Uncovering the Trailblazers: 10 Must-Read Books on Women’s Sports Icons
Posted on March 30, 2026
by Adrienne A
Female athletes continue to make their names known in the world of sports. From Olympians to basketball stars, these women are redefining what is possible in their fields. Discover their stories and learn about what it took for them to become the top in today’s sports.
hurdles in the dark by Elvira K. Gonzalez
A YA memoir about survival and strength by Elvira Gonzalez, a Mexican-American track star who found freedom from poverty and violence by training to become one of the top athletes in the U.S.
i'm that girl by Jordan Chiles
In her powerful, eye-opening memoir, Jordan digs deep, sharing the story of her life's challenges--the racism she encountered as a gifted Black girl in a predominantly white elite sport, the battles with body image and subsequent unhealthy relationship with food, the grueling practices, the injuries, the moments of nearly calling it quits. Through it all, Jordan refused to give up. Through sheer grit--and the love of her family--she kept working and winning. When Simone Biles stepped away from the 2020 Tokyo Olympics after a case of the "twisties," Jordan stepped in to play a key role in securing silver for Team USA. And in Paris, Jordan made history as part of the first all-Black podium in all of men's and women's gymnastics.
alex morgan by Luke Hanlon
This juvenile biography examines the life and career of United States soccer star Alex Morgan.
maya moore by Andrew Maraniss
Before she became one of the most famous basketball players on the planet, before she began speaking out for prison reform, Maya Moore was just a kid. In this chapter book biography...readers learn more about the life and work of Maya Moore-from growing up with a single mother in Jefferson City, Missouri, to her journey to becoming a star player at UCONN and the WNBA, to her social justice fighting for prison reform and speaking up for Black Lives Matter. While known as one of the greatest basketball players of all time, Maya Moore has changed the world beyond sports.
thirty below by Cassidy Randall
Grace Hoeman dreamed of standing on top of Denali. The tallest peak in North America, the fierce polar mountain loomed large in many climbers' imaginations, and Grace, a doctor in Alaska, had come close to the top, only to be turned back by altitude sickness and a storm that took the lives of seven fellow climbers in one remorseless blow. Other expeditions denied her a place because of her gender, and when a letter arrived from a climber in California named Arlene Blum, who'd also been barred from expeditions--unless she stayed in base camp and cooked for the men, Grace got a defiant idea: she would organize and lead the first-ever all-female ascent of the frozen Alaskan peak.
naomi osaka by Ben Rothenberg
A deeply reported, revealing biography of tennis phenomenon and activist Naomi Osaka, telling the untold story behind her Grand Slam-winning career, her headline-making advocacy for racial justice and mental health, and the challenges of a life in the international spotlight.
caitlin clark by Dan Wetzel
In this inspiring juvenile level sports biography of Caitlin Clark featuring eye-catching photographs, acclaimed journalist Dan Wetzel tells the incredible true story of one of the greatest women's college basketball players of all time, who is now a major talent in the WNBA. With her shooting range, swagger, and play-making prowess, the electrifying Caitlin Clark became one of the greatest college basketball players of all time and helped skyrocket women's basketball to a new level of popularity. This inspiring biography recaps Caitlin's journey from multiple sport star growing up in West Des Moines, Iowa to becoming the all-time leading scorer in college basketball history, twice leading the Iowa Hawkeyes to the national championship game and becoming the first overall pick in the 2024 WNBA Draft.
who is chloe kim? by Stefanie Loh
At the 2018 Winter Olympics in South Korea, Chloe Kim became the youngest woman to ever receive an Olympic gold medal in snowboarding, and she was only seventeen! This amazing accomplishment led to Chloe winning three ESPY awards, becoming the inspiration for her own Barbie doll, and gracing the cover of Sports Illustrated. She is also the only athlete to have won three gold medals at the X Games before turning sixteen. Learn about Chloe's brilliant career and her lifelong love of snowboarding in this biography for young readers.
just add water by Katie Ledecky
What makes a champion? "I never imagined I would make it to the Olympics, or be at this level, or write a book about this unlikely career that I've had. But I've really enjoyed the ride, this journey." Katie Ledecky is one of the best swimmers ever to compete. She has won more individual Olympic races than any female swimmer in history. A three-time Olympian, a seven-time gold medalist, a twenty-one-time world champion, eight-time NCAA Champion, and world record-holder in individual swimming events, Ledecky shares what it takes to compete at an elite level. Again and again, Katie Ledecky has broken records: those of others and, increasingly, her own.
big book of who
The Big Book of WHO Women in Sports profiles extraordinary athletes who shaped the narratives of their sports. The best women athletes--past and present--including Caitlin Clark, Billie Jean King, Serena Williams, Nadia Comaneci, Simone Biles, and dozens more!
Check out these titles about these trailblazing women in the world of sports.
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