By Cameron Song
As 2021 comes to an end, the next year in women’s sports has a lot to be excited about. Especially with the Winter Olympics coming up, 2022 has much to offer for fans. Here are 8 athletes to watch in 2022:
Coco Gauff
Gauff had an incredible 2021 season at just 17 years old – ranked 22nd in the WTA and played in the quarterfinals of the French Open. Unfortunately, she could not play at the Olympics in June due to a positive Covid test, but it’s known she would’ve played outstandingly. So it is safe to say the future looks bright for Coco Gauff, and hopefully, she can make it far in the Grand Slam this new year.
Chloe Kim
Super snowboarding star Chloe Kim broke through in 2018, winning gold in the snowboard halfpipe at the Winter Olympics. She hopes to step back into the spotlight and defend her title at Beijing 2022.
Charlotte North
Over the past year, North has dominated as the new face of women’s lacrosse. In addition to boosting Boston College to an NCAA Championship win, she broke the D1 single-season goal record with 102 goals and won the Tewaaraton Award. 2022 is her final year at BC, so fans are looking forward to her breaking more records and leading her team towards a title defense.
Mikaela Shiffrin
The insanely talented alpine skier, Mikaela Shiffrin, already has six World Championship gold medals and two Olympics gold medals in her bag, but looks to compete in all five ski racing events for Beijing in 2022.
Betnijah Laney
Crushing her season with the New York Liberty with an average of 16.8 points, 5.2 assists, and 4.1 rebounds per game, Laney was named a 2021 WNBA All-Star. With a rapidly ascending career, Betnijah Laney has clearly set herself up for a breakthrough in 2022.
Carissa Moore
2021 experienced Moore’s fifth World Title in the World Surf League Finals after a Tokyo Summer Olympics gold medal. With no signs of slowing down, Carissa Moore looks to continue on her rise and capture another groundbreaking title at the WSL in 2022.
Alysa Liu
With a mark already made in the skating world since she was 13 years old, Alysa Liu has many incredible feats, including being the first American woman to land a quadruple jump in a competition and the youngest US women’s national champion. At 16 years old, she will make her Winter Olympics debut in 2022, an opportunity for her to ascend to new heights.
Kelsey Turnbow
Turnbow had a spectacular college career after leading Santa Clara to a national championship and College Cup semi-final run. She was picked as the 2021 Top Drawer Soccer Player of the Year, among other awards. Embarking onto her NWSL career, Kelsey Turnbow was selected 18th overall in the 2021 draft and will make her well-awaited debut with the San Diego Wave in 2022.
Inside Sports Journal 