Breaking Barriers: Top Female Athletes Cashing In – Women’s sports, and the athletes that participate in them, continue to grow in popularity. A recent article in Forbes, ranks the top ten female athletes in total income. While on-field earnings continue to languish well behind their male counterparts, money from endorsements shows that sponsors see their value.
The top 10 female athletes accounted for a combined $167 million in pretax earnings which represents a 23% increase compared to 2020. Additionally, in 2019, all top-10 spots were taken by tennis. Now, the sport accounts for just five positions. From a collectibility standpoint, it’s not just their overall income that is seeing an increase but the values of their cardboard as well.
Here is a look at the the top 10 highest paid female athletes in 2020 as well as a look at some of their most popular trading cards where applicable.
Breaking Barriers: Top Female Athletes Cashing In
No. 1 – NAOMI OSAKA – Tennis • Age: 24 • Japan
- Total Earnings: $57.3M
- Beckett Card Catalog
- SHOP ON EBAY
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- Naomi Osaka 2018 SI For Kids
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- Naomi Osaka 2019 Topps Tennis HOF
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- Naomi Osaka 2020 Topps Transcendent
No. 2 – SERENA WILLIAMS – Tennis • Age: 40 • United States
- Total Earnings: $45.9M
- Beckett Card Catalog
- SHOP ON EBAY
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- Serena Williams 1999 SI For Kids
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- Serena Williams 2003 NetPro International Series
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- Serena Williams 2003 NetPro SP
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- Serena Williams 2003 NetPro RC
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- Serena Williams 2003 NetPro Memorabilia Autograph
No. 3 – VENUS WILLIAMS – Tennis • Age: 41 • United States
- Total Earnings: $11.3M
- Beckett Card Catalog
- SHOP ON EBAY
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- Venus Williams 2003 NetPro RC
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- Venus Williams 2003 NetPro
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- Venus Williams 2003 NetPro Elite
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- Venus Williams 2003 NetPro Autograph
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- Venus Williams 2003 NetPro SP
No. 4 – SIMONE BILES – Gymnastics • Age: 24 • United States
- Total Earnings: $10.1M
- Beckett Card Catalog
- SHOP ON EBAY
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- Simone Biles 2014 SI For Kids
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- Simone Biles 2016 Topps Olympics
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- Simone Biles 2016 Topps Olympics Autograph
No. 5 – GARBIÑE MUGURUZA – Tennis • Age: 28 • Spain
- Total Earnings: $8.8M
No. 6 – JIN YOUNG KO – Gymnastics • Age: 26 • South Korea
- Total Earnings: $7.5M
- Beckett Card Catalog
- SHOP ON EBAY
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- Jin Young Ko 2020 SI for Kids
No. 7 – P.V. SINDHU – Badminton • Age: 26 • India
- Total Earnings: $7.2M
No. 8 – ASHLEIGH BARTY – Tennis • Age: 25 • Australia
- Total Earnings: $6.9M
- Beckett Card Catalog
- SHOP ON EBAY
No. 9 – NELLY KORDA – Golf • Age: 23 • United States
- Total Earnings: $5.9M
- Beckett Card Catalog
- SHOP ON EBAY
No. 10 – CANDACE PARKER – Basketball • Age: 35 • United States
- Total Earnings: $5.7M
- Beckett Card Catalog
- SHOP ON EBAY
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