These rising stars are scoring goals, partnerships, and investments to shape the future of the sports and gaming industries. By Alexandra York and Pamela Jew ittle gets past Naomi Girma. Known as the “Secretary of Defense,” the soccer star is one of the best defenders in the world. Hailing from San Jose, California, she’s risen through the soccer ranks: She was recruited by Stanford University and four years later drafted number one in the 2022 NWSL Draft. She joined the San Diego Wave, an expansion team in the American league that year, and was named NWSL Defender of the Year twice as part of the squad. In 2024 she leveled up again, winning Olympic Gold at Paris with the US Women’s National Team. But this year, she made an even larger leap. In a record-breaking $1.1 million fee, Girma was transferred to Chelsea F.C. Women’s, one of the most popular soccer clubs in London. “I always knew I would want to come at some point. It was just waiting for the right opportunity and waiting for the right club,” Girma said of moving to the European league. “I feel like Chelsea is that for me.” Sebastian Nevols for Forbes With this move, she became the first female soccer player to see a transfer fee worth seven figures. Her new record is a critical component to the rise in women’s sports today. Because of stars like Girma, the women’s sports industry is on the rise: poised to earn $2.35 billion globally in 2025 (up 25% from the already record-breaking $1.88 billion in 2024), according to ESPN. “I've seen so much growth happening and I think it's really exciting to see where it's going,” Girma said. “Now it's on us and our generation to make sure we keep pushing it.” She’s just one of the all-stars on this year’s Sports & Games list. All of the finalists, which range from founders, athletes, gamers, agents and more, must have been 29 or younger as of April 8, 2025, and never before named to a Europe, North America or Asia 30 Under 30 list. To select the 2025 honorees, Forbes collected nominations from Under 30 alumni and the public, conducted our own research and tapped the expertise of independent judges: Bård Anders Kasin, the cofounder and CEO of gaming platform PortalOne; Nadine Keßler, the head of women's football at UEFA; Victoire Cogevina Reynal, the cofounder and co-CEO of Mercury/13; and Naomi Schiff, an F1 presenter and Under 30 alum. Of those named to the final list, 32% identify as people of color, 52% are women or non-binary folks, and 39% are company founders. Other female athletes are dominating their sports’ center stage. Keely Hodgkinson, 23, was named BBC’s Sports Personality of The Year in 2024 after her Paris Olympics Gold in the Women’s 800m. She’s also expanding her success off the track: she’s partnered with brands like Nike, Omega and Rimmel London, and launched her Keely Klassic—hosting runners from around the globe to compete in track events. Motorsport racing driver Bianca Bustamante, 20, became the first female driver signed to the McLaren Driver Development Programme in late 2023. Her rise in the sport has gained her more than 3 million followers across Instagram and TikTok, and sponsorships from Anastasia Beverly Hills to Cisco. Cameroonian boxer Cindy Ngamba, 26, became the first-ever medalist for the Refugee Olympic Team after taking home the bronze in the women's 75 kg boxing at the 2024 Paris Olympics. Signed by Boxxer and sponsored by Nike, Ngamba is set to go pro in 2025. But while women’s sports is surely on the rise, male stars are still bringing in the big bucks: 22-year-old Cole Palmer, joined Girma’s brother team, Chelsea FC in a $50 million (or £40 million), seven-year contract. And global powerhouses like swimmer Leon Marchand, 22, put his name on the map when he beat Michael Phelps’ 2008-set record in the 200m IM at the Paris Olympics last year. In the business seat of the sports industry is Cherry Beagles, the 27-year-old founder of Club 400. She noticed the sports industry was underestimating female fan culture, ultimately stifling commercial opportunities for female athletes. With founding members like sprinter Dina Asher-Smith and fellow Under 30 lister Keely Hodgkinson, Club 400 works to connect sports brands with a broader female audience. Clients include Nike, Arsenal FC, TikTok and Wimbledon. And Formula One presenter Lissie Mackintosh, 25, is doing her part to bring a new audience to sports, too. She became the youngest F1 presenter at 22 years old, while Keltoum Baddaje, 26, is the first Arabic woman in esports broadcasting. Baddaje has covered a range of tournaments from League of Legends and Valorant to Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six Siege. The men of this year's list are no slouches. With over $20 million in funding, SLAY, cofounded by Fabian Kamberi, 29, is utilizing AI to create the next generation of consumer apps across gaming and social media. And with 56 million followers across his social media platforms, content creator David Cánovas Martínez, 27, known to fans as TheGrefg, has made his mark streaming Fortnite content. Epic Games later turned him into a character skin in its Fortnite Icon Series. This year’s listmakers will continue to level the playing field while maintaining their love of the game—and they’re making money while doing it. “It's an exciting time and I'm very grateful to be a part of the game at this point,” Girma said. This year’s list was edited by Alexandra York and Pamela Jew. For a link to our complete 2025 Under 30 Europe Sports & Games list, click here, and for full 2025 30 Under 30 Europe coverage, click here. 30 UNDER 30 RELATED ARTICLES ForbesBy The Numbers: Meet The Forbes Under 30 Class Of 2025By Alexandra YorkForbesInside Alex Cooper’s $125 Million Deal To Grow Her Multimedia EmpireBy Alexandra York Editorial StandardsForbes Accolades