The Williams sisters top the list of favorite female sports stars

Favorite female sports stars

Though no female athlete broke into the top-10 this year, the American public has their favorites among them. The Williams sisters top the list with Venus in the number one position and sister Serena in the number two spot. Last year's favorite, Mia Hamm, has fallen to number three in this year's list of top-10 female sports stars.

Following the top three is teen golf sensation Michelle Wie (No. 4), race car driver Danica Patrick (No. 5), figure skater Michelle Kwan (No. 6), golfer Annika Sorenstam (No. 7), tennis player Maria Sharapova (No. 8), tennis player Anna Kournikova (No. 9), and figure skater Sasha Cohen (No. 10).

While men and women have no differences in their favorite overall sports star, there is one in the favorite female category. Men prefer Serena Williams, while Venus is number one among women.


TABLE 1
FAVORITE SPORTS STAR - TOP 10 RANKING
"Who is your favorite sports star?"
Base: All adults

1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2003 2004 2005 2006
Tiger Woods * * * * * * 7 2 2 3 1
Michael Jordan 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 2
Brett Favre * * * 8 3 4 4 3 3 4 3
Derek Jeter * * * * * * * * 10 5 4
Dale Earnhardt
Jr. * * * * * * 8 * 5 8 5
Shaquille O'Neal * * 7 5 * * * 5 4 6 6
Kobe Bryant * * * * * * * 7 6 * 7
LeBron James * * * * * * * * * * 8
Jeff Gordon * * * * * * * * * * =9
Barry Bonds * * * * * * * * * * =9
* Not listed in that year

Those who are returning to the Top 10 This Year
Kobe Bryant (was No. 6 in 2004)

Those who are new to the Top 10 This Year
LeBron James (#8), Jeff Gordon (= No. 9), Barry Bonds (= No. 9)

Those on the 2005 List Who Have Dropped Out of the Top 10 This Year Peyton Manning (was No. 2), Tom Brady (was No. 7), Donovan McNabb (was No. 9),


Ben Rothlisberger (was No. 10)


TABLE 2
FAVORITE SPORTS STAR AMONG DIFFERENT DEMOGRAPHIC GROUPS

Base: All adults

Men: Tiger Woods
Women: Tiger Woods
East: Derek Jeter
Midwest: Brett Favre
South Michael Jordan
West: Barry Bonds
Echo Boomers (those ages 18 to 29): Michael Jordan
Gen X (those ages 30 to 41): Shaquille O'Neal
Baby Boomers (those ages 42 to 60): Michael Jordan
Matures (those ages 61 and over): Tiger Woods


TABLE 3
FAVORITE FEMALE SPORTS STAR - TOP-10 RANKING
"Thinking about the female sports stars you like, which ones are your
favorites?"

Base: All adults

2004 2005 2006
Venus Williams 1 3 1
Serena Williams 2 2 2
Mia Hamm 3 1 3
Michelle Wie 8 10 4
Danica Patrick * * 5
Michelle Kwan 4 4 6
Annika Sorenstam 5 6 7
Maria Sharapova * * 8
Anna Kournikova 6 5 9
Sasha Cohen * * 10

* Not listed in that year


Those who are new to Top 10 This Year
Danica Patrick (No. 5), Maria Sharapova (No. 8), Sasha Cohen (No. 10)

Those on the 2005 List Who Have Dropped Out of the Top Ten This Year
Lisa Leslie (was No. 7), Billie Jean King (was = No. 8), Martina Navratilova


(was = No 8), Chris Evert (was No. 9), Mary Lou Retton (was = No. 9)


TABLE 4
FAVORITE FEMALE SPORTS STAR AMONG DIFFERENT DEMOGRAPHIC GROUPS

Base: All adults

Men: Serena Williams
Women: Venus Williams
Echo Boomers (those ages 18 to 29) Mia Hamm
Gen X (those ages 30 to 41) Serena Williams
Baby Boomers (those ages 42 to 60) Venus Williams
Matures (those ages 61 and older) Anika Sorenstam
East: Mia Hamm
Midwest: Michelle Wie
South: Venus Williams
West: Venus Williams

Methodology
This Harris Poll was conducted online within the United States between May 9 and 16, 2006 among 2,085 adults (aged 18 and over). Figures for age, sex, race/ethnicity, education, region and household income were weighted where necessary to bring them into line with their actual proportions in the population. Propensity score weighting was also used to adjust for respondents' propensity to be online.

All surveys are subject to several sources of error. These include: sampling error (because only a sample of a population is interviewed); measurement error due to question wording and/or question order, deliberately or unintentionally inaccurate responses, nonresponse (including refusals), interviewer effects (when live interviewers are used) and weighting.

With one exception (sampling error) the magnitude of the errors that result cannot be estimated. There is, therefore, no way to calculate a finite "margin of error" for any survey and the use of these words should be avoided.

With pure probability samples, with 100 percent response rates, it is possible to calculate the probability that the sampling error (but not other sources of error) is not greater than some number. With a pure probability sample of 2,085 adults one could say with a 95 percent probability that the overall results have a sampling error of +/- 2 percentage points. However that does not take other sources of error into account. This online survey is not based on a probability sample and therefore no theoretical sampling error can be calculated.

These statements conform to the principles of disclosure of the National Council on Public Polls.


(http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/060608/nyth149.html?.v=50)

Anna still on the list. :p :hearts:

Sharapova way down there...Venus on top like it should be!

Venus :worship:

:lol: at some of the different caterogries....i.e. Baby boomers like Venus! :lol:

Anna still on the list. :p :hearts:

And that is something that amazes me 'cos Anna is not playing anymore she is just hanging out with Enriquito Iglesias.................but what can I say she is Anna Kournikova and no matter what she will always be the first tennis bombshell.

I like Anna :)

These girls inspired the USTA to have the US Open Women's Finals in the evening so it's it's all good :shrug:

Good to see the Williams Sisters popularity still so strong and nice to see Masha there for the first time.

Im not suprised :)

Great top three & Ms.Kwan! :hearts:

Venus at number one :bounce: :worship:

:yeah:

yay for my girls :banana: :hug: :bounce:

I'd say Lindsay was at 11 :angel:

4/10 = tennis players :banana:

Venus at number one :bounce: :worship:
Shows just how many watched Wimbledon! :D

Matures (those ages 61 and over): Tiger Woods
Matures (those ages 61 and older): Anika Sorenstam

Old people and their golf. :rolleyes: How predictable. :lol:

4/10 = tennis players :banana:
Highest paying and profile
sport for women. No surprise here. :D

Always great to see!

What the hell has Michelle Wie done to be ranked four? :lol:

I'd rather see them them at the top of of a more meaningful list, like the WTA Tour rankings. ;)

What the hell has Michelle Wie done to be ranked four? :lol:

:tape:

It's the "hype of Wie" that
got her the ranking. ;)

I'd rather see them them at top of of a more meaningful list, like the WTA Tour rankings. ;)

If they can stay healthy long
enough, they'll get there. :cool:

Meantime, we know the masses
still got their backs! :yeah:

I'd rather see them them at the top of of a more meaningful list, like the WTA Tour rankings. ;)

A win is a win.

A loss is a loss.

And a list is a list. :)

Im not suprised :)

:)