The 2024 rankings for the highest-earning female athletes, published by Sportico, reveal intriguing dynamics within women’s sports. Despite remarkable achievements in their fields, Simone Biles and Caitlin Clark find themselves outside the top five, showcasing the fierce competition in monetizing athletic success.
This year was a milestone for women’s sports, with record-breaking metrics in viewership, attendance, and sponsorship, translating into financial windfalls for athletes. Sportico’s comprehensive analysis combines salaries, winnings, and endorsement deals to spotlight those reaping the benefits of this growth.
American tennis prodigy Coco Gauff dominates the list, amassing $9.4 million in earnings and an astonishing $21 million in endorsements. Skiing star Eileen Gu follows closely with $22.1 million. Tennis remains a dominant force, with Iga Swiatek, Zheng Qinwen, Aryna Sabalenka, Naomi Osaka, and Emma Raducanu rounding out the top seven.
Further down, the eighth through tenth slots feature golf’s Nelly Korda, gymnast Simone Biles, and basketball phenom Caitlin Clark, each earning around $11.1 million. Biles’ Olympic triumphs and Clark’s transformative WNBA debut underpinned their inclusion. Clark’s rookie year saw her lead the Indiana Fever to a playoff berth and earn Rookie of the Year honors, despite falling short in the MVP race.
Beyond individual accolades, these rankings underscore tennis’s dominance with nine entries, followed by golf with three, and skiing, basketball, and gymnastics each contributing one. As the momentum of women’s sports grows, the financial landscape promises even more exciting shifts in the years ahead.
