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Best Female College Athlete ESPY Award

Annual athletic award

Annual athletic award

FieldValue
nameESPY Award for Best College Athlete, Women's Sports
awarded_forbest female college athlete
presenterESPN
year2002
year2
holderJuJu Watkins
website

The ESPY Award for Best College Athlete, Women's Sports, known before 2021 as the Best Female College Athlete ESPY Award, is an annual award honoring the achievements of a female individual from the world of collegiate sports. It was first presented as part of the ESPY Awards in 2002, following the subsumption of the Best Female College Basketball Player ESPY Award, which was presented annually between the 1993 and 2001 ceremonies, inclusive. The award trophy, designed by sculptor Lawrence Nowlan, is awarded to the sportswoman adjudged to be the best in a given calendar year of those contesting collegiate sport in the United States through the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA). Since the 2004 awards, the winner has been chosen by online voting through three to five nominees selected by the ESPN Select Nominating Committee. Before that, determination of the winners was made by an panel of experts. Through the 2001 iteration of the ESPY Awards, ceremonies were conducted in February of each year to honor achievements over the previous calendar year; awards presented thereafter are conferred in July and reflect performance from the June previous.{{efn|Because of the rescheduling of the ESPY Awards ceremony, the award presented in 2002 was given in consideration of performance between February 2001 and June 2002.

The inaugural winner of the Best Female College Athlete ESPY Award at the 2002 awards was University of Connecticut (UConn) Huskies basketball player Sue Bird. During her collegiate career, Bird won two NCAA championships, and was awarded a further eight accolades for her achievements. She became the first of two basketball players to be nominated for, and hence to win, the Best Female College Athlete ESPY Award. The 2003 winner of the award was another UConn player, Diana Taurasi. Taurasi won the accolade again the following year, and is one of three women, all UConn basketball players, to have received the Best Female College Athlete ESPY Award more than once: the most any one woman has won is Maya Moore, who earned three consecutive awards between the 2009 and 2011 ceremonies. Basketball players dominate the winners list, with 14 awards, while softball competitors have won five times, and just one swimmer (the University of California, Berkeley Golden Bears' Missy Franklin at the 2015 ESPY Awards) has been recognized in the accolade's history. The most recent winner of the award is USC basketball player JuJu Watkins.

The accolade was combined with the Best Male College Athlete ESPY Award to create the Best College Athlete ESPY Award which was presented for the first time at the 2018 ESPY Awards. Beginning in 2021, the awards were again separated into men's and women's versions using the current naming scheme.

