These are the best-paid women in the world of sport

The latest Forbes ranking highlights a significant breakthrough in women's sport: the 20 highest-paid female athletes generated over $258 million in 2024, 15% more than in 2023. This growth reflects increased visibility and better opportunities for women athletes. Curious to know who leads this elite group? Here are the 20 highest-earning female athletes.

The rise in TV rights, record-breaking prize money in golf and progress toward pay equality in tennis are clear signs of advancement. The diversity in the rankings and the youth of the athletes, with an average age of 26, point to a promising future of greater economic growth, global recognition and expansion for elite female athletes.

While tennis still dominates, sports like golf, basketball, football, gymnastics, freestyle skiing and badminton are gaining ground. Five years ago, tennis completely dominated the top 10; today, the variety is far greater. Pictured: Alex Morgan.

Want to see more like this? Follow us here for daily sports news, profiles and analysis!

For the first time, 11 athletes surpassed $10 million in earnings, and 17 of the top 20 are under 30, with an average age of just 26. This suggests a bright future, with many of these stars yet to reach their full potential. Coco Gauff, pictured, is just 20 years old.

Lydia Ko, born in South Korea and raised in New Zealand, turned professional in golf at just 16. At 18, she made history by becoming the world number one and winning an LPGA Tour event. With 28 titles, including two Majors, and a full Olympic medal set of bronze, silver and gold, she has firmly established herself at 27 as one of golf’s greats. Her 2024 earnings total $3.3 million on the course and $3 million off it.

Sabrina Ionescu, point guard for the New York Liberty and the first pick in the 2020 WNBA Draft, shines as one of the league's brightest stars. With two All-Star selections and a spot on the All-WNBA Second Team, she earned $6.3 million in 2024, $6 million of which came from endorsement deals with brands like Nike, according to Forbes.

Leylah Fernandez, a 22-year-old Canadian tennis player, has emerged as a key figure in the sport. A US Open finalist in 2021 and Monterrey champion, she earned $6.5 million in 2024, with $5 million from sponsorships with brands such as Lululemon and Google Pixel. She also led Canada to victory in the 2023 Billie Jean King Cup, cementing her impact on tennis.

P.V. Sindhu, born in 1995 in Hyderabad, India, is one of the world’s top badminton players. The first Indian woman to win an Olympic silver (Rio 2016) and a bronze in Tokyo 2020, she has also claimed five World Championship medals, including gold in 2019. With $0.1 million in prize money and $7 million in endorsements, she inspires new generations both on and off the court.

Alex Morgan, a two-time World Cup winner and Olympic medalist, remains a key figure in women’s football. With over 200 international caps, she played a pivotal role in titles such as the 2019 World Cup and the 2022 Concacaf W Championship. At club level, she won the 2017 Champions League with Lyon and was the top scorer in 2022 with the San Diego Wave, according to US Soccer Forward. In 2024, she earned $7.6 million, including $7 million from sponsorships, solidifying her influence on and off the pitch.

Elena Rybakina, a Kazakh tennis player born in 1999, rose to prominence by winning Wimbledon in 2022, becoming the first Kazakh to claim a Grand Slam title, according to The Sporting News. In 2023, she reached the Australian Open final and won the Indian Wells and Rome Masters. With $4 million in prize money and $7.9 million in total earnings in 2024, Rybakina stands out for her aggressive playing style and social impact.

Jasmine Paolini, born in 1996, has established herself as the new star of Italian tennis. With $1.5 million in prize money and total earnings of $8 million in 2024, she reached world number 4 in the rankings and led the national team in the Billie Jean King Cup finals. That same year, she shone with a gold medal in doubles alongside Sara Errani at the Paris Olympics and reached Grand Slam finals, according to the Olympics website.

Caitlin Clark, born in 2002 in Iowa, has emerged as a transformative figure in women’s basketball. Selected as the first overall pick in the 2024 WNBA draft by the Indiana Fever, her starting salary is around $100,000 per year. However, her total earnings, boosted by sponsorships with brands like Nike and Gatorade, could reach $8.1 million annually.

Jeeno Thitikul, a Thai golfer born in 2003, stands out as one of the leading stars in women’s golf. In 2024, she made history by winning the CME Group Tour Championship, earning a record-breaking $4 million prize. At just 21 years old, she has multiple victories on the LPGA Tour and achieved total earnings of $9.3 million.

