The Most Notorious Mistresses in Sports

High-profile affairs have become as much a part of sports in recent years as peanuts, popcorn and Gus Johnson.

It seems like every time we turn around, another star athlete is making headlines for cheating on his wife with someone, or is admitting to having kids with other women, or is seen out with a highly recognizable madam during a road series with Toronto. 

But, while the athletes get plenty of attention for their philandering, our attention is oftentimes diverted from the women who caused them to stray. They don't get off scot-free, by any stretch of the imagination, but most of our vitriol is saved for the player. 

Well, in honor of these queens of seduction, we're bringing you the 25 most notorious mistresses in sports history. All of them helped athletes cheat on their wives, and in a couple cases, they were the athletes doing the cheating.

But, in every case, there can be little doubt that they're the most infamous mistresses around. 

25. Candice Houlihan

Houlihan was the first of many mistresses of Alex Rodriguez to come forward and admit to sleeping with the then-married superstar. Houlihan, a Boston-area waitress/exotic dancer, told The Boston Globe that she and A-Rod had slept together at least twice in 2004, while the third baseman's wife, Cynthia, was pregnant. 

This was the first of several A-Rod mistresses to come forward, but rest assured she won't be the last. 

24. Vanessa Curry

Vanessa Curry had been steaming up the sidelines at Los Angeles Lakers games for quite some time, when, in 2008, she caught the eye of superstar Kobe Bryant. 

The two allegedly had quite the steamy fling, which the tabloids took and ran with, especially given Kobe's previous incidents of straying. 

Curry wound up as a member of the Pussycat Dolls in 2010, so even after her fling with Kobe was done, she did all right for herself. 

23. Holly Sampson

Sampson wasn't the first of Tiger Woods' mistresses to come forward, but her career as an adult film star did make her one of his more notable affairs. 

What also stood out was Sampson's claim that her time with Woods was when he was unmarried, as the two had done the horizontal tango at his bachelor party, before the golfer had officially tied the knot with Elin Nordegren.

Classy, Tiger. Classy.  

22. Kimberly Bell

Bell was the lady behind the curtain for baseball's all-time home run leader, Barry Bonds. She began dating the slugger when she was just 24, and a nine-year affair was begun, just like that. 

In the end, Bell was notable for detailing Bonds' steroid use, telling media that the slugger would stand in front of a mirror and fret over how his juicing was changing his appearance. 

She also posed for Playboy, doing a six-page spread in the buff for the men's magazine. 

21. Leordana Jolie

Well, well—look what we have here! Another Tiger Woods mistress! Jolie was one of the late arrivals to the party, but makes the list because of her stint as a Playboy bunny. 

As you can see, Woods had a bit of a thing for blondes. 

20. Michelle Money

Ms. Money here was linked to NBA power forward Carlos Boozer in 2008 and 2009, while Boozer was still married (although she claims to have been told he was divorced). 

But what sets Michelle apart from the rest is the fact that she made a completely independent appearance in the tabloids, on her stint on ABC's The Bachelor earlier this year. 

She fessed up to the affair, but the relationship was (shockingly) not to be, as she was sent home shortly after threatening to give Bachelor Brad a black eye if he didn't agree to a one-on-one date with her. 

19. Jackie Gallagher-Smith

Gregory Shamus/Getty Images

Gallagher-Smith is one of the few athlete mistresses on this list. The PGA golfer and her then-husband were unable to have kids, so in 2005, Smith seduced her caddy to do the deed for her. 

Eventually, that caddy, Gary Robinson, sued the golfer, claiming fraud and emotional distress. However, without a DNA test (a child born in a marriage in the state of Florida is legally a product of that marriage, so DNA testing was out of the question), Robinson's case didn't get too far, although it's clear that Jackie Gallagher-Smith was a saucy mistress indeed. 

18. Jamie Grubbs

Grubbs is yet another Woods mistress, and the Los Angeles area cocktail waitress shocked the world when she told reporters she and Woods had engaged in a torrid affair while the golfer was married. 