Winners and nominees

YearImageWinnerUniversitySportOther nomineesRef(s)(2)(2)(2)(3)(2)(2)(2)
2002[[File:Sue Bird 2012.jpg100pxalt=Sue Bird playing in a basketball game in 2012]]Connecticut HuskiesBasketballNatalie Coughlin – California Golden Bears (Swimming)
Jennie Finch – Arizona Wildcats (Softball)
Stacey Nuveman – UCLA Bruins (Softball)
Jackie Stiles – Missouri State Lady Bears (Basketball)title=Woods Wins Three ESPYsurl=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2002-jul-11-sp-espy11-story.htmlnewspaper=Los Angeles Timesdate=July 11, 2002access-date=April 2, 2018archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180405165529/http://articles.latimes.com/2002/jul/11/sports/sp-espy11archive-date=April 5, 2018url-status=live}}
2003[[File:Diana Taurasi 1.jpg100pxalt=Diana Taurasi competing in a basketball match in 2014]]Connecticut HuskiesBasketballAlana Beard – Duke Blue Devils (Basketball)
Natalie Coughlin – California Golden Bears (Swimming)
Cat Osterman – Texas Longhorns (Softball)editor-last=L. Portereditor-first=Davidtitle=Basketball: A Biographical Dictionaryurl=https://books.google.com/books?id=DDO3sdV6ytsC&q=Diana+Taurasi+2003+ESPY+Best+Female+College&pg=PA468year=2005page=468publisher=Greenwood Publishing Grouplocation=Westport, Connecticutisbn=978-0-313-30952-6access-date=April 2, 2018url-status=livearchive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180403174521/https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=DDO3sdV6ytsC&pg=PA468&lpg=PA468&dq=Diana+Taurasi+2003+ESPY+Best+Female+College&source=bl&ots=qaCmaEA8PQ&sig=5W7bPHQCPSR-zJ2CmGmwUHQqV9s&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwj_kvnulpzaAhXFQ8AKHePnAac4ChDoAQhAMAM#v=onepage&q=Diana%20Taurasi%202003%20ESPY%20Best%20Female%20College&f=falsearchive-date=April 3, 2018df=mdy-all}}
2004[[File:Diana Taurasi.jpg100pxalt=Diana Taurasi at the White House in 2008]]Connecticut HuskiesBasketballAlana Beard – Duke Blue Devils (Basketball)
Tara Kirk – Stanford Cardinal (Swimming)
Cat Reddick – North Carolina Tar Heels (Soccer)
Jessica van der Linden – Florida State Seminoles (Softball)title=van der Linden Nominated For 2004 ESPY Awardurl=http://www.cstv.com/sports/w-softbl/stories/062204aaa.htmlpublisher=College Sports Televisiondate=June 22, 2004access-date=April 2, 2018url-status=deadarchive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180403174039/http://www.cstv.com/sports/w-softbl/stories/062204aaa.htmlarchive-date=April 3, 2018df=mdy-all}}
2005[[File:Cat Osterman.jpg100pxalt=Cat Osterman competing in a softball tournament in 2006]]Texas LonghornsSoftballSeimone Augustus – LSU Lady Tigers (Basketball)
Nicole Corriero – Harvard Crimson (Ice hockey)
Kristen Maloney – UCLA Bruins (Gymnastics)
Katie Thorlakson – Notre Dame (Soccer)
2006[[File:Cat Osterman.jpg100pxalt=Cat Osterman competing in a softball tournament in 2006]]Texas LonghornsSoftballSeimone Augustus – LSU Lady Tigers (Basketball)
Virginia Powell – USC Trojans (Track and field)
Christine Sinclair – Portland Pilots (Soccer)
Courtney Thompson – Washington Huskies (Volleyball)
