Women of Strength: The Most Influential Women in Sports Today
When we rank athletes by greatness, the only thing people usually reference is how many rings, trophies, and awards they have. Yet, an athlete’s social influence is what tends to have the largest cultural impact. Several female athletes achieved both types of success with humility and grace, becoming the most influential women in sports today.
Naomi Osaka
The Japanese professional tennis player burst on the scene in 2014 at 16, when she bested a former US Open champion, Samantha Stosur, in her tour debut at the Stanford Classic. Osaka only took two years to find herself in the top 50 WTA rankings. In 2018, four years after her pro debut, Osaka reached the mountain peak after winning her first major championship at the US Open against the legendary Serena Williams.
While Osaka’s accolades on the court are impressive, her impact off the court is helping society for the better. The four-time Grand Slam winner was one of the 2020 Sports Illustrated Sportspersons of the year due to her stances on mental health and racism. It’s been an up-and-down rollercoaster for Osaka since 2020 as she continues to battle with several injuries, but her influence on our culture remains.
Simone Biles
Simone Biles and Naomi Osaka have many things in common. The most obvious similarity is their ranks within their sport. With her 30 Olympic and world championships medals, Biles is the most decorated gymnast of our time, and it was a lock that she would add more medals to her resume at the 2021 Tokyo Olympics. When Biles decided to sit out for a few events, including the team competition that saw the US walk away with the silver, parts of the media attempted to label Biles a “quitter,” but she stood strong, declaring that her mental health was more important than the competition. She continues to fight for those struggling with mental illness and advocate for the survivors Larry Nassar.
Megan Rapinoe
While we were celebrating the US Men’s team reaching the knockout road of the 2022 FIFA World Cup, the women’s team watched at home with their three consecutive titles. The face representing the team is Megan Rapinoe, and her influence is felt worldwide. Rapinoe became the fourth woman to win the Sports Illustrated Sportsperson of the Year in 2019, one year before Osaka became the fifth woman to receive the accolade in the award’s history.
Although she’s approaching the end of her career, Rapinoe isn’t ready to hang up her soccer cleats yet. And her fight for LGBTQIA+ rights and social justice will continue to make her an influential force off the pitch for decades to come.
Serena Williams
Williams has been a fixture in sports for decades, bringing home 23 Grand Slam wins. Williams is approaching 40 years old and isn’t ready to end her tennis career. After all, if she can win a Grand Slam when pregnant, who’s to say she cannot win another one after turning 40?
Yet, Williams’ impact goes beyond the court as a cultural and sports star. Williams has faced obstacles that challenged her courage, bravery, and dignity, from overcoming injuries to dealing with racist and body-shaming insults throughout her career. Meanwhile, she is a continual point of inspiration for both working mothers and the new generation of tennis players.
It takes more than racking up victories to become the most influential women in sports today, proving that what they do at their day job pales in comparison to what they do away from it.
