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Who are Gen Z’s Favorite Athletes?

We asked Gen Z who their favorite athletes are and why, and these are the top 15…

Written and Edited by the YPulse Editorial Team

Mar 10 2025
North America

KEY TAKEAWAYS

Once again, LeBron James is Gen Z’s favorite athlete, thanks to basketball being their most-watched sport and his ability to connect online with them
Gen Z names players with long-standing success like Michael Jordan and Lionel Messi as their favorites, too
Young stars like Angel Reese and Caitlin Clark making Gen Z’s favorite athletes show a growing interest in women’s sports

Gen Z loves sports, and it goes beyond just tuning into games. YPulse’s Sports and Athletes report shows 63% of 13-17-year-olds and 68% of 18-24-year-olds consider themselves fans, with over half (56% of teens and 65% of young adults) watching games weekly or more often. And these young consumers are being influenced by athletes they know and love, from the products they buy to the content they engage with. YPulse data shows majority (60%) of young people are more likely to buy products from their favorite athletes if they’re related to the sport and 62% say if those products are true...