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1957-
Her outgoing style and two decades of excellence helped to popularize golf.

From the start, Lopez clubbed the competition.  Tony Tomsic

Domingo Lopez did not allow his youngest daughter to wash dishes when she was growing up in Roswell, N.Mex. Domingo, owner of the East Second Street Body Shop, wanted the obviously talented Nancy to spend her time on the tee, not at the sink. Now, 48 LPGA tournament victories and a Hall of Fame career later, who could possibly argue?

In 1969, at age 12, without benefit of a single lesson, Lopez won the New Mexico Women's Amateur. In 1978 she put together the most phenomenal season ever for an LPGA rookie, winning nine tournaments, including five in a row. She remains the only woman to be named rookie of the year and player of the year plus win the Vare Trophy for the lowest scoring average in one season. In '87, at 30, she became the third-youngest player inducted into the LPGA Hall of Fame. Her accomplishments, and her charisma, gained her a flock of faithful. At age 42 she's still the game's biggest draw -- and still has something to prove. Lopez has never won the U.S. Open, though she has finished second four times. "The Open is golf," she says. To a legion of fans, Nancy Lopez is golf.

--Trisha Lucey

Athletes were selected by Sports Illustrated For Women, Sports Illustrated and CNN/SI editors, writers and correspondents who considered the athletes' on-field performance and achievements, plus their contributions to women's sports. Because athletic achievement was a key criterion, women whose contributions were made solely in administration and coaching are not included.

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