Women’s sports are shaping the future, as USWNT star Naomi Girma, WTA phenom Alexandra Eala, and WNBA Rookie of the Year Olivia Miles all landed on this week’s 2026 TIME100 Next list.
Soccer great Alex Morgan penned Girma’s tribute, calling her “the hardest defender I’ve ever had to play against” and noting her then-record $1 million transfer to Chelsea last year.
ATP legend Rafael Nadal praised 21-year-old Eala — the highest-ranked Filipino in tennis history — as “warm, approachable, and humble,” while four-time WNBA champion Sue Bird marveled that Lynx centerpiece Miles “is only just beginning to scratch the surface.”
“The TIME100 Next brings together individuals whose work is defining the next generation of leadership,” said TIME CEO Jessica Sibley. “This year’s listmakers are pushing boundaries, creating new possibilities, and advancing their fields and communities around the world.”
