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40 Best Female Soccer Players of All Time

Soccer, also known as football in many countries, is one of the world’s most popular sports, with millions of fans worldwide. And while it is often dominated by male players, the women’s game has grown tremendously in recent years, with talented athletes showcasing their skills on the pitch. This article honors the 40 greatest female soccer players of all time, highlighting their accomplishments, contributions to the sport, and impact on the game. This list is a tribute to the remarkable talent, dedication, and passion of female athletes in the beautiful game, ranging from legendary players who helped shape the early days of women’s soccer to modern-day superstars who continue to inspire and empower the next generation. So, whether you are a die-hard fan or a casual observer, join us as we explore the incredible careers of these extraordinary women and celebrate their indelible mark on the world of soccer.

1. Marta (Brazil)

Marta Vieira. By Anders Henrikson

Let us start our list with this talented footballer. Marta is a Brazilian footballer who plays as a forward. It should come as no surprise that Brazil produced two of the world’s greatest players, male, and female.

Pele established his legacy years ago. Marta Vieira da Silva is still establishing herself as the world’s most talented player. Marta, dubbed “Pele in skirts” by the Brazilian master, is capable of doing it all.

The world has lost count of the number of times she has spun a defender around and left her in the dust. That includes dribbling opponents off guard with her exceptional skill, creating goals with her vision, and scoring them with a tenacious desire to succeed.

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2. Bente Nordby

Bente Nordby has five Women’s World Cups, tied with Americans Kristine Lilly and Christie Pearce.

Nordby played a key role in Norway’s stunning upset of the United States en route to winning the 1995 Women’s World Cup and a gold medal at the Summer Olympics in 2000.

In 2007, her final season, she was named Swedish Goalkeeper of the Year. She was also nominated four times for FIFA Women’s World Player of the Year, in 2001, 2004, 2005, and 2007.

3. Alexia Putellas

Alexia Putellas. By Electro07

She has to be on the list because UEFA named her the best women’s player in February 2023. Alexia was named alongside other male players who excelled in the 2022 season, including world cup winners.

She is a Spanish professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for both Barcelona and the Spanish national team.

She has previously represented Catalonia and played for Espanyol and Levante. She is widely regarded as the best contemporary female footballer in the world, and one of the greatest of all time, having won all major club and individual awards available to a European player by 2022.

Patellas has been named UEFA Women’s Player of the Year, the Ballon d’Or Féminin, and the Best FIFA Women’s Player in 2021, becoming the first player to win all three in the same year. She has won them for consecutive years.

4. Mary Earps

Mary Earps By EL Loko

She is an English professional football goalkeeper who plays for Manchester United in the Women’s Super League and for the England national team.

In February 2023, UEFA named her the best Female Goalkeeper for the 2022 season. Her success stems from outstanding saves on the field as well as a string of clean sheets.

Loughborough University awarded Earps a degree in Information Management and Business Studies between 2012 and 2016.
She is likely to thrive now that she is in a great Manchester club with great coaching. She is one of the all-time greats.

5. Dzsenifer Marozsan

Dzsenifer Marozsan is a German international who is currently on loan from Olympique Lyonnais to NSWL side O.L. Reign. She is also the Bundesliga’s youngest player to score.

The German Football Association pushed her to accept German citizenship, and as a result, her entire family was granted citizenship. She joined FFC Frankfurt in 2009 and guided them to the Champions League title in 2014-15.

Dzsenifer joined Lyonnais in 2016 and quickly established herself as a key member of one of the best women’s soccer teams in history. From 2016 to 2020, she won four consecutive Champions League and Division 1 Féminine title with the French club.

She was also a member of Germany’s Olympic soccer team, which won gold in 2016.

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6. Sam Kerr

Sam Kerr, who plays for Chelsea in the FA WSL, is Australia’s best female soccer player. She was born in East Fremantle, a Perth suburb, and began her career at the age of 15. She is known for her speed, skills, and athleticism, and she was voted the best women’s soccer player in the world this season by our readers.

In 2019, she joined Chelsea ahead of the season’s second half. She led the Blues to the WSL title in 2020-21 as the leading goalscorer and assist provider.

