Honda Sports Award

Honda Sports Award. The award is presented annually by the Collegiate Women Sports Awards program to recognize the top female collegiate athlete across twelve different NCAA-sanctioned sports. Established in 1977, it is considered one of the most prestigious honors in college athletics and serves as the official designation for the Collegiate Woman Athlete of the Year. The winner from each sport becomes a finalist for the overall Honda Cup, which is awarded during a national televised ceremony.

History and background

The award was created in 1977 through the vision of American Honda Motor Co. executive Ronald O. Book and UCLA athletic director J.D. Morgan. Its founding was a direct response to the passage of Title IX, landmark federal legislation that mandated gender equity in educational programs, including athletics. The inaugural ceremony was held at UCLA's Pauley Pavilion, with tennis player Wendy Turnbull being recognized. For decades, the presentation was broadcast on CBS Sports, significantly raising the profile of women's collegiate sports. The program's administration was later assumed by Chris Voelz, the former athletic director at the University of Minnesota.

Selection process and criteria

Nominees and winners are determined through a nationwide vote involving over one thousand administrators from NCAA Division I, II, and III institutions. The selection process begins with the naming of four finalists in each of the twelve designated sports. Voting is conducted by representatives from member schools of the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics and the National Association of Collegiate Women Athletics Administrators. Primary criteria include outstanding athletic achievement, leadership, academic excellence, and a commitment to community service. The overall winner of the Honda Cup is chosen from among the twelve sport award winners by a separate board comprising former award recipients and media representatives.

Notable recipients

The roster of honorees includes many athletes who achieved legendary status in both collegiate and professional sports. Basketball stars like Cheryl Miller of USC and Breanna Stewart of the University of Connecticut have been honored, as has soccer icon Mia Hamm from the University of North Carolina. Gymnastics greats such as UCLA's Jamie Dantzscher and Georgia's Courtney Kupets are recipients, alongside swimming legends like Stanford's Jenny Thompson and Missy Franklin from the University of California, Berkeley. Track and field honorees include Jackie Joyner-Kersee of UCLA and Texas sprinter Sanya Richards-Ross. Tennis champions Brittany Augustine and Stanford's Mikaela Shiffrin, though primarily known for alpine skiing, also received the award for their collegiate athletic excellence.

Award categories

The award is presented in twelve distinct categories corresponding to NCAA championship sports. These traditionally include basketball, volleyball, cross country, field hockey, golf, gymnastics, lacrosse, soccer, softball, swimming and diving, tennis, and track and field. In some years, the program has recognized an "Inspiration Award" for an individual overcoming extraordinary adversity. Each category winner receives a grant to support the athletic department of their chosen university, a practice initiated to further the educational mission of the Collegiate Women Sports Awards.

Significance and impact

The award has played a transformative role in elevating the visibility and prestige of women's college sports since the era of Title IX. By providing a platform equivalent to male-focused honors like the Heisman Trophy, it has helped shape the narrative around female athletic excellence. The associated television broadcast and media coverage have been instrumental in showcasing role models to young athletes. Furthermore, the substantial financial grants awarded to winners' athletic departments have directly supported women's sports programs across the country. The legacy of recipients, many of whom have gone on to win Olympic medals and championships in professional leagues like the WNBA and NWSL, underscores the award's role in identifying and celebrating the future stars of international sport.

Category:Sports trophies and awards in the United States Category:Women's sports awards Category:College sports awards in the United States Category:1977 establishments in the United States