50 most influential and talented Australian women in sport
They are the powerhouse Australian women in sport — both on and off the field. Jessica Halloran today ranks our 50 most influential women based on their talent, power and intrigue. FIND OUT WHAT MAKES THEM THE BEST AND VOTE
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They are the 50 women in sport you can’t ignore — chosen for their influence, power, leadership, intrigue and talent.
Topped by soccer superstar Sam Kerr, the list complied by The Sunday Telegraph is the first of its kind for women in sport — and long overdue.
“It’s an honour to be selected,” Kerr said.
“To be able to play for my country and my home town is a privilege and something I never take for granted.
“It’s such an exciting time for women’s sport — and it’s only the beginning.
“Collectively, we are a dominate force. Things are changing for the better and its our time to shine.”
Olympic swim champion Cate Campbell said the list is a “great milestone”.
“So often we see lists of the best male stars, it’s great to compile a list of influential female athletes,” she said.
“It’s great to see sports like cricket, soccer, rugby in the mix as opposed to a sport like swimming, which typically had quite good gender equality.”
Brilliant cricketer Ellyse Perry said the sporting landscape has never been better for women. She said: “It’s best time ever for a female athlete playing sport in Australia.”
TOP WOMEN IN SPORT
1. SAM KERR
Brilliant footballer. Brilliant role model. Kerr nominated for the inaugural women’s Ballon d’Or award and was named the Asian player of the year, the W-League player of the year and NWSL Golden Boot while playing for Chicago Red Stars. She’s a worldwide face of the Nike brand. A vital cog in Australia’s team heading into the World Cup in Paris this year and star of Australian sport.
2. STEPHANIE GILMORE
A brilliant athlete, seven world titles and one of Australia’s top earning female sports stars. Gilmore reportedly made $1.75m (or, just under $5k daily) last season. Equalled Layne Beachley with seven world titles — the pundits don’t doubt for a second she can’t win eight … or more.
3. ELLYSE PERRY
A dual international, having represented Australia in cricket and soccer, is a supremely talented athlete. The star Australian cricketer also holds a number of contracts with companies including the Commonwealth Bank, Fox Sports, Adidas, Mizone, Hisense and Toyota Fleet Financial Services. She recently became the first Big Bash player — male or female — to reach 2000 runs.
4. ALYSSA HEALY
Another superstar Australian cricketer who dominated the recent Twenty20 World Cup and was rightly named the player of the tournament. She is influential on the field and off it. She recently took up a role as a Fox Sports commentator and like Perry, is another excellent role model for the game.
5. CATE CAMPBELL
AOC athletes’ commission board member and Olympic swim champion. A courageous and influential voice out of the pool. Campbell isn’t afraid to address issues concerning her sport or herself. The 100m freestyler has spoken candidly about the disappointment of losing and dealing with internet trolls — an exceptional role model.
6. LIZ CAMBAGE
Arguably best female basketballer in the world at this moment. She is in an influential and fearless voice in her sport. Cambage was named in the prestigious All-WNBA First Team, capping off an impressive season in the United States for the experienced centre. Again expected to be a force for the Opals at next year’s Olympics.
7. SALLY PEARSON
Olympic champion has taken a step into the boardroom this year and has been appointed on the Athletics Australia board. The world champion hurdler, who is aiming for her third Olympics, holds several sponsorships including with Adidas.
8. ASHLEIGH BARTY
She took a break from tennis in 2014 and enjoyed a successful stint playing WBBL for the Brisbane Heat — is now back dominating at the world No. 15. She’s amassed over $US5 million in her career so far. Another top role model on and off the court; winning the 2018 US Open women’s sportsmanship award.
9. KATIE PAGE
The Harvey Norman CEO controls million and millions in sponsorship dollars to women’s and men’s sport. From State of Origin to the super cars. The first ever woman to be appointed to the NRL board is a leading champion when it comes to supporting women’s sport.
10. KATE PALMER
Palmer was announced as the first female appointed to run Sport Australia (the then Australian Sports Commission) in its 31-year history. She recently launched the AIS Talent Program for women to address “what remains a gross under-representation of women in high-performance coaching and executive positions.”
11. CHARLOTTE CASLICK
The Olympic gold medallist, a Sevens Rugby superstar has dominated the field and the marketplace. She big endorsements behind her and her major partners are Pantene, Tradie Underwear, Land Rover, Asics and YoPRO.
There’s been talk of a switch to NRLW but at this stage, she is signed to Rugby until after the Olympics in 2020 and that’s where her focus is.
12. RAELENE CASTLE
The only female boss of a footy code in Australia — ever. She has big job getting Rugby Australia and particularly the Wallabies back on their feet again as the current controversy engulfs the poor performance of Australia’s coach Michael Cheika.
