Dear Friends of CWSA,
The world is experiencing an unprecedented crisis. Most of America is sheltering in place and travel is prohibited to help keep ourselves and our communities healthy.
While sport is usually one of those elements of society that encourages us to move forward despite all obstacles, this is clearly not the time to do so. It is a time to keep one another as safe and secure as possible by practicing responsible social distancing. The Collegiate Women Sports Awards is committed to doing just that.
Given the commitment we each must make to slow the spread of COVID-19, we are announcing the cancellation of the 2020 Collegiate Women Sports Awards event that was scheduled to take place in Los Angeles in June. This was a consensus decision reached by the Board of Directors in consultation with and the agreement of our long-term presenting partner Honda, our media partner CBS Sports Network, local host OMNI downtown LA, and our broadcast host the University of Southern California.
In addition to the cancellation of our annual signature event, we are making other changes to our program for 2020.
The CWSA in its 44th year has already selected the Class of 2020 Division I Honda sport award winners for the fall and voting is underway for the winter honorees. Please continue to check the website as the seven Division I sport award winners are announced.
Traditionally, these finalists would compete against the Honda spring sport award winners to earn a spot in the HONDA TOP THREE. Those three would then compete for the most prestigious award in the nation for collegiate female athletes, the Honda Cup. However, due to the cancellation of spring practice, competition and championships by conferences and the NCAA, there will be no spring sport award winners this year and therefore, no TOP THREE nor Honda Cup winner for the Class of 2020.
Similarly, Honda Division II and III fall and winter finalists will be named for the Class of 2020. Those finalists can be found on our website as they are announced.
These finalists usually compete against the spring finalists for the Honda Division II and III Athletes of the Year. Because there will be no finalists named for the spring, there will not be a Honda Division II nor III Athlete of the Year for 2020 either.
The Honda Inspiration Award process, however, will continue. Nominations are due April 15th. Finalists will be selected in accordance with the Inspiration Committee process and the Board of Directors will ultimately select the 2020 Honda Inspiration Award winner.
Given these changes, the Class of 2020 will consist of seven Honda Division I sport award winners and one Honda Inspiration Award winner.
Under normal circumstances, the honorees, their families and institutions, along with CWSA sponsors and the Board of Directors, would gather in Los Angeles in late June to celebrate the achievements of these remarkable student-athletes. The two-day event culminates in a live one-hour broadcast on CBS Sports Network where the entire Class is introduced, and the TOP THREE and the CUP WINNER are announced.
We typically recognize the amazing accomplishments of our latest class of the “best of the best” female collegiate athletes at this two-day program in Los Angeles but in these extraordinary times it is more appropriate to take precautionary measures including social distancing and avoiding group gatherings.
We’re confident that the nation will overcome this crisis in the coming year. Our current plan is to bring the eight members of the Class of 2020 to next year’s event on June 20th and 21st, 2021, and to honor them along with the Class of 2021 in a special celebration of the 45th year of The Collegiate Women Sports Awards.
We wish all of you safe and healthy times ahead. Just as sports teach us teamwork, challenges such as those currently facing the nation allow us an opportunity to engage in positive teamwork for the sake of all.
Our best,
Chris Voelz
Executive Director, CWSA
Jeanne Lenti Ponsetto
Chair, CWSA Board of Directors
P.S. Please refer to our website at https://collegiatewomensportsawards.com and tune in to our social media channels as we continue to communicate with the CWSA family and the nation. Should you have any questions please address them to Executive Director, Chris Voelz at cvoelzCWSA@gmail.com or Board of Directors Chair Jeanne Lenti Ponsetto at jlentipo@depaul.edu