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Countless athletes that have captured the imagination of the world over the years. From Olympic stars to Wimbledon champions to WNBA icons, women have made a huge impact on the sports world. Here are 25 of the greatest female athletes of all-time.
Annika Sörenstam
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During the late 1990s and early 2000s, Annika Sörenstam dominated the world of golf. Before stepping away from the sport in 2008, Sörenstam had won 90 international tournaments — including 72 LPGA events — and 10 major championships. Sörenstam’s major victories included three Chevron Championships, three Women’s PGA Championships, three U.S. Women’s Opens and one Women’s British Open. The all-time great was named Player of the Year eight times and is the only woman to shoot a 59 in a professional tournament.
Nastia Liukin
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Despite being born in Russia, Liukin became a household name while competing for the United States at the 2008 Olympics in Beijing. The daughter of two former Soviet champion gymnasts, Liukin and her family immigrated to the United States when she was two years old. Liukin won one gold medal (five total) in Beijing, besting her competitors in the all-around competition. In addition to her Olympic success, Liukin finished her career with four gold medals at the World Championships — taking home two in both 2005 and 2007.
Katie Ledecky
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Ledecky, 27 years old, is on track to become the greatest female swimmer of all-time. As a 15-year-old at the 2012 Olympics in London, Ledecky shocked the world by winning the gold medal in the 800 m freestyle. Over the next four years leading up to the 2016 Games, Ledecky captured nine gold medals at the World Championships and another five at the Pan Pacific Championships. In Rio at the ’16 Olympics, Ledecky won four golds — 200, 400 and 800 freestyle, 4×200 free — and a silver. At the 2017 World Championships? Five more golds. At the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo, Ledecky upped her gold medal count to seven. Ledecky is currently preparing to steal the spotlight at Paris 2024.
Larisa Latynina
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The all-time leader in gymnastics with nine gold medals, Latynina is one of the greatest athletes to ever compete. Her 14 individual medals were the most in Olympic history for an astonishing 52 years. After stepping away from competing herself, Latynina coached the Soviet women’s gymnastics team to gold in the 1968, ’72 and ’76 Olympic Games. The 89-year-old is a pioneer in the sport and will forever be credited with spearheading the Soviet Union’s gymnastic prominence.
Marta
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Mia Hamm may be the most well-known women’s soccer player of all-time, but Marta is the G.O.A.T. Brazil’s all-time leading scorer with 116 goals, Marta also holds the record for most goals scored at the World Cup — women’s or men’s — with 17. The icon has been named FIFA World Player of the Year six times and has appeared in five World Cups and five Olympics. Currently 38 years old, Marta plays for the Orlando Pride in the NWSL.
Lindsey Vonn
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Lindsey Vonn, a four-time World Cup champion, tasted Olympic gold just once — winning downhill at Vancouver 2010. Vonn’s 82 World Cup race victories are the most all-time by a woman, and second only to Ingemar Stenmark’s 86. After battling injuries for many years, Vonn announced her retirement in 2019. In January 2023, Vonn became the first woman to ski the Streif — a downhill ski course in Austria.
Allyson Felix
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Felix, who turns 39 in November, is still a competitive sprinter. The Los Angeles product won her first gold medal in the 4×400 m relay at the 2008 Olympics. In 2012, in addition to Felix and her teammates defending their 4×400 crown, Felix claimed the gold in the 200 m and the 4×100 m relay. At Rio 2016, Felix won two more gold medals in the relay races. Felix gave birth to her first child in November 2018, and a mere eight months later was back to competitive racing. At the same time, Felix became Athleta’s first sponsored athlete — leaving Nike behind. Felix won a gold medal at the Tokyo Olympics in 2021. Recently, Felix announced she plans to retire before the 2024 Paris Olympics.
Nadia Comaneci
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Arguably the first name to come up in discussion when the word gymnastics is said aloud is Comaneci. The insanely popular Romanian solidified herself as an all-time legend at the 1976 Games in Montreal. Comaneci became the first gymnast to receive a perfect 10.0 at the Olympics — en route to seven total perfect 10.0’s and three gold medals. Four years later, in Moscow, Comaneci won two more gold medals. Comaneci defected from Romania in 1989 and became an American citizen. The gym icon married Bart Conner, an American Olympic gold medal gymnast. Comaneci works with numerous charities and is heavily involved with the Special Olympics.
