Mary Earps (left), Coco Gauff (center) and Susie Wolf (right) are all on our list
Influence : the ability to influence the character, development or behavior of someone or something.
In sports, women exert influence in many forms: athletes who inspire the next generation; coaches developing elite athletes; administrators with the power to effect change… All of these and more are featured in the 2023 countdown of the 50 most influential women in sports.
50. Allison Felix, former athlete, entrepreneur
Former American sprinter Felix is the most decorated track and field athlete of all time. She is credited with being one of the people who spoke out about Nike's lack of pay protection for pregnant athletes, prompting the brand to improve its maternity policies in 2019. Since the death of her relay teammate Tori Bowie this year, she's been talking a lot. on maternal health, highlighting that black women in the United States are “three times more likely to die from pregnancy-related causes than white women.” She is also the founder of Saysh, a sneaker brand designed for women's feet.
Molly McElwee
49. Emily Fraser, Matchroom Sports Director
If Barry Hearn is to be believed, Matchroom is the best sports promotion company in the world, and one of its growing forces is Fraser, a group director of a company whose turnover topped £214 million in its latest accounts. As CEO of Matchroom Multi Sport, Fraser focused on developing sports such as billiards, fishing, netball and basketball. But her influence throughout the organization is growing.
Jeremy Wilson
48. Hannah Cockcroft, Paralympic athlete
Cockroft, the all-time great Paralympic athlete, added two more world titles to her tally in 2023 and has a chance to cement her legend status if she can win gold in Paris next summer at a fourth Paralympic Games in a row. An eloquent speaker who hopes to break into the media in her retirement, Cockcroft has also been an influential role model and supporter of the Paralympics.
Jeremy Wilson
Hannah Cockcroft is a seven-time Paralympic champion. Photo: PA 47. Joy Neville, rugby referee
Trailblazer Neville made history by becoming the first woman to officiate a men's Rugby World Cup. The former Ireland captain was one of seven telematch officials at this year's tournament in France. It marked another major milestone for Neville, who became the first female TMO in a top-level men's Test – Wales v Georgia in 2020.
Fiona Thomas
46. Katie Archibald, cyclist
A force of nature on the circuit, Laura Kenny credited Archibald with orchestrating their remarkable win at Madison in Tokyo. But it's not just Archibald's strength as a rider that sets her apart. The 29-year-old has dealt with grief since Tokyo, including trauma, family problems and the tragic death of her partner Rab Wardell. Her decision to go public and talk about her grief was powerful, and her desire to return to glory in Paris the following year was inspiring.
Tom Carey
45. Preeti Shetty, Director of Brentford Football Club
Shetty became the first British South Asian woman in a Premier League boardroom when she was appointed non-executive director at Brentford in August 2021. She is also a director of London Sport and a trustee of Street Child United, a charity dedicated to the use of sport. change the way the world treats street children. She has worked in football for over ten years and is one of a growing number of women working at Premier League clubs, such as Karren Brady (West Ham vice-chairman), Donna-Maria Cullen (Tottenham chief executive), Zara Al – Kadsi (Chelsea Commercial Director) and Juliet Slot (Arsenal Commercial Director).
Sam Dean
44. Eli Donnelly, CEO of More Than Equal
Donnelly, a former senior civil servant who spent a couple of years working in Downing Street, has a wealth of experience in politics and journalism. But she also plays a significant role in sports and is a champion among female athletes. Donnelly created Scrumqueens.com, an award-winning women's rugby website, and is a board member of the International Working Group on Women and Sport. Donnelly has also worked in the senior management of Sport England and is now chief executive of More Than Equal, which aims to identify, nurture and develop female racing drivers.
Tom Carey
43. Katarina Johnson-Thompson, athlete
Finished third in the BBC Sports Personality of the Year award, Johnson-Thompson had a stunning 2023 that saw her regain the world heptathlon title after serious injury. However, there could be even more next year. Athletics remains the most preeminent of all Olympic sports, and a gold medal in Paris would catapult her fame, influence and influence as a sporting role model into the stratosphere.
