The 10 Greatest Female American Athletes Of All Time

Image: overlandiop.com

By Caroline Newberry

In honor of National Girls and Women in Sports Day, FanRun has decided to compile a list of the 10 greatest American women in the history of sports.

Here’s our attempt:

Serena Williams

• Considered the greatest female tennis player of all time and perhaps the greatest athlete of all time

• Won 23 grand slam singles titles in open era

• Won 14 grand slam doubles titles with sister Venus

• Won 7 Olympic gold medals singles and doubles

Simone Biles

• Most decorated gymnast in history

• 23 world championship medals — the most in history

• 7 Olympic gold medals

Lindsey Vonn

• 4 World Cup championships

• 20 World Cup Crystal Globe titles, which is a record for both men and women

Mia Hamm

• 2 gold Olympic medals

• Won the FIFA World Cup 2 times

• US Soccer female athlete of the year

Caitlin Clark

• NCAA Division I all-time leading scorer

• The number one overall pick in the 2024 WNBA draft

Katie Ledecky

• 8 Olympic gold medals

• Most decorated woman in world champion history

• Considered one of the greatest swimmers in the world

Cheryl Miller

• Four-time All-American, Olympic gold medalist, and Hall of Fame inductee

• USC's career record holder for points, rebounds, field goals, free throws, games played, and steals

Claressa Shields

• First undisputed world champion in three weight classes

• Only one loss in her entire career

Wilma Rudolph

• Overcame child polio

• 3 Olympic gold medals

• Earned the title of “fastest woman in the world”

Kerri Walsh Jennings & Misty May-Treanor

• Won three Olympic gold medals

• Three world titles

• Went unbeaten for a remarkable 112 games