MEET THE WALKER SISTERS | Angie & Alex

 

The Future is Bright for the Walker Sisters, Pickleball's Newest Doubles Dynamos

If you've tuned into a professional pickleball tournament broadcast recently, chances are you've noticed the talented tandem of Alex Walker and Angie Walker lighting up the court. Though not actually twins, these two Canadian native sisters have been frequently mistaken for identical siblings their entire lives - both sharing a fierce competitive drive and love for sports that has taken them to new heights as pickleball professionals. At just 24 and 26 years old respectively, the "fake twin" Walker Sisters are already leaving an indelible mark on the sport.

1. 0:33, Angie you are older....right?

The close age gap and uncanny resemblance between Alex and Angie has caused constant confusion, even among the pickleball community. "We get that all the time - people always think Alex is the older one when actually I'm two years older," Angie said with a laugh. "It happens on the grandstand courts, on Center Court, people always mix up which one is older."

2. 0:55, Jimmy: I called one of your matches. How did I do?

Even seasoned commentators have struggled to tell the Sisters apart during broadcasts. Jimmy Miller made that very mistake when calling their second round match against Ava Ignatowich and Katerina Stewart at the PPA Masters in January. "I think you might have called us the wrong names, and only mentioned that Alex played college tennis while skipping over me," Angie sheepishly stated.

3. 1:20, College tennis

Alex and Angie indeed both played collegiate tennis, though their paths diverged slightly. Alex suited up for the University of Montana Grizzlies, while Angie joined the Idaho State Bengals two years earlier. 

4. 1:37, Canada

Born and raised in the Vancouver area, the Sisters are proudly Canadian - even if their patriotism doesn't extend to an appreciation for ketchup chips. "We're actually dual citizens since our mom is from Texas," Angie explained.

5. 2:11, What's the difference

Beyond their identical facial features, distinguishing between Alex and Angie is a constant challenge, requiring a close eye for subtle differences. "Alex is a little taller, and her hair is a bit blonder," Angie offered. "But honestly, you never really see us without the other, so that's pretty much the only way to tell us apart."

6. 3:20, Scottsdale, AZ

After competing in coast-to-coast tournaments and living out of suitcases, the Walker Sisters decided to put down firmer roots last year by moving to the pickleball hotbed of Scottsdale, Arizona. The draw was obvious - in addition to the fantastic weather, Scottsdale offers a vibrant community of elite players to train against daily at clubs like Lifetime Athletic.

7. 4:08, The Combine

It was at a pro combine where the Sisters first crossed paths with rising apparel brand Stack Athletics. Though there was a brief communication snafu that had Miller worried the Walkers might be avoiding his event, they ended up having a great experience. "It was awesome, we got to play six hours of pickleball against some really talented players," Angie recalled.

8. 6:10, Tour Wars

Angie and Alex faced a big decision last year when MLP started aggressively recruiting top talent. Ultimately, they signed with the PPA. "The MLP was so new and had signed a lot of people already. I didn't want to risk sitting on the bench for 3 years," Angie explained her rationale. "I just wanted to keep playing tournaments and getting better."

9. 7:27, AZ Rec Play

One of the biggest advantages to living in Scottsdale has been access to daily rec play against a gaggle of touring pros like Augie Ge, Patrick Kawka, Craig Johnson and more. "We're so lucky there are so many great players here to train against every day," Angie said gratefully. "It's allowed us to take our games to new levels."

10. 8:21, Proton

In addition to their partnership with Stack Athletics, the Walker Sisters are also sponsored by Proton paddles - one of the most elite and innovative brands in pickleball equipment. Could custom "Walker Sister" Proton paddles be on the horizon? 

11. 9:23, MLP

While she may have passed on initially joining MLP, Angie will get her chance this season as she was drafted to the Atlanta Bouncers. It's a dream come true for someone who first picked up a pickleball paddle in 2023. "Ever since I started playing, that was always the goal - to be on an MLP team," Angie beamed.

12. 10:23, Jimmy - Funny Story

The MLP draft provided Miller with a classic Walker Sisters anecdote. As Leanne Pederson was building her Atlanta Bouncers roster, she asked Miller his thoughts on her picks. "I said 'well it kind of did suck honestly, you're not going to win a match!'" Miller laughingly recalled. In typical Jimmy fashion, his brazen candor elicited a less-than-thrilled reaction from Pederson. "I don't think Leanne loves me, but that's ok," he joked. Miller may have ruffled some feathers, but he's high on Pederson's revamped squad now that it features Angie Walker. His unfiltered commentary made for an humorous draft night tale.

