Gretchen Walsh (Nashville, Tenn.), a senior swimmer from the University of Virginia, today was named the Collegiate Woman Athlete of the Year and honored with the prestigious Honda Cup during the 49th anniversary broadcast of the Collegiate Women Sports Awards (CWSA) presented by Honda. The celebration aired live from CBS Studios in New York City on CBS Sports Network. Honda served as the presenting sponsor, continuing its 39-year legacy of supporting the program.
Walsh becomes the ninth swimmer to earn the Honda Cup, joining an elite group that includes Jill Sterkel (1981), Tracy Caulkins (1982, 1984–tie), Mary T. Meagher (1987), Cristina Teuscher (2000), Tara Kirk (2004), Missy Franklin (2015), Katie Ledecky (2017), and Simone Manuel (2018).
“This year’s Honda Cup winner, Gretchen Walsh, is nothing short of world-class,” said Chris Voelz, Executive Director of the Collegiate Women Sports Awards. “Her performance at the national championships was extraordinary—shattering collegiate, American, and even world records.
“We are incredibly proud of her accomplishments both in the pool and in the classroom, and we look forward to watching her continue to rise as she prepares for the World Championships and the 2028 Olympic Games. We’re thrilled to welcome Gretchen to the CWSA family, joining the elite group of swimmers who have earned this prestigious honor before her.”
Walsh was selected from the Class of 2025 Top Three, which also included UConn basketball star Paige Bueckers and Texas Tech softball standout NiJaree Canady. The Top Three were determined by votes from nearly 1,000 NCAA member schools, with the final Honda Cup recipient selected by the CWSA Board of Directors. Past Honda Cup winners include icons such as Caitlin Clark (2023, 2024), Breanna Stewart (2016), Rachel Garcia (2019, 2021), Misty May (1999), Mia Hamm (1994), and Jackie Joyner-Kersee (1985).
A two-time Honda Award winner for Swimming & Diving and three-time finalist, Walsh was named CSCAA Swimmer of the Year for the second time in 2025 after leading Virginia to its fourth consecutive NCAA team title. She captured seven NCAA championships in 2025 alone, including the 50 Free, 100 Free, and 100 Fly, and concluded her collegiate career with 25 NCAA titles (nine individual) and an unmatched 16-for-16 record in NCAA relay finals.
A two-time ACC Most Valuable Swimmer, Walsh is a 27-time CSCAA All-American, 23-time ACC Champion, and 28-time All-ACC honoree. Internationally, she has been a dominant force, setting 11 world records, six of which currently stand, across both short course meters (SCM) and long course meters (LCM). At the 2024 World Aquatics 25m Championships, she won seven world titles and was named Best Female Swimmer. She added four medals at the 2024 Paris Olympic Games (two gold, two silver), setting two world records and one Olympic record.
In 2025, Walsh continued her success, qualifying for four individual events at the upcoming World Aquatics Championships after earning three golds and one silver at the U.S. National Championships. Since June 2024, she has broken 32 American records (28 individual, 4 relay), solidifying her legacy as one of the most decorated swimmers in collegiate history.
Equally impressive in the classroom, Walsh is a two-time ACC Scholar-Athlete of the Year for Swimming & Diving, a four-time CSCAA Scholar All-American, and a three-time CSC Academic All-American. In 2025, she was named the CSC Academic All-America Team Member of the Year for women’s swimming.
“On behalf of Honda, I am thrilled to congratulate Gretchen Walsh on winning the 2025 Honda Cup. Her dedication, talent, and sportsmanship truly embody the spirit of excellence that the Collegiate Women Sports Awards celebrate,” said Monica Oliverio, vice president of General Administration, American Honda Motor Co., Inc. “We also extend our congratulations to all the remarkable athletes of The CWSA Class of 2025. It’s an honor to support such outstanding individuals."
The CWSA Sports Awards presented by Honda will re-air on CBS Sports Network on July 1 (1:00 AM, 10:00 AM, 8:00 PM), July 2 (4:00 AM, 6:00 PM), and July 3 (10:30 AM). All times Eastern.
Established in 1976, the CWSA has honored the nation’s top NCAA women athletes for nearly 50 years, celebrating superior athletic skills, leadership, academic excellence and eagerness to participate in community service. Since commencing its partnership with the CWSA in 1986, Honda has provided more than $3.7 million in institutional grants to the universities of the award winners and nominees to support women’s athletics programs.
About Honda Corporate Social Responsibility and the Honda USA Foundation
For more than 65 years in the U.S., Honda has been committed to making positive contributions to the communities where its associates live and work. The company’s mission is to create products and services that help people fulfill their life’s potential, while conducting business in a sustainable manner and fostering an inclusive workplace. Advancing its corporate social responsibility, Honda and the Honda USA Foundation support this direction through giving focused on education, the environment, mobility, traffic safety, and community.