Jeremy Wilson
42. Stephanie Hilborn, CEO of Women in Sports
Hilborn spent nearly five years leading Women in Sports during a period of unprecedented growth in the popularity of women's sports. Her organization's recent statement calling for a protected category for all born girls and women at every level of competitive sport was an important intervention in the transgender debate. There is also a clear sense that governing bodies are now moving in the direction she advocates.
Jeremy Wilson
41. Hannah Mills, sailor
The most successful Olympic sailor of all time is now paving the way for women in SailGP and the America's Cup. Mills, 35, is the strategist for Ben Ainslie's team in the previous series, but it's surely only a matter of time before she captains her own boat. For the America's Cup, Mills heads up the Athena Pathway program, which focuses on British women's and youth participation. Then there's her work as an environmental activist: Mills started the Big Plastic Promise campaign when she was still an Olympic sailor.
Tom Carey
Hannah Mills leads the women's field not only in SailGP, but also in the America's Cup. Photo: SailGP/Adam Warner 40. Harmanpreet Kaur, cricketer
As India's captain, she carries the hopes of a nation whose interest in women's cricket is thriving. A beautifully elegant slugger, she leads a precocious team that is rapidly improving while also plying her trade around the world in franchise leagues. It was a big year for Kaur as she led Mumbai Indians to their first Women's Premier League title and became the first Indian woman to be named one of Wisden's five Cricketers of the Year.
Will McPherson
39. Catherine Harby-Williams, CEO, Australian Netball Players' Association
Harby-Williams played a central role in securing a new contract for the Australian Super Netball League players. The former Diamonds captain helped end a 10-month pay dispute with Netball Australia, securing players an 11 per cent pay rise as well as a greater share of competition revenue. “This is a stepping stone to even greater achievements in sport,” she said.
Sarah Mockford
38. Mikaela Shiffrin, skier
Shiffrin is a phenomenon. The most successful World Cup skier in history, male or female. At 28, the American has already won 91 world championships and is quickly approaching 100. She is also a two-time Olympic champion. Her career was nearly derailed by the death of her father in 2020, but she has bounced back with her usual brilliance and found her voice in other areas, particularly the gender pay gap.
Tom Carey
p>37. Mary Lou Bon, President, Titleist Golf Ball
The American is regularly named the most powerful woman in golf, which is not surprising given her status at Acushnet, the Massachusetts-based equipment giant. Its Titleist brand has a global market share of nearly 50 percent, producing more than 90 million balls per year. On tour, popularity is even higher, with approximately 65 percent of pros using the ProV1 or ProV1X. Bohn heads a company that completely dominates its sector, and despite new rules that reduce the distance balls can travel, there's no reason to think Titleist's grip will loosen any time soon.
Jamie Corrigan< /p>36. Tess Howard, hockey player
Howard, who scored England's winning goal in last year's Commonwealth Games final, introduced changes to hockey equipment rules following the publication of peer-reviewed research showing how the gender of school sports uniforms plays a major role in the dropout rate of teenage girls from the sport. After presenting their findings to England Hockey, the governing body relaxed its rules and allowed players to wear shorts. The International Ice Hockey Federation followed suit.
Fiona Thomas
35. Rebecca Welch, football referee
Welch is set to make history this weekend when she becomes the first woman to referee a Premier League match, Fulham v Burnley on Saturday. This year she became the first female judge of the championship. The 40-year-old began refereeing in 2010 and has already taken part in Premier League matches: she was the fourth official for Manchester United's match against Fulham in November.
Sam Dean
Rebecca Welch will make history when she takes charge of Fulham v Burnley “December 23. Photo: PA/Rebecca Welch 34. Claire Connor, Deputy Director General of the ECB
Connor has held many hats in the game: England captain, teacher, director of women's cricket and now deputy chief executive of the England and Wales Cricket Board. This makes her the highest-ranking woman in cricket in this country, and she led the “overall response” to the Independent Cricket Equality Commission's report on diversity and inclusion. She is also the Chairperson of the ICC Women's Cricket Committee.