Wilma Rudolph
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Wilma Rudolph may not be a household name at this point, but her achievements should be remembered forever. At five years old, Rudolph had polio that left her with strength loss in her left leg and foot. Overcoming the odds, Rudolph became the fastest woman in the world at the 1960 Olympics. The sprinter set the record for the 100 meters (11.2) and 200 meters (22.9) en route to winning three gold medals. Rudolph became an iconic figure for black and female athletes and later broke the gender barrier for all-male events in track and field. Rudolph left a lasting impact on the world and is easily one of the most important athletes of all-time.
Serena Williams
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Let’s look at Serena’s achievements, shall we? 2000 Sydney — doubles gold. 2008 Beijing — doubles gold. 2012 London — singles and doubles gold. All Serena has done since her last Olympic triumph is win 10 Grand Slam titles, marry Reddit co-founder Alexis Ohanian, give birth to two daughters, and remained one of the best female tennis players in the world into her 30s. Williams is undoubtedly one of the greatest athletes of all-time. She was ranked No. 1 in the world by the WTA for 319 weeks — including 186 consecutive weeks at one point — and won 23 Grand Slams during her career. Additionally, Serena won 14 doubles Grand Slams with her sister, Venus.
Misty May-Treanor & Kerri Walsh Jennings
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For three consecutive Olympics, Misty May-Treanor and Kerri Walsh Jennings were on the top of the world. The pair took home three consecutive gold medals (2004, 2008, 2012) and their dominance extended for more than a decade. As a team, May-Treanor and Walsh Jennings won the FIVB Beach Volleyball World Championships three times and went on a 112-match winning streak — in which they won 19 tournaments in a row. Before winning 112 matches in a row, the duo had previously set the record with 89-straight victories. May-Treanor retired in 2012, but Walsh Jennings went on to win a bronze medal at the 2016 Olympics in Rio.
Diana Taurasi
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The greatest women’s basketball player of all-time, Diana Taurasi’s accolades are unmatched in her sport. Approaching her 42nd birthday, Taurasi is a three-time WNBA champion, two-time Finals MVP, the 2009 WNBA MVP, a 10-time All-Star, 14-time All-WNBA selection and a six-time EuroLeague champion. While at UConn, Taurasi won three-straight National Championships. With Team USA, the icon has won five Olympic gold medals. In 2023, Taurasi became the first player in WNBA history to score 10,000 points.
Mia Hamm
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Unquestionably the face of women’s soccer in America and arguably globally, Hamm made a lasting impact on women’s sports. Before turning pro, Hamm scored 103 goals at North Carolina and led the Tar Heels to four National Championships. The star proceeded to lead the USWNT to gold in Atlanta at the 1996 Olympics and a second gold in Athens at the 2004 Olympic Games. Throughout her lengthy career, Hamm scored 158 goals with the national team. Since retiring, Hamm has been inducted into the Alabama and Texas Sports Hall of Fame, the National Soccer Hall of Fame and the World Football Hall of Fame — becoming the first female inductee. Further, Hamm married former Red Sox shortstop Nomar Garciaparra in 2003. Currently, the American icon is a co-owner of the MLS club LAFC and Angel City FC of the NWSL.
Babe Didrikson Zaharias
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Babe Didrikson Zaharias may be one of the greatest athletes you’ve never heard of. Born in 1911, Babe excelled at several sports. After growing up playing basketball, baseball, softball, diving, and bowling, Babe focused on track and field and golf. In track and field, Babe won two gold medals and set four world records at the 1932 Los Angeles Olympics. To this day, Babe remains the only athlete (male or female) to win an individual Olympic medal in separate running, throwing and jumping events. Following her Olympic success, Babe learned how to play golf. Within five years of learning the game, Babe won her first major championship. By the time her career came to an end, Babe had 10 major championships.
Martina Navratilova & Chris Evert
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Navratilova and Chris Evert dominated tennis in the 1970s and 1980s. The two great rivals each won 18 Grand Slams. Navratilova was the world’s No. 1 player for 332 weeks and was the No. 1 doubles player for 237 weeks — she won 31 Grand Slams in doubles. Additionally, she won Wimbledon a record nine times including six years in a row. Evert was ranked No. 1 for 260 weeks and reached at least the semifinal in 52-of-56 Grand Slams in which she participated. Evert won six US Opens and seven French Opens.
Cheryl Miller
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If Cheryl Miller grew up in the current era of women’s basketball, there is a good chance she would dominate. The California native entered the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1995. While in high school, Miller scored 105 points in a game during her senior season. Miller then attended USC — the main rival of UCLA where her brother, Reggie, played — and dominated the nation. A four-time All-American, Miller was the College Player of the Year three times and led the Trojans to two National Championships. The icon won a gold medal with Team USA in 1984, as well.
