The Most Popular Female Athletes in the U.S.

The best players in the NBA, NFL, MLB, and NHL are some of the most sought-after athletes in the sports world. However, those sports leagues aren’t the only ones worth following. Women’s athletics have increased in popularity throughout the years and has sparked interest from fans around the country. Alice Coachman, Toni Stone, and Babe Didrikson Zaharias were a few founders of women’s participation in professional sports. Thanks to them, we can appreciate the impressive skills of the greatest female athletes of our time.

Although there are many competitors, which female athlete is the most popular in each state? Is it Serena Williams, Danica Patrick, or Simone Biles? We analyzed local search data for the most popular names in women’s sports. You may be surprised by who your state’s most searched female athlete is.

The Most Popular Female Athlete in Every U.S. State

When looking at the data, it’s safe to say that the athletes’ birth states and where their current teams are located are potential influencers in search results. For example, it is easy to assume that four-time World Cup champion Lindsey Vonn is top-ranked in Minnesota because she is from the Gopher State. Similarly, there is no wonder Diana Taurasi is the trendiest female athlete in Connecticut after leading the UConn Huskies to three straight NCAA championships in the early 2000s.

Have you ever heard of Love & Basketball? Diana Taurasi’s spouse, Penny Taylor, exemplifies this idiom. Taylor is a retired professional Australian basketball player and assistant coach. Taurasi and Taylor celebrated their love by getting married in Phoenix in 2017. Coincidentally, Taurasi was also the most searched female athlete in the state of Arizona.

Other than her home state of Minnesota, Lindsey Vonn was also the most searched female athlete in Colorado — the first U.S. state many people think of when they think of skiing. Therefore, it doesn’t lead to much questioning for Lindsey Vonn being the top-searched female athlete in the Centennial State.

Female athletes participating in basketball, track & field, and soccer were more popular than athletes in other sports. Florence Griffith Joyner, Margaret Court, and Alex Morgan tied for the top three overall, each winning out multiple states. Flo Jo and Margaret Court are often considered the GOAT in their respective sports, so this may not be surprising. 

Despite not winning out in the sunny state of California, Alex Morgan plays for the San Diego Wave and is the unanimous best striker in professional women’s soccer. Her husband, Servando Carrasco, has retired from soccer and is now a stay-at-home husband — doesn’t that sound serendipitous? 

Closing Thoughts

As women’s athletics continue to become more popular in the United States, fans learn even more about the best performers and actively search for legendary players of the modern era. We may see young prospective athletes such as Breanna Stewart and Naomi Osaka taking over some states in the upcoming years.

If you’re an avid fan, you may know that your favorite player has a wedding band next to their championship ring. Earlier this year, Simone Biles, the most decorated gymnast in history, became engaged to Houston Texans veteran Jonathan Owens. Although the Biles-Owens wedding date hasn’t been announced yet, you don’t have to hold off on yours! If you and your significant other are ready to take the next step, explore our selection of timeless rings. We offer high-quality fine jewelry and lots of ways to customize. As your friend & jeweler, we’re here to help in taking your relationship to the next level.

Methodology

To gather the data for the most admired names in women’s sports, we turned to ESPN, Top End Sports, and Stadium Talk. After gathering a list of 50 of the most iconic female athletes, we turned to Google Trends search volume over the past 12 months. We analyzed the data to map out the most popular in every U.S. state.