Women’s basketball has consistently made its mark far beyond the court.

So when fans weigh in on the most admired sports leaders, the women’s game shone brighter than ever.

It comes as The Athletic released its survey ranking the top 40 sports leaders fans admired most in 2025. The outlet intentionally used the term “most admired,” acknowledging that admiration is subjective and that there were no restrictions on voting.

The team surveyed 116 participants between October and November. And not so surprisingly, women’s basketball stood out with seven figures, earning spots in the top 40.

Dawn Staley ranked first, followed by Geno Auriemma at No. 4. A’ja Wilson came in at No. 9, Napheesa Collier at No. 17, Nneka Ogwumike at No. 18, Becky Hammon at No. 23, and Breanna Stewart at No. 38. And no doubt each of them earned their place.

Dawn Staley

The six-time All-Star is widely regarded as one of the greatest floor generals of her era. As a head coach, she’s been just as dominant. Over 18 seasons at South Carolina, Staley has established herself as one of the sport’s elite culture builders.

Geno Auriemma

Auriemma has won 12 NCAA championships and appeared in 24 Final Fours. He also holds the record for most wins in Division I women’s basketball history. Building a dynasty while developing elite talent makes his inclusion a given.

A’ja Wilson

The Las Vegas Aces superstar is already among the most dominant players in WNBA history. The 2025 season only strengthened that legacy, as she added to a résumé that includes four WNBA MVPs and three league championships.

Napheesa Collier

Collier is one of the WNBA’s premier two-way players and a former NCAA champion at UConn. Beyond the court, she plays a key role as vice president of the WNBA Players Association, helping guide the league’s labor future.

Nneka Ogwumike

The No. 1 overall pick in the 2012 WNBA Draft won a championship with the Los Angeles Sparks in 2016. Now, as president of the WNBA Players Association, she’s leading the union through a pivotal moment as the league approaches a transformative phase.

Becky Hammon

Hammon has been a trailblazer both on the court and on the sidelines. After becoming the first full-time female assistant coach in the NBA with the San Antonio Spurs, she took over as head coach of the Aces in 2022 and has already won three WNBA championships.

Breanna Stewart

Stewart is a generational talent. She led UConn to four consecutive NCAA championships and has since collected WNBA titles, MVP awards, and Olympic gold medals. Her spot on the list feels fully earned.

Overall, every figure who made the list has left a lasting impact. And their recognition only reinforces one thing: women’s basketball is experiencing real, undeniable growth.

Written by

Yashika Dutta

Edited by

Oajaswini Prabhu