Top 10 Highest-Paid Female Athletes In 2025

Forbes’ has released its list of highest-paid female athletes in the world for 2025. Coco Gauff has taken the top spot for second consecutive year. The 21-year-old American tennis star leads a roster of elite athletes whose combined earnings reflect both on-court success and booming off-field commercial appeal.

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Tennis Dominates the Earnings List

Once again, women’s tennis proves to be the most financially lucrative sport for female athletes. Eight of the top ten on the Forbes list are tennis players, a testament to the sport’s worldwide visibility, equal prize money at Grand Slams, and enduring marketability.

Coco Gauff — $33 million: Gauff earned an estimated $33 million over the past 12 months, a figure that underscores her growing influence both inside and outside the tennis arena. While approximately $8 million came from prize money, including strong performances in major tournaments, the bulk of her income- around $25 million- was generated through endorsements and sponsorships with global brands such as New Balance, Bose, Rolex, and Mercedes-Benz.
Aryna Sabalenka — $30 million: The Belarusian closed out the year as the WTA’s top-ranked player, setting a single-season record with about $15 million in prize money alongside roughly $15 million in endorsement income.
Iga Świątek — $25.1 million: The Polish champion continued her consistency on tour, with strong results across all surfaces driving both competitive and commercial success.

Completing the top five is freestyle skiing standout Eileen Gu, who earned approximately $23.1 million, almost entirely from off-field deals, and rising tennis star Zheng Qinwen, with around $22.6 million.

Also Read: Aryna Sabalenka: List Of Titles Won In 2025

A Broadening Field of Sports and Stars

While tennis still dominates, the 2025 list reflects growing commercial opportunities across other sports:

Nelly Korda (Golf) landed the No. 7 spot with $13 million.
Caitlin Clark (Basketball) brings WNBA stars into the spotlight, ranking in the top 15 with over $12 million, almost entirely from off-court income.
Other basketball talents like Sabrina Ionescu, Angel Reese, and Paige Bueckers also feature, alongside track phenom Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone and rugby player Ilona Maher, showing the expansion of marketable female athletes beyond racket sports

Overall, the top 20 on the list collectively earned $293 million, marking a 13% increase from 2024 and setting a new record for women athletes surpassing the $10 million earnings threshold.