7 African American Female Athletes that Completely Changed Sports

I’m sure we are all familiar with the names Simone Biles, Serena and Venus Williams, and Gabrielle Thomas—but what about all the women who opened those doors for these well-known names to walk through? In honor of Black History Month, we here at Sportsish want to take a moment to recognize some monumental women who made history in their sport and changed the world around them.

7. Althea Gibson: Tennis

Paving the way for tennis powerhouses like the Williams sisters, Althea Gibson was the first African American to win a Grand Slam in tennis. Starting her legacy with her win at the French Open in 1957, Althea didn’t just stop there. In total, Althea went on to win 11 Grand Slam titles, five of which came from Wimbledon. After taking the tennis world by storm, Gibson went on to become the first African American woman to compete in the Ladies Professional Golf Association Tour. She really did it all! Previously, tennis was predominantly a white male sport--thanks to Althea setting the tone for the future, we now have phenomenal players like Coco Gauff, Naomi Osaka, and Sloane Stephens.

6. Florence Griffith Joyner: Track and Field

*Florence Griffith Joyner (Getty Images)*

Combining speed and style, Florence Griffith Joyner became an absolute icon in the track and field world. Known at the time as the fastest woman in the world, Joyner crushed world records during the 1988 Seoul Olympics. Winning gold in both the 100- and 200-meter events, we can thank “Flo-Jo” for track athletes like Allyson Felix, Sydney McLaughlin, and Sha’Carri Richardson. Recognizable by her long nails and one-legged running outfits, she really was ‘that girl’!

5. Lynette Woodard: Basketball

A two-time Olympian and the captain of the gold medal-winning women’s basketball team in the 1984 Summer Olympics, Lynette Woodard was a force to be reckoned with. Starting her basketball career at the University of Kansas, Lynette set scoring records during her time as a Jayhawk. Unfortunately, those records were never recognized by the NCAA due to her playing just before the association accepted women’s athletics in 1982. However, that didn’t stop her and she went on to become the first woman player on the Harlem Globetrotters in 1985. I’m sure some of our favorite WNBA players like Brittney Griner and A’ja Wilson look up to Lynette in every way!

4. Debi Thomas: Figure Skating

A beauty on and off the ice, Debi Thomas was a monumental woman in the world of figure skating. Known for being the first woman of African descent to reach the top ranks of international skating, we have to appreciate Debi for changing the dynamic. Placing second in the 1985 U.S. Nationals, Debi went on to win the following year in 1986. After retiring a few years later, Debi went on to become a doctor and skate semi-professionally to pay her way through school. Talk about having beauty and brains!

3. Marcenia Lyle Stone: Baseball

*Marcenia Lyle “Toni” Stone (Getty Images)*

Ever heard the phrase “You play ball like a girl”? Well, we sure hope we play like Marcenia Lyle “Toni” Stone. As a young girl, she dreamed of playing professional baseball one day and went on to do just that--playing in predominantly male leagues. Toni was inducted into the Women’s Sports Hall of Fame and the International Women’s Sports Hall of Fame. She paved the way for Mo'ne Davis who made history as the first-ever female pitcher to win a Little League World Series game in 2014. As of 2023, Davis interned with the Los Angeles Dodgers, and in 2024 she was reportedly a grad student at Columbia University. Maybe we will see her as an ESPN analyst one day!

2. Sheryl Swoopes: Basketball

Another legendary basketball player, Sheryl Swoopes is to thank for the beautiful world of women’s basketball we have today! Becoming the first woman to ever sign with the WNBA when it was formed in 1997, Sheryl played in the league for 14 years. During her long career, she became a three-time Olympic gold medalist and a four-time WNBA champion. During an appearance at the 2011 WNBA All-Star game, Swoopes was named one of the league’s Top 15 Players of All Time, and truthfully we agree. Sheryl is a powerhouse!

1. Simone Manuel: Swimming

Closing out with a more modern name, Simone Manuel took our country by storm when she became the first African American woman to take home the gold medal in an individual swimming event. Simone achieved this feat during the 2016 Rio Olympics, swimming the women’s 100m freestyle to victory. Since then Manuel has had two more Olympic appearances, taking home medals each time, cementing her name in sports history. At 28 years old, we are hoping to see her career in the pool continue!

We thank these women for the doors they opened and the paths they carved to make women's sports what is it today.

“A woman has her dreams too… A woman can do many things.”

— Marcenia Lyle “Toni” Stone.