Women’s volleyball has produced some of the most talented and exciting athletes in international sports. From powerful attackers and outstanding setters to excellent liberos and middle blockers, female volleyball players have made their mark in Olympic Games, World Championships, Volleyball Nations League (VNL) and major club competitions.
Some players are famous for their scoring ability, while others are known for their leadership, defensive skills and consistency. Many of these athletes continue to compete at the highest level in 2026, representing leading clubs and national teams around the world.
This article introduces some of the most famous female volleyball players who are still playing professionally, along with a small number of well-known players who retired within the last four to five years.
Famous Female Volleyball Players Who Are Still Playing
1. Gabriela Guimarães (Gabi) – Brazil
Active
Position: Outside Hitter
Gabriela Guimarães, widely known as Gabi, is one of the most recognised female volleyball players in the world. She is famous for her excellent all-round skills, powerful attacks, strong defence and ability to perform under pressure.
Gabi has been a key player for the Brazilian national team for many years. She helped Brazil win major international medals and has consistently performed against some of the strongest teams in the world.
She is also known for her leadership and consistency. Unlike players who mainly focus on attacking, Gabi contributes in several areas of the game, including receiving, defending and scoring.
Meanwhile, you can check out our list of famous volleyball male players.
2. Zhu Ting – China
Active
Position: Outside Hitter
Zhu Ting is one of China’s most successful and internationally recognised volleyball players. She became a global star after helping China win the gold medal at the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro.
Known for her height, powerful spikes and excellent attacking technique, Zhu Ting has played for some of the biggest volleyball clubs in the world. She has also won major club titles in Europe and China.
After dealing with wrist injuries earlier in her career, she returned to top-level competition and continued playing for leading clubs. She remains one of the most famous Chinese volleyball players.
3. Paola Egonu – Italy
Active
Position: Opposite
Paola Egonu is one of the most powerful attacking players in women’s volleyball. She is known for her exceptional jumping ability, strong spikes and impressive scoring record.
Egonu has represented Italy in major international competitions and helped the national team win several important titles, including the Olympic gold medal at Paris 2024 and the 2025 World Championship.
She has also played for leading European clubs, winning the CEV Champions League with different teams. Her ability to score from difficult positions makes her one of the most dangerous attackers in the sport.
4. Tijana Bošković – Serbia
Active
Position: Opposite
Tijana Bošković is one of the biggest names in international women’s volleyball. The Serbian star is famous for her powerful left-handed attacks, impressive jumping ability and ability to score important points.
She played a major role in Serbia’s success at the 2018 and 2022 World Championships, winning the tournament’s Most Valuable Player award on both occasions.
Bošković has also won European Championship titles and Olympic medals. After spending many years with Eczacıbaşı in Türkiye, she joined VakıfBank in 2025 and continued competing at the highest level.
5. Melissa Vargas – Türkiye
Active
Position: Opposite
Melissa Vargas is one of the most powerful attackers in modern women’s volleyball. Originally from Cuba, she became a Turkish international player and helped Türkiye achieve major success in international competitions.
Vargas became particularly famous during the 2023 Volleyball Nations League, when she played a major role in Türkiye’s championship-winning campaign.
Her powerful jump serves and hard attacks make her a difficult opponent for any team. She is also known for scoring a large number of points in important matches.
6. Isabelle Haak – Sweden
Active
Position: Opposite
Isabelle Haak is one of the most successful European attackers of her generation. The Swedish volleyball star has played for some of the strongest clubs in Europe and has won major domestic and international titles.
She is known for her powerful attacks, strong serving and ability to score consistently. Haak has been an important player for Imoco Conegliano, one of the leading women’s volleyball clubs in Italy.
Her performances in the Italian league and European competitions have made her a familiar name among volleyball fans worldwide.
7. Zehra Güneş – Türkiye
Active
Position: Middle Blocker
Zehra Güneş is one of Türkiye’s most famous female volleyball players. She is particularly well known for her blocking ability, height and strong presence near the net.
She has represented Türkiye in major international tournaments and helped the national team win important titles. Her performances in the Volleyball Nations League and European competitions have attracted considerable attention.
Güneş is also a key player for VakıfBank, one of the most successful women’s volleyball clubs in Europe.
8. Alessia Orro – Italy
Active
Position: Setter
Alessia Orro is one of the leading setters in women’s volleyball. A setter plays a very important role because she controls the team’s attacking system and decides how to distribute the ball among the hitters.
Orro is known for her accurate sets, quick decision-making and ability to organise attacks against strong defensive teams.
She has been an important part of Italy’s national team success, including its major international victories. Her performances have helped establish her as one of the top setters in the world.
