Top 10 highest paid female athletes

Tennis players once again dominated the Forbes top ten female athletes list.

While five of the top six spots are occupied by racket-swingers, NASCAR racer Danica Patrick wiggled into the No. 3 spot with $12 million in earnings.

Topping the list for the 7th year in a row was Maria Sharapova with $25 million, with most of that cash coming from off-court endorsements.

Far behind in the No. 2 spot with only half of Sharapova’s earnings ($12.5 million) is Denmark’s Caroline Wozniacki, the current No. 1 tennis player.

Here’s the complete rundown of the Top 10 with figure skating and golf each also being represented in the No. 7 and No. 10 spots.

1.       Maria Sharapova – tennis, $25 million

2.      Caroline Wozniacki – tennis $12.5 million

3.      Danica Patrick – Nascar $12 million

4.      Venus Williams – tennis $11.5 million

5.      Kim Clijsters – tennis $11 million

6.      Serena Williams – tennis $10.5 million

7.      Kim Yu-na – figure skating $10 million

8.     Li Na – tennis $8 million

9.      Ana Ivanovic – tennis  $6 million

10.  Paula Creamer – golf  $5.5 million

Used with permission of the author.

Jay Donetelli is a Tampa-based freelance sportswriter and contributor to Sports Climax. With an opinion sharper than an Ovechkin skate blade with the sting of an Ali jab, Donetelli has a loyal cult of readers who have found a way to love him.

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