Kerr is the first female soccer player to win the Golden Boot in three different leagues, as well as the first Australian to score a hat-trick in a men’s or women’s World Cup. She is without a doubt Australia’s best female soccer player and will be the main player for her country when it hosts the Women’s World Cup in 2023.

7. Sam Mewis

Sam Mewis. Courtesy of Jamie Smed

She is without a doubt Australia’s best female soccer player and will be the main player for her country even in the future. Samantha June Mewis, better known as Sam Mewis, is an American professional female footballer.

She is currently a member of the Kansas City Courage in the NWSL for the 2022 season, as well as the American national team. Mewis has won three NSWL titles and was a member of the United States national soccer team that won the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup and bronze at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.

She was also named the 2020 U.S. Soccer Female Player of the Year. She is a versatile midfielder known for her dribbling ability. She is equally adept at winning the ball in midfield as she is at moving it up the field.

8. Tobin Heath

Tobin Heath is the list’s oldest name of the players playing currently. Her US team accomplishments include two World Cups, two Olympic Golds, and an Olympic Bronze. Heath was also a member of the United States team that lost in the World Cup final in 2011.

She spent two brief seasons in France with PSG in 2012-13 and 2013-14. Heath then signed a contract with the Portland Thorns and remained with them for the next two seasons.

During her tenure, she won two Championships and one Shield. Heath signed a one-year contract with WSL club Manchester United in 2020, but her season was cut short due to an injury. She joined Arsenal on the eve of the 2022 season.

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9. Christine Sinclair

Christine Sinclair, the world’s all-time leading scorer, has numerous awards and accolades that place her among the best of all time. Sinclair has 189 goals in 309 games for Canada and is the only player of either gender to have scored in five World Cups. Sinclair also won seven titles with the Portland Thorns.

Sinclair earned a bronze medal for Canada at the 2012 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, was named Canadian player of the decade in 2019, and won two NWSL championships in addition to one Concacaf Women’s championship in 2010.

10. Mia Hamm

Mia Hamm, the Michael Jordan of women’s soccer, was a role model for all girls. The game’s public face in the United States and around the world.

In 276 games, Hamm scored 158 goals and won two World Cups and three Olympic medals. Hamm’s only stint in club soccer would be two seasons in the WUSA. Many consider Hamm to be the greatest American soccer player of any gender.

At the age of 15, Hamm was the youngest athlete to play for the USA national team, breaking many stereotypes about women’s sports. Hamm was an incredible finisher, assist provider, and explosive player.

11. Sandra Minnert

Sandra Minnert’s contribution to German football is best summed up by the fact that she received the ‘Silbernes Lorbeerblatt’ – Germany’s highest sports award – six times between 1995 and 2007.

Minnert won four European Championships, two World Cups, five Bundesliga titles, and the WUSA in America in 2003 with Washington.

Minnert was an all-star team member in Germany’s World Cup victory in 2003, and he was a constant and important presence at the heart of a successful and dominant German side in the early to mid-2000s. During her trophy-laden career, she also won a European Cup and two Olympic bronze medals.

12. Nadine Angerer

In the modern era of the sport, Nadine Angerer may be the only goalkeeper who has come close to matching Hope Solo’s success and reputation.

Angerer, who had previously been an understudy to Silke Rottenberg for the national team, took over as number one at the 2007 World Cup and did not concede a single goal as Germany won the tournament.

Angerer, a penalty-saving specialist, saved two penalties in the Euro 2013 final and finished her career with five European Championship titles, two World Cups, and several major domestic honors, including a European Cup with Turbine Potsdam.

Angerer, the only goalkeeper to be named FIFA World Player of the Year, established herself as one of the world’s best goalkeepers.

13 Formiga

Formiga, like too many of her Brazilian contemporaries, lacks international recognition for her contributions, but her career has left its own legacy.

Formiga’s longevity has certified her as a one-of-a-kind footballer, having finally retired from international football at the end of 2021 at the age of 43. It’s unlikely that another player will ever perform at the level that the midfielder did when she was well into her 40s.

It says a lot about Formiga’s career achievements that her first major award came 25 years ago. A true legend, the likes of which we will almost certainly never see again.

14. Kelly Smith

Kelly Smith. By Katie Chan.

