In this Lea Jansen biography and profile, you’ll find her background, career highlights, rankings, personal life, sponsors, and the key facts that matter most.
Basics
Full Name: Lea Jansen
Nationality: American
Born: July 4, 1992 (Age 33)
Birthplace: Valleyford, Washington, USA
Height: 5’10” (178 cm)
Current Residence: Austin, Texas
Playing Style: Right-handed with aggressive baseline game
Year Turned Pro: 2020
Education: Degree in Accounting; MBA in Healthcare Management
Astrological Sign: Cancer
Record
Current PPA Tour Rankings: #5 in Women’s Singles, #21 in Women’s Doubles, #18 in Mixed Doubles
DUPR Rating: 5.832
Career Win Rate: 62.4% (809 career matches across 114 professional tournaments as of April 2026)
Major Achievements:
- 2021 APP Triple Crown winner
- 2021 US Open women’s singles silver medalist
- Two PPA Tour gold medals
- Reached as high as No. 2 in the world in women’s singles
- 2025 MLP Premier champion with the Columbus Sliders
- Drafted No. 4 overall by the Texas Ranchers in the 2026 MLP Draft
- WHAC Player of the Year and first-team NAIA All-American in college tennis
- Top-ranked Pacific Northwest junior player in every age group
Instagram: @leajansen_pb – 21K+ followers
PPA Tour Profile: Lea Jansen
DUPR Profile: Lea Jansen DUPR
Bio
Lea Jansen went from Washington tennis standout and former accountant to one of the fiercest competitors in professional pickleball. Born in Valleyford and raised in the Spokane area, she built her athletic foundation in tennis and became the top-ranked player out of the Pacific Northwest in every junior age group. She started her college career at Washington State before finishing as a standout at Aquinas College, where she earned first-team NAIA All-American honors and conference player of the year recognition.
After college, Jansen worked as an accountant and later completed an MBA in healthcare management while living in Grand Rapids. That’s also where pickleball entered the picture. Tyson McGuffin, a longtime family friend, helped point her toward the sport, and after playing the 2019 Beer City Open, she was hooked almost immediately.
Career Timeline:
- 2010: Began her college tennis career at Washington State University
- 2014–2016: Finished at Aquinas College, earning first-team NAIA All-American honors and WHAC Player of the Year recognition
- 2017–2019: Worked as an accountant in Grand Rapids and completed an MBA in Healthcare Management
- 2019: Played the Beer City Open and began taking pickleball seriously
- 2021: Broke through with US Open singles silver, an APP Triple Crown, and a rise to No. 2 in the world in women’s singles
- 2025: Helped the Columbus Sliders win the MLP Premier title
- 2026: Entered the season ranked inside the PPA top five in women’s singles and joined the Texas Ranchers as the No. 4 pick in the MLP Draft
Known for her fiery edge, heavy groundstrokes, and all-in competitive style, Jansen brings a tennis-based baseline game that still feels different from most of the women’s field. She has also been open about competing with Type 1 diabetes, which adds another layer to the discipline behind her training and tournament routine. When she’s locked in, her game is fast, physical, and unapologetically direct.
Personal
Family: Grew up in the Spokane-area tennis world; Tyson McGuffin has been a longtime family friend and part of her early pickleball journey
Relationship: Keeps her dating life private
Education: Degree in Accounting; MBA in Healthcare Management
Residence: Austin, Texas
Hobbies: Hiking, cooking, sugar-free baking, lake days, and spending time with her dogs Cookie and Bentley
Health: Type 1 diabetic, diagnosed at age 23; closely manages blood sugar around training and match days
Partners
Current Paddle:
JOOLA paddle (Team JOOLA)
Current PPA Partners:
- Callie Smith (Women’s Doubles, 2026 events)
- Jack Sock (Mixed Doubles, 2026 events)
Former PPA Partners:
- Tina Pisnik (Women’s Doubles)
- Lucy Kovalova (Women’s Doubles)
- Tyson McGuffin (Mixed Doubles)
MLP Team:
Texas Ranchers (2026); previously won the 2025 Premier title with the Columbus Sliders
Major Sponsors:
- JOOLA
FAQs
How did Lea Jansen get into pickleball?
After college and while living in Grand Rapids, Jansen was nudged toward pickleball by Tyson McGuffin, a longtime family friend. She tried it, entered the 2019 Beer City Open, and got hooked almost immediately. By 2021, she was touring full-time.
Why is Lea Jansen so well known in singles?
Her tennis background gave her elite movement, heavy drives, and real comfort from the baseline. She built her reputation in women’s singles first, rose as high as No. 2 in the world, and she still enters 2026 as a top-five PPA singles player.
What makes Lea Jansen’s path different from a lot of pros?
She didn’t come straight from junior pickleball. She played college tennis, worked as an accountant, earned an MBA, and then built a pro pickleball career from the ground up. That gives her story a more late-blooming, earned-it-the-hard-way feel.
Has Lea Jansen spoken publicly about her health?
Yes. Jansen has been open about living with Type 1 diabetes, which she was diagnosed with at 23. She monitors her blood sugar constantly around practice and match days, and it has become a big part of how she prepares and competes.
