How 25 influential women in sports wield their power

During Women's History Month in March, theScore is publishing stories that illustrate how women in sports lead, inspire change, and navigate their careers.

This list highlights 25 women who use their power to dominate games, shape the trajectory of leagues, champion causes, and galvanize the next generation. These top talents, backroom dealers, and influential voices in a wide range of sports - from basketball to hockey to soccer to marquee Olympic events - are presented alphabetically.

Simone Biles

Biles is history's most decorated gymnast, with 11 Olympic medals, 30 world championship medals, and five skills to her name. Her GOAT status didn't come easy: The 27-year-old sparked worldwide dialogue about mental health after she experienced the twisties and withdrew from the Tokyo Olympics. Biles' response to adversity cemented her in the cultural zeitgeist. She clinched three golds last summer in Paris and became the first Olympic gymnast to win two all-around titles nonconsecutively. A budding media entrepreneur, Biles recently joined the board of production studio Religion of Sports. - Sarah Wallace

Aitana Bonmati

The best women's soccer player on the planet, Bonmati spent the past two years monopolizing individual and collective silverware at an unrivaled rate. The do-everything midfielder led Spain to the 2023 World Cup title (she was named the tournament's top player) and spearheads the utterly dominant Barcelona team that's captured the last two Champions League trophies. Equal parts ingenious playmaker and clinical goal-scorer, she's collected back-to-back Ballon d'Or and Best FIFA Women's Player awards. At 27, the diminutive superstar is authoring one of the sport's greatest careers. - Gianluca Nesci

Paige Bueckers

The projected WNBA No. 1 draft pick is a walking bucket. Bueckers is the offensive engine and resident living legend for a UConn squad that's about to pursue the storied program's 12th national championship. She drips confidence and leveraged her killer instinct to rebound from crushing knee injuries. She's an NIL trendsetter with millions of followers, abundant endorsement deals, and college basketball's first custom Nike shoe. Redirecting the spotlight, Bueckers used an ESPY acceptance speech to call for greater media coverage and recognition of Black female athletes. - Nick Faris

Jessica Campbell

Campbell redefines what's possible for women in hockey as a pioneering coach. She played professionally as well as internationally for Canada before shifting her focus. She made history in 2022 as the first woman to be behind the bench full time in the American Hockey League. Then she did it again in 2024 when she became the first woman with a full-time NHL coaching job. The Seattle Kraken assistant coach's keen eye for skating development and power-play strategy has made her a rising force. - Jolene Latimer

Napheesa Collier

Collier's influence spans every foot of the hardwood. She racks up points, rebounds, blocks, and steals in the Minnesota Lynx frontcourt. She's the reigning Defensive Player of the Year, the 2024 MVP runner-up, and a two-time All-WNBA first-teamer. She won two Olympic gold medals alongside Breanna Stewart, her co-founder of an innovative offseason league - Unrivaled - that lets American pros compete at home for significant coin. "Phee" dominated Unrivaled's recent midseason 1-on-1 tournament and planned to split her $200,000 winnings with team staff. - Faris

Coco Gauff

Gauff was seen as a prodigy long before she achieved stardom. As a teenager, she won her maiden Grand Slam title on home soil and became the second-youngest World No. 1 in women's doubles. She was one of the United States' flag bearers for the opening ceremony of the Paris Olympics, and the highest-paid female athlete in 2024, according to Forbes. Gauff makes a difference off the court, too: she uses her platform to advocate for racial justice and gender equity and created a scholarship for HBCU tennis players. - Chicco Nacion

Emma Hayes

Some coaches are serial winners. Others are trailblazers who empower their players and elevate their chosen sport. Hayes is both. She played a pivotal role in the ascent of the Women's Super League - England's top tier is one of the world's most lucrative competitions - and built Chelsea into its all-conquering force. When the floundering U.S. wanted to restore its status as the preeminent power in women's soccer, it turned to Hayes. She quickly guided the USWNT to gold in Paris, delivering the program's first Olympic title in 12 years months into her transformative tenure. - Nesci

Catherine Hickman

The Cleveland Browns assistant general manager and vice president of football operations is a trailblazer. She's managed day-to-day team business for three seasons and is the first woman to interview for a GM position. Hickman is the highest-ranked female executive in the league and the second-highest ranked ever. Before moving south, the Canadian broke barriers as the first female assistant GM for her hometown team, the CFL's Montreal Alouettes. - Wallace

Michele Kang

Kang uses her wealth and influence to create opportunities and help women's sports reach their potential. The American owner believes it's good business. Results are proving her right: After Kang paid $35 million for the Washington Spirit in 2022, NWSL club valuations now range from $110 million to $250 million. Her Kynisca Sports International group added European powerhouse Olympique Lyonnais Feminin and England's London City Lionesses. Kang has female-focused investments in media and athletic footwear and donated $30 million to U.S. Soccer's developmental efforts, along with $4 million to U.S. women's rugby sevens. - Jim Wilkie

Katie Ledecky

Winning an Olympic final at 15 years old was only the start for Ledecky, history's most decorated female swimmer. She boasts nine freestyle gold medals across four Olympics. Ledecky wrecks the competition as the holder of two current and 14 former world-record times; she continually smashed her own marks in the 800m and 1,500m. Father Time can't catch the American, who hasn't ruled out another Olympic appearance in Los Angeles. Out of the pool, Ledecky joined Biles as part of Athleta's Power of She Collective, which drives product development, charitable giving, and sports advocacy. - Wallace

