Meet the World's Highest-Paid Female Athletes 2014

                                

                                                 Serena Williams reaches Montreal quarterfinals

Maria Sharapova, of Russia, serves to Carla Suarez Navarro, of Spain, during the round of sixteen at the Rogers Cup tennis tournament Thursday, Aug. 7, 2014 in Montreal. (AP Photo/The Canadian Press, Paul Chiasson) 

fierce rivals on the court over the past decade since they first squared off in Miami in 2004. Williams won their first meeting before Sharapova prevailed in their next two matches, including the 2004 Wimbledon final. Williams has reeled off 15 straight wins since then and holds a commanding 16-2 edge overall, but that Wimbledon win as a 17-year-old launched Sharapova into stardom as tennis’

“It” girl.

Williams has won almost double the career prize money and holds a 62-31 edge in career titles, but she can’t touch Sharapova when it comes to their respective sponsorship portfolios. Sharapova’s massive endorsement haul pushes her to the top of the world’s highest-paid female athletes for the 10th straight year with earnings of $24.4 million between June 2013 and June 2014.

In Pictures: The World's Highest-Paid Female Athletes Of 201

More on Forbes: The World's Highest-Paid Female Athletes 2014

Injuries plagued Sharapova in 2013 and she played only one match in the second half of the year, which put a dent in her prize money and exhibition fees. She banked $2.4 million in winnings after earning $6 million during the prior 12 months. Sharapova’s earnings also took a hit when Nike sold Cole Haan last year, as Sharapova received hefty royalties on her best-selling line of Cole Haan shoes when it was under the Nike umbrella. But she remains the top female endorser in sports with deals with Nike, Porsche, Samsung Electronics, Tag Heuer, Evian and Head.

Sharapova added a new partner this spring in Avon Products, which will use Sharapova as the face of its new fragrance for men and women: Avon Luck. The deal was announced in June, a week after Sharapova won the French Open for her fifth Grand Slam title. The Avon deal is worth more than $1 million annually.

Sharapova is also a budding entrepreneur. She launched a line of gummy candies, Sugarpova, in 2012. The brand sold 1.3 million bags of candy in the first year at $5-$6 a pop and was looking to double sales in year two. This spring, Sharapova took a stake, part cash and part sweat equity, in skincare company Supergoop, where she will push sunscreen and anti-aging products.

More on Forbes: How MLB Roared Back After 1994 Strike With Revenue Up 400%
China’s Li Na is nipping at Sharapova's heels to be the top paid woman in sports after winning the Australian Open in January for her second career Grand Slam title. The win triggered a massive bonus from sponsor Nike, as well as bonuses from her other endorsement partners. Li earned $23.6 million, including $5.6 million from prize money, between June 2013 and June 2014. She became a marketing star in 2011 when she won the French Open to become the first Asian-born tennis player ever to win a Grand Slam singles event. Her biggest deals are with Nike, Mercedes, Samsung, Rolex and several brands in China.
In Pictures: The World's Highest-Paid Female Athletes Of 2014

Williams ranks No. 3 with earnings of $22 million. Williams out-earned Sharapova by almost 5 to 1 in prize money during our time period, and her $11 million in winnings is a record for any female athlete. But Sharapova’s off-court earnings were double what the world’s top-ranked player made. Serena has dominated her sport since turning pro in 1995. Her $56 million in career prize money is almost twice as much as No. 2 on the list, Sharapova. Williams maintains deals with Nike, Wilson, Gatorade and OPI. She also owns small stakes in Sleep Sheets and the Miami Dolphins.

More on Forbes: Fargo Heads List Of Best Small Cities For Business And Careers
Kim Yuna is the top-paid female athlete outside the world of tennis. The figure skating star banked an estimated $16.3 million and ranks fourth overall. She won a silver medal at the Sochi Olympics in February, although many felt she deserved the gold in ladies’ singles. The Olympics marked the end of Queen Yuna's competitive skating career. Her 2010 Olympic gold medal performance set a scoring record for the sport, and she never finished off the podium in a competition during her career. Kim launched a figure skating show, All That Skate, in 2010 and tickets for this year’s three-day event in May featuring Kim sold out in 30 minutes. Kim continues to be an endorsement star and is one of the biggest celebrities in South Korea. She added a deal with SK Telecom this year and has more than a dozen corporate partners.
The 10 highest-paid female athletes are a globetrotting bunch, representing eight different nationalities. They earned a collective $142 million, down 3 percent from last year, and the cutoff was $5.5 million. Up-and-coming stars from MMA (Ronda Rousey), golf (Michelle Wie) and tennis (Sloane Stephens) just missed the cut. Earnings figures include prize money, salary, licensing, appearances and endorsements. We don’t include investment income or deduct for taxes or agent fees. Tennis stars dominate the list with seven players because it is the one significant money-generating sport where men and women have attained near equality when it comes to prize money and sponsorship opportunities.
Here are the five highest-paid women athletes of 2014:
1. Maria Sharapova, $24.4 million
2. Li Na, $23.6 million
3. Serena Williams, $22 million
4. Kim Yuna, $16.3 million

5. Danica Patrick, $15 million