Watching a WNBA game today is power and promise in action: the power of its foundational legacy and the promise of the next generation. Talent and thrilling competition have always been in the league; now the world knows it. The momentum of the past several years – parents taking their daughters and sons to WNBA games, kids lining up to get player autographs, NBA players and Hollywood stars wearing the league’s orange hoodie – has led to this 28th season’s sold-out arenas, record-breaking viewership, and unprecedented merchandise sales. A well-deserved reflection on the grit and determination of the hundreds of women athletes who have steadily built the league from its tipoff on June 21, 1997, on.

But this 2024 season is special. The next-level buzz happening around the women’s game is due in large part to one of the most star-studded and stacked rookie classes in the league’s recent history. The 2024 WNBA Draft class not only brought their talent to the league, they also came with  social media influence and marketing clout – which helps further grow WNBA coverage, viewership, and followers. This group is changing the game. For their collective impact building on the foundation and propelling the game to new heights, the WNBA rookie class of 2024 is receiving the Women’s Sports Foundation’s first ever Next Gen Award.

This rookie class was drafted into a WNBA that looks far different than it did when the formation of the league was first announced in April of 1996. That inaugural 1997 season, and many seasons that followed, came before the proliferation of smartphones, social media platforms and NIL deals. These powerful tools have helped players build their own brands and become recognizable household names – which in turn has helped the league reach a formidable $1 billion valuation, making it the first women’s sports league valued in the billions. No small feat, it has taken investment over time at all levels of the sports ecosystem to achieve.

Watching the WNBA 2024 rookie class fiercely compete on the court and influence culture off the court, is witnessing the impact of Title IX play out in live action. This landmark law has led to increased opportunities for girls and women – in basketball and beyond – and as a result, we have progressively seen more players with remarkable talent vying for the 144 roster spots throughout the league’s 12 teams. Title IX’s 37 words changed the trajectory of women’s sports that this season’s rookies have benefited from throughout their lives.

History in sport is both past and present; a collection of firsts on which foundations are built, records are made and in time surpassed by the next generation. Over its almost three-decade history, players of the WNBA have helped their teams win back-to-back league championships, led Team USA to winning gold in a  record eight straight Olympics, and showed the world how a league dedicates an entire season to social justice. All of this and more helped grow the game and pave the path for the generation that followed.

Today, we see rookies such as Angel Reese set a new WNBA record for the most consecutive double-doubles (15), Caitlin Clark compiled the most points, assists and 3-point field goals ever made by a rookie in WNBA history, Rickea Jackson scoring over 400 points, and more. A fitting return on the pre-Draft excitement that saw massive lines wrapped around the Barclays Center and a record 2.45M viewers tune in, broadcast partners commit to increasing the number of nationally-televised games, and for the first time in league history, three teams sold out their season ticket plans well ahead of May’s season tipoff.

It’s clear that the future of women’s basketball is bright. And in this moment, it is important to give a “shout out’ to all the women that built this sport and League, those that came before its formation, and those that have been building it for the last 28 years. And now, here’s to the Next Gen who will boldly carry the torch forward.

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It has been 25 years since the U.S. Women’s National Soccer Team’s legendary penalty shoot-out against China during the 1999 FIFA Women’s World Cup final, which secured the team — who became known as “The 99ers™” — a victory in front of 90,000 fans at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, Calif. It is a triumph that is remembered for catalyzing so much more than just winning a game. It was a moment that inspired millions around the world and changed the trajectory of women’s sports forever. What makes The 99ers deserving of the Women’s Sports Foundation’s Wilma Rudolph Courage Award is not only their grit, power and determination demonstrated on the pitch that day, but also how they have bravely used their platform to advocate for critical gains in soccer and, more broadly, for girls and women, that have reverberated throughout the sports ecosystem.

The 99ers’ fight for equality, including better pay and working conditions, has been well documented, but some may not realize that their uphill battle began a few years prior to that epic Women’s World Cup final in Pasadena. 

