Who's the highest-paid female athlete? It isn't Serena Williams.

Maria Sharapova
(Image credit: Clive Brunskill/Getty Images)

Serena Williams has dominated women's tennis all year long, and has a very good shot of becoming only the third woman in history to complete a Grand Slam by winning the U.S. Open later this summer. In addition, her public profile has changed dramatically: the former problem child has become a bona fide media darling, most recently gracing the cover of New York for its fall fashion issue.

Still, Williams continues to be beat out in the money department, with Forbes reporting that Maria Sharapova, Williams' distant rival on the tennis court, was the highest-paid female athlete in the past year, the 11th year straight that she has worn that crown. "Williams earned $24.6 million from prize money and endorsements between June 2014 and June 2015," Forbes reports, "while Sharapova banked $29.7 million."

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Ryu Spaeth

Ryu Spaeth is deputy editor at TheWeek.com. Follow him on Twitter.