Kelly Smith is unquestionably England’s greatest player and one of the most decorated. Smith’s peak came before the FA Women’s Super League boom but her talent was evident to anyone who watched her.

Smith was a member of Arsenal’s historic quadruple triumph and helped the Gunners to a slew of domestic triumphs, but her moments for England on the biggest stages are the true joys, particularly against Japan in the 2011 World Cup in Germany.

Smith’s footwork, skill, and devastating ability to score any type of goal set her apart from many of her contemporaries.

Her final professional goal, a deft lob from well outside the box against Doncaster Rovers Belles, was a fitting tribute to a talented player.

15. Birgit Prinz

Birgit Prinz, the highest European player on our list, is one of the most devastatingly clinical strikers the game has ever seen.

If her 128 goals in 214 national team appearances don’t tell the whole story, her club record in terms of both goals and medals won is arguably even more impressive.

Prinz won five European Championships and two World Cups, playing an important role during a period of German dominance, particularly on their own continent.

Only Marta has more World Cup goals, and that is just the tip of the iceberg in terms of Prinz’s accomplishments. Prinz won nine Bundesliga titles, seven of them with the all-conquering FFC Frankfurt, as well as three European Cups, scoring the game-winning goal in two of her teams’ victories.

16. Pernille Harder

Pernille Harder. By Granada

The Danish footballer, 29, currently plays for Chelsea in the FA WSL. Following her £250,000+ move from Wolfsburg to Chelsea in 2019, she became known as the world’s most expensive female soccer player.

Harder began her career in the Danish women’s league Elitedivisionen with Team Viborg and IK Skovbakken. In 2012, she joined the Swedish club Linköpings FC, where she quickly rose to prominence. Harder helped her team win the Damallsvenskan in 2016 before joining VfL Wolfsburg the following year.

17. Homare Sawa

Sawa is a former Japanese player who led her country to a World Cup victory in 2011 and an Olympic silver medal the following year. In 2011, she was named FIFA Women’s World Player of the Year.

She was a goal-scoring midfielder for Japan between 1993 and 2015, amassing 205 caps and 83 goals, both of which are national records.

She scored the crucial extra-time equalizer in the 2011 World Cup Final against the United States, forcing the match to a penalty shootout, which her team won. Sawa won both the Golden Ball and the Golden Boot in that tournament.

She was equally effective at both scoring and creating goals, and she had a long and illustrious club career. Sawa is widely regarded as Japan’s most elegant female soccer player.

18. Abby Wambach

Abby Wambach By Ampatent

With 184 goals in 255 appearances for the United States, Abby Wambach is the all-time international goal scorer in women’s football. 

She was part of the team that defeated Japan in the World Cup final in 2015, and she also won Olympic Gold in Beijing in 2008 and London four years later. FIFA Player of the Year in 2012, a year earlier she became the first soccer player, of either gender, to be named Athlete of the Year by the Associated Press.

Wambach was known on the field for her physicality and aggressiveness. While she was never the most mobile of players, she was known for her headers – a diving header became her trademark.

Despite the fact that she was best only known for striking, she could also drop back into midfield to help supply her teammates – she is third on the all-time list of assists for her country as well.

19. Christie Rampone

 Christie Rampone played for the United States national team 311 times as a defender.  She competed in four World Cup finals and four consecutive Olympic Games, leading her country to gold medals in Beijing in 2008 and London four years later. She also won the World Cup on her home turf in 1999 and finished second in 2011.
Rampone, who was known for her strength and athleticism on the field, had to overcome serious injury on several occasions, as well as the debilitating effects of Lyme disease. Rampone scored only a few goals.

That was not, however, her job. Her job on the field was to keep them from scoring, and she succeeded. She is a very recognizable famous female football player in the USA and worldwide. 

20. Carli Lloyd

Lloyd, co-captain of the United States women’s national team, has twice been named FIFA Player of the Year and has made over 278 appearances for her country, scoring 113 goals in a career that is still very much active. She currently has the third most international caps for her country and stands fourth in the all-time list when it comes to goals, and seventh when it comes to assists for the USA.

