Highest-paid female athletes of 2024: Tennis players dominate as growth of endorsements laid bare
2024 highest-paid female athlete
Sports business platform Sportico has revealed its list of 2024's highest-paid female athletes.
The breakdown of each athlete's earnings includes their salary and winnings combined with their endorsements.
While tennis dominated with six athletes inside the top 10, discrepancies in endorsement deals have raised eyebrows.
Wide World of Sports takes a look at the top 10 athletes and the year they had to get there.
NOTE: All figures are in AUD.
10. Caitlin Clark, Basketball
Caitlin Clark is the most recognisable name in women's basketball right now.
The Indiana Fever guard earned $17.4 million with $200,000 in salary and bonuses, and $17.2m in endorsements.
10. Caitlin Clark, Basketball
With her boom college career with the University of Iowa coming to a close earlier this year, Clark was selected by the Indiana Fever with their No.1 draft pick.
Clark capped an outstanding debut season with the Fever — crowned the 2024 WNBA Rookie of the Year.
To add to her list of endorsement deals, the 22-year-old inked a multi-year partnership with Wilson in 2024 which will include a signature basketball collection.
9. Simone Biles, Gymnastics
The GOAT of gymnastics banked $17.4 million during the Olympic year.
This included $211,000 in prize money and $17.2m in endorsements.
9. Simone Biles, Gymnastics
Biles cemented her status after picking up four medals — three gold and one silver — in her Olympics return at Paris 2024.
The 27-year-old now boasts 10 Olympic medals, including seven golds, and 30 world medals, 23 gold being gold.
8. Nelly Korda, Golf
The current leader of the LPGA, Nelly Korda made $22.5 million.
8. Nelly Korda, Golf
Korda achieved her biggest year yet in 2024 with seven wins this season, including her second career major title at The Chevron Championship.
Korda is the daughter of professional tennis players Petr Korda and Regina Rajchrtova.
7. Emma Raducanu, Tennis
In her comeback year, Emma Raducanu gained $23 million.
While this was limited to $1.1m in prizemoney, the Raducanu brand is still relevant with $21.9m in endorsements.
7. Emma Raducanu, Tennis
After recovery from ankle and wrist injuries that plagued her in 2023, Raducanu's round of 16 finish at Wimbledon was her best performance at a grand slam.
Currently ranked world No.57, Raducanu will be hoping for better results on the WTA tour in 2025.
Raducanu is also the sole director of Harbour 6 Limited which posted a multi-million dollar profit in 2023.
6. Naomi Osaka, Tennis
Following a 15-month break from tennis after welcoming her first child, Naomi Osaka collected $24.9 million in 2024.
Similar to Raducanu, Osaka raked in $23.5m from endorsement deals.
