The Collegiate Women’s Sports Awards have named four finalists for the 2026 Honda Sport Award for swimming & diving.
Teammates Lucy Bell and Torri Huske from Stanford, Virginia’s Claire Curzan, and South Carolina diver Sophie Verzyl are the four finalists. All four won NCAA titles two weeks ago in Atlanta.
Curzan is the only member of this list who has been nominated before.
The winner of the swimming & diving award will be stacked against the winners in 11 other sports (soccer, volleyball, cross country, field hockey, gymnastics, basketball, lacrosse, softball, golf, tennis, and track & field) to determine the Collegiate Woman Athlete of the Year and the winner of the Honda Cup.
Swimmer Gretchen Walsh won the Honda Cup last year. Swimmers have won the award nine times, with a list of names that includes Katie Ledecky, Simone Manuel, Missy Franklin, Tara Kirk, Cristina Teuscher, Mary T. Meagher, Jill Sterkel, and Tracy Caulkins (twice).
Only basketball players have won the award more often (18 times).
Bios Courtesy The Collegiate Women’s Sports Awards
- Bell, a senior from Fort Collins, Colorado, is a two-time NCAA Champion in the 200 breast and captured the 200 IM championship at the 2026 NCAA Championships. She is a 12-time All-American who holds the school record in the 200 breast. She also won two ACC titles this season, including a meet-record performance in the 400 IM, while helping Stanford to an NCAA runner-up finish.
- Huske, a redshirt senior from Arlington, Virginia, was named 2026 CSCAA Swimmer of the Year after winning three individual NCAA titles. A five-time national champion and 28-time All-American, she is also a two-time Olympian and six-time Olympic medalist.
- Curzan, a junior from Cary, North Carolina, is a 13-time NCAA Champion and 21-time All-American, including six titles at the 2026 NCAA Championships. She led Virginia to its sixth straight national title and is an Olympic silver medalist and multi-time World Championship medalist.
- Verzyl, a senior from Columbia, South Carolina, is the 2026 CSCAA Diver of the Year and the first in program history. She won the NCAA 3-meter title, finished runner-up in the 1-meter, and swept the springboard events at the SEC Championships.
PAST HONDA SPORT AWARD WINNERS FOR SWIMMING & DIVING
| 2024-25 | Gretchen Walsh, University of Virginia |
| 2023-24 | Gretchen Walsh, University of Virginia |
| 2022-23 | Kate Douglass, University of Virginia |
| 2021-22 | Kate Douglass, University of Virginia |
| 2020-21 | Sarah Bacon, University of Minnesota |
| 2019-20 | Abbey Weitzeil, University of California |
| 2018-19 | Lilly King, Indiana University |
| 2017-18 | Simone Manuel, Stanford University |
| 2016-17 | Katie Ledecky, Stanford University |
| 2015-16 | Kelsi Worrell, University of Louisville |
| 2014-15 | Missy Franklin, University of California |
| 2013-14 | Felicia Lee, Stanford University |
| 2012-13 | Allison Schmitt, University of Georgia |
| 2011-12 | Caitlin Leverenz, University of California |
| 2010-11 | Katinka Hosszu, University of Southern California |
| 2009-10 | Julia Smit, Stanford University |
| 2008-09 | Dana Vollmer, University of California |
| 2007-08 | Caroline Burckle, University of Florida |
| 2006-07 | Kara Lynn Joyce, University of Georgia |
| 2005-06 | Mary DeScenza, University of Georgia |
| 2004-05 | Kirsty Coventry, Auburn University |
| 2003-04 | Tara Kirk, Stanford University |