2007[[File:Taryne Mowatt at the 2008 Lotus Lounge Red Carpet.jpg100pxalt=Taryne Mowatt attending a Red Carpet event in 2008]]Arizona WildcatsSoftballMonica Abbott – Tennessee Lady Volunteers (Softball)
Kerri Hanks – Notre Dame Fighting Irish (Soccer)
Kara Lynn Joyce – Georgia Bulldogs (Swimming)
2008[[File:Parker5 20171004.jpg100pxalt=Candace Parker playing for the Los Angeles Sparks in 2017]]Tennessee Lady VolunteersBasketballRachel Dawson – North Carolina Tar Heels (Field hockey)
Angela Tincher – Virginia Tech Hokies (Softball)
2009[[File:Maya Moore UConn.jpg100pxalt=Maya Moore attending a celebratory dinner in 2009]]Connecticut HuskiesBasketballKerri Hanks – Notre Dame Fighting Irish (Soccer)
Courtney Kupets – Georgia Gymdogs (Gymnastics)
Danielle Lawrie – Washington Huskies (Softball)
Dana Vollmer – California Golden Bears (Swimming)title=Phelps a big winner at ESPY Awardsurl=http://abc7.com/archive/6917822/publisher=KABC-TVdate=July 15, 2009access-date=April 2, 2018url-status=livearchive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171031121013/http://abc7.com/archive/6917822/archive-date=October 31, 2017df=mdy-all}}
2010[[File:Maya Moore White Team.jpg100pxalt=Maya Moore playing for the United States National Women's Basketball team in 2010]]Connecticut HuskiesBasketballTina Charles – Connecticut Huskies (Basketball)
Megan Hodge – Penn State Nittany Lions (Volleyball)
Megan Langenfeld – UCLA Bruins (Softball)last=Ardenfirst=Richtitle=Moore, Taurasi Win ESPYsurl=https://today.uconn.edu/2010/07/moore-taurasi-win-espys/publisher=University of Connecticutdate=July 15, 2010access-date=April 2, 2018url-status=livearchive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180405165528/https://today.uconn.edu/2010/07/moore-taurasi-win-espys/archive-date=April 5, 2018df=mdy-all}}
2011[[File:Maya Moore receiving Wade Trophy.JPG100pxalt=Maya Moore holding a gold-plated trophy in 2011]]Connecticut HuskiesBasketballBlair Brown – Penn State Nittany Lions (Volleyball)
Dallas Escobedo – Arizona State Sun Devils (Softball)
Melissa Henderson – Notre Dame Fighting Irish (Soccer)
Katinka Hosszú – USC Trojans (Swimming)title=Celebrities, athletes mingle at ESPY Awardsurl=http://www.nola.com/celebrities/index.ssf/2011/07/celebrities_athletes_mingle_at.htmlnewspaper=The Times-Picayuneagency=Associated Pressdate=July 14, 2011access-date=April 2, 2018url-status=livearchive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180403174004/http://www.nola.com/celebrities/index.ssf/2011/07/celebrities_athletes_mingle_at.htmlarchive-date=April 3, 2018df=mdy-all}}
2012[[File:Brittney Griner accepting Wade Trophy 2.jpg100pxalt=Brittney Griner holding a trophy amongst a group of people in 2012]]Baylor Lady BearsBasketballAlexandra Jupiter – USC Trojans (Volleyball)
Caitlin Leverenz – California Golden Bears (Swimming)
Teresa Noyola – Stanford Cardinal (Soccer)
Jackie Traina – Alabama Crimson Tide (Softball)
2013[[File:Brittney Griner.jpg100pxalt=Brittney Griner competing in a 2017 basketball game]]Baylor Lady BearsBasketballKara Cannizzaro – North Carolina Tar Heels (Lacrosse)
Crystal Dunn – North Carolina Tar Heels (Soccer)
