Coco Gauff tops Sportico's highest-paid female athletes list for third year running; Sabalenka, Keys make major jumps

Sportico, a sports business publication, released its annual findings of the top female athlete earners on Wednesday. And once again, tennis remains a leading powerhouse as the WTA’s Top 3-ranked players all landed in the top three on this 2025 list.

For the third consecutive year, Coco Gauff stood on top. Prior to winning her second major singles title at Roland Garros, the Delray Beach, Fla. resident departed the Roger Federer co-founded Team8 agency in favor to launch Coco Gauff Enterprises "powered" by WME. All in all, $23 million of Gauff’s $31 million brought home came off the court thanks to partnerships like New Balance, Bose, Mercedes-Benz and Chase Bank.

Flashback: Gauff's 2023 debut as highest-paid female athlete

🖥️📲 Replay the '25 Roland Garros women's final on the Tennis Channel App!

A major mover in the year-over-year standings is the person right behind the American: Aryna Sabalenka, who was fifth in 2024. The world No. 1 became the fourth woman after Serena Williams, Naomi Osaka and Gauff to cross the $30 million mark. Her switch from IMG to Osaka’s co-founded EVOLVE has seemingly paid off, as the four-time Grand Slam winner saw her sponsorship earnings increase from $8 million to $15 million—a figure that matched her '25 WTA season-high prize money total.

Iga Swiatek, who captured her sixth major title and first grass-court trophy at Wimbledon, netted $23.1 million to come in third. The Pole maintained her $13 million in endorsements to go with her sizable take-home pay on the court.

Zheng Qinwen was No. 3 among all female athletes in endorsement income at $19 million. A portfolio that includes Nike, Alipay and Dior enabled the 2024 Olympic champion to place fifth despite an injury-shortened season.

The most notable newcomer to the 2025 list? No. 8 Madison Keys. A maiden major title at the Australian Open yielded more than an elusive piece for her trophy cabinet, for Keys racked up $9 million in endorsements to lift her annual earnings to $13.4 million. WTA Finals title holder Elena Rybakina and Osaka followed the 30-year-old to round out the top ten.

Amanda Anisimova (No. 12), Jessica Pegula (No. 13) and Venus Williams (No. 14) completed the spectacular representation for women’s tennis.