13. 11:21, A question for you two

When asked which sister has the better forehand, the two were predictably competitive, going back and forth in a rapid-fire query: "Alex," "Me!" They did, however, agree that Angie has the superior dinking ability, while labeling the "most athletic" question too close to call after lifetimes competing in basketball, volleyball, soccer and more.

14. 13:27, Instagram - Road Trips

With so much time spent traveling the US nationwide tournament circuit, appreciating the open road has become a necessity for the Walker sisters. Fans have become accustomed to seeing their Instagram feeds filled with scenic road trip photos and videos. "We do a lot of road trips since so many tournaments are drivable from Arizona," Angie explained. "It's fun to pile in a car with a group of friends and just cruise."

15. 14:00, GoTo Road Trip Song

What gets queued up on those long drives? "We really like listening to country, a lot of Morgan Wallen lately," Alex replied when asked for a go-to road trip song. Though Miller may have some critiques of Wallen's off-court behavior, you won't get any arguments over channeling his music to set the mood for a fun road trip.

16. 14:51, Favorite All Time Artist

While Morgan Wallen may be in heavy rotation currently, Angie quickly named her favorite artist of all-time when pressed - the iconic Beatles. A bit of an unexpected pick for athletes in their 20s, but one that speaks to their timeless appreciation for quality music.

17. 15:12, Better Cook

Of course, no rock star road trip would be complete without snacks - or at least a plan to track down delicious food stops along the way. In the Walker household, it's Angie who rules the kitchen, though she laments not having cooked a proper homemade meal in months due to their brutal travel schedule. "I'm 90% made up of chips and queso at this point because we only eat at Mexican restaurants on tour!" Alex stated with a laughed.

18. 16:04, Atlanta Open

The Atlanta Open was a pivotal tournament for Angie earlier this year, being the event where she broke through to capture her first major title alongside esteemed veteran Augie Ge. It looked bleak early, as they quickly fell behind 11-4 to the talented duo of Spencer Smith and  Lingwei Kong before mounting a remarkable comeback. "Augie is just a rock, a total stud," Angie praised her partner. "He was so good and allowed me to finally turn it on."

19. 17:39, Tyler doesn't like Augie

20. 18:16, Alex - Mixed Doubles

21. 19:56, Atlanta Open Women's Doubles

Unfortunately, the Atlanta Open didn't go as well for the Walker Sisters when they teamed up in women's doubles. They suffered a disappointing first round loss to the duo of Trang Huynh-McClain and Malia K Lum in a match they feel they never quite found their rhythm. "Being in Atlanta for MLP that whole week was a really long time on the road. I think we were just drained by the time women's doubles rolled around," Angie analyzed.

22. 21:12, Favorite Draw

The Walker Sisters have differing preferences when it comes to traditional vs. progressive draw formats in tournament play. Angie enjoys the momentum-building aspects of traditional draws, while Alex likes the novelty of switching back-and-forth between different events in progressive draws. "It's fun to go from women's doubles to mixed and back," she explained. "But the momentum factor is definitely a big deal too."

23. 21:44, Singles

Speaking of different events, Angie has carved out a solid niche as a singles competitor - even winning the championship at their Utah combine over a field of strong players. Alex, however, has been reluctant to dive into singles. "I just haven't really practiced it much," she admitted. "But with Angie's success, I keep saying I'll start getting into it, so eventually!"

24. 26:14, MLP DC

With Alex already cementing herself as a force in PPA tournaments and Angie set to make her MLP debut with the Bouncers, the big question is whether Alex will be able to join her sister for the upcoming MLP event in D.C. as an alternate. "We're working on getting her approved for that,"Miller said."It would be great for her to get some experience if she's going to be there anyway."

25. 27:21, Stack

In addition to their endeavors on the court, the Walker sisters have also achieved phenomonal success as athlete influencers and spokespeople for brands like Stack Athletics. When first offered a sponsorship opportunity, the decision was a no-brainer. "It was probably one of the easiest decisions we've ever had to make," Angie raved about joining forces with Stack. "They're awesome people, we had the same vision, and we were on board right away."

26. 28:30, Best AZ Player

Living amidst the talented Scottsdale pickleball community, the Sisters have gained invaluable experience training against a bevyof elite local players.But who stands out as the very best in Arizona? "Augie, for sure," Angie responded without hesitation. "His results and the way he's been playing, he's so study and such a rock out there."

