Jennie Finch

Jennie Lynn Finch (born September 3, 1980 in La Mirada, California), or occasionally using her husband's surname, Daigle, is an American softball player who pitches for the USA national softball team and the Chicago Bandits. Finch helped lead Team USA to win the gold medal at the 2004 Summer Olympics and a silver medal at the 2008 Summer Olympics. Time magazine described her as the most famous softball player in history. On July 20, 2010 Finch officially announced her retirement from softball to focus on her family.

Finch was the dominant softball pitcher of her era and the most recognizable player in the sport. Combined with her pitching skills, Finch's beauty and charm landed her a place in the mainstream and to become a pop culture icon. "She set the standard for softball in a new era of being able to be feminine and play this sport," U.S. outfielder Jessica Mendoza said. "Not that you have to be feminine to play this sport, but I see hundreds of thousands of little girls now with glitter headbands, hot pink bats, makeup....when I was growing up, it wasn't like that." According to Mike Candrea, her coach at Arizona and through two Olympics, "Jennie has transformed this sport, touched millions of young kids in many different ways - whether it's fashion, whether it's the way she plays the game - but through it all she's been very humble." A Chicago Tribune editorial commented, "She leaves with a spotless personal reputation, an intent to keep promoting softball, and the knowledge that she has inspired other girls and women who play for the love of the game.