Keilani Ricketts – Oklahoma Sooners (Softball)
2014[[File:Breanna Stewart with MOP plaque.jpg100pxalt=Breanna Stewart holding a plague in her left hand in 2012]]UConn HuskiesBasketballMorgan Brian – Virginia Cavaliers (Soccer)
Taylor Cummings – Maryland Terrapins (Lacrosse)
Micha Hancock – Penn State Nittany Lions (Volleyball)
Hannah Rogers – Florida Gators (Softball)
2015[[File:Missy Franklin at 2014 Santa Clara Grand Prix (18425073354).jpg100pxalt=Missy Franklin competing in an outdoor swimming tournament in 2014]]California Golden BearsSwimmingTaylor Cummings – Maryland Terrapins (Lacrosse)
Lauren Haeger – Florida Gators (Softball)
Micha Hancock – Penn State Nittany Lions (Volleyball)
Breanna Stewart – Connecticut Huskies (Basketball)
2016[[File:Breanna Stewart 2015.jpg100pxalt=Breanna Stewart holding a gold-plated trophy in both hands in 2016]]UConn HuskiesBasketballSamantha Bricio – USC Trojans (Volleyball)
Taylor Cummings – Maryland Terrapins (Lacrosse)
Raquel Rodríguez – Penn State Nittany Lions (Soccer)
Sierra Romero – Michigan Wolverines (Softball)
2017–Florida GatorsSoftballInky Ajanaku – Stanford Cardinal (Volleyball)
Kadeisha Buchanan – West Virginia Mountaineers (Soccer)
Kelsey Plum – Washington Huskies (Basketball)
Zoe Stukenberg – Maryland Terrapins (Lacrosse)title=Pope alum Kelly Barnhill wins ESPY Award as top female collegiate athleteurl=http://www.mdjonline.com/sports/pope-alum-kelly-barnhill-wins-espy-award-as-top-female/article_1ec7591a-676f-11e7-b1c1-6b6181cac40c.htmlnewspaper=Marietta Daily Journaldate=July 12, 2017access-date=April 3, 2018archive-url=https://archive.today/20180405171019/http://www.mdjonline.com/sports/pope-alum-kelly-barnhill-wins-espy-award-as-top-female/article_1ec7591a-676f-11e7-b1c1-6b6181cac40c.htmlarchive-date=April 5, 2018url-status=livedf=mdy-all}}
2018–2020-Not AwardedNot AwardedNot AwardedNot Awarded
2021[[File:Paige Bueckers vs Arkansas.jpg100pxAlt=Paige Bueckers handling a basketball while in motion]]UConn HuskiesBasketballOdicci Alexander – James Madison Dukes (Softball)
Jaelin Howell – Florida State Seminoles (Soccer)
Madison Lilley – Kentucky Wildcats (Volleyball)
2022–Oklahoma SoonersSoftballAliyah Boston – South Carolina (Basketball)
Jaelin Howell – Florida State (Soccer)
Charlotte North – Boston College (Lacrosse)url=https://soonersports.com/news/2022/7/19/softball-alo-wins-espy-for-best-female-college-athlete.aspxtitle=Alo Wins ESPY for Best Female College Athletewebsite=soonersports.comdate=July 19, 2022access-date=July 19, 2022}}
2023[[File:Caitlin Clark Big Ten tournament 2 (cropped).jpg100pxAlt=]]Iowa HawkeyesBasketballJordy Bahl – Oklahoma Sooners (Softball)
Izzy Scane – Northwestern (Lacrosse)
Trinity Thomas – Florida Gators (Gymnastics)
2024[[File:Caitlin Clark vs. Minnesota (cropped).jpg100pxAlt=]]Iowa HawkeyesBasketballSarah Franklin – Wisconsin Badgers (Volleyball)
Izzy Scane – Northwestern (Lacrosse)
Haleigh Bryant – LSU Tigers (Gymnastics)
2025–USC TrojansBasketballGretchen Walsh – Virginia Cavaliers (Swimming)
Kate Faasse – North Carolina Tar Heels (Soccer)
Olivia Babcock – Pittsburgh Panthers (Volleyball)