13. SHARNI LAYTON
The giant of Australian netball retired from the sport and then took up AFLW. She is an incredibly popular figure not to mention decorated; Layton claimed two World Championships, two domestic titles and a host of individual accolades. She’s be playing for Collingwood this AFLW season and has already said she’ll be “off the leash”. Has bravely spoken out about her mental health battles.
14. ERIN PHILLIPS
Another dual code superstar. The former Opal and two-time WNBA champion player has been a standout player in the AFLW. In her first season she was the AFLW best and fairest, AFL Players’ Association MVP and the Crows’ club champion award.
15. ARIARNE TITMUS
Last year she became the first woman to win the Commonwealth 400m-800m freestyle double since Tracey Wickham in 1982 and was second to American freestyle superstar Katie Ledecky at August’s Pan Pacs in the same events. The 18-year-old is expected to shine in Tokyo. One to watch.
16. CAITLIN BASSETT
The Australian netball team captain is tasked with leading the Diamonds into a new era upon the retirement of a bunch of big name players — including star Sharni Layton who has gone to play AFL. It’s a period of reinvention for the team as the footy codes grow and take up attention in the marketplace.
17. RUAN SIMS
Sims is not only an impressive footy player for the Roosters and the Jillaroos, but is also carving a solid TV commentary role. She recently became the first woman to sit in the commentary box in a men’s rugby league game on Nine; Tonga versus Australia.
18. DAISY PEARCE
While the AFLW superstar Daisy Pearce is pregnant with twins, and is set to miss this season, she’s built a reputation as a solid commentator off the field for Channel 7’s AFL coverage.
19. CAITLIN FOORD
Matilda’s coach Alen Stajcic says Caitlin Foord “could be one of the best players in the world”. The Matilda’s striker is only 24 but is set for her third World Cup after making her debut as a 16-year-old. High hopes she will star in France later this year.
20. JESSICA FOX
Fox became the most successful paddler of all time in October when she won the C1 (canoe singles) World cup, the K1 (kayak singles) World Cup and gold in both events at the World Championships this year.
21. STEPHANIE BELTRAME
The General Manager of Cricket Australia is the powerhouse behind major media negotiations and deals regarding cricket. She’s the most powerful and influential woman in Cricket Australia.
22. KIM MCCONNIE
McConnie, with four years’ experience working for PepsiCo on its Super Bowl halftime shows, she’s the driving force behind the incredibly successful Big Bash League. The tournament has grown enormously in size. It was responsible for a greatly increased value proportion of the $1.18 billion broadcast deal Seven Network and Fox Sports.
23. PEGGY O’NEAL
Has been president of the powerhouse AFL club Richmond since she was elected in 2013 (beating out former Cricket Australia boss Malcolm Speed). This year the club posted a 4.21 million net profit and the first club in AFL history to reach 100,000 members (they ended the season with 101,562 paid up members).
24. SUSAN ALBERTI
She was one of the driving forces behind the established of a women’s AFL competition and is currently the national ambassador for the women’s AFLW league. In 2018, to encourage more females to be activate and employed in the Sports sector, Alberti donated $1m to the Victoria University to establish the Susan Alberti Women in Sport Chair.
25. REBECCA FRIZELLE
The co-owner of the Gold Coast Titans, a leading businesswoman away from the sporting realm, she is a person who commands immense respect in league. She became the NRL’s first female club chairperson in 2014 before stepping down last September to launch her successful bid to purchase the Titans.
26. AMANDA LAING
The ARL Commissioner and Foxtel executive is another asset at the top of the NRL game. She is an experienced media executive who has worked across free to air television, subscription television, print and digital. She has been a major player in sports rights deals and media mergers and acquisitions.
27. HEATHER REID
A trailblazer in women’s soccer for more than 40 years, the first woman to be appointed as the head of a state football federation, recently became the deputy chair of the FFA. The former boss of Capital footy one of the most influential people in the sport.
28. BELINDA CLARK
Cricket’s Hall of Fame describes Clark as a “pioneer who dragged the women’s game into the mainstream”. The former Australian cricketer, now the interim Cricket Australia high performance boss, has built up a fine reputation for leadership in the organisation. She ran the National Cricket Centre in Brisbane. Her official role is the executive general manager of game and market
29. KARYN MURPHY
One of the busiest people in rugby league. The former police detective does a fine job of leading the NRL integrity unit. The former Jillaroo and Queensland legend recently had the NRLW’s best and fairest medal named in her honour.
30. CAROLINE WILSON
A commanding and fierce voice on AFL issues. The columnist, TV and radio commentator, a Walkley Award winning journalist, has been a force to be reckoned with ever since she started as the first ever (female) chief football writer in 1982.
