MVPindex, a social media intelligence platform to analyze athletes’ social media portfolios and calculate their digital brand, released a list of the most valued athletes on social media throughout 2016.

To determine the list, Chicago-based digital sports network 120 Sports collaborated with MVPindex to rank athletes using a proprietary algorithm that evaluates all of their social activity throughout the past year. The ranking combines three separate scores: Reach (fans, followers, impressions), Engagement (likes, comments, shares, retweets, favorites) and Conversation (positive/negative mentions).

The Top 10 of the list is as follows:

  • Russell Wilson (NFL)
  • Odell Beckham Jr. (NFL)
  • J.J. Watt (NFL)
  • Rory McIlroy (PGA TOUR)
  • Conor McGregor (UFC)
  • LeBron James (NBA)
  • Tiger Woods (PGA TOUR)
  • Richard Sherman (NFL)
  • Tom Brady (NFL)
  • Rob Gronkowski (NFL)

Top athletes in each sport include:

  • Robinson Cano (MLB)
  • Conor McGregor (UFC)
  • Russell Wilson (NFL)
  • Rory McIlroy (PGA TOUR)
  • LeBron James (NBA)
  • Alex Morgan (US Soccer)
  • Serena Williams (WTA)
  • Jeff Gordon (NASCAR)
  • Kerri Walsh Jennings (AVP)

The 2016 list also reveals the growth in popularity of MMA/UFC in the past year, as both McGregor (No.5) and Ronda Rousey (No. 18) are featured in the Top 25.

Photo courtesy Russell Wilson