Female athletes are breaking records, setting trends, and inspiring millions through their powerful presence on social media. These trailblazers excel in their respective fields and leverage platforms like Instagram, Twitter, and TikTok to connect with fans, share behind-the-scenes glimpses of their lives, and advocate for causes they are passionate about. From sharing training routines and personal achievements to fostering conversations on gender equality and mental health, these top female athletes use social media to make a significant impact. In this blog, we spotlight some of the most influential female athletes on social media who are redefining what it means to be a modern sports icon. Whether you’re a fan looking for inspiration or a brand seeking collaboration, these athletes offer a unique blend of athletic prowess, authenticity, and digital savvy.
Top 24 female athletes on social media
Hayley Ashburn
Hayley is a professional climber who thrives on taking thrill-seeking to new heights. For her Instagram followers, Hayley eats lunch on a staggeringly steep mountainside and shows off her solo skills setting up shop on a gravity-defying rock wall.
Karla Cristina
Talented track star Kate is a long jumper with several national titles under her belt. On Instagram, she shares what it’s like balancing training with being diabetic and embraces change in her life on and off the field.
Alex Morgan
Alex is a professional soccer striker with the U.S. National Women’s Team and the San Diego Wave FC. She’s one of the top female athlete influencers on Instagram, where she shares her head-to-toe athletic wear look and promotes the upcoming soccer season for her 10 million followers.
Ronda Rousey
Ronda is a professional WWE wrestler and one of the most well-known names in the game. For her 17.4 million Instagram followers, she shares how she pushes through training despite setbacks and promotes her book.
Sania Mirza
Sania is a former professional tennis player in India with a significant fan following of 13.2 million. The mega Instagram influencer is considered one of many female athlete activists admired for her support of women, and love for fashion and who reflects on her trailblazing career with gratitude.
Serena Williams
A roundup of the top female athletes of all time wouldn’t be complete without including Serena in the mix. The retired tennis superstar is a mega Instagram influencer with 17.2 million followers, where she shares her fashion, love for life and quality time with her family.
Smriti Mandhana
Smriti is a professional cricketer in India. She’s also a mega-influencer on Instagram with 11.8 million followers, where she works with brands she loves and family time.
Simone Biles
Simone is a gold medal-winning Olympic gymnast and an inspiration to young female athletes worldwide for prioritizing her mental health. On Instagram, she treats her 7.5 million followers to deals on her favorite gymnastics wear and shares her marriage to athlete Jonathan Owens.
Jessie Pegula
Jessie is a professional women’s tennis player who dominates in singles and doubles matches. On Instagram, she’s a mid-tier influencer with 196K followers who gets all dressed up to promote her upcoming tournament and celebrates a win on the court.
Hannah Teter
Three-time Olympian Hannah is a snowboarding star. She’s also one of the top female athletes on social media, taking time to reflect on her journey and working with brands she loves to promote to her 295K Instagram followers.
Katie Ledecky
With 643K followers on Instagram, Katie is a world champion swimmer with a slew of Olympic titles and gold medals to her name. She’s also a macro-influencer on Instagram, where she ends a race by taking time to enjoy the sunset and explores the great outdoors in her favorite cold-weather apparel.
Misty Copeland
Misty is a professional ballerina and easily one of the most famous female athletes. Principal dancer for the American Ballet Theatre, known to her 1.8 million Instagram followers as mistyonpointe, shares her love for dance and fashion.
Caroline Garcia
Caroline is a French professional tennis player who ranks among the top singles and doubles players in the world. On Instagram, she celebrates a major victory and keeps the action flowing on the court for her 282K followers.
Alexia Putellas
Alexia is a Spanish soccer star who plays as a midfielder for Barcelona. For her 3.3 million Instagram followers, Alex puts in work on the field and stays humble by thanking her support system for winning an athletic award.
Sydney Leroux
Canadian-American soccer player Sydney is also a mom, sharing her journey in both parts of life with her 1.2 million Instagram followers. On Sydney’s page, you’ll find pictures of life with the team as well as her personal life with family.
Catarina Macario
Catarina is a soccer player for the Chelsea Soccer Club and an Adidas athlete. She has 136K followers on Instagram. She shares tons of glimpses into her soccer life, so if you’re hoping to see the athlete in action, follow her there.
Ilona Maher
With 2.1M followers, Ilona is one of the most followed rugby influencers on TikTok. Ilona’s feed is filled with funny videos and rugby content, of course. Ilona is a Tokyo 2020 and Paris 2024 Olympian, playing for the USA Rugby Sevens. One of her latest career achievements is winning bronze at the 2024 Summer Olympics.
@ilonamaher The Time is Now @Team USA #teamusa #oneforall
♬ original sound - Ilona Maher
Sky Brown
After making history at the 2020 Olympic games at just 13 years old, Sky continues to shine as one of the most accomplished skateboarders and Instagram influencers with 1.3 million followers. When she isn’t skateboarding, Sky shares her love for surfing as well.
Emma McKeon
Emma is an accomplished and popular Australian swimmer with 213K Instagram followers. She is an eleven-time Olympian medalist and an inspiration to her country and followers.
Suni Lee
Suni is an Olympic medalist and one of the most popular American gymnasts of all time. She has collected over 1.7 million followers on Instagram by showcasing her skills on the mat and exciting lifestyle outside of the gym.
Caitlin Clark
Caitlin is a three-time USA Basketball gold medalist who played for the Iowa Women’s basketball team and now the Indiana Fever. She has over 2.7 million followers who see her partnerships with brands like Gatorade, pictures with her teammates after games, and trips to Italy with her friends.
Paula Creamer
Professional golfer Paula shares her golfing journey with 189K followers on Instagram. Her love for the sport is palpable, but you also get a glimpse into her personal life.
Anastasia Ashley
With 1 million followers, Anastasia is a popular professional surfer and influencer who has taken Instagram by storm. You’ll find videos of her on the waves or posts working with her favorite brands.
Messiah Bright
Messiah is a professional soccer player for the Angel City Football Club. She offers tips on her Instagram and shows her love for getting dressed up.
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