// BEGIN editorial data
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spt_bestfemaleathletes.sPubDate = "5/2/2008 4:39:01 PM GMT";
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spt_bestfemaleathletes[i++] = new Array("","Golf","","http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/NBCSports/Sections/Personal/Fiss%2C%20Stirling/Images/Best%20female%20athletes/080429_LorenaOchoa_v.vlarge.jpg","","", "", "", "", "", "left", "David Cannon", "Getty Images", "358", "271", "#000000", "", "", "", "");
spt_bestfemaleathletes[i-1].body = "Lorena Ochoa
The top-ranked golfer on the LPGA Tour, Lorena Ochoa, won the past two LPGA major tournaments and hasn't missed a cut the past two seasons. In her six seasons on tour, Ochoa has earned 22 tournament wins and qualified for the World Golf Hall of Fame.";
spt_bestfemaleathletes[i++] = new Array("","Skiing","","http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/NBCSports/Sections/Personal/Fiss%2C%20Stirling/Images/Best%20female%20athletes/080430_LindseyVonn_h.hlarge.jpg","","", "", "", "", "", "", "Christophe Simon", "AFP/Getty Images", "273", "400", "#000000", "", "", "", "");
spt_bestfemaleathletes[i-1].body = "Lindsey Vonn
Lindsey Vonn surged to the top spot in women's skiing in 2008, setting a new record for most downhill victories by an American (10). Vonn also won the overall Alpine Skiing World Cup title and the U.S. Alpine Championships Combined (downhill and slalom) title and led the World Cup in both the downhill and combined disciplines.";
spt_bestfemaleathletes[i++] = new Array("","Swimming","","http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/NBCSports/Sections/Personal/Fiss%2C%20Stirling/Images/Best%20female%20athletes/080502_NatalieCoughlin_h.hlarge.jpg","","", "", "", "", "", "", "Ezra Shaw", "Getty Images", "273", "398", "#000000", "", "", "", "");
spt_bestfemaleathletes[i-1].body = "Natalie Coughlin
Natalie Coughlin already has two gold medals, two silver medals and a bronze medal from the 2004 Olympics, and she is a favorite to add to that total at the 2008 Games. A dominant swimmer in a variety of strokes, she currently holds American and U.S. Open records in eight different events in a short-course yards pool. Coughlin is also the only female swimmer in history to record a sub-50 second, 100-yard backstroke, as no other woman has even broken the 52-second mark.";
spt_bestfemaleathletes[i++] = new Array("","Tennis","","http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/NBCSports/Sections/Personal/Fiss%2C%20Stirling/Images/Best%20female%20athletes/080429_JustineHenin_v.vlarge.jpg","","", "", "", "", "", "left", "Clive Brunskill", "Getty Images", "358", "259", "#000000", "", "", "", "");
spt_bestfemaleathletes[i-1].body = "Justine Henin
Justine Henin has been a fixture atop the WTA standings for over 12 months, becoming just the seventh female player to hold onto the No. 1 spot for that long. In her 10-year professional career, Henin has 41 WTA singles titles, including seven Grand Slam championships and two WTA Championship wins, and an Olympic gold medal.";
spt_bestfemaleathletes[i++] = new Array("","Motor sports","","http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/NBCSports/Sections/Personal/Fiss%2C%20Stirling/Images/Best%20female%20athletes/080430_DanicaPatrick_v.vlarge.jpg","","", "", "", "", "", "left", "Jonathan Ferrey", "Getty Images", "358", "221", "#000000", "", "", "", "");
spt_bestfemaleathletes[i-1].body = "Danica Patrick
With her win in the 2008 Indy Japan 300, Danica Patrick became the first woman to win a race in the series. A former rookie of the year, Patrick has had more than 20 top-10 finishes in her four years of racing.";
spt_bestfemaleathletes[i++] = new Array("","Soccer","","http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/NBCSports/Sections/Personal/Fiss%2C%20Stirling/Images/Best%20female%20athletes/080429_Marta_h.hlarge.jpg","","", "", "", "", "", "", "Paul Gilham", "Getty Images", "273", "379", "#000000", "", "", "", "");