Ahead of the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta — where women’s soccer made its debut — the U.S. Soccer Federation locked out nine players from training camp for advocating for equitable contracts between the women’s and men’s teams. After several weeks, their tenacity paid off. They secured new contracts that guaranteed bonuses for making the podium, not just winning gold, as well as previously unheard-of basic benefits, including paid pregnancy leave, severance pay, additional performance bonuses and paid childcare for two of the players who had young children. Though the nine holdouts’ first-ever chance to compete at the Olympic Games was on the line, they knew they could use their platform for good and make a difference for future generations. They returned to the team in early 1996 and went on to win gold in Atlanta.

Their Olympic gold put women’s soccer on the national map; yet ahead of the 1999 Women’s World Cup, the team found itself in another dispute, this time against FIFA, which wanted the World Cup matches to be played in small stadiums solely in the Northeast. Confident in their ability to draw big crowds fitting for a global sport tournament, the team petitioned FIFA, arguing that the women’s tournament should be played inside big stadiums in major cities, just like the men did in 1994. Despite offering virtually no financial support, FIFA gave them the green light. The team bet on itself, and they won big. They played first in front of a sold-out crowd at Giants Stadium, where iconic boy-band *NSYNC performed at the opening ceremony; and the final at the Rose Bowl drew such large numbers that it got Jennifer Lopez’s attention, filming her music video for “Let’s Get Loud” live ahead of kickoff.

The 99ers’ success was a testament to the power of unity. As they stood together, prioritizing “we before me,” they refused to accept minimal support from the U.S. Soccer Federation. They found their own sponsor for the World Cup victory tour, leading to improved salaries, better training facilities, and enhanced recovery benefits. Their collective effort laid a strong foundation for future achievements, including the U.S. Women’s National Soccer Team’s landmark equal pay lawsuit, which resulted in a historic settlement in 2022, and the passage of the Equal Pay for Team USA Act by Congress.

WSF founder Billie Jean King’s vision to pave a path to equity for girls and women both on and off the field of play was exemplified by The 99ers’ courage to challenge the status quo. Their determination moved the needle forward and helped women’s sports get to where they are today — shattering records and outdated assumptions. They fueled the flame of progress, and, though there is still work to do, their impact should never be forgotten. 

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For decades, Kimbra and Mark Walter have been working to make the world a better place, one investment at a time. They share a commitment to social justice and equity that has led them to help drive the explosive growth of women’s sports. Their understanding that women’s sports is a wise investment, their bold choice to go all-in on a new professional women’s league, and their determination to empower women athletes in different arenas are why they are this year’s Billie Jean King Leadership Award recipients.  

Kimbra is a distinguished attorney, and Mark is the CEO of TWG Global and Guggenheim Partners. Mark and his partners purchased the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2012 and revived the storied franchise. The relationships the Walters built with other members of the ownership group have further shaped their sports investment journey. 

Not long after Mark, basketball legend Earvin “Magic” Johnson and their investment partners acquired the Dodgers, they saw that the future of the Los Angeles Sparks was at risk. The importance of preserving one of the original WNBA franchises made it an easy decision for members of the group to purchase the Sparks in 2014 — keeping the team’s legacy intact while continuing to grow its fan base. Today, the Sparks remain one of the more popular teams in the league, as the WNBA continues to reach new heights in attendance.  

Additionally, the Walters and a number of their partners have acquired stakes in the iconic Los Angeles Lakers and Chelsea Football Club franchises; the commercial arm of the Professional Squash Association; the Billie Jean King Cup, the premier international team competition in women’s tennis; and the Andretti Global motorsports conglomerate.  

Kimbra and Mark have founded or are major benefactors of several organizations that expand opportunity for young people from under-served communities. These include the Academy Group, Chicago Beyond, OneGoal and the Los Angeles Dodgers Foundation. And through TWF Conservation, the Walter family works to save imperiled species and natural habitats around the world by protecting wildlife, securing vast wilderness areas, and establishing assurance populations. 

