In honor of the Women’s World Cup, we’re asking about your athlete crush. Whose athletic prowess turns you on?
Daniela Costa: Canadian women’s soccer team player Jonelle Filigno. Yeah, I like her. And while we’re on competing sides, I have some love for the American squad as well. Particularly Alex Morgan. I think I have a thing for Forward women…
Bridget McManus: I have been in love with former WNBA superstar Teresa Gaye Weatherspoon since I first saw her on the court at Madison Square Garden in 1999. She’s the reason I became obsessed with the New York Liberty and eventually the Louisiana Tech Lady Techsters when she became the head coach.
Teresa Weatherspoon
Kim Hoffman: I’ve definitely turned my head when someone’s alerted me to a hot babe playing volleyball or basketball on TV, but I don’t tune in to sporting events enough to really have names I know. I was totally mesmerized a few years back by a volleyball match at the Olympics because I wanted every woman playing to be on my team, and they probably were. What I do have are crushes on all the bad ass athletes I went to school with over the years, the ones who had to compromise, sacrifice, and lie to themselves and others as a result of a male/macho-dominated athletic world where their sexuality and gender is up for conversation in every way. Some of those people have given me the greatest source of motivation, confidence and power. (Also: I was a cheerleader and was always bummed we didn’t get to cheer for the women’s teams. That’s just crazy bullshit. Not letting me crush like that…)
Erin Wilson: I have strong, yet somewhat unidentified feelings for professional beach volleyball players Misty May-Treanor and Kerri Walsh. First, I feel envious of their beast-like volleyball skills. Second, I feel admiration for their ability to win three Olympic Gold Medals. And lastly, I feel something, when I look at this:
Trish Bendix: It used to be Natasha Kai. But in this World Cup, Sweden’s Nilla Fischer!
Nilla Fischer
Ali Davis: Go curling crushes or go home.
Japanese curling team members Michiko Tomabechi, Yumie Funayama, Chinami Yoshida and Ayumi Ogasawara
Valerie Anne: I don’t really watch real sports. If it didn’t happen on a TV show or in a movie, I probably didn’t see it. And the only fictional soccer player I can think of right now is Bridget from Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants because once the image of Blake Lively being sporty gets in my head it’s hard to think of much else.
Emily Anderson: By the end of the World Cup I think a lot of people are going to fall for Julie Johnston. I may or may not already have…
Dara Nai: Do cheerleaders count? Because that’s my answer.
Chelsea Steiner: As a former skater, my athlete crushes are all roller derby badasses, specifically Bonnie Thunders of Gotham Girls Roller Derby. She has won multiple MVP awards and is a fixture in the WFTDA Championships for the past several years. Huffington Post called her the LeBron James of roller derby, and they’re not wrong. Let’s just say she can “jam” her way into my pants anytime! I’ll show myself out.
Lucy Hallowell: As far a soccer players, I have to go with Megan Rapinoe. She’s smart, thoughtful, funny as hell, and not afraid to speak her mind whether it’s cheering for Sepp Blatter‘s resignation or in coming out. As far as athletes overall, I have to go with my hockey ladies. Gillian Apps is as nice and funny off the ice as she is tough on it. The same goes for Julie Chu. Hockey is still a small sport where everyone pretty much knows everyone and I have never heard a single person say a bad thing about her. Both women are Ivy League grads, Olympians, and easy on the eyes. What more could you possibly want?
Jenna Duggan Lykes: Lucy already mentioned her, but my choice is Megan Rapinoe. Everyone (who likes soccer) remembers that Abby Wambach scored that insane last minute goal against Brazil in the 2011 World Cup, but do you remember who set it up with an absolutely amazing cross? Rapinoe. She’s a beast, and it’s so much fun to watch her play. Also, she participated in ESPN‘s Body Issue one time. For science, I think.
Megan Rapinoe
Anna Pulley: I can barely watch MMA fighting, and have to do so squinty-eyed and half turned away, but Ronda Rousey gives me the feels. There’s something about a woman in a judo gi who could break your arm?
Ronda Rousey
Dana Piccoli: Oh man, my dream athlete girl has been Abby Wambach for like, a decade. Such strength and skill. Watch her selflessly head the ball, or be the true leader she was always meant to be during this World Cup.
Abby Wambach
Who is your athlete crush?
