African footballing powerhouse Mamelodi Sundowns Ladies FC have been named Newsmaker of the Year for 2025 by leading women’s sport initiative, gsport4girls, in Johannesburg on Tuesday, 9 December 2025.
The domestic women’s football team heads a formidable list of 10 #GAL2025 recipients that were announced at SABC Radio Park in Auckland Park, the engine room of women’s sport coverage.
Sundowns celebrated a remarkable sixth consecutive Hollywoodbets Super League title to finish 205, their unprecedented on-field dominance matched by a highly popular public relations strategy, utilising daily social media updates to secure maximum visibility and engage new fans, building their lasting legacy in Africa.
The 2025 gsport Newsmakers:
Glenrose Xaba – Became the first Black woman to secure three Spar Grand Prix series titles, achieved an undefeated 2024/25 season, won the SA 10km Cross Country title, and completed a top-10 international marathon debut in Valencia.
Kgothatso Montjane – Secured the French Open Doubles title alongside Yui Kamiji and reached the semi-finals in both the French Open and Wimbledon singles tournaments, demonstrating sustained, world-class excellence in wheelchair tennis.
Laura Wolvaardt – Delivered leading performances as captain and opening bat of the South Africa Women’s Cricket Team at the ICC ODI World Cup Final, earning selection as captain of the ICC ODI World Cup Team of the Tournament.
Layla Arrison – Became the first South African English-language woman to commentate at a Rugby World Cup, dramatically elevating visibility and representation for women in sports broadcasting.
Proteas Women’s Cricket Team – Became the first senior South African cricket team to contest an ICC ODI World Cup Final, runners-up to India in Navi Mumbai, generating national pride and global attention.
Prudence Sekgodiso – Won gold in the 800m final at the World Athletics Indoor Championships in Nanjing 2025, broke and improved her South African record to a world-leading 1:58.40, and secured silver at the Eugenie Prefontaine Classic.
Simoné Kruger – Defended her F38 Discus world title at the 2025 World Para Athletics Championships in New Delhi, maintaining her standing as a dominant, world-record-holding force in adaptive sports.
Springbok Women 15s Team – Historic RWC 2025 campaign, securing their first World Cup win since 2010 and qualifying for their first-ever World Cup quarter-final.
Thembi Kgatlana – Scored the match-winning injury-time goal against DR Congo, securing Banyana Banyana’s qualification for the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations, and contributed to Tigres UANL’s 2025 Liga MX Femenil championship.
“These recipients shaped the sporting narrative in 2025,” said gsport Founder Kass Naidoo. “Mamelodi Sundowns Ladies FC exemplify how on-field excellence combined with strong media presence can elevate women’s sport to new heights.”
The gsport Annual List continues to serve as South Africa’s leading editorial honour for women’s sport, recognising the athletes, teams, and trailblazers who inspire, lead, and make history.
Since 2019, the gsport Annual List of Newsmakers has honoured 60 recipients, and with the aim to increase coverage of women in sport in the gsport Newsroom and across gsport’s digital platforms.
Main Photo Caption: African footballing powerhouse Mamelodi Sundowns Ladies FC have been named Newsmaker of the Year for 2025, alongside nine 2025 Newsmakers celebrated by leading women’s sport initiative, gsport4girls, in Johannesburg on Tuesday, 9 December 2025. Photo: Alaister Russell / gsport
