2010's sports power brokers: 'Female power' list

1. Valerie Vili

The powerhouse. It will be interesting to see how she stretches her arms in years to come.

2. Raelene Castle

Perhaps the most important part of the Netball New Zealand chief executive's job is hooking young kids into the game. Rival codes are circling for would-be Silver Ferns.

3. Glenda Hughes

When a prominent sports figure lands in trouble, Hughes is on speed dial as a media handler. It's a situation that will not have been greatly changed by the miserable Tony Veitch farce.

4. Leanne McGoldrick

The woman who struck the deal that took Shane Bond to the rebel ICL has a stable of top cricketers on her books.

5. Jan Cameron

The other half of the Cameron power duo, what she says goes in New Zealand swimming.

6. Ruth Aitken

National coach for the best part of a decade, under Aitken's stewardship the Silver Ferns have won the 2003 World Championships and the 2006 Commonwealth Games titles. She brought a more professional approach to the sport.

7. Brenda Perry

Outside of rugby and cricket, the ASB tournament director brings some of the biggest-name athletes to these shores.

8. Dame Lois Muir

A pre-eminent figure in the sport for 50 years, the president of Netball New Zealand is quite simply Mrs Netball.

9. Hilary Poole

The chief executive at Hockey New Zealand has her work cut out securing funding for a sport with wide grassroots popularity.

10. Casey Williams

The Silver Ferns skipper utters one swear word and the talkback lines run hot. She has the pick of the ANZ franchises.