This year's SportsPro 50MM features more women than ever

This year's SportsPro 50MM shows a gender split of 56 per cent male and 44 per cent female.  
 
The 2022 list features 22 women - more than ever before - with Serena Williams (ranked 2), Naomi Osaka (6), Alex Morgan (8) and highest new entry on the entire list, Australia and Chelsea footballer Sam Kerr (9), all within the top 10 Most Marketable athletes. 

Although this year's 50MM shows a rise in the number of female athletes, achieving a 50:50 split will involve further investment in women's sport and female athletes, but this still remains far lower than for their male counterparts.  

This investment will need to rise for women's sport to grow. This will mean unbundling sponsorships from the men's properties, increasing media rights and visibility, greater pay and prize money, more equity investment, and more brand dollars directed towards women.  

There is a long way to go in many sports, particular team sports such as rugby, to ensure women are given the platform and profile that will enable them to boost their marketability. 

England's Lionesses didn't make the 2022 50MM as their success was more of a UK/national story which took off midway through the evaluation period. Much like other successful teams, the Lionesses' marketability is built on the collective than talented individuals. However, there is scope for star players to be included in future years, especially if investment continues to rise in the women's game at the club/domestic level.