The 50 Hottest WAGs of the Decade

Having just finished my list of The 40 Hottest Female Athletes of the Decade, I decided it was time to turn my attention to a different group of women who have shaped the last ten years: The WAGs.

I'm speaking, of course, about the Wives And Girlfriends of professional athletes. The 2000's saw some of the most beautiful women in the world shack up with athletes.

For this list, I'm focusing almost entirely on American athletes (soccer players from other countries go through models like you or I might go through french fries) and listing the year at which they hit their WAG peak.

Here are The 50 Hottest WAGs of the Decade.

No. 50: Sheryl Crow - 2005

Sheryl Crow started dating Lance Armstrong in 2003 while he was smack dab in the middle of destroying every Tour de France record there was. Their relationship reached it's height when they were engaged in September of 2005, but called it off and split just five months later.

Lance explained to her that every day is a winding road and all he really wanted to do was have some fun. Sheryl had no idea what he was talking about.

No. 49: Kim Sears - 2009

Sears had been in a relationship with tennis player Andy Murray for three years, but it didn't really become the sort of thing people talked about until she broke it off this year.

The reason she broke up with him was because Murray apparently had a wicked video game habit - we're talking seven hours a day - and she was fed up with being less important than Halo.

In an unrelated story, thousands of women across the country became fans of Kim Sears.

No. 48: Tawny Kitaen - 2002

Tawny Kitaen was famous for being the hot chick that rolled around on the hood of the car in that Whitesnake video and for being the sexy wife of Chuck Finley.

However, she popped up in the news in 2002 for beating up Finley and getting charged with domestic abuse. This picture may seem harmless, but she is actually holding him down to keep him from getting away.

No. 47: Heather Mitts - 2004

In 2004, Mitts was named the Hottest Female Athlete by ESPN's Page 2, which was a shame because just as most males around the country were finding out about her, they were finding out that she was dating backup quarterback A.J. Feeley.

The two got engaged earlier this year. So congrats to Feeley, who somehow managed to keep his hands on Mitts (thank you) for longer than he could on a steady job in the NFL.

No. 46: Bridgette Wilson - 2000

The sexy star of Mortal Kombat and Billy Madison had her pick of men, and somehow she ended up with Pete Sampras. Don't get me wrong, he's a hell of a tennis player, but not quite the kind of guy we envisioned Bridgette with. Of course, if she could fall for Adam Sandler playing a man-child, I guess anything is possible.

The two wed in 2000 and have two kids together.

No. 45: Rachel Hunter - 2008

Stacey's mom still has it going on after all these years. She had dated NHL playboy Sean Avery, but it wasn't until she started dating L.A. King Jarrett Stoll and Avery made the comment about other hockey players liking his "sloppy seconds" did she really pop up on everyone's radar.

No. 44: Jamie Kotsay - 2007

Mark Kotsay's wife Jamie was something of an urban legend around baseball fans. There were stories of how hot she was, but it wasn't until she came out to play in a softball game for fun that we got a glimpse of her.

We didn't even need to see her front to know she was a hottie, but Kotsay appeased us anyway by getting in front of the camera for some modeling pictures.

No. 43: Kate Hudson - 2009

Hudson's romance with Alex Rodriguez was as brief as it was rewarding for the slugger. After divorcing his wife and having a fling with Madonna, A-Rod hooked up with K-Hud and it resulted in his first World Series Championship.

Even though the two broke up recently, Hudson's work was done. I hear some Cubs players are already after her.

No. 42: Angie Harmon - 2000

Angie Harmon, the sexy star of Law & Order was dating Jason Sehorn for a while in the '90s, but she reached her WAG peak in 2000 when Sehorn came on Jay Leno to surprise her and ask her to marry him.

No. 41: Tara Reid - 2003

Reid has dated... um... a lot of guys and has gone downhill quicker than Lindsey Lohan, but back in 2003 she was still looking good enough to pull down Tom Brady (pre-Bridget or Gisele), Jeremy Shockey, and Kyle Boller.

Now? I'm not sure she could even grab Michael Beasley, although I think that would be a terrific reality show.

No. 40: Bridget Moynahan - 2007

Technically, Moynahan's relationship with Brady ended in 2006, but it was in 2007 when she had his baby, while Brady started dating his now-wife Gisele Bundchen. Talk about awkward.

Don't worry, Bridget, you have a beautiful baby boy who probably already has a full face of stubble and Patriot fans don't blame you at all for helping contribute to ruining the Pats perfect season.

No. 39: Jenna Jameson - 2006

In 2006, Jenna Jameson started dating MMA fighter Tito Ortiz. The porn star has since given up any other guys for Ortiz (take note of the wording there), and has since given birth to twins, the couple's first children.

