Female Athlete Earnings Surge, But Gap with Male Counterparts Persists
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Despite record earnings for women in professional sports, a significant disparity remains, as no female athlete cracked the top 100 highest-paid athletes list in 2025, according to a recent analysis. A record 15 female professionals earned over $10 million last year through salaries, prize money, and endorsements—a substantial increase from the six recorded in 2023—yet the financial gap between male and female athletes remains stark.
The Rising Tide of Female Earnings
Female athletes are experiencing unprecedented financial success as investment flows into leagues across basketball, soccer, softball, hockey, and volleyball. This growth is fueled by increasing media attention, expanding fan bases, and lucrative endorsement deals. The surge in earnings is particularly notable, with 15 women surpassing the $10 million mark in 2024, doubling the number from the previous year.
The Top 100 Barrier
Despite these gains, a troubling trend continues. For the third consecutive year, no woman appeared on Sporty’s list of the world’s 100 highest-paid athletes. Coco Gauff, the leading female earner, amassed $31 million in 2025, but this figure fell short of the $37.9 million threshold set by OG Anunoby of the New York Knicks, who occupied the 100th spot. Had the list been extended, Gauff would have ranked 122nd.
A Historical Perspective
This is the fifth year Sporty has compiled its list of top earners, with Cristiano Ronaldo leading the pack in 2025 at $260 million. The first two years of the report actually included female athletes, before a three-year absence from the top 100. Prior to 2010, when the author covered athlete earnings for Forbes for over two decades, women were excluded from the list only once, in 2018.
Limited Representation
Historically, female representation in the top 100 has been minimal, typically limited to one or two athletes. Only four tennis players—Maria Sharapova, Serena Williams, Li Na, and Naomi Osaka—have ever made the cut. This underscores the challenges female athletes face in achieving the same level of financial recognition as their male counterparts.
Tennis: A Relative Bright Spot
Tennis remains the most financially equitable sport for women, with 10 of the top 15 highest-earning female athletes hailing from the sport. Following Gauff’s $31 million, Aryna Sabalenka earned $30 million, while Iga Świątek ($23.1 million), skier Eileen Gu ($23 million), and Zheng Qinwen ($20.6 million) rounded out the top five.
Notably, tennis is the only major professional sport where women’s prize money approaches parity with men’s. While the WTA Tour prize money is less than the ATP, women receive equal pay at Grand Slam and Masters 1000 events. Furthermore, six women secured at least $10 million in endorsements, compared to only four active men.
The Endorsement Gap and the Rise of Team Sports Stars
While athletes like Caitlin Clark ($16.1 million), Nelly Korda ($13.8 million), and Simone Biles ($11 million) are breaking earnings records in their respective sports, the barrier to entry for the top 100 remains high. Female athletes in team sports continue to earn a fraction of what their male counterparts make, largely due to disparities in television deals and salary caps. In 2025, the NFL and NBA accounted for 62% of the top 100 earners.
A decade ago, the 100th highest-paid athlete earned $17.3 million; in 2019, it was $25 million; in 2024, $37.5 million; and this year, $37.9 million. This escalating threshold highlights the increasing financial dominance of male athletes in major leagues.
The reliance on endorsements is also significant. For the top 15 female earners, endorsements accounted for 70% of their income, compared to just 35% for the top 15 men. However, positive change is on the horizon, particularly in the NWSL and WNBA, with both leagues undergoing significant transformations in their pay structures. The WNBA’s new media deal, commencing in 2026, represents a sixfold increase in annual revenue.
Caitlin Clark stands out as the only team sport athlete among the top 15 female earners, while New York Liberty point guard Sabrina Ionescu narrowly missed the $10.1 million cutoff.
The path to financial equality for female athletes remains challenging, but the increasing earnings and evolving landscape of professional sports suggest a future with greater opportunities and recognition.
