Nine of The Most Badass Yet Underrated Women in Sports

Women are consistently underestimated and overlooked in every industry, especially sports. Last week the U.S. Soccer Legal team had the audacity to name the USWNT 2019 World Cup Champions “less skilled” and that they bare “less responsibility” than their male counterparts and therefore, logically, the men deserve to be paid more.

So I am here to say first and foremost, The USWNT not only represents our country on a national stage but also DOMINATES that stage. Each woman serves as an example and role model for young women around the world that they can accomplish anything. They carry such an important responsibility its honestly laughable that a team full of lawyers would argue otherwise.

Coco Cola, Budweiser and Visa along with a slew sports fans and others sponsors also found it laughable and said lawyers were dropped. Cheers to one good decision.

 Not long after, the president of U.S. Soccer stepped down and Vice President Cindy Parlow stepped in as the first female president, which is definitely exciting minus the fact her reign is only on an interim basis until the next election.

To follow up that moderately satisfying news (we’ll pass judgment when Megan Rapinoe gets her coin) I have compiled a list of 9 extraordinary and influential yet ‘somehow’ underrated women in sports.

1.)  Megan Rapinoe

As evidenced by the ongoing litigation between 28 USWNT players and U.S. Soccer regarding “institutionalized gender discrimination”, the USWNT is underrated and so is captain Megan Rapinoe. 

Despite less money and resources being put into women’s soccer and players making a small fraction of their male counterparts, Rapinoe has dominated soccer and led female forces in sports on a world stage for over a decade.

Rapinoe played for the University of Portland where as a freshman, she led the Pilots to an undefeated season and NCAA Division I Women’s Soccer championship, had multiple NCAA and NSCAA First Team All-American selections and was titled West Coast Conference Freshman (2005) and Player of the year (2008).

The Chicago Red Stars drafted Rapinoe as the 2nd overall pick in the 2009 Inaugural Women’s Professional Soccer draft, bounced around teams until landing on solid turf with Ol Reign F.C.

Rapinoe played a crucial role in the United States silver medal at the 2011 FIFA Women’s World Cup when she served a precise pass to Abby Wambach who scored an equalizer in the 122nd minute for the latest goal ever in WC history.  Rapinoe would later win an ESPY for Best Play of the Year.

At the 2012 Olympics, Rapinoe led the United States to a gold medal, amassing a team high of 4 assists and scoring 3 goals including the first ever goal made directly from the corner at the Olympic games.

Rapinoe and the USWNT brought home gold at both the 2015 and 2019 FIFA World Cups.

During the 2019 final Rapinoe scored her 50th international goal, and at 34 became the oldest woman to score in a World Cup final. Following the WC, she was awarded the Golden Boot as the top scorer in the tournament with 6 goals, and the Golden Ball as the best player in the tournament. 2019 also included being named The Best FIFA Women’s player, winner of the Ballon d'Or Féminin and Sports Illustrated Sportsperson of the Year.

Aside from being a part of one of the most dominant teams in sports history and regarded as one of the greatest female soccer players of time, Megan Rapinoe has stepped up as a voice for the LGBT community, face of the equal pay movement, philanthropist, feminist and exceptional role model.

As a lesbian woman herself, Rapinoe works with multiple LGBT organizations including Athlete Ally and the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network (GLSEN). In 2013 she received the board of directors Award from the Las Angeles Gay and Lesbian Center.

In 2017 Rapinoe and Alex Morgan were the first two females to join the Common Goal movement and pledge to donate 1% of their personal wages to soccer related charities.

Rapinoe expanded her dedication to challenging gender norms and increasing positive representation by joining fellow athletes Meghan Klingenberg, Christen Press and Tobin Heath in creating a gender-neutral lifestyle brand named re-inc.

Her political activism and outspokenness has put Rapinoe at the forefront of multiple humanitarian issues and sparked mass adoration and disapproval around the world (see President Trumps Twitter for more). But, whether you agree with Megan Rapinoe or not, and no matter which way you slice up her accomplishments, Rapinoe is one hell of a footballer and activist. As representatives of our country, winners and idols for little girls (and boys) everywhere, Megan and the entire USWNT deserve genuine, widespread recognition and a huge pay increase.

