10. Flo Hyman (USA)
Flo Hyman was an iconic American volleyball player, best known for leading the United States to its first-ever Olympic medal in women’s volleyball—a silver at the Los Angeles 1984 Games. She was a powerful outside hitter whose athleticism and towering presence revolutionized the sport. Hyman won the bronze medal at the 1982 World Championships, the silver at the 1983 Pan American Games, and earned the AIAW National Player of the Year in 1976 during her collegiate career. At the University of Houston, she became the school’s first female scholarship athlete and was a three-time All-American; she also won the Broderick Award as the nation’s top collegiate volleyball player in 1977. Known internationally, she played professional volleyball in Japan and was widely admired for her sportsmanship, leadership, and advocacy for women in athletics. Hyman was posthumously inducted into the International Volleyball Hall of Fame and, in July 2025, the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Hall of Fame.
9. Jackie Silva (Brazil)
Jackie Silva is a legendary Brazilian volleyball player who won the gold medal in the inaugural women’s beach volleyball tournament at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics, partnering with Sandra Pires. Drafted to Brazil’s national indoor team at just age 14, Silva helped her country reach its first Olympics in Moscow 1980 and competed again at Los Angeles 1984. She later became a trailblazer in beach volleyball, winning two world championships and securing over 100 event victories, including 60 tournament titles and the AVP MVP award in 1994. Silva was celebrated for her fiery playing style, leadership, and advocacy for gender equality, which saw her inducted into the International Volleyball Hall of Fame in 2006 and honored by UNESCO for her contribution to sports in 2009. Beyond the court, she launched philanthropic projects like the Jackie Silva Institute, promoting anti-drug initiatives and supporting vulnerable Brazilian children through sport. Her journey exemplifies resilience and multifaceted influence on volleyball’s professionalization and popularization, both in Brazil and worldwide.
8. Sheilla Castro (Brazil)
Sheilla Castro is one of Brazil’s most celebrated volleyball players, renowned for winning two Olympic gold medals with the national team at the 2008 Beijing and 2012 London Games. She was awarded MVP of the 2012 Olympics and played a pivotal role in Brazil’s dominance, including multiple FIVB World Grand Prix titles and World Championship podium finishes—silver in 2006 and 2010, and bronze in 2014. Over her international career from 2002 to 2016, Castro won gold in seven World Grand Prix editions, two Grand Champions Cups, and the 2011 Pan American Games, and was recognized individually as Best Opposite, Best Scorer, and MVP in numerous international competitions.
At the club level, Sheilla won titles in Brazil, Italy, and Turkey, including the 2012 FIVB Club World Championship with Osasco, where she was also named MVP. She played for top clubs such as Minas, Unilever, Osasco, Pesaro, and VakifBank, collecting national league championships and individual awards for her all-around excellence and leadership. Castro’s legacy as an unstoppable opposite hitter, brilliant server, and inspirational leader continues to influence Brazilian volleyball and inspire athletes worldwide.
7. Inna Ryskal (Soviet Union/Azerbaijan)
Inna Ryskal is one of volleyball’s all-time greats, representing the Soviet Union with distinction from the 1960s through the late 1970s. She earned four Olympic medals in women’s volleyball: silver at Tokyo 1964, gold at Mexico City 1968, gold at Munich 1972, and silver at Montreal 1976, a feat unmatched in her era. Ryskal’s power-driven style made her the key “Kaspiiskaia Thunderstorm” hitter on the Soviet teams that dominated globally, winning the 1970 FIVB World Championship, the 1973 FIVB World Cup, and gold at the European Championships in 1963, 1967, and 1971.
She was also a World silver medalist in 1962 and 1974, and was awarded the Order of the Red Banner of Labour and multiple sports honors by the USSR for her consistency and leadership. Ryskal’s four straight Olympic podium finishes and her role in shaping Soviet volleyball’s golden age led to her induction into the International Volleyball Hall of Fame, cementing her legacy as one of the sport’s legendary figures.