It is no surprise that Kimbra and Mark would hit it off with sports icon, social justice pioneer and WSF Founder Billie Jean King and WSF past Board Chair Ilana Kloss, who became part of the Dodgers ownership group in 2018. Together, they led the launching of the Professional Women’s Hockey League (PWHL). The six-team league dropped the puck commencing its inaugural season in January 2024, which led to record-breaking attendance, viewership, social engagement and new partnerships.    

Though they avoid the spotlight as they create meaningful change, their work is extraordinarily worthy of recognition. Kimbra and Mark have shown that intentional investments and hard work can build a more equitable world — in sports and beyond.  

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Claressa Shields

(Photo by Dia Dipasupil/Getty Images for WSF)

“My goal is to go down as the best women’s fighter in history.” Since stepping into the professional ring in 2016, Claressa Shields has proven to the world she is a formidable force and can excel in the squared circle with confidence, power and dominance no matter what combinations are thrown her way. At only 28 years old, Shields has a long list of accomplishments to be proud of. Largely considered one of the best pound-for-pound women boxers in history, her impressive brawling style — paired with her agility to move from the ring to the Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) fighting cages, all while adding wins to her undefeated boxing record — has earned her the Women’s Sports Foundation’s Individual Sportswoman of the Year Award.

Shields is determined to go the distance and continues to show her opponents she is a qualified contender by clinching 14 wins (two by knockout) and zero losses since going pro. The past year, she showcased her prowess by participating in some of the most significant fights in women’s boxing history, including her bout against Savannah Marshall in October 2022, which sold out the O2 Arena in London and drew 2 million viewers on Sky TV, and her one-sided fight in June 2023 against Maricela Cornejo at the Little Ceasar’s Arena in Detroit, Mich. Both were won by unanimous decision.

Shields sparred her way onto the sport’s world’s largest stage when she became the first American woman to win an Olympic gold medal in boxing at the 2012 Olympic Games, where for the first time the 10 men’s boxing events were joined by three women’s events: flyweight, lightweight and middleweight. Four years later, Shields won a second gold medal at the 2016 Olympic Games. She is the only American — male or female — to win back-to-back gold medals in boxing. She is also a two-time world championship gold medalist and a Pan American gold medalist.

Looking for a new challenge in the combative sports universe, Shields is working towards becoming a two-sport star. In 2021, while still defending her boxing titles, she made her much-anticipated MMA debut, scoring a jaw-dropping come-from-behind knockout her first time in the octagon. Most recently, she signed another multiyear deal with the Professional Fighters League (PFL) and is expected to return to the PFL’s SmartCage in 2024. To date, she holds a 1-1 record in MMA.

Shields’ journey has been far from easy. From poverty to abuse to bullying, she has overcome many obstacles to get to where she is today. As she points out, “boxing saved my life,” and she often thanks the strong influences who helped guide her along the way, never letting circumstances dictate her actions. She is the first member of her family to graduate from high school, and her story of overcoming adversity to become the greatest women boxer in the world fuels her advocacy work in her hometown of Flint, Mich., where she is deemed a local hero and global sports icon. 

Winning titles in three weight classes, Shields has proven time and again that no matchup is too great for her as she continues to build her legacy as a pioneering athlete, inspiring young girls to keep jabbing until they reach the top. 

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Natalie Schneider

“The fast-paced action of the game and comradery with the team filled a void that I didn’t even know was there.” Throughout her professional career, Natalie Schneider has proven she is one of the “greatest threats” competing on Team USA’s Women’s Wheelchair Basketball Team. As a four-time Paralympian with her eyes set on Paris 2024, Schneider continues to prove the sky’s the limit and no goal is too great for her to achieve. From a women’s world championship victory to an MVP win, her incredible athletic performance this past year paired with her ability to push herself and her team to new heights is why she is this year’s Women’s Sports Foundation’s Team Sportswoman of the Year. 

