A Southern Methodist University volleyball player is drawing national attention after video footage showcased what experts are calling one of the most remarkable athletic feats in women’s sports.
Natalia Newsome, a 19-year-old student-athlete at SMU, is being hailed as the highest-jumping female athlete ever recorded. Standing 5 feet 10 inches tall, Newsome has demonstrated a staggering 41-inch vertical leap — a measurement that would place her among elite professional athletes, regardless of gender.
According to performance comparisons, Newsome’s vertical jump would have ranked 3rd overall at last year’s NBA Draft Combine and would have surpassed the 39-inch vertical leap recorded by NBA star Aaron Gordon. During testing, she reached an astonishing 11 feet in the air, a full foot above a standard 10-foot basketball rim.
While the jump was performed by touching a tennis ball rather than a basketball, sports analysts note that dunking a basketball typically requires reaching just six inches above the rim. Newsome exceeded that threshold by double the amount, underscoring the raw explosiveness of her athletic ability.
At just 19 years old, Newsome’s achievement has fueled widespread discussion about her future potential. Athletic trainers and sports scientists point out that many athletes do not reach their physical peak until their mid-20s, suggesting that her vertical leap could improve even further in the years ahead.
Newsome’s performance has also reignited conversations about visibility and recognition for women’s athletics, particularly in sports like volleyball, where explosive power and vertical ability are critical but often underappreciated outside competitive circles.
