The 15 Most Successful Sports Women In History

By Brian Kalchik

The 15 Most Successful Women in Sports History

Serena Williams United States — Since Title IX was introduced into law on June 23rd, 1972, women have not only been able to compete in athletics, but also have produced some of the greatest exhibitions in sports history. From coaches to players, coming up with a list of the 15 greatest women in sports is a daunting task, but I reserved this list for just athletes. Here now are the 15 most successful women in sports history.

15. Cheryl Miller

Cheryl Miller TNT

15. Cheryl Miller

Cheryl Miller TNT — Cheryl Miller is currently an NBA sideline reporter for TNT, but before her broadcasting days, she was one of the best female college basketball players of all-time. At USC, Miller was a four-time All-American and won two NCAA titles in 1983 and 1984. In high school, Miller once scored 105 points in a game.

14. Abby Wambach

Abby Wambach United States

14. Abby Wambach

Abby Wambach United States — Behind Mia Hamm, Abby Wambach may be the second greatest soccer player in U.S. women's national soccer history. Wambach has been with the national team since 2003 and currently stands as the all-time goal scorer for the national team and holds the record for international goals with 167.

13. Lisa Leslie

Lisa Leslie Sparks

13. Lisa Leslie

Lisa Leslie Sparks — Lisa Leslie was one of the best players in WNBA history. Lisa won the league's MVP title four times throughout her career. She also won four Olympic gold medals and was the first woman to dunk in the WNBA.

12. Bonnie Blair

Bonnie Blair United States

12. Bonnie Blair

Bonnie Blair United States — During her speed skating career, Bonnie Blair competed in four Olympic games for the U.S. and won six medals, five of which were gold medals.

11. Annika Sorenstam

Annika Sorenstam Sweden

11. Annika Sorenstam

Annika Sorenstam Sweden — One of the greatest female players of all time, Annika Sorenstam retired with most wins of any female golfer in the game with 90. She is also the only woman to shoot a 59 in competition.

10. Mia Hamm

Mia Hamm United States

10. Mia Hamm

Mia Hamm United States — As a member of the U.S. national team as well as a founding player of the Washington Freedom, Mia Hamm became the face of U.S. women's soccer and was named FIFA Player of the Year twice the first two years the award was given out.

9. Serena Williams

Serena Williams United States

9. Serena Williams

Serena Williams United States — Not only is Serena Williams one of the more recognizable names in sports, she is also one of the most successful. She has been a No. 1 player six times and has been one of the only tennis players ever to hold all four Grand Slam titles at the same time.

8. Chris Evert

Chris Evert United States

8. Chris Evert

Chris Evert United States — Not only was Chris Evert the No. 1 player in the world five times, but she also won 18 Grand Slam titles as well as seven championships at the French Open and six in the U.S. Open throughout her career. Evert's rivalry with Martina Navratilova became one of the first in women's tennis history.

7. Steffi Graf

Steffi Graf Germany

7. Steffi Graf

Steffi Graf Germany — Steffi Graf is a former World No. 1 player and ended her career with 22 Grand Slam singles titles. She also became the the first tennis player, male or female, to win all four Grand Slam titles and an Olympic medal in the same year.

6. Florence Griffith-Joyner

Florence Griffith-Joyner United States

6. Florence Griffith-Joyner

Florence Griffith-Joyner United States — Still hailed, even after her passing in 1998, as the fastest woman in the world, Florence Griffith-Joyner set two world records that have yet to be seriously challenged. In 1988, Joyner set the record for both the 100 m and 200 m dash.

5. Wilma Rudolph

Wilma Rudolph United States

5. Wilma Rudolph

Wilma Rudolph United States — Once considered the fastest woman in the world, Wilma Rudolph competed twice in the Olympics and became the first woman to win three track and field gold medals in a single Olympics. Rudolph also had to overcome polio as a child.

4. Billie Jean King

Billie Jean King United States

4. Billie Jean King

Billie Jean King United States — The winner of 12 Grand Slam tennis titles during the course of her career, King is perhaps better known for her "Battle of the Sexes" win over former Wimbledon champion Bobby Riggs in 1973.

3. Martina Navratilova

Martina Navratilova Czech Republic

3. Martina Navratilova

Martina Navratilova Cezch Republic — A former World No. 1 player, Martina Navratilova is one of the winningest athletes in the history of tennis. Throughout her career she amassed 18 Grand Slam singles titles, 31 Grand Slam women's doubles titles and 10 Grand Slam mixed doubles titles.

2. Babe Didrikson Zaharias

Babe Didrikson Zaharias United States

2. Babe Didrikson Zaharias

Babe Didrikson Zaharias United States — Babe Didrikson Zaharias could be called one of the first female athletes in sports. Throughout her career she had major success in basketball, golf and track and field. Zaharias won an Olympic gold medal and was also a U.S. Women's Open champion in golf.

1. Jackie Joyner-Kersee

Jackie Joyner-Kersee United States

1. Jackie Joyner-Kersee

Jackie Joyner-Kersee United States — Jackie Joyner-Kersee cemented her place as the greatest women's athlete of all-time by becoming one of the best track and field competitors ever. She won three gold, one silver, and two bronze Olympic medals in the women's heptathlon and long jump at four different Olympic Games.

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