From buzzer beaters to epic free throws and assists, Schneider has been captivating audiences on the court for 15 years. Winning three Paralympic medals, seven National Championships and landing on the podium at two Parapan American Games, she has shown the world what is possible when you continue to fine-tune your athletic-skills and remain determined to stay at the top of your sport. 

Scheinder’s story is more than triumph, it is one of persistent perseverance. The summer following her sophomore year of high school where she helped lead her basketball team to the state tournament, her life was quickly turned upside down when she was diagnosed with bone cancer (osteosarcoma) in her distal femur. She spent the next 10 months undergoing chemotherapy and limb-salvage surgery that replaced the bottom half of her femur and knee-joint with a titanium prosthesis. She was told she would never run, jump or play the sport she loved again, which according to her was “a million times worse than finding out she had cancer.”

It took six years, but Schneider rebounded back into sport after reading an article in her local newspaper, which informed her that her implant qualified her for a local sitting volleyball league. Through that sport experience, she discovered wheelchair basketball, playing with her local team while obtaining her Masters in Statistics at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. Shortly after graduating in 2007, she was invited to try out for her first USA team and had an extraordinary start to her career by assisting the team to a gold medal win at the 2008 Beijing Paralympic Games. 

Schneider went on to compete in the 2012, 2016, and 2020 Paralympic Games and came in and out of retirement throughout the years as she built a family with her husband. She is now the mother of three daughters, two of which got to witness her secure her second gold medal in the Rio Games. Remaining a top player on Team USA, Schneider is vying to compete in her fifth Paralympics before officially retiring. 

Between matchups and training sessions, she is working towards a personal training certification so she can coach her daughters’ sports teams and other young athletes in her community. She hopes to pass along everything she has learned throughout her basketball career to help others discover their limitless potential on and off the field of play.

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Stacey Allaster

Photo Credit: USTA

Chief Executive of Professional Tennis at the USTA and Tournament Director of the US Open

“I have always found a way. No matter what the challenge is.” For over 30 years, Stacey Allaster has demonstrated that no obstacle is too great for her to overcome. Despite never having played professional tennis, she is one of the most competitive, visionary, and successful leaders in the sport. Allaster has helped grow tennis on an international level while advocating for equality and has paved a path to the C-suite that other women can follow. For her dedicated advocacy and achievements on behalf of women athletes in one of the world’s most popular sports, she is being honored with the Women’s Sports Foundation’s 2023 Billie Jean King Leadership Award.

A native of Canada, Allaster began working in tennis at age 12, cleaning red clay courts for pocket change at a community club. By 16, she became a certified teaching professional to pay for her own lessons, eventually competing at the University of Western Ontario while earning her bachelor’s degree (and where she later received an MBA and Honorary Doctorate of Law). After being rejected three times for positions at Tennis Canada, she finally got her foot in the door in 1991, and became VP of Sales & Marketing, and the Tournament Director of the Canadian Open.

Joining the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) as president in 2006, she became Chairman and CEO in 2009. Under her leadership, the WTA grew the brand globally: doubling prize money, securing over $1 billion in revenue and creating one of the largest media rights and production ventures in women’s sports history. Allaster also ensured women athletes received equal prize money at 11 events, including the Grand Slams.

For these achievements, she was named one of the “most powerful women in sports,” a “50 over 50 Visionary” by Forbes, and a “Top 50 Hero in the past 50 years” by Tennis Magazine. In 2022, Allaster was named Companion of the Order of Canada, her native country’s highest civilian honor, for her trailblazing contributions to women’s equality in professional sport and for her dedicated mentorship.

Allaster now serves as Chief Executive of Professional Tennis at the USTA and Tournament Director of the US Open, the first woman director in its 140-year history. Only four years after her USTA tenure began, her leadership and crisis management skills were tested by the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 when, with focus and determination, Allaster was a driving force helping to put the entire tennis industry back to work, not only in New York City but around the world. The 2020 US Open became a blueprint for how professional tennis could stage events during the pandemic. Most recently, Allaster was part of the team that staged the hugely successful 2023 US Open, celebrating Billie Jean King and the USTA’s commitment to awarding equal pay for 50 years.

