{"id":21794,"date":"2013-08-09T13:03:57","date_gmt":"2013-08-09T11:03:57","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.myza.co.za\/most-powerful-sporty-women-of-yesteryear\/"},"modified":"2013-08-09T13:03:57","modified_gmt":"2013-08-09T11:03:57","slug":"most-powerful-sporty-women-of-yesteryear","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.myza.co.za\/press\/most-powerful-sporty-women-of-yesteryear\/","title":{"rendered":"Most powerful sporty women of yesteryear"},"content":{"rendered":"

\t \"Revealed:<\/a><\/p>\n

Revealed: Maria Sharapova the world\u2019s highest-paid sportswoman. Photo: Eurosport<\/p>\n

With it being National Women\u2019s Day in South Africa, MySport24 took to Google to find yesteryear\u2019s most powerful women in sport:<\/p>\n

1. Maria Sharapova<\/p>\n

The 18-year-old budding tennis star, who hails from Russia and won Wimbledon last year, sits atop the female athlete income rankings, with annual earnings estimated at $18-23 million<\/a>. Aside from her tournament winnings, the 6-foot-2, long-legged blonde has a slew of corporate endorsements, including Nike, Canon cameras, Motorola phones and Tag Heuer watches.<\/p>\n

2. Sheila Johnson<\/p>\n

The 56-year-old businesswoman\/philanthropist, who co-founded Black Entertainment Television with her ex-husband, bought stakes in the Washington Mystics of the WNBA, the Washington Wizards of the NBA and the Washington Capitals of the NHL in May.<\/p>\n

3. Annika Sorenstam<\/p>\n

The 35-year-old native of Sweden has put a lot of distance between herself and the rest of the women\u2019s golf world, winning 10 of the 20 tournaments she entered this year, including two majors. Her career tournament earnings surpassed $18 million in 2005, while no other woman golfer has even reached $11 million.<\/p>\n

4. Venus and Serena Williams<\/p>\n

The sisters brought women\u2019s tennis to a new level when they burst on the scene in the late 1990s with their combination of power and athleticism. They also helped diversify the sport, becoming the first women of color to win major tournaments<\/a> since Althea Gibson in the 1950s.<\/p>\n

5. Michelle Wie<\/p>\n

The 16-year-old turned pro in October, and already her estimated $10 million in annual income from endorsements with Nike and Sony put her ahead of Sorenstam. Yet Wie is still waiting to win her first pro tournament. \u2013 IOU Sports<\/a><\/p>\n

Related articles<\/h6>\n