Lloyd was a two-time Olympic champion who scored the game-winning goal in both the 2008 and 2012 finals. She also had the honor of captaining her country to a World Cup victory in Canada in 2015, where she scored six goals, including a hat trick against Japan. She was awarded the Golden Boot, given to the best player in the competition.

Her goals in the USA’s opening group games against Thailand and Chile in the 2019 World Cup made her the first woman to score in six consecutive World Cup games.

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21. Vivianne Miedema 

Vivianne Miedema By Rufus46

Miedema must be included on any list of the greatest strikers of all time. In June, she became the first player to be involved in 100 goals in the FA Women’s Super League.

She could be more selfish, as she averages an assist every two games, in addition to having a goal-scoring record that almost no one on the planet can match. Miedema is like a dependable machine that rarely breaks down.

Despite the fact that trophies are increasingly concentrated at clubs such as Barcelona, Lyon, and Chelsea, she appears to value silverware in north London more. She is also becoming increasingly aware of her enormous global influence, and she is using her platform to call attention to the importance of mental health.

22. Stina Blackstenius 

Arsenal beat out several other clubs to sign Blackstenius in January, bringing her to the WSL on a free transfer from Sweden’s BK Hacken. Since then, the Swedish striker has formed a seamless partnership up front with Vivianne Miedema, establishing themselves as one of the most ruthless duos in world club football.

She joined Arsenal at the start of the year after finishing top scorer in Sweden’s top flight with 17 goals in 21 games the previous season.

She has a reputation for breaking through high-pressing defenses with her own tricky and deft footwork. Fans of both Sweden and Arsenal will be grateful she chose to pursue her football dreams rather than a career in handball.

23. Magdalena Erikkson

Perhaps it says something that Eriksson missed three months of last season due to an ankle injury but still managed to jump 21 places from his previous ranking, making him the second-highest defender on the list after Lyon’s dominant captain Wendie Renard.

Both were named to the FIFPro Women’s World XI in January and are widely regarded as the best defenders in women’s football.

Eriksson’s task this summer is to lead Sweden to the Euro title after winning back-to-back Olympic silver medals.

24. Ada Hegerberg

She is a Norwegian professional footballer who plays as a striker for Lyon in Division 1 Féminine and for the Norwegian national team.

Hegerberg has previously represented Norway at the youth international level and made her senior team debut in 2011. She was a member of the silver-medal-winning team at the 2013 UEFA Women’s Championship. She represented Norway at the FIFA Women’s World Cup in 2015, the UEFA Women’s Championship in 2017, and the UEFA Women’s Championship in 2022.

On August 25, 2016, Hegerberg received the 2016 UEFA Best Women’s Player in Europe Award, and she was named BBC Women’s Footballer of the Year in 2017 and 2019. She was the first woman to receive the Ballon d’Or Féminin in 2018.

She currently holds the record for most goals scored in a UEFA Women’s Champions League season (15) and is the all-time leading scorer in the UEFA Women’s Champions League.

25. Melanie Behringer

Picture Courtesy of Rufus46

Melanie is a German footballer who played for Bayern Munich as a midfielder. She was a finalist for Best FIFA Women’s Player. Behringer finished second with Germany in the 2004 UEFA Women’s U-19 Championship and won the 2004 FIFA U-19 Women’s World Championship later that year. She scored in each of the tournament’s three knockout round games, including the championship game.

She was a member of Germany’s World Cup-winning squad in 2007, appearing in all six games. She won the bronze medal at the 2008 Summer Olympics and the title at the 2009 European Championship a year later. She won Germany’s Goal of the Month award for her long-range goal in the final.

She was a member of the German team that won the gold medal at the 2016 Summer Olympics.

She announced her retirement from international football on August 23, 2016.

26. Ella Toone

Ella Toone By James Boyes

She is an English professional footballer who plays as a forward for Manchester United in the Women’s Super League and for England.

Toone has previously represented England at the under-17, under-19, under-21, and senior levels, having previously played for Manchester City and Blackburn Rovers.

Toone scored the opening goal in England’s 2-1 win over Germany in the final of the UEFA Women’s Euro 2022, giving the country its second major tournament victory in international football.

She is well-known for her ability to dominate the midfield. She is currently one of Manchester United’s best players, and she is expected to have a long career in which she may become one of the best.

