The Editors of Sports Illustrated Kids - Women Athletes Who Rule!: The 101 Stars Every Fan Needs to Know

WOMEN ATHLETES WHO RULE!

By Elizabeth McGarr McCue

WOMEN ATHLETES WHO RULE!

The history of sports is long on tales of heroic baseball players, football stars, and NBA legends. But what about the accomplishments of fearless, phenomenal female athletes? Too often they are minimized, marginalized, or simply ignored. The women we included in this book are extraordinary athletes who all shaped the narratives of their sports. Their storieson and off the fieldwill inspire anyone who truly appreciates awesomeness in athletics.

CONTENTS

Their talent brought them success and celebrity status

These athletes are powerhouses on and off the field of play

When these stars broke barriers, they paved the way for others to follow

Who scored the most? Who was the fastest? Meet women who set new standards for excellence

What is it like to be the best? These athletes know

1. SUPERSTARS

These athletes reinvented what it means to be a sports celebrity

Which female skier has the most Alpine World Cup victories?

When she was only two, Lindsey Vonn was up on skis for the first time. By 16, she had made the U.S. Ski Team. Four years later, she won her first World Cup race, and at 24, she became the first U.S. woman in a quarter of a century to win the overall World Cup title. She then became the first American woman to win Olympic gold in the downhill and also took bronze in the Super-G at the 2010 Games and bronze in the downhill in 2018. Through the end of the 201718 season she had 82 wins, more than any female World Cup racer and trailing only Swedens Ingemar Stenmark (86).

Vonn has had her share of crashes over the years and has sustained numerous serious injuries, including one that forced her to miss the 2014 Olympics. But the same tenacity that has pushed her to attack challenging race courses has also allowed her to return to the slopes after each mishap.

FAST FACT:

Vonns 20 crystal globes (the award given for World Cup points titles in individual disciplines and overall) are the most for any skier.

Who has been named FIFA World Player of the Year more than anyone?

WOW FACTOR

Goals Marta has scored in four World Cup appearances, a record.

Some athletes win wherever they go. Marta is one of those people. From 2005 through 2015, while playing for clubs in Sweden, Brazil, and the U.S., she led her teams to league championships in every year but one, winning FIFA World Player of the Year five times in a row beginning in 2006. As a striker for Brazils national team, Marta received the Golden Ball (top player) and Golden Boot (top scorer) at the 2007 World Cup, during which she led Brazil to its first final. She also helped her country win back-to-back silver medals at the 2004 and 2008 Olympics, and was one of eight athletes who carried the Olympic flag at the 2016 Games, which Brazil hosted. Born Marta Vieira da Silva, she has more international goals (104) than fellow Brazilian Ple, who is often called the greatest soccer player of all time.

Which singles player has the most Grand Slam titles in the Open era?

WOW FACTOR

Number of doubles Grand Slams she and sister Venus have won together. They are 140.

The success of every woman should be the inspiration to another. We should raise each other up. Make sure youre very courageous. Be strong, be extremely kind, and above all, be humble.

in 2015, at the Glamour Women of the Year Awards

She won her first Grand Slam event, the 1999 U.S. Open, when she was only 17 years old. Serena Williams has now won more major tournaments (23) than any tennis player since professionals were first allowed to participate in them, in 1968. To go along with her six victories at the U.S. Open, she has seven at the Australian Open, three at the French Open, and seven at Wimbledon. In 2003 and 2015, she completed what became known as the Serena Slam, winning four major tournaments in a row (a little different than a true Grand Slam, which entails four wins in a calendar year). I do want to be known as the greatest ever, she said in 2015.

Its hard to argue that shes not already. Since first topping the world rankings in 2002, she has been number one for 319 weeks, including 186 in a row.

After she won the 2017 Australian Openseven matches in straight setswhile pregnant with her daughter, Alexis, Williams ascended to the top spot again. At 35, she was the oldest number one in history.

FAST FACT:

Williams has worked in fashion since 2003, when she debuted her first clothing line. Her sister Venus has a line as well.

Who has won the most beach volleyball tournaments of all time?

She may have begun her career playing indoors, but the 6' 3" Kerri Walsh Jennings made her name on the soft sand of the worlds beach volleyball courts. A four-time All-America for Stanfords NCAA indoor team, she played for the U.S. at the 2000 Olympics. The next year, she joined Misty May-Treanor on the pro beach international tour (FIVB) and then on the U.S. circuit, the AVP Tour. Together the duo earned five consecutive AVP Team of the Year awards (2003 through 2007), three straight FIVB world championships (2005, 2007, and 2009), and three Olympic gold medals (2004, 2008, 2012).

After May-Treanor retired, Walsh Jennings partnered with April Ross; they won 11 of the 32 international tournaments they entered and snagged bronze at the 2016 Olympics. That year, Walsh Jennings became the first U.S. woman to win 600 international matches. Shes taken first at 133 tournaments, making her the winningest womens beach player in history.

FAST FACT:

Walsh Jennings, who has four Olympic medals, is the most decorated beach volleyball Olympian ever.

Who beat her famous brother to the basketball Hall of Fame by 17 years?