Althea Gibson, Jackie Joyner-Kersee, Florence Griffith Joyner, Laila Ali, Wilma Rudolph, and Candace Parker — these are just a few of the black women who have forever changed sports. These women paved the way for current and future athletes while disrupting the world of sports for the better. Today, black women are still breaking down barriers in their respective sports and in society.
Ahead are just a handful of black women doing amazing things in sports and this list will continue to grow. The 27 women will inspire you to dream bigger and work harder — not just for yourself, but for all the black and brown girls that will come after you.
Serena Williams
She needs zero introduction and her stat sheet speaks for itself. Serena has 23 Grand Slam wins [1] (one shy of tying Margaret Court's record) and long story short: she's the GOAT.
Allyson Felix
Even if you've never stepped foot on a track, Allyson Felix [2] is a household name. She competed in her first Olympics at 18 years old, placing second in the 200 meters. Since then, Allyson has won numerous US, World, and Olympic championships. Fun fact: she's the most decorated woman in US track and field history with a total of nine Olympic medals.
Simone Manuel
Simone Manuel is a four-time Olympic medalist and the first black woman to win an individual gold medal in swimming. Need we say more? You'll definitely want to keep an eye on her at the 2020 Olympics [3].
Venus Williams
Venus [4] has been dominating the world of tennis (alongside her sister Serena) since she turned professional in 1994.
Sydney McLaughlin
Don't forget her name. At just 19 years old, Sydney has broken records, set world records, and placed fifth at the 2016 Rio Olympics in the 400m hurdles. Keep your eye on her as the 2020 Tokyo Olympics approach.
Simone Biles
Simone [5] is the greatest gymnast ever, and she's only getting better. She's won gold at the Olympics, she's the first woman to win four world all-around titles, and she's the most decorated US female gymnasts with 25 world and Olympic medals total — and those aren't even all of her accomplishments. She most recently completed a vault no woman has ever done before [6], and we're just anxiously awaiting her next competition.
Ibtihaj Muhammad
Ibtihaj Muhammad is a saber fencer and the first Muslim American woman to wear a hijab while competing for the US at the 2016 Rio Olympics. Fun fact: she also has a Barbie modelled after her [7].
Naomi Osaka
Naomi Osaka [8] won her second consecutive Grand Slam title at the 2019 Australian Open. She's also the first Asian tennis player to be ranked No. 1 in the world.
Gabby Williams
The former University of Connecticut basketball star Gabby Williams was the No. 4 pick in the 2019 draft and plays for the Chicago Sky.
Jazmyn Jackson
Jazmyn is a member of the USA softball team and has multiple medals from the World Cup of Softball, Pan American Championship, and USA Softball International Cup.
Shasta Averyhardt
"Out here making it happen," is what Shasta Averyhardt's Twitter bio [9] says. And yes, she is. When she qualified in 2010 for the 2011 LPGA Tour, Shasta was the first black golfer on the Tour since LaRee Sugg in 2001.
Sydney Leroux
Sydney Leroux is a badass professional soccer player for the US Women's National Team and has a gold medal from the 2012 London Olympics to prove it.
Ajeé Wilson
Ajeé specialises in the 800 meters and currently holds the US record with a time of 1:55:61 (yes, that's one minute and fifty-five seconds!). On Feb. 9, 2019 she set the indoor 800 meter American record at the Millrose Games [10] with a time of 1:58:60.
Sloane Stephens
Sloane Stephens [11] is another name you need to know. She's currently the No. 3 ranked tennis player in the world and is the fourth black woman to win a Grand Slam single title at the US Open tennis tournament in 2017.
Michelle Carter
Michelle "The Shot Diva" Carter [12] is an American shot putter, and is the first American woman to win a gold medal in shot put at the 2016 Rio Olympics [13].
Nzingha Prescod
Nzingha is a two-time Olympic foil fencer and the first black women to ever win an individual medal at the senior world championships.
Vashti Cunningham
At just 18 years old, Vashti won the world high jump title in 2016. Yup, she's that good. In 2016, she became youngest track and field athlete to qualify for the Olympics since 1980. She made her first Olympic team in 2016 and is looking to make the US team again in 2020.
Queen Harrison
Her name is Queen for a reason. She competed in the 400 meter hurdles at the 2008 Summer Olympics and now she has her eyes sight on Tokyo 2020.
Cheyenne Woods
If her last name sounds familiar to you, you're correct. Cheyenne is Tiger Woods [14]'s niece, but trust us, she's got game of her own. Her goal: "To make it easier for black women to follow her path to the tee," CNN reported [15]. She's the sixth black woman to earn a LPGA Tour card.
Brittney Reese
Brittney is an long jumper, 2012 Olympic gold medalist, three-time Olympian, seven-time world champion, and holds the indoor world record in the event.
Nneka Ogwumike
If you think you have skills, wait until you see Nneka Ogwumike play basketball. She's so good, she was drafted No. 1 overall to the Los Angeles Sparks in the 2012 WNBA draft.
Natasha Hastings
Also known as the 400 meter diva, Natasha is a two-time Olympic gold medalist [16] in the 4x400 meter relay at the 2008 Beijing Olympics and the 2016 Rio Olympics.
Tori Franklin
Tori is a triple jumper who holds both the indoor and outdoor American records in the event.
English Gardner
English won a gold medal at the 2016 Rio Olympics in the 4x100 meter relay and is one of the fastest women in the world. She's just returned from a knee injury, and you'll definitely want to keep your eyes on her ahead of the 2020 Olympics.
Jazmine Fenlator-Victorian
Jazmine is an Olympic bobsled pilot who has represented both the US and Jamaica. She competed for the US at the 2014 Sochi Olympics and decided to compete for Jamaica in 2015 to increase diversity in the sport. 2018 was the first year Jamaica sent an all-women's bobsled team to the Olympics.
Kelsey Stewart
The University of Florida alum is a two-time softball national champion and now plays for Team USA.
Lolo Jones
Lolo is a three-time Olympian, three-time world champion, and holds the American record in the indoor 60 meter hurdles event. In 2014, Lolo earned a spot on the US bobsled team.