9. Mayu Ishikawa – Japan
Active
Position: Outside Hitter
Mayu Ishikawa is one of Japan’s most recognised female volleyball players. She is known for her excellent technical skills, quick movement and ability to contribute in both attack and defence.
She has represented Japan in major international competitions and has become an important leader for the national team.
Japanese volleyball is often recognised for speed, discipline and strong defence. Ishikawa represents these qualities while also providing important attacking strength.
10. Brenda Castillo – Dominican Republic
Active
Position: Libero
Brenda Castillo is widely regarded as one of the best liberos in women’s volleyball. A libero specialises in receiving serves and defending against attacks, and Castillo is particularly famous for her quick reactions and excellent ball control.
Despite not being an attacking player, she has a major influence on her team’s performance. Her defensive ability allows her teammates to build stronger attacks.
She has represented the Dominican Republic in several Olympic Games and major international tournaments.
11. Jordan Thompson – United States
Active
Position: Opposite
Jordan Thompson is one of the leading American female volleyball players. She is known for her powerful attacks, strong serving and ability to score important points.
She helped the United States win the silver medal at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. Her international performances have made her one of the most recognisable players in American women’s volleyball.
Thompson is particularly dangerous when attacking from the front and back rows, making her an important scoring option for her team.
12. Maja Ognjenović – Serbia
Active
Position: Setter
Maja Ognjenović is one of the most experienced and respected setters in international women’s volleyball. She has represented Serbia for many years and has played an important role in the country’s major international achievements.
Her game is based on excellent technique, intelligent decisions and accurate ball distribution. She is particularly good at creating attacking opportunities for her teammates.
Even after a long international career, Ognjenović returned to Serbia’s national team for the 2026 season, showing that she remains an important figure in the sport.
13. Magdalena Stysiak – Poland
Active
Position: Opposite
Magdalena Stysiak is one of Poland’s most important attacking players. She is known for her height, powerful spikes and ability to score against strong blocking teams.
She has become a key member of the Polish national team and has helped the country achieve strong results in international competitions.
Stysiak has also played for leading European clubs. Her attacking ability makes her one of the players opposing teams must carefully prepare for.
14. Britt Herbots – Belgium
Active
Position: Outside Hitter
Britt Herbots is one of Belgium’s best-known female volleyball players. She has represented her country in major international tournaments and is recognised for her attacking ability and all-round contribution.
Herbots is capable of scoring points from different attacking positions. She also contributes to serve reception and defence, making her an important player for Belgium.
Her international experience and consistent performances have helped her build a strong reputation in European volleyball.
15. Alexa Gray – Canada
Active
Position: Outside Hitter
Alexa Gray is one of Canada’s most recognised international volleyball players. She is known for her attacking strength, serving ability and experience in professional volleyball leagues.
She has represented Canada in the Volleyball Nations League and other major competitions. Her performances have helped Canada become more competitive against established international teams.
Gray has also played professionally outside Canada, gaining experience in several competitive volleyball environments.
16. Anna Danesi – Italy
Active
Position: Middle Blocker
Anna Danesi is one of Italy’s leading middle blockers. She is known for her blocking skills, quick attacks and ability to control the net.
She has played an important role in Italy’s recent international success, including the team’s major victories in the Volleyball Nations League and World Championship.
Middle blockers need excellent timing and quick reactions, especially when trying to stop powerful attackers. Danesi’s experience and defensive ability make her an important member of the Italian team.
17. Myriam Sylla – Italy
Active
Position: Outside Hitter
Myriam Sylla is another important member of Italy’s successful women’s volleyball generation. She is known for her energy, leadership and ability to contribute in different areas of the game.
Sylla has represented Italy in major international tournaments and helped the team win important titles.
She is not only an attacking player but also contributes to serve reception and defence. Her experience makes her an important figure in the Italian national team.
18. Li Yingying – China
Active
Position: Outside Hitter
Li Yingying is one of China’s most talented modern volleyball players. She is known for her attacking skills, quick movement and ability to score points from difficult positions.
She has represented China in major international competitions and has become one of the country’s leading players.
Her ability to combine attacking strength with good technical skills makes her an important part of China’s volleyball team.
Recently Retired Famous Female Volleyball Players
The following player has recently ended her professional playing career and is included because her retirement falls within the requested period.
19. Kim Yeon-koung – South Korea
Retired in 2025
Position: Outside Hitter
Kim Yeon-koung is one of the most famous female volleyball players in Asian history. She became an international star because of her powerful attacks, leadership and outstanding performances for South Korea.
She represented her country in several Olympic Games and helped South Korea reach the semifinals at the 2012 London Olympics and the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.