spt_bestfemaleathletes[i-1].body = "Marta
In the 2007 Women's World Cup, Brazilian striker Marta (right) took home more than just a team runner-up trophy; she also earned the Golden Ball award given to the best player and the Golden Boot honoring the tournament's top scorer. Nicknamed \"Pele with skirts,\" -- a comparison with which Pele himself readily agrees -- Marta is considered to be the best female soccer player in the world.";
spt_bestfemaleathletes[i++] = new Array("","Boxing","","http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/NBCSports/Sections/Personal/Fiss%2C%20Stirling/Images/Best%20female%20athletes/080430_LailaAli_v.vlarge.jpg","","", "", "", "", "", "left", "-", "AFP/Getty Images", "358", "234", "#000000", "", "", "", "");
spt_bestfemaleathletes[i-1].body = "Laila Ali
With boxing in her blood -- her father is the legendary Muhammad Ali -- Laila Ali struck out on a career of her own. In her 24 fights, she has 24 wins, 21 of which were by knockout. Ali is the reigning holder of both the WBC and WIBA super middleweight world titles.";
spt_bestfemaleathletes[i++] = new Array("","Track and field","","http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/NBCSports/Sections/Personal/Fiss%2C%20Stirling/Images/Best%20female%20athletes/080430_YelenaIsinbayeva_h.hlarge.jpg","","", "", "", "", "", "", "Michael Steele", "Getty Images", "273", "386", "#000000", "", "", "", "");
spt_bestfemaleathletes[i-1].body = "Yelena Isinbayeva
Since soaring onto the pole vaulting scene, Yelena Isinbayeva has been pretty much unbeatable, earning eight major championships (one at the Olympics, two at the World Championships, three at the World Indoor Championships, one at the European Championships and one at the European Indoor Championships). In 2008, she set the indoor world record with a 4.95-meter jump. Her outdoor world record jump of 5.01 meters, which she set in 2005 and marked the first time a female vaulter cleared five meters, still stands. ";
spt_bestfemaleathletes[i++] = new Array("","Softball","","http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/NBCSports/Sections/Personal/Fiss%2C%20Stirling/Images/Best%20female%20athletes/080429_CatOsterman_v.vlarge.jpg","","", "", "", "", "", "left", "Brian Bahr", "Getty Images", "358", "263", "#000000", "", "", "", "");
spt_bestfemaleathletes[i-1].body = "Cat Osterman
Cat Osterman mowed down her NCAA competitors -- setting a record for strikeouts per seven innings (14.34) with 2,265 strikeouts over her four-year career at the University of Texas and throwing 20 no-hitters and 10 perfect games -- and now she showcases her skills as a starting pitcher for the U.S. softball team. In the 2006 World Cup, Osterman recorded two wins, including in the championship game, as Team USA earned the victory.";
spt_bestfemaleathletes[i++] = new Array("","WNBA","","http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/NBCSports/Sections/Personal/Fiss%2C%20Stirling/Images/Best%20female%20athletes/080430_LaurenJackson_v.vlarge.jpg","","", "", "", "", "", "left", "Barry Gossage", "NBAE/Getty Images", "358", "226", "#000000", "", "", "", "");
spt_bestfemaleathletes[i-1].body = "Lauren Jackson
The reigning WNBA MVP and defensive player of the year, Seattle Storm forward Lauren Jackson is the league's best player. In addition to twice receiving the MVP award, she has also been the runner-up twice. In 2007, Jackson led the WNBA in scoring (23.8 points), rebounding (9.7) and double-doubles (17).";
spt_bestfemaleathletes[i++] = new Array("","Figure skating","","http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/NBCSports/Sections/Personal/Fiss%2C%20Stirling/Images/Best%20female%20athletes/080430_MaoAsada_v.vlarge.jpg","","", "", "", "", "", "left", "Jamie Mcdonald", "Getty Images", "358", "239", "#000000", "", "", "", "");
spt_bestfemaleathletes[i-1].body = "Mao Asada
The top-ranked female figure skater in the world, Mao Asada excelled in the 2007-2008 season. The Japanese skater won both of her Grand Prix events, a national title and the 2008 Four Continents Figure Skating Championships and earned a gold medal at the World Figuring Skating Championships.";