Jessica Pegula, an American tennis player born in 1994, has cemented her place among the sport’s elite, reaching world number 3 in the WTA rankings in 2022. With six titles to her name, her standout wins include the WTA 1000 events in Montreal (2023) and Toronto (2024). That same year, she reached the US Open final, with total earnings of $10.2 million, including $6 million off the court.

Want to see more like this? Follow us here for daily sports news, profiles and analysis!

Simone Biles, aged 27 and widely regarded as the greatest gymnast of all time, has won 34 international medals, including 23 World Championship golds and 11 Olympic golds. Her greatest achievement came at Rio 2016, where she won four golds and a bronze. After a temporary retirement, she returned in 2024, adding more gold medals to her collection. With estimated earnings of $11.2 million, she is also a strong advocate for athlete wellbeing.

Venus Williams, born in 1980, is a tennis legend with seven Grand Slam singles titles, 14 doubles titles alongside Serena, and four Olympic golds. She has earned $42.3 million in prize money, and her total earnings, including sponsorships and business ventures, have reached $100 million, with an annual income of $12.1 million in 2024, according to Forbes.

Nelly Korda, a 26-year-old American golfer, shone in 2024 with seven titles including a Grand Slam, earning her the title of Player of the Year. With 12 LPGA Tour wins, an Olympic gold medal from Tokyo 2020 and several stints as world number one, she matched Annika Sörenstam's record by winning six of the first eight tournaments of the season. She has earned $12.5 million in total, with $8 million coming from prize money in 2024.

Emma Raducanu, a 22-year-old Briton and winner of the 2021 US Open, reached 10th in the WTA rankings in 2022. However, injuries and pressure dropped her to 57th in 2023, a year when she played just 10 matches. Despite her challenges, she earned $0.9 million on the court and $12 million in sponsorships.

Naomi Osaka, a four-time Grand Slam champion, returned in 2024 after a year away following the birth of her first child. She climbed from 833rd to 58th in the world rankings after competing in 19 tournaments. Off the court, she remains a prominent figure, earning $12.9 million in total. She is also the co-founder of Hana Kuma, a production company that collaborates with the LPGA and is developing an anime series featuring Osaka as a voice actor.

Aryna Sabalenka, the world number one in tennis in 2024, has won three Grand Slam titles (the Australian Open in 2023 and 2024 and the US Open in 2024) and holds 17 singles titles according to Sporting News. In 2024, she earned $9 million from prize money and sponsorships with brands such as Nike and Visa, bringing her total income to approximately $10.6 million.

Qinwen Zheng, a 22-year-old tennis player, won four WTA titles and the gold medal at the Paris Olympics, becoming the first Asian player to achieve this feat. A finalist at the Australian Open in the same year, she has total earnings of $20.6 million. Her success has attracted major sponsorships, including her recent role as a Dior ambassador.

Eileen Gu, a freestyle skier born in 2003, has made a name for herself in both sport and fashion. She won two golds and a silver at the 2022 Beijing Olympics. In 2024, she earned a total of $22 million from endorsements with luxury brands such as Louis Vuitton and Tiffany & Co. She also signed with IMG Models and has appeared on the cover of magazines like Vogue.

Iga Świątek, a Polish tennis player born in 2001, is one of the leading figures in women’s tennis, with five Grand Slam titles, including four at Roland Garros and one at the US Open. Undefeated in Grand Slam finals, she ranks second on Forbes’ list with total earnings of $23.8 million, including $15 million from endorsements with brands such as Visa, Rolex and Lancôme, which enhance her influence beyond the court.

Coco Gauff, a 20-year-old American tennis player, has won nine WTA titles, including the 2023 US Open and the 2024 WTA Finals. With total earnings of up to $34 million, largely from endorsements with brands such as New Balance and Head, she stands out for her success on the court as well as her commercial and media influence.

Female athletes have historically faced fewer sponsorship opportunities and lower pay compared to their male counterparts. In 2024, the 20 highest-paid women earned approximately $191 million off the field, while men reached $624 million, according to Forbes.

Want to see more like this? Follow us here for daily sports news, profiles and analysis!

Only 26% of these athletes’ earnings come from on-field performance, amounting to $68 million in salaries, prizes and bonuses, with tennis leading as the main driver. In contrast, the 20 highest-paid male athletes generated 72% of their earnings from their performance, highlighting the stark economic inequalities that persist between genders in professional sport.