Peng Shuai and Rafael Nadal were joined by members of the USWNT, stars from the Beijing Olympics, and a WNBA icon
Spanish tennis star Rafael Nadal made history in 2022 when he won his 21st Grand Slam singles title at the Australian Open. In an era filled with dominant men’s tennis players, the 35-year-old stands alone with the most Grand Slam victories in history by a male player.
“I admire athletes who push themselves to the limit, and I’m absolutely inspired every time Rafa takes the court,” seven-time Super Bowl champion Tom Brady. “There’s something to be learned from watching his determination, his strategy, everything that it takes for him to never take any moment for granted. He’s forever going to be remembered as one of the very best athletes in all of sports.”
Rapinoe, Sauerbrunn and Morgan have made plenty of contributions on the field for the USWNT, but in 2022 their most significant accomplishment came in the fight for equality. The three national team leaders, alongside countless players and advocates in American women’s soccer, secured a $24 million settlement with U.S.
. “These women have shown up and spoken up. When they were not recognized for their accomplishments, and not paid equally to the men’s team, they vowed to drag soccer to the right side of history.”