Nicole Lynn

Lynn shook up the sports industry as the NFL's first female super agent. Her clients include Myles Garrett, Quinnen Williams, and Bijan Robinson. Most famously, she brokered a record deal for Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts, negotiating a five-year, $255-million contract extension in 2023 that made Hurts the highest-paid player in league history at the time. The groundbreaking pact included $179 million in total guarantees and $110 million fully guaranteed at signing. Oh, and Lynn made it happen while pregnant. - Erica Commisso

Ilona Maher

Maher is the perfect mix of power, personality, and pure athleticism. As a star for U.S. rugby sevens, she helped lead the American women to a historic first Olympic bronze medal in Paris. Maher used her humor and charisma to become a social media sensation and bring rugby to a wider audience. Whether she’s dominating on the pitch or breaking down the game in relatable ways online, she's an ambassador for a sport that deserves a bigger spotlight. - Latimer

Laura Mueller

Mueller is the first woman in Formula 1's 75-year history to hold the position of race engineer. The German will work with Haas driver Esteban Ocon for the 2025 season and oversee the performance of the entry. Not only is she a prominent figure in the garage, Mueller's voice will be heard on broadcasts through her radio communications with Ocon. She's the highest-profile woman in the sport since team executive Claire Williams departed Williams in 2020. - Kyle Cushman

Sarah Nurse

On the ice, Nurse holds the Olympic tournament scoring record (18 points for Canada in 2022) and is an offensive star with the Toronto Sceptres. Off the ice, Nurse is among the sport's most influential athletes. She graced the cover of EA Sports' NHL video game. Her impact in the boardroom will leave a lasting legacy: Nurse was a key figure in the negotiation of the PWHL's collective bargaining agreement, and she's vice president of the PWHLPA's executive committee. - Cushman

Rafaela Pimenta

Pimenta personifies power. The soccer super agent’s clients include players Erling Haaland and Matthijs de Ligt and coach Arne Slot. Pimenta took a more prominent role in negotiating record contracts and historic transfers after her business partner, powerful agent Mino Raiola, died in 2022. The Brazilian former academic and lawyer recognizes the enduring impact she can have by changing male-dominated global football. "If I can inspire one girl to fight for what she wants, my job is done," she told The Guardian. - Wilkie

Marie-Philip Poulin

Poulin garnered her "Captain Clutch" nickname with a dizzying array of gold medal-clinching goals. The legendary forward led Canada to the top of the podium at three Olympic hockey tournaments and four worlds. Poulin wears the "C" for both the national team and the PWHL's Montreal Victoire and remains electrifying at 33 years old. She joined the Montreal Canadiens in 2022 as a player development consultant and was named to the National Order of Quebec in 2024. - Commisso

Angel Reese

Reese first made headlines as the lead star on LSU's 2023 national championship squad. The "Bayou Barbie" quickly grew a following with her unapologetic personality and became one of the first faces of NIL, landing major endorsement deals before she turned pro. A WNBA first-round draft pick, Reese broke more ground as a rookie with the Chicago Sky. She grabbed 13 rebounds per game and set the league record for consecutive double-doubles en route to earning an All-Star nod. - Nacion

Sha'Carri Richardson

The defending 100m world champion, Richardson's winning sprint of 10.65 seconds at Budapest in 2023 was one of the 15 fastest times in history. The triumph rewarded her resilience. She avenged an agonizing, inane suspension for cannabis use that barred her from the Tokyo Olympics with a two-medal showing in Paris, where she surged from fourth to gold on the anchor leg of the 4x100m relay and side-eyed the competition at the finish line. Richardson is an LGBTQ icon who promotes self-expression by rocking long, colorful hair and nails on the track. - Faris

Trinity Rodman

One of soccer's most exciting young talents, Rodman is a game-changer for the Washington Spirit and USWNT. The 22-year-old forward netted three opening goals, including an extra-time winner against Japan, to spark the unbeaten Americans to Olympic gold in Paris. When she was 18, Rodman became the NWSL's all-time youngest draft pick. Her explosive speed, technical finesse, and knack for clutch performances fueled a rapid rise, and her energy and confidence make her a must-watch player. ­- Latimer

Maria Taylor

With effortless charisma, deep knowledge, and a commanding presence, Taylor is one of the most respected voices in sports broadcasting. The former All-SEC volleyball player is the first female full-time host of "Football Night in America," which NBC touts as the most popular studio show on the air. Taylor's versatility - she's covered the NBA, Olympics, and college football and volleyball - is unmatched. Whether she's hosting a prime-time panel or leading insightful interviews, she elevates every conversation. In a field still catching up to inclusivity, Taylor isn't waiting, she's leading the way. - Latimer

A'ja Wilson

Wilson controls the paint and has championship pedigree. The towering center was drafted first overall by the Las Vegas Aces in 2018 and promptly made her presence known as a three-time WNBA MVP. After leading the Aces to the franchise's first title, she helped them become the first repeat champion since the early 2000s while claiming Finals MVP. Wilson became the Aces' all-time top scorer in July 2024 right before she won her second Olympic gold medal. On top of her on-court prowess, she authored "Dear Black Girls," a best-selling memoir. - Commisso

Honorable mentions: Rebeca Andrade (gymnastics), Rachel Balkovec (baseball), Jayna Hefford (hockey), Sabrina Ionescu (basketball), Diana Matheson (soccer), Summer McIntosh (swimming), Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone (track), Naomi Osaka (tennis), Sophia Smith (soccer), Gabrielle Thomas (track)