spt_bestfemaleathletes[i++] = new Array("","Poker","","http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/NBCSports/Sections/Personal/Fiss%2C%20Stirling/Images/Best%20female%20athletes/080429_JenniferHarman_v.vlarge.jpg","","", "", "", "", "", "left", "Ethan Miller", "Getty Images", "358", "191", "#000000", "", "", "", "");
spt_bestfemaleathletes[i-1].body = "Jennifer Harman
The only woman who is a regular fixture in Bellagio's high-stakes \"Big Game,\" Jennifer Harman has made her reputation as a standout cash game player and also distinguished herself in tournament play. With wins in 2000 ($5,000 No Limit Deuce-to-Seven Draw) and 2002 ($5,000 Limit Hold'em), she became the only woman to hold two bracelets in World Series of Poker open events.";
spt_bestfemaleathletes[i++] = new Array("","Women's college basketball","","http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/NBCSports/Sections/Personal/Fiss%2C%20Stirling/Images/Best%20female%20athletes/080430_CandaceParker_h.hlarge.jpg","","", "", "", "", "", "", "Al Messerschmidt", "Getty Images", "273", "402", "#000000", "", "", "", "");
spt_bestfemaleathletes[i-1].body = "Candace Parker
The list of honors bestowed upon Tennessee basketball star Candace Parker is lengthy -- 2006 SEC tournament MVP and SEC freshman of the year, 2007 SEC player of the year, NCAA tournament most outstanding player, first-team All-American, Wade Trophy winner, USBWA player of the year and John R. Wooden Award winner and 2008 Academic All-America of the year, Associated Press player of the year, Naismith Trophy winner. Add those accolades to her two NCAA championships, and the forward earns the distinction as the best female college basketball player.";
spt_bestfemaleathletes[i++] = new Array("","Horse racing","","http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/NBCSports/Sections/Personal/Fiss%2C%20Stirling/Images/Best%20female%20athletes/080430_EmmaJayneWilson_v.vlarge.jpg","","", "", "", "", "", "left", "Frank Gunn", "ASSOCIATED PRESS", "358", "258", "#000000", "", "", "", "");
spt_bestfemaleathletes[i-1].body = "Emma-Jayne Wilson
Emma-Jayne Wilson is just the second female jockey to be presented with the U.S. Eclipse Award for Outstanding Apprentice Jockey honors. She also won similar awards in Canada -- the 2005 and 2006 Sovereign Award for Outstanding Apprentice Jockey. In June 2007, she became the first female jockey to win the Queen's Plate and later became the first North American female jockey to be granted a license to compete in Hong Kong.";
spt_bestfemaleathletes[i++] = new Array("","MMA","","http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/NBCSports/Sections/Personal/Fiss%2C%20Stirling/Images/Best%20female%20athletes/080430_GinaCarano_v.vlarge.jpg","","", "", "", "", "", "left", "Chris Haston", "Chris Haston/NBCU Photo Bank", "358", "260", "#000000", "", "", "", "");
spt_bestfemaleathletes[i-1].body = "Gina Carano
Not only does Gina Carano have an impressive MMA and Muay Thai record, but she is also the Gladiator \"Crush\" on American Gladiators. Her mixed martial arts record is a perfect 5-0, earning two wins by knockout and one by submission.";
spt_bestfemaleathletes[i++] = new Array("","Bowling","","http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/NBCSports/Sections/Personal/Fiss%2C%20Stirling/Images/Best%20female%20athletes/080430_LizJohnson_v.vlarge.jpg","","", "", "", "", "", "left", "Don Heupel", "ASSOCIATED PRESS", "358", "261", "#000000", "", "", "", "");
spt_bestfemaleathletes[i-1].body = "Liz Johnson
Just one of two women competing on the Professional Bowlers Association circuit, Liz Johnson was also the first woman ever to qualify for a standard event on the tour and the first woman to win a title. She also beat Shannon O'Keefe in 2007 for the U.S. Women's Open title.";
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// END editorial data