27. 29:51, MLP Record

The Walker Sisters have tasted success already in PPA events, but Angie's MLP debut in Atlanta representing the Bouncers was a humbling learning experience. They finished a disappointing 1-3 over the weekend, though Angie remains confident better results are ahead. "Being thrown into that MLP environment for the first time was so different than anything I've experienced before," she explained. "But I know I can play better, and there's nowhere to go but up now."

28. 31:41, Mary and Tyson Have Blocked Jimmy

In a brief moment of levity, the conversation turned to Miller wondering aloud which fellow players might have blocked him on social media over critical comments or analysis. The only names he could confirm were Mary Brascia and Tyson McGuffin having blocked his accounts for unknown reasons.

29. 32:26, AZ Pickleball League/Drama

Returning to the topic of their new Arizona homebase, the Walkers were asked if they've noticed any interpersonal drama through the local pickleball community or recreational leagues. Though Alex professes to avoid such salacious material, Angie didn't hesitate to call out Riley Newman's apparent lack of preparedness while appearing on the reality show "Breaking Pickleball.""She literally said she never practiced all season!" Angie laughed.

30. 34:22, Stack Athletics

The Walker Sisters' partnership with athletic apparel brand Stack Athletics has included plenty of promotional photoshoots and other content creation. But neither had much modeling experience beforethis gig, with the exception of Alex doing some work for the Canadian tween brand "Viva" as a youth. "It's been a really fun experience working with Stack," Alex said. "We love the brand and they're always coming out with new, awesome styles."

31. 38:20, KOTC Fan

It's clear the Walker Sisters have been rapidly developing a strong fan base, with people constantly approaching them at tournaments. Miller shared a story of one particularly enthusiastic fan at the Atlanta Open. "This girl Jessica came up and just gushed about how much she loves the King of the Court podcast. She told me she's watched every single episode - she's a way bigger fan than even Alex!"

32. 39:34, Angie - Mixed Doubles

With the PPA's major tournament in Dallas rapidly approaching, focus shifted to the Sisters' upcoming doubles partnerships. For mixed, Angie will be teaming up with Yates Johnson. "Yates is great, we've had good chemistry before when we've played," she said. "But other than that, I still don't have any other set partners lined up yet for the other events."

33. 40:03, Women's Doubles

Solidifying a consistent women's doubles partnership has been critical for the Walker Sisters' ascent. While Alex occasionally considers accepting offers from higher-ranked players, their priority remains sticking together as a team. "We really want to see how good we can get playing together," Angie explained. "It's such an advantage that we can live together and practice every day."

34. 41:00, Goals

That dedicated practice has been fueled by an intense desire to medal in a major tournament - something that has still eluded the talented sisters. "Winning is obviously the goal," Angie stated bluntly. "But we know we have to get better step-by-step, so just focusing on improving every day is the most important thing right now."

35. 41:19, A Day In The Life

Achieving those lofty goals requires an incredible work ethic and commitment to a grueling practice schedule, especially when at home in Arizona. The typical routine? "Usually we'll wake up and maybe drill in the morning, then have a rec session in the afternoon," Angie detailed. "So it's like a two-a-day thing most days because we're so lucky to have all these great players to train against."

36. 42:42, Rankings

All that work has the Walker Sisters rapidly climbing up the pro rankings. They started 2023 outside the top 20 but have already cracked the top 15 - an impressive leap in a short period of time. "Every time we can move up a few spots and get a higher seed for tournament draws is huge," said Angie. "That's always the goal."

37. 43:18, Are Paddles Too Hot?

The continuous evolution of paddle technology and increasing pop off the latest releases has become a hot-button issue in pickleball circles. When asked for their thoughts, the Walker Sisters cautioned about potential drawbacks. "I do think some of these new paddles are getting too hot," Angie said. "Part of the skill of pickleball is generating your own power through proper technique. When you just hand someone an explosive paddle, it takes away from each individual's talents."

38. 52:10, Instagram

As their profiles continue rising exponentially, maintaining an online brand presence has become increasingly important for pro players. The Sisters are actively growing their Instagram followings, with Angie operating @AngieBWalker and Alex at @AlexRWalker. They've considered starting a joint account for unifiedbranding but haven't pulled the trigger yet due to Alex's general aversion to social media. "I don't want to be too invested in toxic negativity or people's silly drama," she explained bluntly.

