23 times grand slam champion Serena Williams has been voted the associated press female athlete of the year for a fifth time.

Her rapid return to tennis after a health scare following childbirth was a victory in itself, and for that Williams received 93 points in balloting by U.S. editors and news directors announced on Sunday.

Gymnast Simone Biles was second with 68. Notre dame basketball player.

Arike ogunbowale was third, while Olympic snowboarder Chloe Kim and swimmer Katie Ledecky, the 2017 winner, rounded out the top five.

All of those players won a title or titles in 2018, while Williams had to settle for just coming close a couple of times.

The last of Williams grand slam titles came at the 2017 Australian open when she was pregnant.