There are a number of female athletes who have gone on to become iconic in a number of different ways throughout history, although each of them has managed to leave a lasting impression on women all over the world.

Sport is generally associated with the amount of money that can be involved in the men’s game, however there have been a number of women who have managed to start to change the perception and the industry as a whole, whilst also being rather iconic about what they have managed to achieve.

Let’s take a look at some of the most iconic female athletes to have ever existed:

Serena Williams

Of course, there is perhaps no better place to start than perhaps looking at Serena Williams when thinking about icons within female sports. One-half of the world-famous Williams sisters, Serena has been able to do it all throughout her career.

She has been incredibly successful in the world of tennis, having won multiple Grand Slam titles and setting records as she continues to play, whilst she has also been able to make waves into the world of fashion.

She has become an icon to women of all ages, races and abilities, as many see her as the source of inspiration that they have been looking for. Her status as an icon is certainly something that cannot be understated, either, as she was the only female athlete to appear on the world’s highest-paid sports stars in 2019.

Naomi Osaka

Tennis is perhaps a sport in which many female athletes excel in and can obtain an iconic status for themselves because of what they are able to achieve. Naomi Osaka is just one of the newest faces to have appeared, but despite a fresh look, she is already an icon for so many and one that will continue to see her reputation elevate further as years go by.

The Japanese-American, who will head to the US Open as the favorite with New Jersey Betting to retain her crown later this year, has continued to push past expectations, whilst she has also championed a number of good causes. Despite being shy, she has made contributions globally, with many having been inspired by her various pieces of activism for the women’s game and social injustices.

To help further elevate herself as an iconic female sportswoman, Osaka overtook Williams as the highest-paid female athlete in 2020 when she racked up more than $37 million in earnings in one year.

Billie Jean King

Billie Jean King was an iconic figure for many ways before the likes of Williams and Osaka were born, as she was one of the greatest female tennis players to have ever played the game. Of course, she will most notably be known for the Grand Slams that she won – 20 Wimbledons, 13 US titles, four French Opens and two Australian Opens – however it is perhaps the way she made female tennis popular.

In 1973, she competed in the famous “Battle of the Sexes” match against Bobby Riggs, a 55-year-old former tennis player who had been openly critical of the women’s game and had continually challenged King to a contest to try and prove his point.

Once King finally accepted, she would overcome the fear that a loss may have had on the women’s game, but managed to overcome Riggs and put the world on notice as everyone saw women’s tennis in a truly competitive way.

Gabrielle Reece

Gabrielle Reece might not be a name that many may recognize, but she should be considered one of the most iconic female athletes ever.

In regards to sport, she is known for being a beach volleyball player in the 1990s and became known as one of the biggest female sports stars of the decade. This was perhaps down to the fact that she managed to win the WBVL skills leader award for four consecutive years (1993-96), whilst also being the Offensive Player of the Year in 1994/95 and the League blocks leader in 1993.

Despite her achievements as a beach volleyball player, Reece’s iconic status for many will be the fact that she was the first female athlete that combined her sport with her own personal brand. She had been a model during university and was able to go back into after retiring from her sport professionally, whilst also being given the opportunity to present and host a number of programs.

Whilst that appears to be the norm now, it was not before Reece managed to do it.