AP Photo/Thomas Kienzle
Nine rising stars
Bragging on the pioneers of the Title IX era -- from Billie Jean King to Cheryl Miller to Julie Foudy -- keeps their achievements burning in our memories. But women's sports have always been more about the future than the past, with each new wave of athletes owning the potential to push the boundaries beyond anything their predecessors could have imagined. Watching current stars like Brittney Griner, Alex Morgan and Allyson Felix (at left in the photo, as a rising star for the U.S. in 2007) leaves us wondering who might be next. Who will grab the baton? The nine women highlighted here already boast achievements that make them worthy heirs. What they're poised to accomplish in the near future is sure to spark more iconic moments.
-- Elena Bergeron, ESPN The Magazine