6. Yekaterina Gamova (Russia)
Yekaterina Gamova is a celebrated Russian volleyball player known for her towering height of 2.02 meters (6 ft 8 in) and her dominant presence as an outside hitter and opposite. She was a key member of the Russian national team that won gold medals at the 2006 and 2010 FIVB Women’s World Championships, where she was named Most Valuable Player in 2010. Gamova also earned two Olympic silver medals at the Sydney 2000 and Athens 2004 Games and helped Russia claim several European Championship titles.
Her club career was equally illustrious, playing for top teams including Dinamo Moscow, Fenerbahce Istanbul, and Dinamo Kazan, where she won multiple national titles, the 2014 FIVB Club World Championship, and the 2013-14 CEV Champions League, earning MVP awards for both. Recognized for her powerful spikes, blocking ability, and scoring talent, Gamova is widely regarded as one of the best opposite hitters in volleyball history. She retired in 2016 due to health reasons but left a profound legacy inspiring generations of volleyball players globally.
5. Misty May-Treanor (USA)
Misty May-Treanor is a legendary American beach volleyball player who won three consecutive Olympic gold medals at the 2004 Athens, 2008 Beijing, and 2012 London Games alongside her partner Kerri Walsh Jennings. They are regarded as the greatest beach volleyball team of all time, holding a record 112 consecutive match wins and 19 consecutive tournament titles at their peak. May-Treanor’s career includes 112 tournament victories, 43 international titles, and over $2.1 million in earnings, making her one of the most successful female beach volleyball players ever.
Before focusing on beach volleyball, she was a standout indoor player at Long Beach State University, winning the 1998 NCAA championship and earning multiple national player of the year awards. Her accolades include numerous AVP and FIVB Best Offensive Player, Best Defensive Player, MVP titles, and Sportsperson of the Year honors. After retiring in 2012, May-Treanor transitioned into coaching and philanthropy, remaining a highly respected figure in volleyball worldwide. She was inducted into the International Volleyball Hall of Fame in 2016, cementing her legacy as an all-time great.
4. Kerri Walsh Jennings (USA)
Kerri Walsh Jennings is an iconic American beach volleyball player, widely regarded as one of the greatest in the sport’s history. She won three consecutive Olympic gold medals in 2004, 2008, and 2012 alongside her legendary partner Misty May-Treanor, and added a bronze medal at the 2016 Rio Olympics with partner April Ross, making her the most decorated female beach volleyball Olympian.
Walsh Jennings and May-Treanor set records for 112 consecutive match wins and 19 consecutive tournament victories, dominant at the international level where they captured three FIVB World Championships in 2003, 2005, and 2007. Before beach volleyball, she had a stellar indoor volleyball career at Stanford University, winning two NCAA championships and earning multiple All-American honors.
Known for her athleticism, tenacity, and skill in both offense and defense, Walsh Jennings played a crucial role in popularizing women’s beach volleyball worldwide. Even after her competitive career, she has been active in coaching, mentorship, and advocacy for the sport. Her 135 career wins stand as the all-time record for female players, and she was inducted into the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Hall of Fame in 2025.
3. Lang Ping (China)
Lang Ping, also known as the “Iron Hammer,” is a legendary Chinese volleyball player and coach widely regarded as one of the greatest in the sport’s history. As a player, she led China’s national team to victory in the 1981 World Cup, 1982 World Championship, 1984 Olympic gold, and the 1985 World Cup, where she was named MVP. Lang Ping was the team captain and served as assistant coach before retiring from playing in 1986.
Transitioning to coaching, she became the first woman to coach a Chinese national team in 1995, guiding China to a bronze at the 1995 World Cup, silver at the 1996 Olympics, and silver at the 1998 World Championship. She coached in Italy with great success, winning several trophies including the CEV Champions League gold in 2001.
Lang Ping served as head coach of the U.S. women’s national team from 2005 to 2008, leading them to a silver medal at the 2008 Beijing Olympics. Returning to China in 2013, she led the team to numerous victories including two World Cup titles in 2015 and 2019 and the gold medal at the 2016 Rio Olympics, becoming the first person in volleyball history to win Olympic gold as both a player and a coach. Her legacy is marked by excellence, tactical brilliance, and groundbreaking achievements in international volleyball.