Allaster has often reflected on the role that Billie Jean King played in her life and has often said that the best way she can express her gratitude and honor BJK is to “pay it forward;” to serve as a role model and inspire the next generation of women to accept no limits on their dreams, and to become leaders in the male-dominated world of sports business.

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Rosalie Fish

(Photo by Tyler Tjomsland/The Spokesman-Review)

University of Washington’s long-distance runner and Indigenous people’s advocate

“Running with the paint changed my life.” Long-distance runner and activist Rosalie Fish first made international headlines when she ran a high school track & field event with a red handprint painted over her mouth, symbolizing the Indigenous women who were silenced by violence and “MMIW” painted on her leg to raise awareness of the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women epidemic impacting her community and the country. What makes her deserving of the Women’s Sports Foundation’s Wilma Rudolph Courage Award, is her persistence, resilience and bold determination to get society to pay attention to a crisis often cast to the shadows and her desire to be a face of change for a safer, more just world.

Born in Auburn, Washington, Fish is a member of the Cowlitz Tribe, of Muckleshoot heritage, who grew up on the Muckleshoot Reservation. She first began running in middle school and quickly discovered its unique power to connect to her surroundings and ancestral roots. Running also helped her cope with the violence ravaging Indigenous women in the United States – with murder being the third leading cause of their death, acts of violence reported at alarming levels, and perpetrators often not being held accountable. Fish is a survivor of violence who attempted to take her own life when she was 14. She credits her family’s love for helping her through that difficult time and running for giving her a sense of purpose to live for others when she didn’t have the strength or confidence to live for herself. 

Inspired by Boston Marathon runner and Lakota activist Jordan Marie Daniel, Fish first donned the handprint and MMIW lettering at her state championships in 2019, where she dedicated all four of her races to Indigenous women who have gone missing or have been murdered, providing photos and information about them on a poster. One of them was her aunt, Alice Ida Looney, who disappeared when Fish was two-years-old and was found dead 15 months later. Fish won each of her races that day. Though her victories did not change what happened to the women she chose to honor, it did place a national spotlight on an issue that receives minimal visibility. 

Over time, racing for MMIW has become a form of empowerment for Fish who is now more comfortable and confident using her platform to bring attention to this epidemic that has directly impacted her and her loved ones. 

Fast forward to today and 22-year-old Fish has a long list of accomplishments to be proud of. In 2019, she became the first member of her tribe to sign a National Letter of Intent for college athletics when she committed to Iowa Central Community College following numerous Washington state track titles at the 1B level. In 2021, she was recruited by the University of Washington’s (UW) track & field team and in 2022 she became the first Husky student-athlete to win a Truman Scholarship, awarded nationwide to students based on leadership skills and who have demonstrated civic engagement, academic potential and a desire to pursue a career in public service. 

From the track to the classroom, she plans to continue her advocacy for all Indigenous people at UW by pursuing a Master of Social Work and graduate certificate in American Indian Studies. 

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Learn more about the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women MMIW epidemic and take action. Visit and support the Urban Indian Health Institute at www.uihi.org. 

Jon Patricof and Jonathan Soros

“What would happen if we started with a blank sheet of paper?” So began the genesis of a revolutionary new approach to professional women’s sports leagues. Jon Patricof and Jonathan Soros sought to put the power in the hands of athletes by building an innovative platform for women’s sports when they co-founded Athletes Unlimited (AU). Tossing the traditional sports model aside, these bold business disruptors have built an extraordinary partnership with pro athletes that puts individual players in control of the game – taking head coaches, club owners and locked rosters out of the equation. From player-led executive committees to creating unprecedented pathways for long-term equity and ways to give back to athletes’ chosen nonprofits, Patricof and Soros have truly created something transformative. For their unwavering commitment to elevating the voices of women athletes by building a more equitable and inclusive model for professional sports, they are the Women’s Sports Foundation’s 2023 Champion for Equality Award recipients.

