Black women have long been leaders in athletics. From to Florence Griffith Joyner to Laila Ali, black women have dominated in countless tournaments, championships and even Olympic games. There are numerous black women around the world currently dominating their industries, and these four women are trailblazing both in and outside of their athletic arenas.        

Misty Copeland

Misty Copeland has been nothing short of amazing over the past year. After becoming the first African American to receive a promotion as a principal dancer at the American Ballet Theatre, Misty used her platform to unapologetically speak on the trials and tribulations that black ballet dancers face.

Serena Williams

To list all of Serena Williams’ accomplishments would take an unforeseen amount of time. The 34-year-old tennis champion has dominated on and off of the court. After winning numerous tournaments, Serena has spoken out on the double standards for female attitudes versus male attitudes in sports, modeled for magazines like Harper’s Bazaar, and continues to exemplify #BlackGirlMagic on a daily basis.   

Brittney Griner

There’s no denying the Brittney Griner’s year has been a challenge. After an altercation with her then fiancé and an annulled wedding, Griner’s personal life has been shaky this year. Still, Griner has been one of the most successful players in the WNBA and has increasingly become a prominent voice in the LGBT community.    

Mo’ne Davis

This 14-year-old prodigy is the first Little League baseball player to appear on the cover of Sports Illustrated as such. Praised by the likes of LeBron James, Michelle Obama and Ellen DeGeneres, Mo’ne has become a role model for young minority female athletes.