Anna Leigh Waters spent seven years under contract with Paddletek. That ended in January 2026, when she signed a long-term deal with Franklin Sports — a switch big enough to reshape which brand the winningest player in PPA Tour history actually swings. Her signature paddle, the C45° Aurelius, cleared certification for pro play in February and has been on retail shelves since March. Here’s what’s actually in it, what buying “her shape” gets you, and who it’s actually built for.
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Why a 19-year-old’s paddle deal is a bigger story than usual
If you don’t follow the pro tour closely, the short version: by early 2026 Anna Leigh Waters had passed Ben Johns to become the all-time winningest player in PPA Tour history, holding the world No. 1 ranking in singles, women’s doubles, and mixed doubles at the same time. Full background on her career is in our Anna Leigh Waters profile — the point here is that when a player with that resume changes paddle brands, the paddle itself becomes a genuine gear story, not just sponsorship noise.
The Aurelius is named for the Latin word for “golden,” a nod to how often Waters ends up on top of the podium. It’s part of Franklin’s C45° carbon fiber line, sitting alongside three other shapes in the same series: Hybrid, Dynasty (elongated, built for reach and power), and Tempo (widebody, built for control and fast hands). The Aurelius is its own model within that lineup — a traditional-shape paddle Franklin describes as designed around Waters’ own game, not a re-skin of one of the other three.
What’s actually in the paddle
- Three core thicknesses: 12.7mm, 14mm, and 16mm — all under the same Aurelius name and shape, just a different core option. Waters herself plays the 12.7mm version.
- Face: T700 carbon fiber with a 45-degree peel-ply texture (the “C45°” in the name refers to that 45-degree texture angle), aimed at grip and spin potential.
- Core: A PowerFlex polymer core with an inner foam layer.
- Construction: Double-thermoformed unibody — see thermoformed pickleball paddles explained for what that construction method changes versus a glued-together build.
- Dimensions: 15.7” long by 7.9” wide, with a 5.1” handle and a 3.9” grip circumference (small).
- Weight: Roughly 7.2–8.1 oz across the three thicknesses, lighter at 12.7mm and heavier at 16mm — consistent with how core thickness generally trades feel for stability. See pickleball paddle weight guide.
- Price: Retailing around $229.99 across major sellers, in line with other pro-signature C45° paddles.
USAP vs. UPA-A: which approval actually matters to you
The Aurelius cleared certification from both USA Pickleball (USAP) and the UPA-A, and it’s worth knowing the difference between the two rather than treating “approved” as one blanket status.
USA Pickleball (USAP) is the approval that matters for the vast majority of club, league, and USA Pickleball–sanctioned tournament play — the standard covered in more depth in pickleball paddle spin explained, including the surface-roughness testing that keeps spin within a legal limit.
UPA-A is a newer, separate certification tied to the PPA Tour and MLP — the pro ecosystem — created to police paddle behavior (power, spin, and how a paddle performs after break-in) at that level specifically. It doesn’t replace USAP approval; a paddle can hold one, the other, or both, and pro-level events increasingly check UPA-A status specifically.
For a rec or club player, the practical takeaway is simple: the Aurelius is on both lists, so it’s legal for essentially any sanctioned format you’re likely to play, amateur or pro.
Picking a thickness: 12.7mm, 14mm, or 16mm
Because the Aurelius keeps the same shape and face across all three cores, the thickness choice isolates one variable more cleanly than comparing three different paddle models would.
- 12.7mm — the thinnest option, and the one Waters herself now plays. Thinner cores generally give more direct feedback and a lower swingweight, which favors hand speed at the net over raw plow-through on drives.
- 14mm — the middle ground, and the most common default thickness across the paddle market for a reason: a balance of touch and drive power that suits most all-court players.
- 16mm — the thickest and heaviest of the three, generally more stable and forgiving on contact but slower to whip through fast exchanges.
If you’re coming from a different brand’s mid-thickness paddle, 14mm is the safer first Aurelius to try. Players who already lean toward quick hands and net play over power are the ones most likely to notice — and like — what the 12.7mm option does differently. For the general mechanics behind that tradeoff, see 13mm vs 16mm pickleball paddles.
Who should actually buy this paddle
Worth considering if you’re an intermediate-to-advanced player who wants a textured carbon face with real spin potential, you’re shopping in the $200+ tier already, and you want a paddle whose shape was built around a fast, aggressive, net-forward game rather than pure power off the back of the court.
Skip it if you’re a beginner. A $230 pro-signature paddle isn’t where new players get the most improvement per dollar — a lower-priced control paddle and time on the court matter more early on. See affordable pickleball paddles for a better starting-point list.
Worth noting either way: buying a pro’s signature paddle doesn’t transfer their game. What it does reliably deliver is Franklin’s current top-tier construction and face material — judge it on that, not on the name printed on the throat.
Frequently Asked Questions
What paddle does Anna Leigh Waters use?
As of 2026, Anna Leigh Waters plays her own Franklin C45° Aurelius signature paddle, specifically the 12.7mm core version. This followed a January 2026 move from Paddletek, where she’d played for seven years, to a long-term deal with Franklin Sports.
Is the Franklin Aurelius approved for tournament play?
Yes. It’s approved by both USA Pickleball (USAP), which covers most amateur, club, and sanctioned recreational tournament play, and the UPA-A, the separate certification tied to the PPA Tour and MLP pro ecosystem.
How much does the Franklin Aurelius cost?
It retails for around $229.99 across major pickleball and sporting goods retailers, regardless of which of the three core thicknesses (12.7mm, 14mm, or 16mm) you choose.
What’s the difference between the Aurelius and Franklin’s other C45° paddles?
The C45° line includes four shapes: Hybrid, Dynasty (elongated, for reach and power), Tempo (widebody, for control and fast hands), and the Aurelius, which is Anna Leigh Waters’ own signature shape. All four share the same T700 carbon face technology and double-thermoformed unibody construction; the shape and core options are what differ.
Should a beginner buy the Franklin Aurelius?
Probably not as a first paddle. It’s priced at the premium end of the market, and the extra spin and control it offers are more useful once you already have solid fundamentals. A lower-priced, forgiving control paddle is a better starting point — see affordable pickleball paddles.