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 |
(* = Marion Jones led the voting in ’00 & ’02 and Kelli White led in ’03, but those three honors were revoked after retroactive drug revelations)
| 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 |
| 2019 |
Dalilah Muhammad (Nike) |
400 Hurdles |
| 2020s |
| 2020 |
no voting done; miler/5000 runner
Shelby Houlihan (Nike) named “MVP” |
|
| 2021 |
Sydney McLaughlin (Nike) |
400 Hurdles |