Sports Illustrated Kids Stars of Sports Series

As a child, Mallory Pugh would do anything she could to watch soccer, practice soccer, and play soccer. She was soccer obsessed! Not much has changed for Pugh in terms of her passion for soccer. In 2015, she was named the U.S. Soccer Young Female Player of the Year. In 2019, she played for the U.S. team that won the World Cup. Discover more about Pugh's highlights on the field in this thrilling biography in the Stars of Sports series.

Adam Thielen always knew he wanted to play in the NFL. From growing up watching Randy Moss and the Vikings to playing at a small Division II college, his path to the NFL hasn't always been a straight line. After initially making the Vikings roster in 2013, he was cut to the practice squad. Now, he's Minnesota's top wide receiver. Learn more about Thielen's path to football fame in this exciting biography in the Stars of Sports series.

Hilary Knight started skating when she was five. Fifteen years later, she was the youngest member on Team USA at the 2010 Olympics. The next 10 years of her career have only gotten more impressive. Discover more about Knight's highlights on and off the ice in this thrilling biography in the Stars of Sports series.

Klay Thompson's skill with a basketball runs in the family. His father was drafted into the NBA in 1978. But it's Klay's own star qualities that shine as he plays for the Golden State Warriors. Known for his shooting ability, Thompson has helped his team win big. Find out more about his career moments and behind-the-scenes facts in this electric biography in the Stars of Sports series.

Around three years old, Sabrina Ionescu picked up a basketball. While she had natural talent, Ionescu worked hard. In middle school there weren’t enough players for a girls’ basketball team. Ionescu wasn’t allowed on the boys’ team, but she didn’t give up. Instead, she recruited enough girls to make a team. Learn about how Ionescu became the first overall pick in the 2020 WNBA draft and the player she is today.

Aly Raisman started gymnastics when she was just 2 years old. In 2011, she helped the U.S. gymnastics team win the World Championships. The next year she participated in her first Olympic Games in London. Discover more about Raisman's highlights in gymnastics in this exciting biography in the Stars of Sports series.

Zion Williamson was a record-breaking high-school athlete in South Carolina. He went on to lead Duke University’s basketball team in scoring and rebounding. Williamson’s outstanding performance earned him the number-one pick in the 2019 NBA Draft. Though his 2019 season started with an injury and ended with a pandemic, his future is bright. Learn about Williamson’s steady climb to the top and find out where he wants to go from there.

Kawhi 'the Klaw' Leonard is a well-known name in basketball. At a towering height of 6 feet, 7 inches, Leonard is one of the most dominant defenders in the NBA. Leonard was just 20 years old when he was first drafted in the NBA. Since then he has had many triumphs and has helped lead his teams to greatness. Discover more about Leonard's career highlights in this exciting biography in the Stars of Sports series.

At just four years old, Chad Kerley knew he was destined to spend life on a bike. But despite a successful career as a competitive BMX racer, by age 13, CK was ready to give it all up. Kerley quit racing and went back to riding for fun. He eventually returned to the world of BMX with a new style—street racing—and proved he was stronger than ever. Find out how the BMX champion made a name for himself and what comes next in this exciting, action-packed biography.

James Harden was a top pick in the 2012 NBA draft, but he wasn’t an instant superstar. Harden worked tirelessly to improve his skill. His dedication paid off, both for him and the Houston Rockets. Harden is now one of the best players in the league. Readers will learn how James Harden used determination and hard work to take him to the top!

A unique childhood gave Nyjah Huston a unique outlook. Growing up in California and Puerto Rico, Huston started skateboarding when he was just four years old. By age 11, he was competing in the X Games and shocking the skateboarding world with his wild boardslides. Learn how the small kid with the big dreadlocks grew into the highest-paid skateboarder in the world.

Simone Biles may be small in size, but she is larger than life in the sport of gymnastics! A coach recognized Biles’s natural talent at just six years old. Since then, Biles has overcome many challenges to become the most successful gymnast of all time. Find out how she worked her way to the top of the Olympic podium in just 10 years and learn what she plans to do next.

As a child, Megan Rapinoe watched her brother play soccer. It wasn't long before she was kicking the ball around. Her playing career has gained much success, and the left winger is now known as a leader on and off the field. In 2019, she played for the U.S team that won the World Cup. Discover Rapinoe's journey to becoming a world star in this thrilling biography in the Stars of Sports series.

Brenna Huckaby was diagnosed with bone cancer at 14 years old and had her right leg amputated above the knee. That could have been the end of her sports career. Instead, the former gymnast took a different route. She fell in love with snowboarding and went on to become a gold-medal Paralympian. Learn how she overcame obstacles to make it to the top of the podium in this inspiring biography.