39. 53:59, Outro

With their youthful talent, endearing personalities and skyrocketing future potential, it's clear the Canadian "Walker Sisters" have already become two of pickleball's biggest attractions despite being relatively new professionals. Opponents have been put on notice - between their elite athleticism, palpable competitive fire, and incredible sisterly chemistry, this dynamic doubles duo isn't going away anytime soon. The future is bright for Alex Walker and Angie Walker as they blaze a trail toward pickleball immortality.

Article Summary
Pickleball's Hottest New Doubles Duo: The Walker Sisters Taking The Sport By Storm

If you've turned on a professional pickleball broadcast recently, you've surely noticed the talented tandem of Alex Walker and Angie Walker lighting up the court. Though not actually related, the two strikingly similar 20-something Canadians have understandably been mistaken for twins their entire lives. Now affectionately dubbed the "Walker Sisters" by fans, this dynamic doubles duo is taking the pickleball world by storm with their undeniable skill and effervescent personalities.

At just 24 and 26 years old, Alex and Angie are already leaving an indelible mark on their sport despite being relatively new professionals. Both came up as elite junior tennis players - Alex starring for the University of Montana while Angie suited up for Idaho State two years earlier. Their lifetime of experience as athletes and natural sisterly rapport has translated seamlessly to the pickleball court.

After building impressive resumes on the PPA Tour, the Sisters faced a big decision last year during the sport's "Tour Wars" with upstart leagues aggressively recruiting top talent. They ultimately chose to sign with the PPA, with Angie citing a desire to keep competing at elite tournaments rather than potentially riding the bench for years with a new league. That decision has already paid dividends, as Angie continues racking up titles while Alex was drafted to the Atlanta Bouncers of the MLB this season.

The Walker Sisters have put down roots in the pickleball hotbed of Scottsdale, Arizona, giving them access to daily training against a bevvy of touring pros like Augie Miller, Patrick Kekka, Craig Johnson and more. It's been the perfect environment to hone their craft while representing sponsors like athletic apparel brand Stack Athletics.

"We're so lucky there are so many great players here to train against every day," said Angie gratefully. "It's allowed us to take our games to new levels."

Those rapidly improving games have vaulted the Canadian sisters into the top 15 of the pro rankings already after starting 2023 outside the top 20. But individual accolades aren't the priority - Angie and Alex have their sights set on an elusive major medal.

"Winning is obviously the goal," Angie stated bluntly. "But we know we have to get better step-by-step, so just focusing on improving every day is the most important thing right now."

With their tireless work ethic, fun-loving personalities and incredible sibling chemistry, there's no doubt the Walker Sisters have all the tools to achieve those dreams and more. Between their elite athleticism and competitive fire forged from a lifetime of sports, this dynamic doubles duo has already become two of pickleball's hottest new attractions despite just scratching the surface of their immense potential.

For opponents hoping to contain Angie Walker and Alex Walker, they better prepare for a rude awakening - the "Sisters" are just getting warmed up as they blaze an electrifying trail toward pickleball immortality.

1. 0:33 Angie you are older....right?
2. 0:55 Jimmy: I called one of your matches. How did I do?
3. 1:20 College tennis
4. 1:37 Canada
5. 2:11 What's the difference
6. 3:20 Scottsdale, AZ
7. 4:08 The Combine
8. 6:10 Tour Wars
9. 7:27 AZ Rec Play
10. 8:21 Proton
11. 9:23 MLP
12. 10:23 Jimmy - Funny Story
13. 11:21 A question for you two
14. 13:27 Instagram - Road Trips
15. 14:00 GoTo Road Trip Song
16. 14:51 Favorite All Time Artist
17. 15:12 Better Cook
18. 16:04 Atlanta Open
19. 17:39 Tyler doesn't like Augie
20. 18:16 Angie - Mixed Doubles
21. 19:56 Atlanta Open Women's Doubles
22. 21:12 Favorite Draw
23. 21:44 Singles
24. 26:14 MLP DC
25. 27:21 Stack
26. 28:30 Best AZ Player
27. 29:51 MLP Record
28. 31:41 Mary and Tyson Have Blocked Jimmy
29. 32:26 AZ Pickleball League/Drama
30. 34:22 Stack Athletics
31. 38:20 KOTC Fan
32. 39:34 Angie - Mixed Doubles
33. 40:03 Women's Doubles
34. 41:00 Goals
35. 41:19 A Day In The Life
36. 42:42 Rankings
37. 43:18 Are Paddles To Hot
38. 52:10 Instagram
39. 53:59 Outro