Will McPherson
33. Amanda Staveley, co-owner of Newcastle United
The British businesswoman is not only the public face of Newcastle's ownership group, but has become such an integral part of the Saudi Public Investment Fund that she played a key role in initiating the planned merger of LIV Golf and the PGA Tour. Although the 50-year-old only owns 10 per cent of Newcastle, she attends every Premier League meeting. She has also been a driving force behind the professionalism of the women's team.
Luke Edwards
32. Joe Tang, agent
As CEO of talent management agency Tongue Tied Management, she plays a big role off the field. Her team's client list includes Leah Williamson, Jill Scott and Lutalo Muhammad, as well as TV personalities such as Dion Dublin and Kelly Somers. Tong secured Emma Hayes' landmark contract with US Soccer, making her the highest-paid female coach in world soccer. The former BBC Sport reporter is also a board member of Women in Football
Tom Harry
31. Bianca Williams, athlete
After she was stopped and searched by police along with her partner Ricardo dos Santos in July 2020, Williams used her experience to speak out against what she called a “culture of racism” within the Metropolitan Police. In October, the 29-year-old British sprinter criticized an online fundraiser for Jonathan Clapham and Sam Franks, two police officers sacked over the incident. Despite the torrent of abuse on social media, Williams said she has “no regrets” about reporting the matter.
Fiona Thomas
30. Sally Munday, Director General of Sport UK
Munday's potential power over sports governing bodies is enormous. Her approach was conciliatory and she oversaw a subtle shift from a “no compromise” mantra to a “medals and more” rhetoric that emphasizes the importance of how you win. However, the sport is still largely funded according to its medal potential, and concerns remain about some aspects of the governance and conduct of Olympic sport.
Jeremy Wilson
29. Sam Kerr, football player
Arguably the world's best striker – and the first female footballer to appear on the global cover of a FIFA video game – the 30-year-old has had a difficult but rewarding year. She won a double with Chelsea and was the poster girl for the Women's World Cup in her native Australia – helping the Matildas become Australia's most beloved sports team. A calf injury saw her drop out of the group stage, but she returned in the knockout to score a stunning goal in the semi-final against England.
Luke Edwards
28. Victoria Kozhevina Raynal, General Director of Mercury/13
Cogevina Raynal's mission is simple: to destroy the myth that women's football cannot be profitable. The Greek-Argentine businesswoman heads the Mercury/13 group, which plans to invest $100m (£79m) in women's football, buying football clubs in 13 different countries in Europe and Latin America. Mercury/13, named after the 13 women who passed the astronaut trials in 1960 but were subsequently rejected by NASA, includes former England striker Eniola Aluko. Since the consortium announced its plans in August, nearly 200 teams have reached out to them. “We need to rewrite the rules of football ownership and rethink how this business can be sustainable in the long term,” she said.
Tom Harry
27. Sue Day, Chief Financial Officer, Rugby Football Union
The former England defender and captain is the de facto deputy chief executive of English rugby's governing body, under chief executive Bill Sweeney. She helped the organization overcome Covid-related challenges and achieve an operating profit of £4 million in 2022/23. Her role will be key in negotiating hybrid contracts for England men's national team players. As for the women's game, it is heavily involved in plans for the 2025 FIFA World Cup at home.
Sarah Mockford
Sue Day won 59 caps for England. Photo: Getty Images/Tom Dulat 26. Nat Sciver-Brant, cricketer
In women's cricket now, no batter hits the ball with the crisp cleanliness of Skiver-Brant while also being brilliant in the fielding and bowling. That's why England look a little lost without her and why she received £320,000 in the first Women's Premier League auction. Skiver-Brunt has also been a great ambassador off the field, speaking well about her mental health and her relationship with wife Katherine Skiver-Brunt.
Will McPherson
25. Susie Wolf, Managing Director of F1 Academy
Wolf is one of the leading women in motorsports. This year she was appointed head of the Formula One Academy, a women's-only single-seater racing championship aimed at finding the next female Formula One driver. She was not afraid to point out the lack of participation of top Formula 1 drivers in this mission. She also called the recent short-lived investigation into her and husband Toto Wolff over privacy violations “misogynistic.”