2.)  Mina Kimes

Mina Kimes is a name every sports fan needs to know and every young journalist should be inspired by. Kimes graduated Summa Cum Laude from Yale University with a Bachelor’s degree in English, no biggie.

Post graduation Kimes served as a Bloomberg News Investigative Reporter and Business Writer for Fortune Small Business Magazine, accumulated multiple awards including National Headliner 1st place Magazine Feature Writer.

Kimes made the switch from business to sports in 2014 when editors from ESPN found an essay she had written on Tumblr, which detailed the bond between herself, her dad and the Seattle Seahawks. Proving that sticking to your passion and writing about what you know will lead you to the right place. 

Since joining ESPN, Kimes has written multiple high profile features for ESPN magazine and ESports including cover stories for Von Miller, Antonio Brown and Aaron Rodgers.

Sports enthusiasts can watch Kimes battle out the latest in sports on multiple ESPN shows including Around The Horn, Highly Questionable, First Take and The Dan Lebetard Show. Kimes also aided in the October 2019 launch of ESPN Daily and has since continued to host the show and raise ESPN Podcast listenership over 40%.

Kimes brings double the entertainment to the table, being both awe-inspiringly knowledgeable and concise with her arguments, as well as your go to gal for a distraction from life as one of the funniest and quirkiest talents on ESPN.

The best way to explain Kimes is through her NFL focused podcast. “The Mina Kimes Show featuring Lenny” Lenny is the star of show and also happens to be Kimes’s dog. There is absolutely nothing more ingenious than including your dog in anything, especially a podcast and I give Mina a 12/10 for creativity.

With a collective 13 years as a professional journalist in male dominant industries, Kimes is no stranger to the misogynistic downplaying of female reporter’s intelligence, talent and “experience”.  When Kimes isn’t effortlessly taking down the Internet trolls on her Twitter, she shares wisdom with current and aspiring women in sports media.

At the 2018 Association for Women in Sports Media conference where she noted that people only have a problem with female reporters because they are female, simple as that. But, when asked if she felt it was hard being a woman in this field and she retorted ““It’s an advantage because the rarest thing in journalism, in any field of journalism, but especially sports, is originality, and we’re born with it. Because our experiences are unique, our thoughts and perspectives are unique, too. Being a woman in sports is not a challenge. It’s an edge.”

So for all my girls out there, throw on “Mina Kimes Feat. Lenny”, practice your art, be creative and find your voice because ESPN might just come across your Tumblr post. And for the boys, try to add some females to your list of favorite sports reporters and know that they are your fellow fanatics, not your enemy.

3.)  Katie Sowers

Katie Sowers spent eight years playing tackle football in the Women’s Football Alliance, during which time she joined the United States Women’s National American Football Team in winning the 2013 IFAF Women’s World Championship.

In 2016 a hip injury forced her into retirement in 2016, but it didn’t take long for Sowers to take her talent and football knowledge elsewhere.

Sowers took a huge step into the National Football League in conjunction with her hiring to the Atlanta Falcons as a wide receiver’s intern for the summer of 2016. She continued her career with the Falcons as an intern scout until moving to the San Francisco 49ers in 2017. 

The 49ers hired Sowers as a seasonal offensive assistant coach, before the 2017 season, Sowers came out as a lesbian, becoming the first openly LGBT coach in the NFL.

After two years of a seasonal position with the 49ers, grinding on and off the field to break down social barriers, Sowers proved herself worthy of a promotion. In 2019 Sowers followed Arizona Cardinals Coach Jen Welters footsteps, adding ‘second full-time female coach in NFL history’ to her list of accolades.

Her first year as a full-time coach went amazing (unsurprisingly) with the 49ers ending 13-3 in regular season. San Francisco went on to dominate the playoffs and eventually beat the Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl LIV.

Not only did Sowers make it to the Super Bowl in her first season as a coach but in doing so became the first female and openly LGBT member of a Super Bowl team’s coaching staff.