No. 38: Ashley Judd - 2001

Ashley Judd has been connected to sports for a while, as the sexiest and most hardcore fan of the University of Kentucky, but she solidified her place in the sports world when she wed Indy car driver Dario Franchitti.

She does her part by attending races and also by refusing to age, which we are all thankful for.

No. 37: Victoria Beckham - 2007

Posh Spice, or Victoria Beckham, had been with her husband David Beckham for ten years, but it wasn't until they made the move to L.A. where David would play for the Galaxy that she gained massive popularity inside the U.S.

Known for her ridiculously oversized glasses, short lived reality show, and of course the Spice Girls, Victoria continues to hold up her end of being one of the world's most visible power couples.

No. 36: Stephanie McGwire - 2002

Mark McGwire is living proof that cheating absolutely does pay. He married his wife Stephanie in 2002 after, you know, setting a couple records or something.

It was hard learning that McGwire probably took steroids, but if I learn that his wife was - shall we say - enhanced too, then I'll be really sad.

No. 35: Alyssa Milano - 2005

Milano has always been a sports fan and shows it by having a specific taste in pitchers. In 2005 she wrapped up a string of romances with Carl Pavano, Barry Zito, and Brad Penny.

Eventually, she swore off athletes and married some actor guy. Then we lost interest.

No. 34: Carrie Underwood - 2007

Underwood is currently dating NHLer Mike Fisher, but it was her time as Tony Romo's first high profile fling that put her in the WAG spotlight.

The romance came back into the media recently when someone asked if her song "Cowboy Casanova" was about him. Underwood said she would never immortalize someone who "did her wrong." Oh snap! Take that Tony Romo. You suck in December too!

No. 33: Christy Cooley - 2009

Christy Cooley had been out there before 2009, most notably in Maxim in 2007, but it was when her husband Chris put some super hot pictures of her online when he took over Sports Illustrated's Hot Clicks.

That willingness to show almost naked pictures of your wife to the rest of the world is not something that we take for granted Chris. Thank you.

No. 32: Hillary Duff - 2008

The evidence that Hilary Duff was no longer a little girl had been piling up for a while, but hit full steam when she started dating Mike Comrie. Dating an athlete means you are officially not a kid anymore and are most likely super hot.

So we took an extra look and, you know what, she was really hot. And to hear that she is now sexing it up on Gossip Girl almost makes me want to watch that show. Almost.

No. 31: Gena Lee Nolin - 2004

In 2004, former Baywatch babe Gena Lee Nolin started dating NHLer Cale Hulse. Which made sense. Hulse was a no-name role player in Phoenix.

Oh, wait, that didn't make sense at all. Which is probably why we picked up that relationship on our radar.

No. 30: Brittany Binger - 2009

I hadn't heard of Binger or even knew that she was dating Grady Sizemore until news came that someone had stolen nearly naked pictures of Sizemore off of Binger's computer that he had sent to her.

Thankfully, the two are still together. Of course, that may not last when Sizemore reports to spring training and finds a couple dozen coffee cups waiting in front of his locker.

No. 29: Hope Dworaczyk - 2008

We all knew Jason Kidd from his annoyingly syrupy relationship with his wife, until it went sour and they got a divorce. Then Kidd started making his way through some super hotties, including Hope Dworaczyk, who he ended up getting pregnant in 2008.

That may end up being Kidd's greatest assist ever.

No. 28: Melanie Collins - 2009

Melanie Collins had been on our radar for a while as a super hot reporter for NBA TV, but in 2009 she started double dipping in the NHL by dating Scottie Upshall.

I'm all for it. I think every sport could use a little Melanie Collins in their world.

No. 27: Jennifer Walcott - 2008

Playboy playmate and kind-of actress Jennifer Walcott is engaged to free agent (read: nobody wants him) Adam Archuleta. The couple had their first kid in 2008, but the real news came from the fact that Walcott decided to nurse the kid on her own organic formula solution.

I'm sure that decision had absolutely nothing to do with her having a boob job. Nothing at all.

No. 26: Laura Cover - 2003

Just when Red Sox nation thought they couldn't hate Aaron Boone any more, they had to find out that he was married to former Playmate Laura Cover.

Not only was he born into great sports genes, but also was lucky enough to land a babe like that. I don't even know him and I hate that guy.

No. 25: Leryn Franco - 2008

In 2008, sexy javelin thrower Leryn Franco made us actually pay attention to those track and field events. She also jumped over to the tennis world by dating Novak Djokovic.

