The Women Leading the Sports Industry Right Now

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.

Women in sports
American professional tennis player Coco Gauff raising the victory trophy at the DC Open in Washington, D.C., in August 2023

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.

About Author

Laviea Thomas

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.

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