Sowers has taken monumental strides in paving the way for minority coaches, female athletes and the LGBT community. She stands loud and proud, while putting in the work to prove women can succeed in any field.

 When asked to elaborate on her most recent accomplishment Sowers told ESPN “But what I want to continue to say is that even though I'm the first, the most important thing is I'm not the last and we continue to grow it."

Now is the time to take note of who Katie Sowers is, what she represents and what her work means for future generations.

4.)  Maya Moore

Your new favorite political activist and the “greatest winner in the history of women’s basketball” according to Sports Illustrated, Ms. Maya Moore.

Her high school career included 3 Georgia State Championships along with 3 5A Player of the Year Awards all in 05’,06’ and 07’ and 4 National Championships with the Geogia Metros. Moore’s HS resume also features an array of athletic and academic awards including the High School National Gatorade player of the year.

High School Record: 125-3.

Now that’s a pretty great career for any athlete, but just the tip of the iceberg for Maya Moore.

In 2007 Moore joined the University of Connecticut women’s basketball team where she led the Huskies to back to back National Championships in the 09’, 10’ seasons.

Moore became the first freshman male or female to be named the big east player of the year and named 3 times. Her time at UCONN also included, USBWA National Freshman of year, first UCONN freshman to be named all-american selection, ESPY for top female college athlete, 2 naismith college player of the year awards, and 3 wade trophys.

In Moore’s final collegiate season UCONN continued a 78 streak season and led the huskies to an extended streak in NCAA both gender record all division of 90.

College Record: 150-4

How could it get any better? Well, she went on to be the first overall pick in the 2011 WBNA draft going to the Minnesota Lynx and was quickly the first female signed to Air Jordan.

Of course Moore was named Rookie of the Year and lead the Lynx to a WBNA championship in her first season, and no surprise another three more in 2013, 15’ and 17’. She was also named WNBA Finals MVP in 2013 and WNBA MVP and Score Leader in 2014.

Moore also has 5 All-Star selections and 5 All-WBNA First Teams Selections racking up 3 WNBA All-Star Game MVP titles from 2015, 2017, and 2018.

Minnesota Lynx Record: 222-70

Talent like Moore’s can’t be wasted on just one league or team, so naturally she shared the wealth and brought the U.S. a gold medal from both the 2012 and 2016 Olympics. In 2012 Moore won the Spanish and Euro Leagues and held on to the Chinese League Champion title from 2013-2015, she then won the Euro League again in 2018.

Career Record: 497-78

Although Moore does not plan on retiring, her career record will remain the same for the second straight season as she sits out and continues to advocate for criminal justice reform and the release of Jonathon Irons.

Moore met Jonathan Irons (39) in 2007 during a ministry visit to the Jefferson City Correctional Center in Missouri where Irons is serving a 50-year sentence after what Moore believes to be a wrongful conviction.

Being African American and only a 16-year-old boy, Irons was tried as an adult in front of an all white jury. He was convicted of burglary and assaulting a homeowner with a gun, despite there being no physical evidence. The prosecutor noted an unrecorded admission of guilt by Irons to an officer during a private interrogation, which Irons steadfastly denies ever happened. 

Since meeting Irons and hearing his story, Moore has worked tirelessly to appeal and ultimately overturn his conviction. Moore’s dedication to Irons case includes regular trips to Jefferson City MO to confer with the defense team she helps pay for and attending multiple courtroom hearings.

Moore has put in the time and effort to learn about the justice system and being a genuine contributor to Irons case and criminal justice reform. Moore is now an elected prosecutor and the creator of “Win with Justice”. Win with Justice is a social action campaign aimed at changing the way we handle convictions by viewing cases as they pertain to the human rather than rattling off convictions like free throws. Moore’s steps to reaching this goal include focusing on treatment rather than incarceration for drug offenders and the mentally ill, fixing mandatory minimum sentences and spreading awareness for why people are in jail.

Though there are plenty injustices awaiting Maya Moore’s assistance, on March 9, 2020, Moore had her first courtroom victory when Cole County Judge Dan Green ordered Jonathan Irons 1997 conviction be overturned.