Statistics

NameWinsNominations
33
23
23
22
22
03
02
02
02
02
TeamWinsNominationsUConn HuskiesTexas LonghornsIowa HawkeyesBaylor Lady BearsCalifornia Golden BearsUSC TrojansFlorida GatorsArizona WildcatsOklahoma SoonersNorth Carolina Tar HeelsPenn State Nittany LionsMaryland TerrapinsLSU Lady TigersNotre Dame Fighting IrishStanford CardinalUCLA BruinsWashington HuskiesDuke Blue DevilsFlorida State SeminolesNorthwestern WildcatsVirginia Cavaliers
911
23
22
20
15
15
14
12
13
05
05
04
03
03
03
03
03
02
02
02
02
SportWinnersNominationsBasketballSoftballSwimmingSoccerVolleyballLacrosseGymnastics
1524
521
19
014
011
08
04

References

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  2. Avard, Christian. (August 2, 2013). "Sculptor commissioned to complete Joe Frazier statue has died". [[Barre Montpelier Times Argus]].
  3. "The 2004 ESPY Awards - Fans to decide all 2004 ESPY Award winners". ESPN.
  4. (June 12, 2021). "The 2021 ESPYS Nominees". ESPN.
  5. (February 3, 1999). "Committee is newly found". ESPN.
  6. (2002). "New categories unveiled for The 2002 ESPY Awards". [[ESPN]].
  7. (October 7, 2013). "Sue Bird". [[USA Basketball]].
  8. (July 16, 2025). "Full list of every ESPYS 2025 Award winner".
  9. Keith, Branden. (16 July 2018). "Katie Ledecky Nominated For Best College Athlete ESPY". [[SwimSwam]].
  10. (July 10, 2021). "2021 ESPYS award winners".
  11. (July 11, 2002). "Woods Wins Three ESPYs". [[Los Angeles Times]].
  12. Hoornstra, J. P.. (July 7, 2002). "Nuveman in race for ESPY award". [[Daily Bruin]].
  13. (2005). "Basketball: A Biographical Dictionary". [[Greenwood Publishing Group]].
  14. (July 16, 2003). "Alana Beard to attend ESPY Awards tonight". [[The Times (Shreveport).
  15. (June 22, 2004). "van der Linden Nominated For 2004 ESPY Award". [[CBS Sports Network.
  16. Buckley, Tom. (May 2006). "Catcher in the Eye".
  17. (June 24, 2005). "UCLA's Kristen Maloney Nominated For ESPY Award". College Sports Television.
  18. (July 13, 2006). "14th annual ESPY Award's list". [[Pittsburgh Post-Gazette]].
  19. (July 3, 2006). "On Campus". [[Portland Tribune]].
  20. Harris, Beth. (July 12, 2007). "Chargers' Tomlinson Wins 4 ESPY Awards". [[The Washington Post]].
  21. Towers, Chip. (June 27, 2007). "Georgia swimmer Joyce nominated for ESPY". [[The Atlanta Journal-Constitution]].
  22. (July 12, 2008). "Candace Parker Wins Two ESPY Awards". [[Women's National Basketball Association]].
  23. (July 2, 2008). "Appalachian State is an ESPY finalist". [[News & Record]].
  24. (July 15, 2009). "Phelps a big winner at ESPY Awards". [[KABC-TV]].
  25. Johns, Greg. (June 25, 2009). "Huskies' Lawrie nominated for ESPY award". [[Seattle Post-Intelligencer]].
  26. Arden, Rich. (July 15, 2010). "Moore, Taurasi Win ESPYs". [[University of Connecticut]].
  27. (June 24, 2010). "Lakers nominated for 'Best Team' Espy Award". [[San Gabriel Valley Tribune]].
  28. (July 14, 2011). "Celebrities, athletes mingle at ESPY Awards". [[The Times-Picayune]].
  29. Langford, Richard. (June 26, 2011). "2011 ESPN ESPY Awards: Nominees and TV Schedule". [[Bleacher Report]].
  30. Brown, Eric. (July 11, 2012). "Brittney Griner Wins Two ESPYs: Female Athlete of the Year and Best Female College Athlete". [[International Business Times]].
  31. Kausler Jr., Don. (July 11, 2012). "Alabama goes 0 for 3 at the ESPYS". [[The Birmingham News]].
  32. Levy, Gabrielle. (July 18, 2013). "Brittney Griner goes from bullied teen to role model". [[United Press International]].
  33. (June 28, 2013). "Mercury's Brittney Griner receives two ESPY Nominations". [[KTVK]].
  34. Tamurian, Niko. (July 17, 2014). "C-NS grad Breanna Stewart wins ESPY Award for Best Female College Athlete". [[WSTM-TV]].
  35. Dunn, Katherine. (June 25, 2014). "Hopkins alums Rabil, Schwartzman receive MLL weekly awards". [[The Baltimore Sun]].
  36. (July 15, 2015). "Missy Franklin Wins ESPY Best College Female Athlete". [[Swimming World]].
  37. Ditota, Donna. (June 24, 2015). "Breanna Stewart is nominated for 2 ESPY awards; voting underway to determine winners". [[The Post-Standard]].
  38. McDonough, Cameron. (July 13, 2016). "ESPYs 2016 Winners: LeBron James, Craig Sager Among Awards Show Highlights". [[New England Sports Network]].
  39. Doyle, Paul. (June 23, 2016). "Geno Auriemma, Breanna Stewart, UConn Women's Basketball All Over ESPY Nominations". [[Hartford Courant]].
  40. (July 12, 2017). "Pope alum Kelly Barnhill wins ESPY Award as top female collegiate athlete". [[Marietta Daily Journal]].
  41. (June 22, 2017). "Canada's Kadeisha Buchanan gets ESPY nomination for best female college athlete". [[CBC News]].
  42. (July 19, 2022). "Alo Wins ESPY for Best Female College Athlete".
  43. (June 28, 2022). "The 2022 ESPYS Nominees".
  44. (July 13, 2023). "2023 ESPYS: Full list of award winners".
  45. (July 11, 2024). "2024 ESPYS: Here is the list of winners".
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