Molly McElwee
24. Lucy Fraser, Secretary of State DCMS
As the Cabinet minister in charge of sport, Fraser wields enormous theoretical power. At the Conservative Party conference she highlighted her department's call for governing bodies to address transgender regulation by prioritizing safety and fairness over inclusion, but football and cricket continue to review their recommendations.
Jeremy Wilson
23 . Sarina Wigman, women's manager from England
Wigman's England lost 1-0 to Spain in the World Cup final, but her words off the field highlighted her as a figure for women's empowerment. She dedicated her UEFA Women's Coach of the Year award to Spain, whose success was overshadowed by the behavior of former president Luis Rubiales. “The game has grown enormously, but women's football and society still have a long way to go,” she said.
Fiona Thomas
22. Don Aponte, NFL Director of Football Operations
Aponte is the highest-ranking woman in the NFL, the most lucrative league in professional sports. Her role oversees the operational and administrative side of the league, from refereeing to expanding the list of international games. She earned praise this year for her handling of Buffalo Bills quarterback Damar Hamlin's on-field cardiac arrest. She will be in her 30th NFL job next year and is considered the successor to Commissioner Roger Goodell.
Tom Gibbs
21. Marie-Odile Amaury, President of Groupe Amaury
Dubbed the “First Lady” of the Tour de France, Amaury wields considerable influence as president of Groupe Amaury, which heads French sports daily L'Equipe, as well as the Amaury sports organization, which owns some of the world's most famous cycling races, including the Tour . Amaury, now in her eighties, is credited with keeping the Tour alive during the pandemic. Revenue last year rose to €550 million (£470 million), up 17 percent.
Tom Carey
The Marie-Odile Amaury family has run the Tour de France since 1965. Photo: Getty Images/Frank Fyfe 20. Karen Carney, former footballer, television presenter
Former England footballer and now pundit Carney has conducted a major review of the future of domestic women's football. Among her key recommendations were finding a dedicated broadcast space, increasing the professionalism of the Women's Super League and Championship, and addressing the lack of diversity in the women's game. Carney also continues to be a successful pundit in men's and women's football.
Fiona Thomas
19. Rafaela Pimenta, agent
The Brazilian is one of the most powerful super agents in the world, with a stellar list of clients led by Erling Haaland. She is known to be a tough negotiator, but also takes a holistic interest in the players. Pimenta is also a champion of women in sports and spoke about the sexism she faced in her job. “I've seen a lot of men who couldn't win an argument put you down and say, 'Okay, you're a woman.' What do you know about football? – she said in an interview with Telegraph Sport last year.
Jason Burt
18. Laura McAllister, UEFA vice-president
McAllister, the first woman to serve as vice-president of European football's governing body and the first Welsh representative on UEFA's executive committee, began her four-year term in April after running unopposed in the election process . The former Wales captain, who won 24 caps for his country, is currently the only woman on the UEFA executive committee.
Tom Harry
17. Jenny Hermoso, soccer player
World Cup winner Hermoso found herself at the center of a global media storm when Luis Rubiales, then president of the Spanish football federation, kissed her on the lips after the World Cup final. Rubiales was later banned from football for three years, but the incident, described as Spain's “MeToo moment”, prompted society to demand that women's voices be heard and believed. Hermoso was one of more than 80 players who signed a letter calling for systemic change in the Spanish federation.
Fiona Thomas
16. Abi Tierney, Chief Executive, Welsh Rugby Union
Tierney will take up her role in Wales next month, becoming the first female head of a top rugby union in the northern hemisphere – and just a year after the WRU was plagued by allegations of racism, sexism, misogyny and homophobia. The former Director General of Passports, Visas and Immigration at the Home Office is no stranger to taking on big challenges and she has now emerged as one of the most powerful women in British sports administration. She says: “Some people thrive running stable organizations, others thrive when faced with complex challenges, so this is my dream job.”
Gavin Mairs
15 . Nikki Doucet, CEO of NewCo
Canadian Doucet, a former banker who previously worked in a senior role at sportswear brand Nike, is now the most powerful administrator in English women's club football, having been appointed as the first chief executive of the Women's Super League and Women's Championship. Doucet is a leading figure in NewCo, the as-yet-unnamed company that will take over the running of the Football Association's top leagues by next season.
