Greatest Women Athletes of All Time
a Yourlist ranking · the crowd decides the order
From tennis courts to Olympic tracks and gymnastics mats, these women redefined what's possible in sport. Vote and rank them to crown the ultimate GOAT.
What counts: Ranking reflects a blend of dominance in their sport, records set, longevity, and cultural impact. All figures (medal/title counts, dates) are approximate and sourced from public records; ties and edge cases in cross-era comparisons are inherently subjective.
Serena Williams▲ Rising
23 Grand Slam singles titles and two decades of dominance make her the modern face of tennis greatness.
Sport: TennisActive Years: 1995–2022Signature Achievement: 23 Grand Slam singles titles, 4 Olympic golds
added by IJRin 3 rankings
41
Jackie Joyner-Kersee▲ Rising
Her heptathlon world record has stood for decades, a testament to all-around athletic dominance.
Sport: Track & FieldActive Years: 1984–1998Signature Achievement: Heptathlon world record, 3 Olympic golds
added by IJRin 2 rankings
31
Katie Ledecky▲ Rising
Obliterated distance freestyle world records and remains untouchable in the pool.
Sport: SwimmingActive Years: 2012–presentSignature Achievement: 10 Olympic medals (7 gold), multiple standing world records
added by IJRin 4 rankings
24
Simone Biles▲ Rising
The most decorated gymnast in world championship history, redefining difficulty and artistry.
Sport: GymnasticsActive Years: 2013–presentSignature Achievement: 7 Olympic medals (4 gold), most World Championship medals ever
added by IJRin 4 rankings
13
Mia Hamm▲ Rising
The face of American women's soccer who helped launch the sport into the mainstream.
Sport: SoccerActive Years: 1987–2004Signature Achievement: 2 World Cup titles, 2 Olympic golds, former career-goals record
added by IJR
8
Billie Jean King▲ Rising
Won the 'Battle of the Sexes' and fought relentlessly for equal pay and opportunity in sport.
Sport: TennisActive Years: 1959–1983Signature Achievement: 39 Grand Slam titles (singles & doubles combined)
added by IJRin 3 rankings
2Martina Navratilova
Revolutionized tennis fitness and won a record-setting haul of doubles and singles titles.
Sport: TennisActive Years: 1975–2006Signature Achievement: 18 Grand Slam singles, 31 Grand Slam doubles titles
added by IJRin 3 rankings
0Babe Didrikson Zaharias
A true multi-sport phenom who dominated track, basketball, and golf in an era of few opportunities for women.
Sport: Multi-sport (Track, Golf)Active Years: 1930s–1950sSignature Achievement: 2 Olympic golds, 10 LPGA majors
added by IJR
0Florence Griffith-Joyner
"Flo-Jo's" 100m and 200m world records from 1988 remain unbroken over three decades later.
Sport: Track & FieldActive Years: 1980–1989Signature Achievement: World records in 100m and 200m, still standing
added by IJRin 2 rankings
0Nadia Comăneci
Scored gymnastics' first-ever perfect 10 at the 1976 Olympics, changing the sport forever.
Sport: GymnasticsActive Years: 1970–1984Signature Achievement: First perfect 10 in Olympic history, 5 Olympic golds
added by IJRin 3 rankingsNadia Comăneci
0Marta
Six-time FIFA World Player of the Year and the all-time leading scorer in World Cup history, men's or women's.
Sport: SoccerActive Years: 2002–presentSignature Achievement: 6x FIFA World Player of the Year, all-time World Cup top scorer
added by IJR
0Chris Evert
A baseline pioneer whose consistency and rivalry with Navratilova defined an era of tennis.
Sport: TennisActive Years: 1972–1989Signature Achievement: 18 Grand Slam singles titles
added by IJRin 3 rankingsChris Evert
0Wilma Rudolph
Overcame childhood polio to become the first American woman to win three golds in one Olympics.
Sport: Track & FieldActive Years: 1956–1962Signature Achievement: 3 Olympic golds in 1960 Rome Games
added by IJRin 2 rankingsWilma Rudolph
0
Venus Williams
A trailblazer whose power game and equal-pay activism paved the way for a new generation.
Sport: TennisActive Years: 1994–presentSignature Achievement: 7 Grand Slam singles titles, led equal prize money push
added by IJRin 4 rankingsVenus Williams
0Michelle Kwan
America's most decorated figure skater, beloved for her artistry and consistency across a decade.
Sport: Figure SkatingActive Years: 1993–2005Signature Achievement: 9 U.S. titles, 5 World titles, 2 Olympic medals
added by IJRMichelle Kwan
0
Steffi Graf▼ Falling
The only player—male or female—to complete a Golden Slam in a single calendar year.
Sport: TennisActive Years: 1982–1999Signature Achievement: 22 Grand Slam singles titles, 1988 Golden Slam
added by IJRin 3 rankings
-4
Allyson Felix
The most decorated woman in Olympic track and field history, spanning five Olympic Games.
Sport: Track & FieldActive Years: 2003–2022Signature Achievement: 11 Olympic medals, most for any female track athlete
added by IJRin 3 rankings
-5
Ronda Rousey
Brought women's MMA into the mainstream as the UFC's first female champion after Olympic judo glory.
Sport: MMA / JudoActive Years: 2004–2016Signature Achievement: First UFC Women's Bantamweight Champion, Olympic bronze in judo
added by IJR
-6
Lindsey Vonn▼ Falling
America's most successful female ski racer, dominating downhill and super-G for over a decade.
Sport: Alpine SkiingActive Years: 2000–2019Signature Achievement: 82 World Cup wins, most by any woman
added by IJR
-7
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Comments (9)
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No debate for me — Serena Williams at the top is exactly right.
Longevity has to count for more than peak. This order underrates it.
- RRosa NovakJul 28, 2026
You can't compare eras like this, but here we are, and I love it.
Rings aren't everything, look at the supporting casts.
The eye test and the stats finally agree on this one.
Put some respect on the defensive end of this argument.