Why was it shocking? Woods' wife was a former Swedish bikini model. 

17. Karen Sypher

Sypher was a one-night stand that turned into a nightmare for Louisville men's basketball head coach Rick Pitino. 

Sypher claimed that Pitino had raped her on two separate occasions in 2003, although the claims didn't come to light until she was charged with blackmail. 

The Cardinals coach told the court that he had sex with Sypher, but it was consensual. She then proceded to try and extort money from him, was found guilty of extortion, and sentenced to seven years in prison for the crime. 

16. Jamie Jungers

Jungers is yet another Woods mistress; this is getting a little ridiculous. She's a former exotic dancer who met the golfer at the club where she worked, and shockingly, he had sex with her. 

While there wasn't much unique about Jungers' story, she did win the "Hottest Mistress" pageant on Howard Stern's radio show. Take that for what you will. 

15. Brooke Hundley

Hundley was an ESPN intern, focused on the hit show Baseball Tonight. Former New York Mets general manager Steve Phillips was one of the stars of the show, and the two hit it off, starting a whirlwind romance between the 22-year-old intern and 45-year-old host. 

There was just one big problem: Phillips was married. His wife filed for divorce in September 2009, Phillips admitted the affair in October 2009 and was fired by ESPN just four days later. 

It's not every day a mistress costs someone their job, so for that, we commend you, Ms. Hundley.

14. Amy Wynalda

Brian Bahr/Getty Images

Sadly, there are no current pictures of the former Ms. Eric Wynalda available, so we'll go with her husband on this one. 

Leading up to the 1998 FIFA World Cup, much was expected of the American national team. Or, at least it was until captain and defensive anchor John Harkes was cut from the squad just a few months before the tournament began.

Much speculation surrounded the move, but, in 2010, it was revealed by former head coach Steve Sampson that he had cut Harkes because the defenseman had been sleeping with Eric's wife, Amy, in the couple's house, and near the playpen of their young child. 

Wynalda was reportedly furious, but before he could deal with his teammate, Sampson cut him, putting an end to the controversy. 

Amy is here not just because she slept with her husband's teammate, but because doing so got him kicked off the national team, which finished dead last in the World Cup without him, scoring just one goal in three games. 

13. Joslyn James

Jeez, what is it with Tiger? The former top-ranked golfer in the world managed to connect between the sheets with James, another adult film actress whose body of work is quite extensive, to say the least. 

12. Laura Govan

Govan was the wife of NBA star Gilbert Arenas until earlier this year. But, prior to their marriage, it was alleged that Govan had been practicing her horizontal tango with Shaquille O'Neal. 

While the infidelity didn't end their marriage, Arenas pulled a disappearing act in late 2010, leaving Govan with no money or means to generate income, for reasons still unclear. 

11. Madonna

The pop music legend joined this infamous crew in 2008, when she was seen getting friendly with Yankee third baseman Alex Rodriguez. 

Both denied that there was anything romantic going on, but shortly after their tryst, Rodriguez's wife filed for divorce. 

Coincidence? I think not. 

10. Mindy McCready

McCready is a country music crooner, but it's not her songs that got her into the headlines.

Instead, McCready told the New York Daily News in 2008 that she had been having an affair with legendary flamethrower Roger Clemens since she was 15, a span of 17 years. She told the Post that the relationship was sexual in nature, although she later said that it wasn't sexual for several years. 

Regardless, the longevity of the affair more than merits McCready's spot on the list. 

9. Alina Kabaeva

Kabaeva was one of the world's top rhythmic gymnasts, a two-time Olympic and 18-time World Championship medalist in the sport. 

But, she made headlines across Russia when it was alleged that the gymnast was having an affair with prime minister Vladimir Putin, a claim both parties dispute. 

However, she has landed a posh gig in Russia's Duma, representing the Pro-Kremlin United Russia party. 

