This decade was a memorable one for women in sports. 

Many events happened that marked women’s voices in sports. 

From breaking world records to fighting for equal pay, these are the top six moments in sports where women defied the decade. 

1. United States Women’s Soccer National Team (USWNT) 

The USWSNT have secured four Olympic gold medals, eight CONCACAF Gold Cups, and four women’s World Cup titles. 

The 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup was a turning point for equal pay. 

In the World Cup, chants of equal pay were heard. 

Megan Rapinoe, captain of the women’s national soccer team, made it clear that she was standing for equal pay. 

She unapologetically voiced her criticism against President Trump. 

A majority of the team and Rapinoe are activists for equal pay. 

2. Japan wins the Women’s World Cup in 2011 

Months after the devastating earthquake and tsunami that attacked Japan, killing over 20,000 people, Japan’s national women’s soccer team won the World Cup. 

This event was symbolic to Japan and to many others. 

3. Simone Maunel 

In the 2016 Rio Olympics, Manuel became the first African American woman to win an Olympic gold medal in swimming. 

When she won the gold medal, she voiced the significance of her victory. 

Her win was symbolic to the black community. 

4. Allyson Felix

Not only did she break one of Usain Bolt’s world records of winning the most gold medals at the track and field World Championship in 2019, but she did this months after having a complicated C-section during her daughter’s birth.

Felix has been very open about the hardships that she faced with her pregnancy and maternity leave. 

She called out Nike for their lack of support for pregnant women athletes. 

Felix raised awareness on the injustice of maternity leave for athletes. 

5. Sisterhood of Survivors

The USA Gymnastics had a turning point on 2018 when former USAG doctor, Larry Nassar, was arrested for sexually abusing over 200 girls. 

His abuse started in 1992 and continued until 2018. 

It wasn’t a case of women not speaking up, it was a case of no one believing them and paying them to shut them up. 

More than 150 women gave their testimony on his sentencing hearings, among them Olympic medalists Aly Raisman, Simone Biles, McKayla Maroney, and many more. 

6. Serena Williams

Serena Williams, one of the greatest tennis players in history, has contributed a lot in the decade. 

She won 12 Grand Slam titles this decade alone and dealt with after-birth complications. 

Any athlete’s road to success is a challenging one, and being a woman is even more challenging. 

These women have inspired many people and are considered heroes.