ESPN Top 40 Female athletes of the past 40 years
Here is a list of the top 40 female athletes of the past 40 years, compiled in June 2012 by the team at ESPN. See more about the World's Greatest Female Athlete Ever.
Top 40 from 1972 - 2012
| rank | athlete | sport |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mia Hamm | Soccer |
| 2 | Martina Navratilova | Tennis |
| 3 | Jackie Joyner-Kersee | Track and Field |
| 4 | Annika Sorenstam | Golf |
| 5 | Lisa Leslie | Basketball |
| 6 | Bonnie Blair | Speedskating |
| 7 | Chris Evert | Tennis |
| 8 | Nadia Comaneci | Gymnastics |
| 9 | Steffi Graf | Tennis |
| 10 | Serena Williams | Tennis |
| 11 | Billie Jean King | Tennis |
| 12 | Florence Griffith-Joyner | Track and Field |
| 13 | Cheryl Miller | Basketball |
| 14 | Katarina Witt | Figure skating |
| 15 | Janet Evans | Swimming |
| 16 | Sheryl Swoopes | Basketball |
| 17 | Ann Meyers Drysdale | Basketball |
| 18 | Lisa Fernandez | Softball |
| 19 | Lindsey Vonn | Skiing |
| 20 | Michelle Kwan | Figure skating |
| 21 | Venus Williams | Tennis |
| 22 | Marta Vieira da Silva | Soccer |
| 23 | Tracy Caulkins | Swimming |
| 24 | Nancy Lopez | Golf |
| 25 | Dara Torres | Swimming |
| 26 | Chamique Holdsclaw | Basketball |
| 27 | Michelle Akers | Soccer |
| 28 | Grete Waitz | Distance Running |
| 29 | Nancy Lieberman | Basketball |
| 30 | Gail Devers | Track and Field |
| 31 | Joan Benoit | Distance Running |
| 32 | Mary T. Meagher | Swimming |
| 33 | Abby Wambach | Soccer |
| 34 | Flo Hyman | Volleyball |
| 35 | Diana Taurasi | Basketball |
| 36 | Kristine Lilly | Soccer |
| 37 | Cammi Granato | Hockey |
| 38 | Mary Lou Retton | Gymnastics |
| 39 | Julie Krone | Jockey |
| 40 | Fu Mingxia | Diving |
Related Pages
- greatest female athletes of all time
- All time greatest index of sports
- women at the Olympics
Any comments, suggestions, or corrections? Please let us know.
Upcoming Events