American Alliance for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance - AAHPERD

In recognition of National Girls and Women in Sports Day (Feb. 3), SI.com presents the best woman athlete by birth state

To honor National Girls and Women in Sport Day, read about the 50 best woman athletes by birth state, including Lynette Woodard, Olympian, professional basketball player, first female Harlem Globetrotter and NAGWS’ Guiding Woman in Sport honoree at the 2010 AAHPERD National Convention & Expo.

Read more about SI.com's best female athletes.

On Wednesday, February 3, NAGWS and four other Coalition members will lead the celebration of the 24th annual National Girls and Women in Sports Day, which will begin as thousands gather across the country to promote the 2010 theme, "Stay Strong, Play On.” The day will commence with congressional visits on Capitol Hill; groups comprised of representatives from NGWSD Coalition organizations will visit approximately thirty members of Congress. Champion female athletes secured by the Women’s Sports Foundation will be present in these meetings. Athletes scheduled to attend include Grete Eliassen (Skiing), Lillian Greene-Chamberlain (Track & Field), Jessica Mendoza (Softball) and Benita Fitzgerald Mosley (Track & Field).

Champion women athletes such as Women's Sports Foundation Founder Billie Jean King, first President of the Women's Sports Foundation Donna de Varona, and Past Presidents (in order of presidency) Carol Mann, Lyn St. James, Nancy Hogshead-Makar, Wendy Hilliard, Benita Fitzgerald Mosley, Nancy Lieberman, Julie Foudy, Dawn Riley, Dominique Dawes and Aimee Mullins, are among the champion athletes that have contributed to this day in past years, underscoring the vital importance of sports and physical activity and emphasizing the role sport plays in the health and success of girls and women.