I'm definitely a fan of athletes dating each other. I feel like that way, if Franco decides that javelin throwing isn't going to make her as much money as modeling, she's still connected to sports enough that I can keep putting her in slideshows like this. Way to go, Leryn!

No. 24: Lisa Dergan - 2006

Another Playmate on the list, Dergan started spreading her sports wings by appearing on FSN for a while before she married Scott Podsednik.

I don't really have too much to add here. Just kudos to role players like Podsednik that still manage to attract A+ hotties.

No. 23: Ana Ivanovic - 2009

Ana Ivanovic is the sultry tennis star who burst on the scene a few years ago, but started dating golfer Adam Scott this year.

I can see how a golfer and tennis player would get along. It's a solo sport, you swing things, you both make absurd amounts of money for hitting a little ball. I don't see why more of them don't get together.

No. 22: Mandy Moore - 2003

Mandy Moore is an underrated good luck charm. She dated Andy Roddick from 2002-2004, during which time he earned his No. 1 ranking. After they broke up, Federer took over the No. 1 spot and Roddick never got it back.

Coincidence? Yeah, probably, but I would be wary of breaking up with Moore if I were a future athlete suitor.

No. 21: Jennie Finch - 2005

Finch had been in our lives for a while as one of the hottest female athletes of the early 2000s, but she broke our hearts when she married some scrub pitcher named Casey Daigle in 2005.

Let me put it to you this way: I have never played a major league game before, but I only have two fewer career wins than Daigle. What a waste.

No. 20: Eliza Dushku - 2009

Dushku won us over with that masterful car-wash scene in Bring It On, but continued her contribution to the sports world by dating Brad Penny earlier this year.

They have since broken up, but she has moved on to former basketball player Rick Fox and his gheri curl. It kind of makes me want Rick to make a comeback. Actually, no, not really. Not even Eliza can make me want that guy back in the NBA.

No. 19: Elsa Benitez - 2001

Benitez was chosen to be the cover model for Sports Illustrated's Swimsuit Issue in 2001, at which time we found out that she was married to Ron Seikaly. Yes, big, hairy, untalented Ron Seikaly. I couldn't believe it.

Sure, they divorced in 2005 after whatever spell he had cast over her wore off, but it's still unsettling to think about how he ever managed to land someone as hot as Elsa.

No. 18: Gabrielle Union - 2009

Earlier this year, an anonymous player's wife blasted Gabrielle Union for being a homewrecker and fooling around with NBA players that she knew were married. That included a then-married Dwyane Wade.

Since then, Wade has divorced his wife and is now dating Union. The lesson here? Ladies, do not leave your men around Union even for a second. She is one successful temptress.

No. 17: Kendra Wilkinson - 2008

Wilkinson had always said that she was a big sports fan, especially the Chargers, but you had to wonder just how much she knew about sports.

Apparently, we got our answer when she started dating Hank Baskett: not much. How else do you explain the hottest Girl Next Door settling for a guy who is destined to bounce around from team to whichever team is wiling to pay him so they can have his wife around the locker room?

No. 16: Anna Kournikova - 2001

As Kournikova was reaching her peak in popularity in 2001, there were reports going around that she was dating Pavel Bure, then that she was married to Sergei Federov. Anna denied it, but in 2003 Federov did state the the couple was briefly married and then divorced.

You know what, I think that's okay. Even being secretly married to Kournikova for a short period of time is enough to get you bragging rights for the rest of your life.

No. 15: Anna Benson - 2004

Anna Benson was thrust into the spotlight and our hearts when she told Howard Stern in 2004 that if her husband Kris ever cheated on her, she would sleep with everyone in the Mets organization, including the batboys.

This led to 400 percent increases in batboy applications for the Mets and gave us one of our hottest and craziest WAGs of all time.

No. 14: Carmella DeCesare - 2007

One of the most sought after Playmates in history, Carmella DeCesare married Jeff Garcia in 2007. Since then the couple has had two kids together and DeCesare has started distancing herself from Playboy.

This was easily the biggest score in Jeff Garcia's career. If I were him, I would email pictures of my wife to T.O. on a weekly basis. Just for fun.

No. 13: Willa Ford - 2007

Ford is a model/actress/singer who married Mike Modano in 2007. She's actually very supportive of her husband, but she has been banned from games because she melts the ice if she gets too close.

True story.

No. 12: Elisha Cuthbert - 2008

Speaking of melting ice, Elisha Cuthbert is capable of that as well. She was the main cause of Sean Avery's "sloppy seconds," which led to the few people in the world that still didn't hate Avery to hate Sean Avery.