Tom Harry
Nikki Doucet will manage and oversee all aspects of the Women's Super League and Women's Championship. Photo: LinkedIn 14. Debbie Hewitt, Chairman of the Football Association
The former chief executive of the RAC became the first chairman of the FA in January 2022. The 60-year-old later became the first woman to beat a male opponent to win a seat on the FIFA Council as vice-president. Hewitt is not afraid to speak his mind and is helping to bring about positive change within the FA, including much-needed reforms to its board. In a report published by FIFA this month, Hewitt accused former Spanish federation president Luis Rubiales of “inappropriate” behavior towards England players at the Women's World Cup awards ceremony, including forcibly kissing Lucy Bronze.
Jason Burt< /p>13. Lise Klaveness, President of the Norwegian FA
Klaveness, a former international footballer, worked as a lawyer, assistant judge and special adviser at Norway's National Bank before being elected president of the Norwegian federation in 2022. Auld rose to prominence last year with her scathing attacks on FIFA and Qatar, saying the World Cup was handled in “unacceptable ways.” She returned to Qatar last month and told FIFA that “FIFA has an obligation to deliver the legacy it promised.”
Sam Dean
12. Sulekha Varma, Aintree Course Secretary
Varma suffered something of a false start as Aintree's first female course secretary when the 2020 Grand National was canceled two months later due to Covid. The world's most famous race is under pressure from many sides, including the animal rights lobby, and she is its guardian. She leads decisions on any physical changes to the course, from lowering or moving fences to, as she did this year, reducing the field size from 40 to 34. It's a big responsibility.
Marcus Armytage
11. Debbie Jevans, Chairman of the All England Club
Jevans has already held some of the most high-profile roles in British sport, including being Locog's sporting director during the 2012 Olympics and being chief executive of the 2015 Rugby World Cup. She is now chairman of the All England Club – the first woman to hold the post – and plays a key role in Wimbledon's expansion plans. About her goals, she says: “One of our goals is, as you say, to demonstrate how open we are. I really want Wimbledon to be ambitious: to strive to win it, to strive to be a part of it.”
Simon Briggs
10. Vinesh Phogat, wrestler
A three-time Commonwealth champion and one of India's most accomplished wrestlers, Phogat was instrumental in creating a “Me Too” moment in Indian sports after accusing Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, chief executive of the Wrestling Federation of India, of sexual harassment. Along with other women wrestlers, the 29-year-old suspended preparations for this year's World Championships to stage a series of sit-ins in Delhi, jeopardizing India's medal prospects at next year's Olympics. Her actions sparked a national conversation about patriarchy in sports and the treatment of female athletes. Singh has denied all allegations.
Fiona Thomas
9. Baroness Grey-Thompson, former Paralympian, administrator
One of Britain's greatest and at the same time most practical sportsmen. Gray-Thompson followed her remarkable achievements – 11 Paralympic gold medals, more than 30 world records and six London Marathon victories – with a distinguished career in politics and sports management. She carried out a review of responsibilities in sport and, although the recommendation to appoint a sports ombudsman has not yet been implemented, other important reforms have followed. She is also a strong advocate for physical activity, campaigning in particular to improve opportunities for girls and women and to ensure access to sport for fans and participants with disabilities.
Jeremy Wilson
8. Charlotte Edwards, cricket coach
Not all great athletes can translate their skills into great coaches. But Edwards was England's greatest women's batter and now women's cricket's first super-coach. She won the Big Bash in Australia, the Women's Premier League in India, the Hundred and both regional titles in England, including the title named after her. An excellent talent scout and developer with excellent communication skills, she is respected by everyone she encounters. It's a question of when, not if, she will coach England, but for now Edwards is very happy gaining experience at a lucrative franchise network.
Will McPherson
7. Emma Hayes, Chelsea women's team coach
The most successful coach in Women's Super League history, winning a record sixth title in 2023, Hayes will soon become the highest-paid women's soccer coach in the world after agreeing to take charge of the US women's national team. The 47-year-old is always willing to speak her mind and recently discussed the “systemic misogyny” women can face in sport. She also continues to advocate for further advancements in women's health research and for the creation of elite work environments specifically designed for women.