“She saved my life. I would not have this chance if not for her and her wonderful family. She saved my life and I cannot say it better than that,” reported the New York Times.

Irons may be the first life that Moore saves but I can guarantee it will not be the last.

Hopefully basketball fans will have their star back next season and Moore can continue to add to her winning legacy but until then, Criminal Justice Reform: 1-0

5.)  Katie Nolan

The queen of comedy, the epitome of ESPN personalities and the fierce feminist we didn’t know we needed.

Her blog “Bitches Can’t Hang” landed her a job in 2011 with Fox Sports Yardbarker network, Guyism where she produced and hosted a Youtube series.

In an interview with GQ, Nolan noted regret for her blog that basically talked about how much women sucked, after she realized the importance of women supporting one another. Since then, Nolan has focused her spunky style and unfiltered commentary on the male species, taking down misogyny left and right.

By 2013 she joined Fox Sports 1 as a digital correspondent for Crowd Goes Wild and not long after, No Filter with Katie Nolan was born. The Foxsports.com web series tackled a myriad of topics including a 2014 story on domestic violence in sports. Nolan highlighted the similarity of each case and the “laughable” way that they are handled. The piece was picked up by the New York Times and received substantial praise. And unfortunately it’s just as relevant today so definitely check it out.

Garbage Time or as I like to call it, one of the greatest shows of all time, aired for the first time on Fox Sports 1 in 2015. Think SNL Weekend Update but all sports, all the time.

Similar to No Filter, Nolan wasted no time and spared no feelings in telling viewers how it is.  Nolan’s commentary on a fellow Fox reporters blog post “How to land a husband at the Masters” was a fan favorite and comedic feminist masterpiece. The post included tips like “Keep Moving: Let’s be honest. You aren’t there for the golf”.” Again, great video if you’re in need of a hearty laugh.

Garbage Time and Nolan very deservingly won an Emmy in 2016 for ‘Outstanding Social TV Experience’. 

In 2017 Nolan left Fox for ESPN as a full time presence and a regular panelist on Around the Horn and Highly Questionable. And in 2018 launched a weekly ESPN podcast called Sports?  Along with an ESPN+ series Always late with Katie Nolan which was nominated for an Emmy in 2019.

6.)  Mikaela Shiffrin

 We’ve all heard of Lindsay Vonn, one of the greatest Alpine Skiers in world history, but have you heard of the up and coming 25 year old that now retired Vonn told CNN is “in a league of her own”?

Over the course of 19 seasons Vonn became the female with the most World Cup wins, finishing her career with 82 wins. Mikaela Shiffrin has been in the world cup circuit for 9 seasons and is quickly catching up to Vonn with the second most WC wins at 66 and many more years of competition to go.

Shiffrin made her world cup debut at 15, turned 16 two days later and within several weeks became the youngest American ski racer to claim a national alpine crown with her slalom title victory at the U.S National Championships.

The following year Shiffrin Won her first WC race in 2012 at just 17 years old making her the 2nd youngest Alpine Skier to win a WC race. Her 66 WC wins include 43 slalom wins, the most by any skier male or female. Shiffrin is also the youngest male or female to win 50 WC races, the only M/F to win 15 races in the same calendar year and to win 17 WC races during a season (a record previously held for 30 years). Shiffrin is also the first and only M/F with 6 wins in all 6 FIS Alpine Ski World Cup disciplines.

She is currently the 3x Reigning Overall WC champion and one of only five Americans to win the WC Overall title and remains the 4x reigning World Champion in slalom.

Shiffrin broke Olympics Apline skiing history by winning gold in slalom as the youngest skier ever to do so. She then tied Ted Ligety and Andrea Mead Lawrence for most gold medals won by an American Olympic Alpine skiier with her second gold medal in the 2018 giant slalom.

In 2019 Shiffrin took home the gold in slalom once again and became the first alpine skier to win a World Championship in the same discipline at four consecutive championships.

Early in Shiffrin’s career she avoided voicing an opinion on any major issues in an effort to avoid what she asserted to CNN as a “toxic political environment.”