American-League superstar Mike Trout moved through the minors at record speed to become a breakout star his rookie year. From Rookie of the Year to All-Star appearances to record-setting feats and MVP Awards, Trout has earned his place as one of the best centerfielders in baseball history. Is a World Series ring next? Get all the facts on Trout’s rise to the top and his future plans in this hard-hitting sports biography.

As a child, Diana Taurasi was awkward and gangly. But as soon as she started playing basketball, she learned that her size and height gave her an advantage on the basketball court. Since winning the WBNA Rookie of the Year title in 2004, Taurasi has come a long way. Discover more about Taurasi's highlights on the court in this action-packed biography in the Stars of Sports series.

Slovenian basketball star Luka Doncic’s talent was obvious from an early age. He went from playing in the EuroLeague to the NBA all by the young age of 19. Readers will learn about his struggles and successes on his way to becoming a star player and the NBA Rookie of the Year!

Quarterback Lamar Jackson became the NFL’s Most Valuable Player in 2019. It was only his second year in the league. Readers will learn how Jackson overcame a difficult childhood and went on to become one of the NFL’s rising stars and the youngest quarterback to ever start in a playoff game!

Coco Gauff won the Junior title at the 2018 French Open when she was just 13 years old. She is a fan-favorite on the pro-tennis circuit, going so far as to beat her idol, Venus Williams. Find out how Gauff went from initially not liking the sport to becoming a teenage tennis legend. Learn how passion, hard work, and the support of her family took her to the top.

Declan Farmer has never let anything hold him back. Despite being born with only partial legs, Farmer has been an avid athlete since youth. He fell in love with sled hockey and quickly became a teen sensation. Farmer has led the USA Paralympic Sled Hockey Team to not one, but two, Paralympic gold medals. Learn what it took for him to get to the podium and where he would like to go from there.

Breanna Stewart is a basketball superstar! She dominated in high school. Stewart then went on to play college ball for the UConn Huskies. From there she was tapped to play for Team USA in the Olympics—where she scored the last shot! Find out how Breanna overcame a difficult childhood to go on to achieve her dreams.

Bubba Wallace started racing cars at nine years old. He began competing in 2010 and hasn’t slowed down since, setting records as the youngest winner at many races. He was the first Black driver to win Rookie of the Year for NASCAR. Find out how Wallace's talent has led him to success in the world of stock car racing.

Naomi Osaka is the first Asian tennis player to hold the number one singles ranking in the Women's Tennis Association. She started to make a name for herself at 16 and is now known around the world. Osaka has defeated the toughest players in the league and her talent continues to rise each year. Read more about this skilled tennis star!

Baseball runs in the family for Fernando Tatis Jr. Both his father and grandfather played professional baseball. Tatis signed his first professional baseball contract when he was just 16 years old! He made his major league debut a few years later and broke an age record that same day. Learn more about this Dominican shortstop superstar!

Elena Delle Donne made her WNBA debut in 2013 and earned the Rookie of the Year award. It was just a glimpse of what was to come. Delle Donne has been an All-Star six times, and she led the Washington Mystics to a championship win in 2019. Get the highlights of Delle Donne’s amazing career and learn about her community involvement off the court.

At just 10 years of age, Sky Brown became the youngest professional skateboarder in the world. Instead of using a coach, she learns her tricks online. She’s not afraid to take risks and push limits. After a horrific fall left her unresponsive with several skull fractures and a broken left hand and wrist, Brown is still determined to be the best skateboarder in the world!

It didn’t take long for quarterback Russell Wilson to make a name for himself in the NFL. In just his second season, he led the Seattle Seahawks to a Super Bowl win. In 2020, he became one of just three quarterbacks in NFL history to throw 30 or more touchdowns four seasons in a row. Get all the details about Wilson’s incredible career.

Outfielder Christian Yelich joined Little League when he was four and never stopped playing. From traveling teams when he was young to being drafted as a professional player, baseball was a priority for Yelich. He was named the National League’s MVP in 2018. Read on to find out more about Yelich’s amazing baseball career.

Young star quarterback Joe Burrow is a born football playmaker. He fought back from a serious injury his rookie season to take his team to the Super Bowl the next year. Burrow has impressed teammates, coaches, and fans with his determination and strong work ethic. Get more details about his journey to NFL stardom.

A’ja Wilson comes from a family of basketball players. But she wasn’t born a superstar. In fact, Wilson was not a natural talent. She worked hard to become the best player, and it paid off. In middle school, Wilson was promoted to the high school varsity team. After that, there was no stopping her! From her college career at the University of South Carolina to her professional career with the Las Vegas Aces, Wilson’s determination shines through in this encouraging sports biography.