Simone Biles
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Simone Biles is the greatest gymnast of all-time, period. Biles’ list of accomplishments is unmatched. Before making her Olympic debut in 2016, Biles had won an impressive 10 gold medals at the World Championships. At the ’16 Games, Biles won gold in the team event, as well as in the all-around, vault and floor exercise — which are all individual events. After a year-long hiatus, Biles returned for the 2018 World Championships and promptly claimed victory in every category. At the 2019 U.S. National Gymnastics Championships, the superstar won the all-around, vault, balance beam and floor exercise. Biles will look to further cement her status as the G.O.A.T in the 2024 Paris Olympics.
Billie Jean King
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One of the most recognizable faces in tennis, Billie Jean King was a star on the court. King won a total of 39 Grand Slams during her career, including 12 singles titles and 16 doubles titles. Famously, King won six Wimbledon titles — 1966, 1967, 1968, 1972, 1973, 1975 — and four US Open titles (’67, ’71, ’72, ’74). 10 of King’s 16 doubles titles were also on Wimbledon’s famed grass courts. Overall, King finished her career with an 81.76 win percentage. Of course, King also made history by winning the “Battle of the Sexes” match against Bobby Riggs in 1973.
Jackie Joyner-Kersee
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Arguably the greatest female athlete of all-time, Joyner-Kersee overcame severe asthma to excel in track and field. Joyner-Kersee won back-to-back gold medals in the heptathlon (’88, ’92) and claimed the long jump gold in ’88, as well. While training for the ’84 Games, the talented athlete was simultaneously playing basketball at UCLA. To this day, Joyner-Kersee holds the world record in the heptathlon.
Steffi Graf
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The woman with the third-most Grand Slams in tennis, Steffi Graf was dominant during her prime. The German sensation won 22 major titles and became the first player to complete the Golden Slam — winning all four majors and an Olympic gold medal in the same calendar year. Graf’s 377 weeks as the No. 1 player in the world is a record. Amazingly, Graf won each Grand Slam at least four times. The legend was victorious at the Australian Open four times, the US Open on five occasions, won six French Opens and claimed seven Wimbledon titles.
Bonnie Blair
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One of the most decorated Olympians of all-time, Bonnie Blair competed in four Olympics and took home five gold medals and one bronze medal. Blair’s speed and precision on the ice resulted in her dominance in speed skating. Not only did the New York native succeed at the Olympics, but she also won three gold medals at the World Championships. Blair’s accomplishments landed her a spot in the United States Olympic Hall of Fame.
Michelle Kwan
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Michelle Kwan is one of the most well-known Olympians of the past 30 years. Although Kwan didn’t take home gold at either the 1998 or 2002 Olympics, Kwan earned both a silver and bronze medal. However, Kwan cemented her status as one of the greatest figure skaters of all-time with her performances at the World Championships. Kwan was a five-time World champion and nine-time United States champion. Her five World championships are tied with Maribel Vinson for the most all-time.
Althea Gibson
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Althea Gibson is a historic figure. A two-sport athlete, Gibson famously broke the color barrier in both women’s tennis and golf. Gibson became the first African American to compete at the US National Championships in 1950. Six years later, she became the first African American to win a Grand Slam — claiming the French Open title. Overall, Gibson won five Grand Slams in singles and five doubles titles. According to ESPN, Gibson also played in nearly 200 golf tournaments throughout the ’60s and ’70s. Just like she was in tennis, Gibson was a pioneer in golf — she became the first Black woman to compete professionally in 1963.
Lisa Leslie
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Arguably the most popular women’s basketball player of all-time, Lisa Leslie was a sensation on the court. At 6-foot-5, Leslie became the first player to dunk during a WNBA game in 2002. During her historic career with the Los Angeles Sparks, Leslie won three MVPs, two WNBA titles and two Finals MVPs. Leslie dominated both sides of the ball — earning two Defensive Player of the Year Awards — and is on the Mt. Rushmore of women’s basketball.
Abby Wambach
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Mia Hamm is the most iconic player in USWNT history, but Abby Wambach made a push for the title of G.O.A.T. during her career. A six-time U.S. Soccer Athlete of the Year winner, Wambach finished her career as the all-time leading scorer at the international level — her 184 goals have since been topped by Canada’s Christine Sinclair. The electric forward was a member of four World Cup teams, including the team that won it all in 2015. Additionally, Wambach won two gold medals (2004, 2012). In ’12, Wambach was honored as the FIFA World Player of the Year.