I mean, she’s not wrong. 

But even still, Shiffrin is constantly upping her game on the slopes and in life. In 2018 she teamed up with the Child Mind Institute for the #MyYoungerSelf Campaign. The campaign circulated in an effort to fight the stigma for 1 in 5 children struggling with mental health and learning disorders. Shiffrin revealed her life long struggle with anxiety, which she clearly hasn’t allowed to slow her down.

Fast-forward to 2020, Shiffrin was finally so fed up she had to come out with a statement. Guess what got her riled up enough to finally start some controversy? I’m sure you guessed it…

Pay inequality.

Mikaela Shiffrin saw that only one woman was on the 2019 Forbes highest paid athlete list, and was pissed.

In an interview with Pete Sharland she acclaimed herself the newest, loudest advocate for pay equality. I think all of us who believe in equality are ecstatic to have Shiffrin on our team.

7.)  Grace Norman

22 year old Grace Norman is one of America’s most prizewinning Paralympian’s. Born with Congenital Construction Band Syndrome, Norman was missing her left foot and big toe on her right foot. The disorder, which causes fibrous bands to ensnare part of the body, required Norman to undergo two surgeries to remove additional bands from her legs before the age of 6 months.

At 13 months old, Norman was fitted for her first prosthetic leg, which led to walking, running and eventually an Paralympic gold medal and over 20 Paratriathalon national and world titles.

Norman competed on her High School Track and Field team where she became the first female amputee to podium at the Ohio High School Track and Field State Championship and the 2015 Paralympics Track and Field High School Female Athlete of the Year.

At 16 she competed in her first Elite ITU Paratriatholon which sparked a passion for Norman that pushed her to five ITU Paratriatholon World Championship Medals and nine ITU World Paratriatholon Event Medals. Norman was also the two time USA Paratriathalon National Champion and four time Sarasota-Bradenton CAMTRI Paratriatholan American Champion 2016-2019.

In 2016 Norman competed in the Rio De Jenero Paralympics as the youngest competitor on the Para triathlon field, where she became the first Paratriathlete to win a gold medal in Paralympics history.

Norman currently attends Cedarville University in her homestate of Ohio where she is studying to become a nurse and continues to train in Track and Field. She will return to the Paralympics in 2020 where she will compete in eight events including the PTS5 Category in which Norman will be the only leg amputee.

Her perserverance and passion for Track & Field despite missing one of her legs is enough reason to be inspired by Norman. But her endless accolades and accomplishments and the fact most sports fans haven’t heard of her means she’s grossly underrated and frankly, far more impressive than most athletes you do do know.

8.)  Claressa Shields

 Flint, Michigan knows Claressa Shields one of their greatest hometown heroes and the world knows her as the hard hitting ‘T-Rex” who has taken boxing by storm since her 2012 Olympic Games debut.

 In 2012 Women’s Boxing joined the Olympic Games circuit and Shields became the first woman to win gold in boxing. The T-Rex returned to the Olympics in 2016 and became the first American, male or female to bring home consecutive Olympic gold medals.

Shields has won multiple world championships in three weight classes, holding the record for becoming a two and three-weight world champion in the fewest professional fights. Having held the unified WBC and IFB female super middleweight titles from 2017-2018, and reigning as the undisputed female middleweight champion of the world since 2019, and 2020 unified WBC and WBCO light middleweight title. 

Shields diverse mix of titles makes her only 1/7 boxers male or female to hold all four major titles simultaneously.

She’s been named Female Fighter of the Year (2018) by the Boxing Writers Association of America and a 2018 inductee to the USA Boxing Alumni Association’s Hall of Fame along with being the 2019 Women’s Sports Foundation ‘Sportswoman of the year’.

The boxing community will most likely remember her through her accomplishments in the ring.

The people of Flint Michigan, however, will forever remember Claressa Shields by a bronze bust sculpted in her honor, along with six other influential Flint women memorialized by the project “Honoring Heroines and Humanitarians – Women Who Have Contributed to a Better Life for All in This Community.”

