Coco Gauff has done it again!
For the third year running, the 21-year-old American tennis star has been named the highest-paid female athlete of the year, according to new reporting from Sportico.
The milestone places her firmly at the center of the rapidly expanding economic power of women’s sports.
Gauff led the 2025 ranking with $31 million in total income, including $8 million in prize money and $23 million from endorsements. Her French Open title alone accounted for roughly a third of her on-court earnings this season.
But it’s her off-court appeal that continues to position her as a global marketing force. Gauff’s endorsement deal with New Balance remains her biggest partnership, a relationship that began when she was just 14. The brand renewed her contract in 2022, reportedly elevating it to one of the richest deals in women’s tennis.
A Record Year for Women’s Earnings
Sportico reports that the top 15 highest-earning female athletes collectively brought in $249 million this year — a 12% jump from 2024. Tennis players dominated the list, taking 10 of the top 15 spots, once again highlighting the sport’s unmatched financial structure for women compared to most global athletics.
Trailing Gauff on the list is Aryna Sabalenka with $30 million, followed by Iga Świątek at $23.1 million. Freestyle skiing phenom Eileen Gu and rising Chinese tennis star Zheng Qinwen rounded out the top five.
The presence of athletes like Caitlin Clark, who earned an astonishing $16 million in endorsements despite a minimal WNBA salary, also underscores a broader shift. Brands are no longer treating women’s sports as a niche; they are betting big and early.
Why Gauff’s Reign Matters
Gauff’s three-year streak is more than a personal achievement; it reflects a redefining moment for women in sports.
She isn’t just winning matches; she’s shaping culture, driving business, and drawing new audiences. Her mix of elite performance, composure under pressure, and unapologetic authenticity has turned her into one of the world’s most bankable athletes, regardless of gender.
And as women’s sports continue to surge in viewership and investment, Gauff’s rise signals a future where these earnings may soon feel less like exceptions and more like expectations.
Top 15 Highest-Paid Female Athletes of 2025 (Sportico)
- Coco Gauff (USA, Tennis) – $31.0M
- Aryna Sabalenka (Neutral, Tennis) – $30.0M
- Iga Świątek (Poland, Tennis) – $23.1M
- Eileen Gu (China, Freestyle Skiing) – $23.0M
- Zheng Qinwen (China, Tennis) – $20.6M
- Caitlin Clark (USA, Basketball) – $16.1M
- Nelly Korda (USA, Golf) – $13.8M
- Madison Keys (USA, Tennis) – $13.4M
- Elena Rybakina (Kazakhstan, Tennis) – $12.6M
- Naomi Osaka (Japan, Tennis) – $12.5M
- Simone Biles (USA, Gymnastics) – $11.0M
- Amanda Anisimova (USA, Tennis) – $10.8M
- Jessica Pegula (USA, Tennis) – $10.5M
- Venus Williams (USA, Tennis) – $10.2M
- Atthaya Thitikul (Thailand, Golf) – $10.1M