Kim also played professionally in South Korea, Japan, Türkiye and China. She officially ended her professional playing career in April 2025, finishing with a Korean league and championship title.
Her influence on volleyball in South Korea and across Asia remains significant.
Famous Player Who Retired from International Volleyball but Is Still Active
20. Monica De Gennaro – Italy
Active at Club Level; International Retirement in 2025
Position: Libero
Monica De Gennaro is one of the greatest liberos in women’s volleyball history. She is famous for her outstanding defensive skills, quick reactions and ability to receive difficult serves.
She was a major part of Italy’s successful national team, helping the country win the Paris 2024 Olympic gold medal and the 2025 World Championship.
De Gennaro announced her retirement from Italy’s national team after the 2025 World Championship. However, she did not retire from professional volleyball altogether. She continued playing for Imoco Conegliano and extended her club career into the 2026–27 season.
Her career is an excellent example of how a player can retire from international competition while continuing to play for a professional club.
Other Famous Female Volleyball Players to Know
Several other players also deserve recognition for their performances in international and professional volleyball.
| Player | Country | Position |
|---|---|---|
| Ekaterina Antropova | Italy | Opposite |
| Hande Baladın | Türkiye | Outside Hitter |
| Chiaka Ogbogu | United States | Middle Blocker |
| Jordan Larson | United States | Outside Hitter |
| Kelsey Robinson Cook | United States | Outside Hitter |
| Micha Hancock | United States | Setter |
| Eda Erdem | Türkiye | Middle Blocker |
| Jovana Stevanović | Serbia | Middle Blocker |
| Brayelin Martínez | Dominican Republic | Outside Hitter |
| Nika Daalderop | Netherlands | Outside Hitter |
| Yoshino Sato | Japan | Outside Hitter |
| Kiera Van Ryk | Canada | Opposite |
| Hena Kurtagić | Serbia | Middle Blocker |
| Chiara De Bortoli | Italy | Libero |
Who Are the Best Female Volleyball Players in the World?
There is no single official international volleyball player ranking that determines the best female volleyball player overall. Players perform different roles, and their contributions cannot always be compared using the same statistics.
However, several names stand out because of their international achievements, individual awards and performances at the highest level.
Some of the most prominent current stars include:
- Tijana Bošković: One of the world’s leading opposite hitters and a two-time World Championship MVP.
- Paola Egonu: An outstanding scorer with major Olympic, World Championship and club achievements.
- Gabriela Guimarães (Gabi): An exceptional all-round outside hitter and leader for Brazil.
- Melissa Vargas: A powerful attacker who played a major role in Türkiye’s international success.
- Zhu Ting: An Olympic champion and one of China’s most successful volleyball players.
- Isabelle Haak: A highly successful European attacker with major club achievements.
- Zehra Güneş: One of the most recognised middle blockers in international volleyball.
- Brenda Castillo: One of the leading defensive players and liberos in the sport.
These players are famous for different reasons, and their positions and responsibilities should be considered when comparing their performances.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is the most famous female volleyball player in the world?
There is no official answer because popularity can depend on the country, competition and generation. However, players such as Gabriela Guimarães, Zhu Ting, Paola Egonu, Tijana Bošković and Melissa Vargas are among the most recognised active stars.
Who is the best female volleyball player right now?
Several players can be considered among the best, including Tijana Bošković, Paola Egonu, Gabi and Melissa Vargas. The answer depends on whether performance is measured by scoring, attacking efficiency, defence, individual awards or overall contribution.
Who is the most famous recently retired female volleyball player?
Kim Yeon-koung is one of the most famous recently retired female volleyball players. She ended her professional playing career in 2025 after an outstanding international and club career.
Is Monica De Gennaro retired?
Monica De Gennaro retired from Italy’s national team in 2025. However, she continued playing professional club volleyball for Imoco Conegliano and extended her club career into the 2026–27 season.
Which country has some of the best female volleyball players?
Italy, Brazil, Türkiye, Serbia, the United States, China, Japan and Poland have produced many internationally recognised female volleyball players. These countries regularly compete at the highest level of international women’s volleyball.
Conclusion
Women’s volleyball features many talented athletes who have achieved success at the Olympic Games, World Championships, Volleyball Nations League and major club competitions.
Players such as Gabi, Zhu Ting, Paola Egonu, Tijana Bošković and Melissa Vargas continue to attract worldwide attention through their performances. At the same time, recently retired stars such as Kim Yeon-koung have left a lasting legacy in the sport.
As women’s volleyball continues to grow, a new generation of talented players is also emerging, ensuring that the sport will remain exciting for fans around the world.