Lea Jansen
At a glance
- Tour
- PPA
- Age
- 34
- Handedness
- right
- Hometown
- Spokane, WA
- Slams won
- 0
- Women's world rank
- Not confirmed
- Singles rank
- Not confirmed
- Doubles rank
- Not confirmed
- Mixed rank
- Not confirmed
- Paddle sponsor
- JOOLA — Agassi Pro V
Rankings checked against the PPA on Sep 7, 2026. Fields marked “Not confirmed” are ones we could not verify at that date, not evidence the player is unranked.
Lea Jansen is World #4 in women's singles, a two-time PPA gold medalist, and one of the most public advocates for the Type 1 diabetes community among pro athletes.
Career
A first-team NAIA All-American at Washington State (and conference player of the year), Jansen was talked into picking up pickleball in 2019 by her childhood friend Tyson McGuffin. Two PPA singles golds later, she's a fixture in the women's top 5. 2026 has been a resurgence — wins over multiple top players, two silvers and two bronzes in the spring slate.
She plays the JOOLA Agassi Pro V (the JOOLA Agassi Team paddle, also chosen by Kate Fahey and Brooke Buckner).
Playing style
Right-handed. Compact swing, conservative third-shot drop is her bread-and-butter shot. Plays a patient kitchen-line game.
Off-court
Lives in Austin, TX. Diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes; manages it openly mid-match (visible continuous-glucose-monitor patch on her arm) and has spoken at length about competing as an endurance athlete with the condition.