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A Gathering of Greats:
Individual Women

Chris Evert She won 157 singles titles, including 18 Grand Slam events, and at least one major championship for a record 13 consecutive years (1974-86). "Chris was comfortably located on the Baseline of Life from an early age, tutored by her father, dressed in frilly jumpers by her mother, constitutionally disciplined by an unwavering will. Even now she estimates that more than three fourths of her wins can be attributed to her concentration." —Frank Deford, SI, May 26, 1986

Steffi Graf The only player to win all four Grand Slam events at least four times; her 186 consecutive weeks at No. 1 (1987-91) are more than any other player, male or female. "Steffi Graf cannot be stopped.... She has reached a point defying all athletic logic. Players now fear taking a lead over her because that just means, as Lindsay Davenport says, 'Oh, no, you've made her mad.'" —S.L. Price, SI, April 8, 1996

Nancy Lopez The LPGA Hall of Famer and four-time LPGA player of the year has 48 career tournament victories -- and still counting. "She has been to the women's professional golf tour what Billie Jean King was to women's tennis -- the individual who, because of her energy and skill, almost single-handedly brought widespread acceptance to a game previously regarded with indifference or contempt." —Jonathan Yarkley, SI, Nov. 19, 1979

Martina Navratilova Her 167 titles (singles and doubles) are more than any other tennis player; 56 of those came in Grand Slam events, including a record nine in Wimbledon singles. "This year Martina Navratilova seems to have arrived at some numinous place where the longitude of majesty and the latitude of grace meet." —Frank Deford, SI,July 16, 1984

Mickey Wright Winning 82 tournaments, including 13 majors, she popularized women's golf by drawing large galleries and television audiences. "This tall and graceful blonde from San Diego proved last week at Churchill Valley Country Club that when she is right, and she is right a good deal of the time, there is no golf course short enough for the rest of the girls to play that is long enough to offer any serious problem to Mickey Wright." —Gwilym Brown, SI, July 6, 1959

Babe Didrikson Zaharias One of the greatest all-around athletes in history, male or female, she won three Olympic medals and 31 LPGA titles, including 10 majors. "If you knew somebody who entered eight of 10 events in the national AAU track meet and won five; who won two gold medals in the 1932 Olympics; who took up golf and won 82 tournaments as an amateur and a pro; who was a three-time All-America in basketball; who won championships in billiards, cycling, shooting, speed skating, squash, swimming and tennis; and who pitched in several major league exhibition games, wouldn't you say that's the greatest athlete you've ever heard of?" —Rick Reilly, SI, Oct. 11, 1999

Photographs by (from top) Graham Finlayson, Manny Millan, Harry Benson, Walter Iooss Jr., Frank Mullins(Artwork), AP Photo

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