It’s hard to summarise the women taking the sports industry by storm, but we’ve done our best to celebrate a few of them who’re inspiring the next gen!
In the early 2000s, iconic sportspeople such as Serena Williams, Mia Hamm, and Jessica Ennis-Hill, to name a few, dominated our TV screens for their incredible athleticism. Now, two decades on, there are new names in town. Women who continue to be inspirations for generations to come. Shape what it means to be an expert in your craft.
If it wasn’t already obvious that women are leading the sports industry, then let the facts be a gentle reminder! Earlier this month, The Independent revealed that: “Global revenues in women’s elite sports are projected to reach an unprecedented $3 billion by 2026, marking a significant 25 per cent increase from last year, a new report by Deloitte revealed on Wednesday.”
Right now, women are quite literally the defining factor of the sports world. An inspiration to young girls and women everywhere. We’ve listed a few of them here. Take a look!
Coco Gauff
Light on her feet with an admirable dose of mental strength, those are just a couple of reasons why Coco Gauff is ranked third in the Public Investment Fund (PIP)’s Women’s Tennis Association (WTA). The woman serving (and continuously winning), Gauff, has become the industry’s most prolific tennis player to watch.
Throughout her career, Gauff has had many iconic moments. Whether it’s the intense match she had with Qinwen Zheng at the semfinals of the Internazionali BNL in Rome last year. Which saw Gauff win 3-0 with eye-catching shots of sharp precision. Or the time she showcased her defence skills during a tight match with Moyuka Uchijima at the Indian Wells Open. Between her admirable professionalism and the accuracy of each serve, Gauff has a talent for tennis that is overtly honourable.
Ilona Maher
Whether you’re into rugby or not, Ilona Maher is a name you’ve definitely come across before. An American athlete who is currently dominating the rugby industry, Maher has been making headlines for the last few years as a powerful centre and Olympic medalist. So far, Maher has proved to embrace every aspect of what it means to be a professional athlete. Always keeping a steady and speedy pace, constantly remaining within the rules, and wowing viewers with neat two-step jolts that often confuse her opponents. To top it all off, Maher does all of this with a strong, confident attitude. There’s no modesty here because there’s room for none. And why should they be? Maher is a modern-day example that girls can be strong, can dominate sports teams, and be their authentic, confident and charismatic selves.
Throughout her career, Maher has been an avid candidate campaigning on reshaping the societal stereotypes of what it takes to be a real sportsperson. For years, men have dominated our screens, while women have remained on the sidelines. But not for Maher, she isn’t afraid to take centre stage, and the industry loves her for it.
Elz the Witch
A large reason as to why women’s sports are generating huge revenue is due to broadcasting rights. While matchday income is currently looking at 30% of the revenue. And of course, broadcasting events need the right host to bring a level of animation and charisma. Right now, the female presenter proving to have a knack for sports announcements is none other than the multifaceted Elz the Witch. An internet personality with many talents. As well as talking about all things sports, Elz is well acquainted with the gaming world and the music industry.
Throughout her career, the broadcast journalist has hosted at Wembley Stadium, in front of 90,000 people. Conducted interviews with KSI and Mr Beast at Side Men Charity Match, in front of 2.3 million people. And has hosted ‘ In Your Corner,’ a blindfolded football challenge in collaboration with Visa UK.
Poppie Brown
This week, Posh Women (PW) secured a successful win at the National League Division One Midlands. The general manager of Peterborough United Women’s team, Sam Winch, came out to share congratulations. Encouraging that he hopes their success “inspire[s] the next generation” of girls to play football. And, we’re sure it will.
At just 19 years old, Poppie Brown is a determined football player on PW’s team and has been with Peterborough United for three consecutive years. She has been described as “the perfect midfilelder” on several occasions. And made glowing impressions after a unique breakthrough between 2023/2024, which led her to secure the Player’s Player of the Season and Player of the Season 2024/25.
If there’s one thing that Brown represents, it’s consistency. After making over 50 appearances in competitions and scoring twice in the 18 FAWNL Division One Midlands League fixtures last season, it’s fair to say Brown has shown zero signs of slowing down any time soon. At under 20 years of age, the star player is arguably at the most exciting stage of her career yet and is carving a respectable name for herself.
More than ever, women are dominating several fields within the sports industry. Young girls can feel assured that inspiration is everywhere. If you’re a young woman, looking for advice on how to get into your dream career. Or where to look for advice or search for job opportunities. Sign up to become a member at Inside Success here for more info!
Laviea Thomas is a journalist at Inside Success who writes about film, music and politics.
Outside of that, she is an experienced freelance journalist with bylines in NME, The Quietus, Metal Hammer and more.
Over the years, Laviea has been an active panellist discussing fundamental conversations in the music industry, such as diversity and inclusion, and the importance of grassroots venues. She has been a panel guest for Kerrang! Focus Wales Festival, Future Yard and more.