Patricof and Soros launched AU’s cutting-edge model with softball in 2020, adding volleyball and lacrosse in 2021, and basketball in 2022. The leagues consist of a never-before-seen competition format, scoring system, and a player-led organizational structure. Forgoing bouncing back and forth between cities and stadiums, players compete in one place throughout a five-week season. At the beginning of each season, four captains are appointed to draft the first week’s teams and the one-of-a-kind scoring system rewards players for peak performance where they can earn points (and monetary bonuses) for winning as a team, their individual stats and being voted MVPs of the game. At the end of each week, the top four players become the new captains and draft a team from scratch for the next week. This model is tailored towards sports fans who follow athletes and not teams, providing a unique experience for them each week.

From Patricof’s experience growing the Disney, ESPN and ABC brands across emerging channels, leading the Tribeca Film Festival then the NYC Football Club to Soros’ experience founding JS Capital, co-founding Give Lively LLC, and sitting on the boards of the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund and GivingTuesday; these co-founders have demonstrated a visionary approach throughout their careers. AU’s game-changing model was built on this solid foundation and from day one, Patricof and Soros were prepared to dive in and disrupt the women’s sports ecosystem and it is paying off. In just three years, AU has had 13 seasons across 4 sports involving over 350 world class athletes and announced it had secured more than $30 million in new capital from investors both inside and outside of the sports ecosystem. Other notable milestones include becoming the first ever pro sports league to organize as a Public Benefit Corporation (PBC) and becoming carbon neutral in the United States. These are a few of the reasons why Fast Company recognized AU as one of the ‘world’s most innovative companies’ in 2023, making them the first women’s sports organization to receive the tribute.

Through AU, Patricof and Soros are out to prove that women’s sports, which have historically been undervalued in our society, can be successful by doing things differently. By striking deals with consumer brand powerhouses like Nike, Gatorade, and ESPN, they are helping give some of the world’s best athletes a platform to thrive like never before. It is their hope that AU’s model provides a roadmap for the future of all sports and shows what is possible when we upend conventional power structures and center athletes as decision-makers and stakeholders, ultimately reshaping attitudes and expectations around women as professional athletes and establishing new norms for how businesses show up in the world.

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Maggie Steffans

If you look up legendary athletes competing in women’s water polo, you’re bound to see Maggie Steffens’ name at the top of every list. Steffens is a 29-year-old “utility player” who has competed on the U.S. Women’s National Water Polo Team since 2009. Steffens scored a total of 18 goals during the Olympic Games in Tokyo, helping her team win their third consecutive gold medal and becoming the all-time leading scorer in Olympic women’s water polo history with 56 goals. Her incredible performance, ability to push herself and her team to new heights, and determination to stay at the top of her sport is why she is this year’s WSF Team Sportswoman of the Year.

Steffens has dreamed of being an Olympian since she was a child, and it is no surprise water polo is how she got there. Her father played for the Puerto Rican National Team and collegiately, while her mom is part of an extensive water polo family. Steffens grew up the youngest of four water-polo-playing siblings. Talk about “everybody in the pool,” her direct and extended family have helped fuel her competitive drive and passion for the sport. 

Starting out, Steffens’ journey wasn’t easy. The lack of junior leagues where she grew up in Northern California had her playing against girls who were twice her age and size. This was a blessing in disguise as it helped lay the foundation for her to become one of the youngest athletes to compete on the U.S. Women’s National Water Polo Team.

At just 16 years old, she was asked to play in her first Team USA match — a call-up with special significance to her and her family, since she would be playing alongside her sister Jessica, who was already established on the team. The duo went on to play together in the 2012 Olympic Games in London, and Maggie’s Olympic debut did not disappoint. Not only did the team win gold, but she was named MVP, tying a record of 21 goals scored during a single Olympic Games and the most goals scored during a single game. 