31. KELLI UNDERWOOD
The first woman to call AFL on television, and continues to do so on the radio, profile continues to rise in the Australian media. The award-winning journalist is the host of the ABC’s Offsiders and appears every week on Fox Sports the Back Page and a regular on Fox Footy as well. Known for her sharp analysis and highly informed opinions.
32. YVONNE SAMPSON
One of the faces of Fox League, Sampson’s star continues to rise. Her knowledge and expertise of rugby league was a standout of last season. Sampson is a brilliant talent, highly informed and the first woman to hold such a prolific role in the coverage of the game.
33. LYNNE ANDERSON
The chairwoman leads the highly popular and supported Bulldogs club. Currently steering the club through a tumultuous time on and off the field.
34. MARINA GO
The former media executive has served as the Wests Tigers chair since the end of 2014. With the help of Go’s leadership the Tigers have doubled membership base and are the only NRL club which has a “zero tolerance” policy of violence against women.
35. TIFFANY SLATER
The head of the NRLW women’s has shown how to treat a women’s footy code with respect in this country. Executed an excellent first season. She used a consultative approach — asking the opinion of all stakeholders (a stark contrast to how AFLW has been run).
development at CA.
36. LEIGH RUSSELL
The Swimming Australia boss, in charge of the most well-funded sport in Australia, Russell been tasked with the job of leading the sport forward into Tokyo 2020. She is the former CEO of Netball Victoria and general manager of people culture at the Essendon football club.
37. MADISON DE ROZARIO
De Rozario became the first Australian to win the elite women’s wheelchair race at the London Marathon, overcoming four-time champion Tatyana McFadden (USA). Before this she won gold at the Commonwealth Games. One to watch at Tokyo Games in 2020.
38. TANYA HOSCH
A leading AFL executive. She is the general Manager of Inclusion and Social policy at the Australian Football League. A champion of indigenous issues and an impressive leader.
39. SAM MOSTYN
The first ever female AFL commissioner, currently a Sydney Swans board member and co-founder of the Minerva network — a networking group designed to promote women in sport. Talented and highly influential.
40. MEG DAVIS
An outstanding member of the ARL commission. An admitted solicitor of the Supreme Court of the Australian Capital Territory, Professor Davis is a constitutional law professor specialising in constitutional design and constitution-building and one of the nation’s leading public constitutional lawyers.
41. SIMONE WILKIE
Major General Simone Wilkie, who has served in Iraq and Afghanistan, is a member of the Australian Defence Force board of management and the ADF Sports Council, has served on the AFL Commission since 2014.
42. GAB TRAINOR
As a former lawyer, journalist and public sector executive she brings a wealth of diverse business experience to the AFL Commission. She joined the Commission in 2016.
43. CHRISTINA MATTHEWS
She was in the final few for the Cricket Australia chief executive role. Has executed her role exceptionally as the WACA chief executive. A bold, sharp and fearless leader.
44. SAMMY BREMNER
The experienced player, she debuted Jillaroos at the 2013 World Cup and was part of the inaugural State of Origin’s NSW team, is one of the most well known NRLW faces and a strong media commentator.
Bremner provided commentary this season on Fox Sports’ coverage of the NRLW final. She has represented New South Wales since 2011 and has been part of two World Cups wins with the Jillaroos.
45. LIZ ELLIS
The former Australian netball captain has emerged as a sharp commentator on social issues. The columnist and TV host and commentator has regularly struck a cord with her exceptional analysis of big issues facing Australian sport.
46. JODIE HAWKINS
Former media executive turned general manager of the Sydney Sixers Big Bash franchise. The tireless and talented Sydney Sixers general manager has helped oversee a rapid growth in the franchise and its fan base.
47. BROWYN KLEI
Klei is the general manger of both the Adelaide Strikers T20 cricket teams. She has a reputation as a leader in the sports industry and is also Deputy Chair of Sports South Australia.
48. LISA ALEXANDER
Last year it was announced that Alexander will serve her 10th straight season as the Diamonds coach. Her recently announced contract will take the Australian netball team past this year’s world cup and through to the end of their 2020 campaign. Also a regular panellist on the ABC’s Offsiders.
49. ELENI GLOUFTSIS
The first woman to umpire an AFL match in 2017. She remains a regular umpire for the game. Leading the way for aspiring female umpires and referees across sport. Recently nominated as a young South Australian of the Year.
50. SALLY FITZGIBBONS
The surfing star has 1.2 million young fans that follow her every move on social media. The 28-year-old, currently ranked seventh in the world, has a number of commercial deals including with Land Rover and Burt’s Bees.
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