Nineteen-year-old Coco Gauff has been named to TIME’s annual Women of the Year list, a prestigious honor recognizing exceptional leaders striving for a more equitable world. The reigning US Open champion is not only the youngest woman on this esteemed list but also the only athlete, a testament to her impactful activism and advocacy.
Born into a family with a strong history of activism, Gauff’s perspective has been shaped by her grandmother, who was the first Black student at her high school in Delray Beach, Florida, back in 1961.