Following her standout performance, she landed the team captain position, helping the team win gold in the 2016 and 2020 Games. Her leadership skills were on full display in Tokyo, where she helped the team rebound from their first loss in the Olympic Games since 2008 — going on to win four straight games to land at the top of the podium once again. Even more impressive, Steffens did it all with a broken nose, showcasing her unwavering resolve. 

Beyond the Olympic Games, Steffens led the U.S. women’s national team to their seventh consecutive title at the FINA World League Super Final in Greece and was named the 2021 FINA Women’s Water Polo Athlete of the Year for the third time in her career (2021, 2014, 2012). She is a member of the Quadruple Gold Club, earning Olympic gold, FINA World Championship gold, FINA World Cup gold and FINA World League gold, an accomplishment only a handful of other athletes have claimed. Collegiately, she competed at Stanford University where she helped the team win three NCAA championships (2017, 2015, 2014) and was named the NCAA tournament MVP in 2017. 

Steffens’ passion for her sport is transcending the pool. She is the co-founder and owner of 6-8 sports, a performance analytics company designed to take a data-driven approach to evaluating athletes’ strengths and weaknesses to help them improve over time. She takes pride in her Puerto Rican heritage, and though she has planted roots in Long Beach, Calif., she considers Puerto Rico to be her home. Most recently, she has taken on a GlobalGiving campaign to raise money for those in communities across the country recovering from Hurricane Fiona. 

Whether she is scoring goals, setting records or traveling around the world to introduce and inspire young girls and women to play water polo, Steffens’ love for her sport shines bright. She dreams big and plays big up against the shot clock — in and out of the pool —  and will go down in history as one of the best to ever play the game.

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Sunisa Lee

She is known as an uneven bars specialist, but Sunisa “Suni” Lee has proven to the world she is unshakeable and can excel at all four categories in women’s gymnastics — and the global spotlight — with poise, strength, and agility. At only 19 years old, Lee has a long list of accomplishments to be proud of. Her impressive skill set paired with a grace-under-pressure performance during the 2020 Olympic Games earned her this year’s WSF Individual Sportswoman of the Year award.   

Lee’s story is more than just triumph, it’s one of representation. She is the first Hmong American to compete in an Olympic Games, a historic moment that has given a voice to a community that she says often goes unseen. She is also a first-generation American who dedicates her success to her parents, especially her dad, who have made countless sacrifices to fuel her dream of being an Olympic gymnast. 

One of the most talked-about moments of the Games was the way Lee rose to an unexpected challenge. She put her talents on full display when she quickly filled in during the team competition following Simone Biles’ withdrawal, which drew global attention. Lee said it was the most pressure she had ever felt, but she went on to fearlessly nail her bar and floor routines, helping the team win silver. Two days later she took home the esteemed gold medal as the all-around champion, making her the fifth consecutive American to win gold in the category. She also clinched a bronze medal in uneven bars. 

There were many moments leading into the Olympic Games that showcased the young gymnast’s perseverance, grit and determination. She has overcome many obstacles, including ankle and foot injuries and deeply personal struggles to make it to sport’s biggest stage. In 2019, her dad, John Lee, fell off a ladder, leaving him paralyzed from the chest down. Two days later, she went on to win silver at the U.S. Gymnastics Championships and later in the year, she won three medals at the World Championships. Soon after, she earned the second guaranteed team spot for Tokyo, her dad serving as inspiration even amid his own challenging recovery — pushing her to keep doing what she loved.

Born and raised in Minnesota, Lee’s journey has now taken her to Alabama, where she is in her sophomore year at Auburn University. So far her budding collegiate career has gotten off to a great start. She was crowned balance beam champion and placed second in the all-around at the 2022 NCAA Women’s Gymnastics Championships. She also was named the 2022 Southeastern Conference (SEC) uneven bars champion and SEC Freshman of the Year. 

From the start of each routine to her dismount, you can’t help but watch Lee in awe as she makes the hardest skills look effortless. As she continues to compete, she hopes to inspire and empower her peers and the next generation to work hard toward their passions and achieve their dreams, like her dad did for her.

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