27. Aitana Bonmati

Bonmati is your average Barcelona midfielder. She compensates for her lack of size with technique. She can get out of any situation, and her link-up play with fellow midfielders Putellas and Guijarro is perhaps the best thing about this Barcelona team when they’re clicking. This season, one-touch passing, positioning, and movement have perplexed some of the game’s best teams, including Arsenal and Wolfsburg.

As if that wasn’t enough, Bonmati has also matured in the final third. She scored 17 goals and provided six assists this season in the Primera Division and the Champions League.

28. Marie-Antoinette Katoto

Katoto surpassed Marie-Laure Delie to become Â鶹APP Saint-all-time Germain’s leading goal scorer with 132 goals in 148 matches at the start of February, at the age of 23. That may be all anyone needs to know about her ability in front of goal, as the rangy striker was practically built to score.

Katoto does everything with ease, a natural ability that is both effective and entertaining, knowing when to time her runs, where to make decisive moves, and how to best get the better of her opponents.

Corinne Diacre’s decision to leave the striker (then 20) out of France’s squad for their home World Cup raised eyebrows. Katoto, on the other hand, has rarely been absent since the attacker scored 24 goals in 28 appearances for Les Bleues.

29. Wendy Renard

Wendy Renard is a French soccer player widely regarded as one of the best female defenders of all time. She is known for her physicality, aerial ability, and technical skills, standing at an impressive 6’2″.

Renard has been a member of the French national team since 2011 and has received numerous individual awards and accolades, including six times being named to the UEFA Women’s Team of the Year.

She also has ten French Division 1 titles and seven UEFA Women’s Champions League titles to her name with Olympique Lyonnais. Renard’s influence on the game is undeniable, as she continues to dominate at both the international and club levels.

30. Ann-Kristin Aarønes

She is a former Norwegian footballer who is widely considered one of the greatest female players of all time. Aarønes played as a midfielder for several clubs, including Trondheims-Ørn and Asker.

She was known for her skill, creativity, and vision on the pitch, as well as her ability to score goals. Aarønes also represented the Norwegian national team, earning 128 caps and scoring 64 goals.

She was a key player in helping Norway win the UEFA Women’s Euro in 1993 and the FIFA Women’s World Cup in 1995.

Aarønes’ impact on the game cannot be overstated, as she helped pave the way for future generations of female footballers in Norway and around the world.

31. Lauren James

Lauren James. By James Boyes.

Lauren James is a young English footballer who is rapidly making a name for herself in the sport. James plays as a forward for Chelsea FC Women and has already established herself as one of the most promising young talents in the game.

She is known for her speed, skill, and clinical finishing, and has already scored several important goals for her club. James has also represented the England national team at various youth levels and is widely tipped to become a key player for the senior team in the future.

At just 20 years old, James’ potential as a female footballer of all time is immense, and she is sure to continue making waves in the sport for years to come.

32. Alessia Russo

Alessia Russo By Ryanasman1

 Alessia Russo is an up-and-coming English footballer who currently plays as a forward for Manchester United Women. Despite being only 22 years old, Russo has already shown immense talent and potential in the sport.

She is known for her pace, technical ability, and goal-scoring prowess, and has already scored several important goals for her club.

Russo has also represented the England national team at various youth levels and is widely regarded as one of the most promising young talents in the country. With her combination of skill, determination, and natural talent, Russo is poised to become one of the greatest female footballers of all time in the coming years.

33. Nadia Nadim

Nadia Nadim is a Danish footballer widely considered to be one of the best female players of all time. Nadim began her career with the Danish club Skovbakken before moving on to other clubs such as Fortuna Hjrring and Manchester City.

She has over 50 goals in her career and is known for her incredible speed, technical ability, and goal-scoring prowess. Nadim has also played for the Danish national team since 2009, earning over 100 caps and scoring 32 goals.

She was an integral part of Denmark’s run to the UEFA Women’s Euro 2017 final, where they finished runners-up. Nadim’s contribution to the game cannot be overstated, and her incredible achievements continue to inspire young players all over the world.

34. Beth Mead

Beth Mead is a talented and accomplished footballer who has made a name for herself as one of the best female players of all time. Born in England in 1995, Mead began her professional career playing for Sunderland, where she quickly established herself as a force to be reckoned with on the field.