8. Erin Barry

Barry, the ex-wife of former Spurs sharpshooter Brent Barry, gained notoriety in late 2010 when it was alleged by numerous publications that she had engaged in a sexting affair with San Antonio star point guard Tony Parker. 

Those explicit texts proved to be the undoing of Parker's marriage to longtime WAG hottie Eva Longoria. Barry has vehemently denied the claims, but that hasn't stopped fans from speculating that she was Parker's other main squeeze. 

7. Jenn Sterger

Sterger is the primary reason why Tony Parker's not the only one who got in trouble for sending illicit materials via cell phone. 

In 2008, Sterger was a sideline hostess (no, I don't know what that is, either) for the New York Jets, during Brett Favre's only season in The Big Apple. 

The veteran gunslinger apparently took a liking to the former Florida State Cowgirl, and after obtaining her phone number, started to call her to get her to come to his room, and sent her numerous pictures of his "Little Gunslinger."

While Sterger didn't sleep with Favre, the fact that Favre sent her so many lewd communications qualifies her as a mistress, albeit an unwilling one. 

6. Sonia Wild

Wild isn't the only girl Cole got caught cheating on British pop singer Cheryl Cole with, but she was the one that ended his marriage. 

The English international defenseman was found to have sent nude photos of himself to Wild's phone, and when that came to light, all the years of claims of infidelity proved too much for Cheryl, who called it quits on their marriage. 

Cole should have seen it coming, frankly; after all, her name was "Wild," which is never a good sign. 

5. Traci Lynn Johnson

In 2009, former New York Giants running back Tiki Barber was the hottest thing in football analysis. With good insight, a friendly demeanor and a 10,000-gigawatt smile, Barber was made to be in front of the camera. 

However, his career hit a major roadblock when it was revealed that Barber had been dating Traci Lynn Johnson, the 23-year-old former NBC intern who babysat Barber and his wife's kids. 

As if that weren't enough, Barber's wife, Ginny Cha, was pregnant with twins at the time. 

Way to go, Tiki. Way to go. 

4. Jenny Thompson

Thompson here was involved in a massive scandal with English soccer megastar Wayne Rooney in 2010. 

It was reported that in 2009, Rooney had slept with Jenny Thompson, an escort, more than seven times while his wife was pregnant with their first son. 

But, don't worry, Thompson's classy; she's only slept with 13 English footballers at age 21. 

3. Rebecca Loos

Loos was the other woman involved in one of the biggest cheating scandals in sports history, involving one of soccer's biggest stars. 

In 2004, David Beckham arrived at Real Madrid, and this Spanish model became his assistant. According to reports, Becks' wife, Victoria, spent most of her time in England, boosting her music career. 

That left David and Rebecca free to engage in a four-month affair, after which Loos went to the press. 

Despite the reports, Victoria stayed with her star footballer hubby, claiming the allegations made their marriage stronger. 

Did they? I'll let you figure that one out. 

2. Vanessa Perroncel

Perroncel, a Spanish lingerie model, was the key cog in one of the most bizarre affairs on this list. 

In late 2009, English defenseman John Terry engaged in a four-month long affair with Perroncel, despite still being married at the time. While this was big news regardless, there was a wrinkle: Perroncel was the ex-girlfriend of Terry's friend and international teammate Wayne Bridge. 

Bridge threatened to quit international football forever unless Terry was kicked off the English national team, but head coach Fabio Capello managed a compromise, keeping Terry while stripping him of his captaincy. 

Despite the concession, Bridge still opted not to play in the 2010 FIFA World Cup. 

1. Rachel Uchitel

Uchitel is a logical choice for the top spot, given that the former VIP hostess set into motion one of the biggest infidelity scandals in celebrity history, sports or otherwise. 

In late 2009, the National Enquirer released a story claiming Uchitel was one of Tiger Woods' mistresses, the first ever to be named. 

Uchitel eventually owned up to the affair, and her story set off a chain reaction for the former top-ranked golfer that eventually cost him his public image. 

For setting off the scandal, Uchitel was the perfect choice as the most notorious mistress in sports.