Tom Harry
6. Coco Gauff, tennis player
Gauff's big year on court was when she won her first major title at the US Open and earned almost £18 million, according to the Sportico list, which claimed she was the highest-paid athlete of 2023. Politically, she continued to be the highest paid female athlete of 2023. the most active player of the tour. One example occurred during the title fight in New York, when its semifinal was interrupted for almost an hour by climate change protesters. Gauff refused to criticize the intervention, saying: “I believe in climate change… I know it's about the environment. I believe in this 100 percent.”
Simon Briggs
Coco Gauff claimed her first Grand Slam title at the US Open. Photo: AP/Frank Franklin II 5. Jessica Berman, NWSL Commissioner
Berman led transformational change in her first year leading the National Women's Soccer League of America. She was instrumental in securing the division's record £200 million media rights deal – 40 times more than its previous TV deal. Attendance at NWSL games this year topped 1.2 million, up a quarter from the previous season. Berman, who is also a trained lawyer, is credited with managing the fallout from the sex abuse scandal that rocked the league in 2021.
Fiona Thomas
4. Billie Jean King, former tennis player, activist
King made a name for herself as the founder of the WTA, becoming a 39-time Grand Slam tennis champion in singles and doubles and winning the Battle of the Sexes. Although she recently turned 80, she remains a force for change in global sport, as well as a feminist and LGBTQ icon. In the 1970s, she founded the Women's Sports Foundation, which continues to help women and girls develop in sports to this day. She is also a member of the ownership groups of Major League Baseball's Los Angeles Dodgers, Angel City Women's Soccer Club, the Los Angeles Sparks women's basketball team and the new US Women's Hockey League.
Molly McElwee< /p>3. Alison Brittain, Chairman of the Premier League
Having made history this year by becoming the first female chairman of the Premier League – the most powerful and profitable football league in the world – Brittain comes to football after holding key leadership roles at several of the UK's biggest banks, and more recently after a spell as CEO of hotel firm Whitbread. Following the Premier League's decision to deduct 10 points from Everton for breaching profitability and sustainability rules, it also responded to accusations that the deduction was an “abuse of process”, telling Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham that the league had fully refuted his allegations.
Tom Harry
2. Simone Biles, gymnast
This year, Biles solidified her place as the greatest gymnast of all time; So far, she has won 33 medals at the Olympics and World Championships. Her dominance on the mat has made her a superstar (she became the first woman to land a double lance Yurchenko at this year's World Championships), and her activism and advocacy for victims of violence has inspired change throughout her sport. Her journey from twisties – a mental block that saw her crash out of several Tokyo Games finals and away from the sport – and return to the Paris Olympics will be one of the sporting stories of the year.
Molly McElwee
Simone Biles returned to gymnastics after working on her mental health and won four golds medals at the October World Championships. Photo: Reuters/Yves Herman 1. Mary Erps, soccer player
BBC Sports Personality of the Year; FIFA Women's Best Goalkeeper; winner of the “Golden Glove” of the Women's World Championship; winner of the Women's Super League Golden Glove; fifth place in the Women's Ballon d'Or voting, the highest ever ranking for a goalkeeper; Vogue Forces for Change Award winner; now tops the list of the most influential women in sport.
Earps deserves the number 1 spot not only because of her exploits on the field in helping England reach their first World Cup final (men's or women's) since 1966, but and because of the way she inspires people with her actions off the football field.
She was part of an “empowered” England team that published a letter on the eve of the World Cup expressing disappointment with the Football Association for failing to reach an agreement on bonuses – a pay dispute that was resolved in September. She spoke out about Nike's failure to produce replica England goalkeeper shirts, calling the decision “harmful” and “unacceptable”, and has since seen the company change its policy, with her shirt selling out in five minutes earlier this month. She has also been open about her struggles with the ups and downs of elite sport, showcasing her personality to her million followers on TikTok.
With Leah Williamson and Beth Mead out injured for much of 2023, Earps has become much of the face of the Lionesses – even signing to captain England – and has used that platform to great effect.< /p>
Sarah Mockford
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