Elisha Cuthbert is nobody's sloppy seconds. What she is is gorgeous. I hope Jack Bauer tortures Avery for that remark.

No. 11: Jessica Simpson - 2007

Jessica Simpson had been dating Romo for a little while, but it was late in 2007, early 2008, when things got crazy. She was seen supporting Romo in a pink Cowboy's jersey during one of Romo's worst performances ever.

Then right before the playoffs, they took a trip to Costa Rica, where Romo returned and promptly lost. When they broke up this year, Cowboy fans did nothing other than breathe a sigh of relief and hope that losing Jessica meant more winning for Tony.

No. 10: Elin Nordegren - 2003

Wow, just think how normally you would have reacted to this slide just one month earlier. Nordegren seemed to be the perfect trophy wife to Tiger's perfect image. Of course, now we know that Tiger was sleeping with everything but the kitchen sink and Elin might be capable of doing some damage herself.

It still doesn't change the fact that when Tiger first got with her, the sports world was smitten by this blond bombshell when she became engaged to Woods in 2003. We had six great years of watching her in the gallery. Now all we have are the memories.

No. 9: Eva Longoria - 2006

Eva Longoria became everything that we love and hate about WAGs at the same time. When she started dating Tony Parker in 2006, you couldn't turn to a Spurs game without seeing the camera cut to her every other play. It was annoying as hell.

Of course, at the same time, the more we see of Eva, the better life is. She is one hot mama who can water my lawn any day.

No. 7 & No. 8: The Jessicas - 2006

Even though Jeter dated Jessica Alba in 2004 and didn't start dating Jessica Biel in 2006, you couldn't help but group the two together. Men had been having the "which Jessica would you rather have?" argument for years and Jeter (who else) finally came up with the correct answer.

Both.

No. 6: Brooklyn Decker - 2009

Decker has been dating Andy Roddick since 2007, but since the couple wed in 2009 she has been at more and more of his matches, increasing the chance that I might tune in to watch by about 99 percent.

I would raise it to a full 100 percent if she dressed like this to matches.

No. 5: Kim Kardashian - 2007

People thought Reggie Bush was crazy when he started dating Kim Kardashian after his rookie year in 2007. After all, a sex tape was just released with her and slimy R&B singer Ray-J.

However, the more we got to see of Kim (not so literally speaking), the more accepting we were of it, even to the point that we were pretty upset when they broke up briefly.

I'm personally glad that they are back together and that we can look forward to having the oh-so-wonderfully curvy Kim in our lives for the foreseeable future.

No. 4: Gisele Bundchen - 2007

2007 was a whirlwind year for Tom Brady. He was having a baby with an ex-girlfriend, was trying to complete a perfect season, and just started dating the woman that many considered the most beautiful in the world.

Gisele wasn't just a catch, she was the catch, and it vaulted Tom Brady from "player" to "the man" more than winning a Super Bowl ever did.

Now that the two are married and are starting to have inevitably good-looking and cleft-chinned children, Gisele still looks as good as ever. Damn, I hate Tom Brady.

No. 3: Minka Kelly - 2009

What can you say about Minka Kelly? The woman is about as beautiful as they come and she should get just as much credit for bringing a World Series back to New York as Kate Hudson.

Jeter had an amazing list of women he's dated since 2000, but there was one constant during that time—the Yankees stopped winning World Series. But when he started dating Minka Kelly (at first privately, but more publicly as the playoffs went on), Jeter and the rest of the Yankees found their groove and won a title.

Hold on to that one Derek, and not just because she's good luck.

No. 2: Adriana Lima - 2007

Adriana Lima was one of the most wonderful, yet head scratching WAGs of this decade. At first she briefly dated Jeter in 2004, which made sense because he was Derek Jeter and he dated the most beautiful women in the world.

But then in 2007, Lima got together with her eventual husband, Marko Jaric. Who? Only hardcore NBA fans knew who he was, and even they could care less. How he managed to land of the sexiest women in the world is a mystery that may never be solved.

Still, any excuse to have Ms. Lima in our lives is a good one as far as I'm concerned.

No. 1: Marisa Miller - 2002

Marisa Miller was one of the briefest WAGs on this list, but she was the best. In 2002 she started dating Dale Jr. which solidified his status as a rock star in NASCAR and made it acceptable for models to start dating NASCAR guys.

She was truly a groundbreaker, and we are so thankful for her time as a WAG. Marisa Miller will always be one of our favorites of this decade.

Miller is now married to some guy named Griffin Guess who isn't associated with sports at all, but at the very least we can look forward to her yearly appearance in Sports Illustrated's Swimsuit Issue.