Athletes

Currently a member of the Women's Sports Foundation Board of Trustees (elected 2001), Jeanette Lee is one of the most recognizable figures in professional billiards. Her ability to devour opponents and tendency to wear all black during tournaments earned Lee the nickname "The Black Widow." Since Lee started playing billiards professionally in 1993, she has won 26 Women's Professional Billiards Association (WPBA) titles, including her proudest moment when she won the gold medal at the 2001 World Games, which ranked her among the top three in the WPBA. In 2007 she won two major tournaments, including the Empress Cup Championship and the Skins Billiard Championship. She had five top-five finishes in 2006, including third place at the WPBA Florida and Great Lakes Classic events. In 2005 she was the 2005 China Invitational Winner. She won the 2004 Curtec Cues Florida Classic and the 2004 Trick Shot Magic competition. In 2001, she took home the BCA Open 9-Ball Championship title. She had impressive victories in 1999, including the Great Dallas Shootout, Southern California Classic and Tournament of Champions. The WPBA awarded Lee the Sportsperson of the Year Award in 1998, and she was a finalist for the 1997 Women's Sports Foundation Sportswoman of the Year Award. Lee was ranked No. 1 in the world only two years after joining the WPBA tour. She was the silver medalist at the world championships in both 1995 and 1994. In 1994, she was named Player of the Year by Billiard Digest and Pool and Billiard Magazine. At the age of 13, Lee was diagnosed with scoliosis and serves as the national spokesperson for The National Scoliosis Association. She is on the board of directors for both the Billiard Education Foundation and the WPBA. In 2000, she co-authored the book "The Black Widow's Guide to Killer Pool." She founded the Jeanette Lee Foundation, a charitable organization to demonstrate that any goal can be achieved despite one's disability. Lee has appeared on numerous television shows, including "Arli$$," "One Life to Live," "Regis and Kelly" and "The Today Show."(11/07)