replay on Instagram, Facebook or TikTok

PICKLEBALLERS

Anna Bright: Saying no to Anna Leigh, ‘The Girlies’ breakup and pickleball's biggest personality

Anna Bright is the No. 2 ranked women's pickleball player in the world, an MLP champion, and one of the sport's most magnetic personalities — a Cal Berkeley graduate who went from Pacific Crest Trail solo hiker to professional athlete in under a year.

In this week’s episode of Pickleballers, she discusses the business decisions that defined her career and the personal dynamics that come with competing at the highest level. The conversation is candid, funny and surprisingly raw — exactly what you'd expect from someone who's never been afraid to say what she thinks.

Bright breaks down the story behind "The Girlies" — her viral brand partnership with Rachel Rohrabacher — and what it was like to walk away from one of pickleball's most beloved duos. She opens up about the game-theory moment that led her to reach out to Anna Lee Waters, including the part nobody knew: she'd already said no once before.

As of Thursday afternoon, this episode is on pace to be our FIRST-EVER 100K view episode!

🔗 Watch the full episode on YouTube or listen on Spotify

PICKLEBALLERS & JOOLA GIVEAWAY: Each week we’re doing a giveaway to celebrate the latest episode. This week we are giving away 5 JOOLA Scorpeus Pro V paddles SIGNED by Anna! Enter here!

PADDLE CORNER

Amateur pickleball players rank their favorite paddle brands (the results might surprise you)

Recently we asked The Kitchen Facebook community (which has more than 190,000 members) to tell us which pickleball paddle brand was their favorite.

There were 2,600 respondents and a total of 71 brands received votes. You can find the poll here.

Below are the top vote-getters, along with some information about the most recent releases from those brands.

1. SIX ZERO (16%): In the fall of 2025, Six Zero hit a home run with the release of the Coral and Black Opal paddles. Find our full review of both paddles here and shop all Six Zero paddles here -- use code "KITCHEN" for 10% off.

2. JOOLA (13%): JOOLA has been among the most popular brands for several years now, so it's no surprise to see them high in the poll. Last month they released their new Pro V series, which has received mostly positive feedback from players. Find our in-depth review of the JOOLA Kosmos Pro V here and shop JOOLA's latest paddles here -- buy now and get a FREE Kitchen hat.

3. SELKIRK (10%): Selkirk has had a loyal base of players for almost a decade, and the Boomstik is the latest hit paddle that the masses have gravitated toward. Shop the Selkirk Boomstik here -- use code GRP-KITCHEN for a credit toward a future purchase.

4. RPM (5%): The paddle company that pro player James Ignatowich started in 2025 has been on a roll. The brand's original Friction Pro paddle put RPM on the map, and they've followed it up this year with the RPM Friction Pro V2 and the RPM Q2, which was co-designed by popular paddle reviewer John Kew. Find our in-depth review of the RPM Friction Pro V2 here and shop all RPM paddles here -- use code "KITCHEN" at checkout for 15% off.

🔗 See what other companies received votes in our poll

THE PROS

Who is most likely to beat Anna Leigh Waters in singles?

We didn’t think it was possible, but Anna Leigh Waters appears to have gotten even better in singles this year. It’s been almost 2 full years since she’s been beaten, leading us to wonder: Who are the most likely candidates to take her down, and what would it take to pull off the upset?

To help us answer these questions, fellow PPA Tour pro Zoey Weil weighs in with the expertise of somebody who has actually faced ALW on the singles court.

Here are Weil’s top candidates to take down Waters moving forward:

1. Kaitlyn Christian: Christian is one of the only players who consistently plays close games against ALW. Even during Waters' untouchable start to 2026, Christian was able to take a game off of her at the Masters in January. Christian possesses phenomenal power off the ground with a professional tennis background, and she also has length. This asset allows her to control the kitchen line better than most female players.

2. Genie Bouchard: Weil thinks Bouchard is the best female athlete on the PPA Tour. She has a great combination of ball striking, movement, length and (most importantly) her nonchalant attitude about pickleball in general could be a benefit to her if she is ever in the position to upset the GOAT. She won’t know (or care) how big the moment is.

3. Kiora Kunimoto: Kunimoto is a young player who is rapidly improving. She already has racked up wins against some big names, showing she isn’t afraid of the spotlight. She possesses incredible power for a fairly slight frame, and she is a great mover.

🔗 See who else Weil thinks could take down Waters in singles

GEAR

11SIX24 Vapor Power 2 review: Great spin & high grit

11SIX24 has been getting a lot of attention in the paddle world lately, following the release of the company’s Power 2 series paddles. The big reason is its new HexGrit surface, which is designed to hold its grit and spin far longer than traditional carbon fiber faces. Early testing shows the grit maintaining its bite even after heavy play — meaning you’re still getting that extra spin weeks later when many paddles start to wear down.

At the same time, 11SIX24 as a brand is on a major rise. The company recently signed top pros Dekel Bar and Augie Ge, adding more momentum to a paddle lineup that more players are starting to take seriously. If you value spin and durability, the Power 2 is definitely a paddle worth knowing about.

Also, at $209.99, it’s a steal.

🔗 Watch our full review of the popular Vapor Power 2

QUICK HITS

• WOW: We had to include an Anna Bright highlight this week

• Throwback: What it takes to win a point off of Ben Johns

• Educational: The key to becoming good at pickleball

• Crazy: This women’s doubles point had everything