Having grown up poor and sexually abused, Shield’s adopted boxing as an outlet for her frustration and ultimately a platform to support her community and children in similar situations.

Not only has Shields consistently fought to raise awareness and funds to remedy the water crisis in Flint, she also created the Claressa Shields Community Project. The project’s purpose is to offer resources, services and a safe place for Flint children to go.

Shields is also a nationwide advocate for the supporting wellbeing of children through sports, as an ambassador for UP2US Sports, a leadership program that trains and supports coaches in becoming effective mentors and community leaders.

9.) Becky Hammon

The most awe-inspiring of them all, the undrafted, 6x WNBA All Star, first full time female coach in any of the four major sports and assistant coach for the San Antonio Spurs, “Big Shot Becky” is no stranger to forging a new path for herself and females to come.

Despite almost being passed over as a college level player entirely, Hammon enjoyed a highly decorated collegiate career with the CSU Rams. She was the WAC Mountain Division all time leading scorer and 98-99’ “Player of The Year”.  She also received the 1999 Colorado Sportswoman of The Year award and Frances Pomeroy Naismith Award from the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association for ‘Best Senior Under 5’8’.

She left Colorado State with 6 all time school records, having gotten CSU in the top 25 for the first time ever and improving game attendance by over 3,000. Hammon’s achievements and commitment to the school were honored with her 2004 CSU Hall of Fame induction and 2005 retirement of Hammons jersey #25.

After CSU, Hammon’s talent was once again nearly overlooked when she went undrafted in 1999. Luckily, the New York Liberty picked her up and jumpstarted a 16 season WNBA career.

It didn’t take long for the 5’6 point guard to turn the WNBA upside down.

As a rookie she received her first of 6 WNBA All-Star Nominations and went on to lead the league in assists in 2007. Ultimately retiring from a league that almost didn’t want her, as one of the WNBA’s Top 15 Players of All Time and WBNA Top 20@20.

In 2008 Hammon was turned down again. This time it was by the U.S. Women’s Basketball Team. So of course, Hammon took matters into her own hands, becoming a naturalized Russian and joining the 2008 and 2012 Russian National Teams.

Named for her ability to make shots in important moments, “Big Shot Becky” has taken a lot of big ‘shots’ off the court for the benefit of young women and the dismantling of gender norms.

Hammon took her biggest shot of all in 2014 when she joined the San Antonio Spurs as an assistant coach and ultimately the first full time female coach in any of the four major sports in the nation.

After years of gaining notoriety for her basketball IQ and ability to unify and lead a team, the Spurs were quick to recognize Hammon as a potential coaching weapon.

In 2015 the Spurs went to the Las Vegas summer league without Gregg Popovich.

SPOILER ALERT: They went with Becky Hammon and yes; she was the first female to act as an NBA head coach.

And on July 20, 2015, Hammon walked her signature red high heels all over the Summer League Championship. Returning to San Antonia with a win and proof that ‘assistant coach’ isn’t her last stop on the NBA career train.

Pretty much everyone thinks she should become a head coach, especially considering many of her male counterparts haven’t played professionally themselves.

After 17 seasons in the NBA and two championships Pau Gasol took to the Players Tribune to share his thoughts on Hammon as a head coach.

He noted,  “"I'm not saying she can coach almost at the level of the NBA's male coaches. I'm saying: Becky Hammon can coach NBA basketball. Period."

Gregg Popovich has also compared Hammon to the likes of Steve Kerr and Avery Johnson.

This is what makes Becky Hammon extremely important. Sure she dominated in college, in the WBNA and overseas but that doesn’t mean much to the average critic.

Now, in a league where there are ONLY men, her accomplishments cannot be contested on the basis of gender.

She is the next step in young women being fully recognized as great athletes, coaches and journalists rather than just great within the female category.

The point is, Becky Hammon is one of the best assistant coaches in the league and just happens to be female.

She may be the first NBA coach to wear red high heels instead of brown loafers, but she won’t be last.

It’s clear that Hammon is 100% ready and capable to coach an NBA team, the league just needs to catch up.