NZ rugby great Portia Woodman-Wickliffe honoured by Time Magazine

A massive honour for retired rugby star Portia Woodman-Wickliffe.

The Black Ferns legend is on Time Magazine’s inaugural list of the 100 Most Influential People in Sports for 2026.

Woodman-Wickliffe has been included in the ‘Icons’ category alongside the likes of NBA superstar LeBron James, football icon Lionel Messi, and alpine skiing queen Mikaela Shiffrin.

The 34 year-old has been recognised for her impact and legacy in the world of rugby.

She won two World Cups with the Black Ferns in 2017 and in 2021 as well as two Olympic gold medals in Sevens at the 2020 and 2024 Games.

Woodman-Wickliffe then came out of retirement for last year’s World Cup in England where the Black Ferns finished third.

During the tournament, the powerful winger became the leading try-scorer in New Zealand rugby history with 50, beating the long-standing record of former All Black Doug Howlett.

Woodman-Wickliffe was also named World Rugby Women’s Player of the Year twice.

She comes from a strong rugby family in Northland with her father and uncle both playing for the All Blacks, while her wife Renee Woodman-Wickliffe also played for the Black Ferns.

Woodman-Wickliffe announced her second retirement in February.

“As I step into this next chapter of my life,” she said in a statement, “I feel both excited and a little nervous, but I’m ready.”

The other two categories in the Time's 100 Most Influential People in Sports for 2026 list include ‘Titans’ featuring NBA basketballer Victor Wembanyama, golfer Rory McIlroy, and cricketer Smriti Mandhana, and ‘Innovators’ such as skier Lindsay Vonn, marathon world-record holder Sabastian Sawe, and Youtuber Darren Jason Watkins Jr., known widely as IShowSpeed.