Her speed, agility, and precision passing skills have earned her numerous accolades, including being named the Professional Footballers’ Association (PFA) Women’s Young Player of the Year in 2016.

Mead has also been a key player for the England national team, helping them to reach the semi-finals of the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup. With her impressive skill set and unwavering determination, there’s no doubt that Beth Mead will continue to make her mark on the world of football for years to come.

35. Khadija Shaw

Khadija Shaw is a talented Jamaican footballer who has made waves in the sport and is regarded as one of the best female players of all time.

Shaw, who was born in 1997, began playing football at a young age and quickly rose through the ranks to become one of the NCAA’s leading scorers while playing for the University of Tennessee.

She has also made an impact on the international stage, having represented Jamaica and scoring the country’s first-ever World Cup goal in 2019. Her impressive skills and goal-scoring abilities have earned her numerous awards, including Rookie of the Year in the 2018-19 National Women’s Soccer League.

Khadija Shaw is a talented athlete who is dedicated to her sport. Shaw has undoubtedly left her mark on the world of football and will continue to do so for years to come.

36. Steffi Jones

By Arne Koehler

Steffi Jones is a former German footballer widely considered to be one of the best female players of all time. Jones, who was born in 1972, began her professional career with Frankfurt and quickly established herself as a dominant force on the field.

She competed in four FIFA Women’s World Cups, winning the title in 2003, and three UEFA Women’s Championships. Jones was also an important member of the German national team, which helped them become one of the most successful women’s football teams in history.

Jones went on to become a coach after retiring from playing and was named head coach of the German national team in 2016. Her contributions to the sport as a player and coach have earned her numerous honors, and she continues to be an inspiration to many young female footballers worldwide.

37. Ria Percival

Ria Percival. By Rufus46

Ria Percival is a highly skilled and accomplished New Zealand footballer who has established herself as one of the best female players of all time.

Percival, who was born in 1989, began her professional career with Lynn-Avon United before moving on to various teams around the world, including Tottenham Hotspur Women in the English Women’s Super League.

She has also been an important member of the New Zealand national team, helping them qualify for the FIFA Women’s World Cups in 2007, 2011, and 2015. Ria Percival has established herself as a leader in the sport and continues to inspire young female footballers all over the world with her impressive skills and unwavering determination.

38. Sissi 

Sissi, full name Sisleide do Amor Lima, is a legendary Brazilian footballer regarded as one of the greatest female players of all time.  She who was born in 1967, began her professional career with various teams in Brazil before joining the Brazilian national team.

She scored three goals in the tournament to help Brazil win the silver medal at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics. Sissi was a formidable opponent on the field due to her incredible dribbling skills, precise passing, and powerful shooting.

Sissi went on to coach various teams after retiring from playing and has remained a global advocate for women’s football. Her contributions to the sport have earned her numerous honors, and she continues to be an inspiration to many young female football players today.

39. Hege Riise

Hege Riise is a retired Norwegian footballer widely regarded as one of the greatest female players of all time. Riise, who was born in 1969, played for several clubs during her career, including Carolina Courage in the United States and Asker Fotball in Norway.

She was also an important member of the Norwegian national team, helping them win gold at the Sydney Olympics in 2000 and the UEFA Women’s Championship in 1993 and 1995.

Riise went on to become a coach after retiring from playing and has coached several clubs and national teams, including the United States women’s national team. Her contributions to football have earned her numerous honors, including induction into the Norwegian Football Hall of Fame in 2008. Riise, Hege remains an inspiration to many young female footballers around the world.

40. Maya Le Tissier

Maya Le Tissier By Ryanasman1

Maya Le Tissier is a rising star in women’s football and is widely regarded as one of the game’s most promising young players.

Maya has already established herself as a standout performer for both club and country at the age of 20, earning praise for her technical ability, vision, and poise on the ball.

She first piqued the interest of fans and pundits alike during her breakout season with Brighton & Hove Albion in the 2019/20 Women’s Super League season, and she has since gone from strength to strength.

Maya Le Tissier is poised to become one of the greatest female footballers of all time thanks to her impressive skill set, dedication, and passion for the game.