Track & Field News has been choosing a U.S. Women’s Athlete Of The Year since 1976.
Back-to-back titles have been won by Mary Slaney (1982–83), Jackie Joyner-Kersee (1986–87), JJK again (1991–92), Marion Jones (1997–99 for 3 straight), Stacy Dragila (2000–01) & Gail Devers (2002–03). Overall, 6 women have won more than twice: JJK & Allyson Felix 5, Devers & Slaney 4, Jones & Evelyn Ashford 3.
The all-time women’s winners, with the event(s) in which they made the World Rankings that year (if the events are out of normal event order, it reflects the existence of a “primary” discipline):
| 1970s | ||
| 1976 | Kathy McMillan (North Carolina HS) | Long Jump |
| 1977 | Kate Schmidt (Pacific Coast Club) | Javelin |
| 1978 | Jane Frederick (LA Naturite) | Pentathlon |
| 1979 | Evelyn Ashford (UCLA) | 100, 200 |
| 1980s | ||
| 1980 | Mary Slaney (Athletics West) | 1500 |
| 1981 | Evelyn Ashford (Medalist TC) | 100, 200 |
| 1982 | Mary Slaney (Athletics West) | 1500, 3000 |
| 1983 | Mary Slaney (Athletics West) | 1500, 3000 |
| 1984 | Evelyn Ashford (Puma TC) | 100 |
| 1985 | Mary Slaney (Athletics West) | 1500, 3000, 5000 |
| 1986 | Jackie Joyner-Kersee (World Class AC) | Long Jump, Heptathlon |
| 1987 | Jackie Joyner-Kersee (World Class AC) | 100 Hurdles, Long Jump, Hept |
| 1988 | Florence Griffith Joyner (World Class AC) | 100, 200 |
| 1989 | Sandra Farmer-Patrick (Flojo TC) | 400 Hurdles |
| 1990s | ||
| 1990 | PattiSue Plumer (Nike International) | 3000, 5000 |
| 1991 | Jackie Joyner-Kersee (McDonald’s AC) | Long Jump, Heptathlon |
| 1992 | Jackie Joyner-Kersee (McDonald’s AC) | Long Jump, Heptathlon |
| 1993 | Gail Devers (Nike International) | 100, 100 Hurdles |
| 1994 | Jackie Joyner-Kersee (Honda TC) | 100 Hurdles, Long Jump, Heptathlon |
| 1995 | Gwen Torrence (Mazda TC) | 100, 200 |
| 1996 | Gail Devers (Nike) | 100, 100 Hurdles |
| 1997 | Marion Jones (Nike) | 100, 200 |
| 1998 | Marion Jones (Nike) | 100, 200, Long Jump |
| 1999 | Marion Jones (Nike) | 100, 200, Long Jump |
| 2000s | ||
| 2000* | Stacy Dragila (Nike) | Pole Vault |
| 2001 | Stacy Dragila (Nike) | Pole Vault |
| 2002* | Gail Devers (Nike) | 100 Hurdles |
| 2003* | Gail Devers (Nike) | 100, 100 Hurdles |
| 2004 | Joanna Hayes (Nike) | 100 Hurdles |
| 2005 | Allyson Felix (adidas) | 100, 200 |
| 2006 | Sanya Richards-Ross (Nike) | 200, 400 |
| 2007 | Allyson Felix (adidas) | 100, 200, 400 |
| 2008 | Jenn Suhr (adidas) | Pole Vault |
| 2009 | Sanya Richards-Ross (Nike) | 200, 400 |
| 2010s | ||
| 2010 | Allyson Felix (Nike) | 200, 400 |
| 2011 | Carmelita Jeter (Nike) | 100, 200 |
| 2012 | Allyson Felix (Nike) | 100, 200 |
| 2013 | Brianna McNeal (Clemson) | 100 Hurdles |
| 2014 | Dawn Harper Nelson (Nike) | 100 Hurdles |
| 2015 | Allyson Felix (Nike) | 200, 400 |
| 2016 | Keni Harrison (adidas) | 100 Hurdles |
| 2017 | Tori Bowie (adidas) | 100, 200 |
| 2018 | Shelby Houlihan (Bowerman TC) | 1500, 5000 |
| (* = Marion Jones led the voting in ’00 & ’02 and Kelli White led in ’03, but those three honors were revoked after retroactive drug revelations) | ||