GOAT (sports culture) / Wikipedia

Athlete

Top 10 Greatest Women Athletes of All Time

From Nadia Comaneci's groundbreaking perfect 10 at the 1976 Olympics to Serena Williams' record 23 Grand Slam singles titles and Simone Biles' unprecedented seven Olympic gold medals, these ten greatest women athletes have redefined excellence and inspired billions worldwide. These Olympic champions and world record holders—spanning nine sports from tennis and gymnastics to track and field—didn't just win; they shattered gender barriers, dominated their disciplines for decades, and transformed women's sport from the margins to mainstream culture. Explore the remarkable legacies, championship moments, and enduring impact of the athletes who forever changed how the world views female excellence in sport.

2026129 viewsJul 16, 2026 Updated Oct 3, 2026

Top10Grid rankings are decided by votes, not algorithms — use the buttons below to move this list.

Person

Rankings featuring Top 10 Greatest Women Athletes of All Time across Top10Grid

Be the first

Top10Grid Editorial

Editorial team

Current Rankings

0
#1
Serena Williams
Serena Williams holds 23 Grand Slam singles titles, the most in the Open Era, and spent 319 weeks as world #1—a dominance unmatched by any active player. She won the 2017 Australian Open while eight weeks pregnant, underscoring her physical prowess across genders.
Details →
0
#2
Simone Biles
Simone Biles owns 37 Olympic and World Championship medals, the most of any gymnast in history, with seven skills named after her by the FIG—a record no other gymnast approaches. She debuted the Yurchenko double pike, a vault once deemed too dangerous, scoring a perfect 10 in execution.
Details →
0
#3
Steffi Graf
Steffi Graf is the only tennis player ever to achieve the Golden Slam—four Grand Slam titles plus Olympic gold in 1988—and spent 377 weeks at world #1, more than any other player except Novak Djokovic. She won 22 Grand Slam singles titles, with a 92% win rate in Grand Slam finals.
Details →
0
#4
Martina Navratilova
Martina Navratilova’s 167 career singles titles are the most of any professional tennis player, male or female, and she claimed 18 Grand Slam singles titles, including a record 9 Wimbledon championships. Her seven consecutive Wimbledon titles (1982-1987) and 74-match winning streak at Wimbledon set benchmarks that stand today.
Details →
0
#5
Mia Hamm
Mia Hamm's 158 international goals remain the most iconic scoring mark in women's soccer history, a record she held for a decade before it was broken. In 1999, she led the United States to their second World Cup victory, scoring twice in the tournament and assisting the winning kick in the final against China, a match watched by 90,000 fans. Her two Olympic gold medals (1996, 2004) and consistent dominance over rivals like Nadia Comaneci's individual achievements in a team sport context underscore her impact. ESPN named her the greatest female athlete of the 20th century, a title no other soccer player has claimed. She was also the first woman to appear on an EA Sports FIFA video game cover, a milestone reached in 2000 that predates similar cover spots for players like Billie Jean King in tennis video games.
Details →
0
#6
Florence Griffith-Joyner
Florence Griffith-Joyner holds the fastest women's 100m time in history at 10.49 seconds and the 200m record of 21.34 seconds, both set in 1988 and still unbroken 37 years later—the longest-standing sprint records in track and field. Her distinctive one-legged running suits and painted fingernails made her the most visually memorable sprinter of the 20th century, a style that influenced athletes beyond her sport.
Details →
0
#7
Nadia Comaneci
Nadia Comaneci became the first gymnast to score a perfect 10.0 at the 1976 Montreal Olympics, and she achieved nine such perfect scores in that single event, winning three gold medals. Her iconic routine on the uneven bars, where the scoreboard displayed 1.00 due to its inability to show 10.0, remains the defining image of Olympic gymnastics. Comaneci's 14-year-old performance set a benchmark for technical perfection that inspired generations.
Details →
0
#8
Billie Jean King
Billie Jean King's 1973 victory over Bobby Riggs in the Battle of the Sexes was watched by 90 million people worldwide, making it the most-watched tennis match in history and a pivotal moment for women's rights. King founded the Women's Tennis Association in 1973, securing equal prize money for female players, a move that increased prize purses by 50% within three years.
Details →
0
#9
Babe Didrikson Zaharias
Babe Didrikson Zaharias remains the only athlete—male or female—to win Olympic gold medals and major golf championships. She earned two golds at the 1932 Los Angeles Olympics (80m hurdles and javelin) with a world-record 11.7 seconds in the hurdles, then won 10 LPGA major titles, including three U.S. Women's Opens. Also a professional basketball player, Zaharias captured 33 total LPGA wins—more than three times the majors of most modern rivals. Her athletic range remains unmatched in the 21st century.
Details →
0
#10
Cathy Freeman
Cathy Freeman became the first Aboriginal Australian to win an individual Olympic gold medal, blazing the 400m at the 2000 Sydney Games in 49.11 seconds. She also lit the Olympic flame in that same emotional ceremony, making her one of two athletes in history to both light the cauldron and win gold at the same Games. Her victory lap carrying both the Aboriginal and Australian flags symbolized Australia's reconciliation movement, a cultural impact unmatched by Babe Didrikson Zaharias. Freeman's legacy endures as a trailblazer for Indigenous representation in global athletics.
Details →

Current Rankings

Share this list

129 views

Get ranking updates

Get the weekly sports rundown

Only lists published since the last email. Join the early readers.

Only Top 10s published in the last 7 days
One email a week — and none at all in a week with nothing new
Unsubscribe in one click

No spam. One email per week. Unsubscribe anytime.

Readers Also Ranked

More Lists Like This

Top 10 Greatest Free Kick Takers in Football

#1Ronaldinho
#2Juninho Pernambucano
#3Roberto Carlos

Top 10 NBA Rookies to Watch in 2026

#1Cooper Flagg
#2Dylan Harper
#3Ace Bailey

Top 10 Spanish Sports Heroes of All Time

#1Rafael Nadal
#2Andrés Iniesta
#3Pau Gasol

Top 10 NFL Quarterbacks of All Time — Vote for the GOAT

#1Tom Brady
#2Joe Montana
#3Peyton Manning

Frequently asked questions

What criteria are typically used to rank the greatest women athletes of all time?

Rankings often consider career achievements, dominance in their sport, longevity, impact on their sport and society, and Olympic or championship titles.

Which sports are usually represented in the top 10 greatest women athletes list?

Common sports include tennis, soccer, gymnastics, track and field, swimming, basketball, and golf.

Is Serena Williams typically ranked number one on this list?

Yes, Serena Williams is widely recognized as the greatest women athlete of all time due to her 23 Grand Slam singles titles and sustained dominance.

Are there any athletes from team sports on the list?

Yes, team sport athletes like Mia Hamm (soccer) and Lisa Leslie (basketball) are frequently included for their transformative impact and championships.