| 2002-03 | Natalie Coughlin, University of California |
| 2001-02 | Natalie Coughlin, University of California |
| 2000-01 | Misty Hyman, Stanford University |
| 1999-00 | Cristina Teuscher, Columbia University |
| 1998-99 | Martina Moravcova, Southern Methodist University |
| 1997-98 | Misty Hyman, Stanford University |
| 1996-97 | Kristine Quance, University of Southern California |
| 1995-96 | Kristine Quance, University of Southern California |
| 1994-95 | Jenny Thompson, Stanford University |
| 1993-94 | Nicole Haislett, University of Florida |
| 1992-93 | Janel Jorgensen, Stanford University |
| 1991-92 | Summer Sanders, Stanford University |
| 1990-91 | Leigh Ann Fetter, University of Texas |
| 1989-90 | Janet Evans, Stanford University |
| 1988-89 | Jenna Johnson, Stanford University |
| 1987-88 | Betsy Mitchell, University of Texas |
| 1986-87 | Mary T. Meagher, University of California |
| 1985-86 | Jenna Johnson, Stanford University |
| 1984-85 | Mary T. Meagher, University of California |
| 1983-84 | Tracy Caulkins, University of Florida |
| 1982-83 | Tracy Caulkins, University of Florida |
| 1981-82 | Tracy Caulkins, University of Florida |
| 1980-81 | Jill Sterkel, University of Texas |
| 1979-80 | Jill Sterkel, University of Texas |
| 1978-79 | Joan Pennington, University of Texas |
| 1977-78 | Renee Laravie, University of Florida |
| 1976-77 | Melissa Belote, Arizona State University |
Break
Collegiate Woman Athlete of the Year Winners (Honda Cup)
| Name | School | Sport | Class |
|---|---|---|---|
|
|
Virginia | Swimming & Diving | 2025 |
|
|
Iowa | Basketball | 2024 |
|
|
Iowa | Basketball | 2023 |
|
|
South Carolina | Basketball | 2022 |
|
|
UCLA | Softball | 2021 |
|
|
UCLA | Softball | 2019 |
|
|
Stanford | Swimming & Diving | 2018 |
|
|
Stanford | Swimming & Diving | 2017 |
|
|
Connecticut | Basketball | 2016 |
|
|
California | Swimming & Diving | 2015 |
|
|
Alabama | Gymnastics | 2014 |
|
|
Oklahoma | Softball | 2013 |
|
|
Baylor | Basketball | 2012 |
|
|
Connecticut | Basketball | 2011, 2010 (tie) |
|
|
Penn State | Volleyball | 2010 (tie) |
|
|
Georgia | Gymnastics | 2009 |
|
|
Tennessee | Basketball | 2008 |
|
|
Nebraska | Volleyball | 2007 |
|
|
Portland | Soccer | 2006 |
|
|
Stanford | Volleyball | 2005 |
|
|
Stanford | Swimming & Diving | 2004 |
|
|
UCLA | Softball | 2003 |
|
|
USC | Track & Field | 2002 |
|
|
Southwest Missouri State | Basketball | 2001 |
|
|
Columbia | Swimming & Diving | 2000 |
|
|
Long Beach State | Volleyball | 1999 |
|
|
Tennessee | Basketball | 1998 |
|
|
Notre Dame | Soccer | 1997 |
|
|
Connecticut | Basketball | 1996 |
|
|
Connecticut | Basketball | 1995 |
|
|
North Carolina | Soccer | 1994 |
|
|
UCLA | Softball | 1993 |
|
|
Utah | Gymnastics | 1992 |
|
|
Virginia | Basketball | 1991 |
|
|
Wisconsin | Track & Field | 1990 |
|
|
Villanova | Track & Field | 1989 |
|
|
Louisiana Tech | Basketball | 1988 |
|
|
California | Swimming & Diving | 1987 |
|
|
Texas | Basketball | 1986 |
|
|
UCLA | Track & Field | 1985 |
|
|
USC | Basketball | 1984 (tie) |
|
|
Hawaii | Volleyball | 1983 |
|
|
Florida | Swimming & Diving | 1982, 1984 (tie) |
|
|
Texas | Swimming & Diving | 1981 |
|
|
N.C. State | Track & Field | 1980 |
|
|
Old Dominion | Basketball | 1979 |
|
|
UCLA | Basketball | 1978 |
|
|
Delta State | Basketball | 1977 |
Never understood shy the Honda Award was not a car. Just a giant plate.
And the winner is – Huske!
ALL of these ladies are spectacular.