Tennis continues to dominate the world of women’s sports, with seven of the Top 10 earners on Forbes’ 2024 list of highest-paid female athletes coming from the WTA Tour. The influence of tennis stars in the financial landscape of women’s sports is clear, with even Venus Williams, who played just two tournaments this year, securing the ninth spot.
The financial evolution of women’s professional sports
For the first time ever, 11 women surpassed $10 million in earnings, marking a significant milestone in the financial growth of women’s sports. Leading the charge is 20-year-old Coco Gauff, whose estimated $34.4 million earnings make 2024 one of the most lucrative years ever recorded for a female athlete. This impressive total places her just behind Naomi Osaka and Serena Williams on the all-time earnings list. Osaka peaked at $57.3 million in 2021, while Williams reached $45.9 million the same year.
Overall, the 20 highest-paid female athletes collectively earned over $258 million in 2024, a 15% increase from 2023. This growth is a promising indicator of the rising financial viability of women’s professional sports, even as the women’s total earnings still pale in comparison to the $2.23 billion raked in by the Top 20 male athletes on Forbes’ list. Notably, no women…
