| 2015-16 | Breanna Stewart, basketball, University of Connecticut |
| 2014-15 | Missy Franklin, swimming, University of California |
| 2013-14 | Kim Jacob, gymnastics, University of Alabama |
| 2012-13 | Keilani Ricketts, softball, University of Oklahoma |
| 2011-12 | Brittney Griner, basketball, Baylor University |
| 2010-11 | Maya Moore, basketball, University of Connecticut |
| 2009-10 (tie) | Megan Hodge, volleyball, Penn State University Maya Moore, basketball, University of Connecticut |
| 2008-09 | Courtney Kupets, gymnastics, University of Georgia |
| 2007-08 | Candace Parker, basketball, University of Tennessee |
| 2006-07 | Sarah Pavan, volleyball, University of Nebraska |
| 2005-06 |
Christine Sinclair, soccer, University of Portland |
| 2004-05 |
Ogonna Nnamani, volleyball, Stanford University |
| 2003-04 |
Tara Kirk, swimming, Stanford University |
| 2002-03 |
Natasha Watley, softball, University of California, Los Angeles |
| 2001-02 |
Angela Williams, track and field, University of Southern California |
| 2000-01 |
Jackie Stiles, basketball, Southwest Missouri State University |
| 1999-00 |
Cristina Teuscher, swimming, Columbia University |
| 1998-99 |
Misty May, volleyball, Long Beach State University |
| 1997-98 |
Chamique Holdsclaw, basketball, University of Tennessee |
| 1996-97 |
Cindy Daws, soccer, University of Notre Dame |
| 1995-96 |
Jennifer Rizzotti, basketball, University of Connecticut |
| 1994-95 |
Rebecca Lobo, basketball, University of Connecticut |
| 1993-94 |
Mia Hamm, soccer, University of North Carolina |
| 1992-93 | Lisa Fernandez, softball, University of California, Los Angeles |
| 1991-92 | Missy Marlowe, gymnastics, University of Utah |
| 1990-91 | Dawn Staley, basketball, University of Virginia |
| 1989-90 | Suzy Favor, track and field, University of Wisconsin |
| 1988-89 | Vicki Huber, track and field, Villanova University |
| 1987-88 | Teresa Weatherspoon, basketball, Louisiana Tech University |
| 1986-87 | Mary T. Meagher, swimming, University of California |
| 1985-86 | Kamie Ethridge, basketball, University of Texas |
| 1984-85 | Jackie Joyner, track and field, University of California, Los Angeles |
| 1983-84 (tie) |
Tracy Caulkins, swimming, University of Florida Cheryl Miller, basketball, University of Southern California |
| 1982-83 | Deitre Collins, volleyball, University of Hawaii |
| 1981-82 | Tracy Caulkins, swimming, University of Florida |
| 1980-81 | Jill Sterkel, swimming, University of Texas |
| 1979-80 | Julie Shea, track and field, North Carolina State |
| 1978-79 | Nancy Lieberman, basketball, Old Dominion University |
| 1977-78 | Ann Meyers, basketball, University of California, Los Angeles |
| 1976-77 | Lucy Harris, basketball, Delta State University |