Megan Gustafson, a senior forward/center from the University of Iowa, was named the Honda Sport Award winner for Basketball as announced today by Chris Voelz, Executive Director of THE Collegiate Women Sports Awards (CWSA).
The Honda Sport Award has been presented annually by the CWSA for the past 43 years to the top women athletes in 12 NCAA- sanctioned sports and signifies “the best of the best in collegiate athletics”. With this honor, Gustafson becomes a finalist for the Collegiate Woman Athlete of the Year and the prestigious Class of 2019 Honda Cup which will be presented on a live telecast on CBS Sports Network on June 24, 2019, in downtown Los Angeles.
Gustafson was chosen by a vote of administrators from over 1,000 NCAA member schools. Finalists included Asia Durr (Louisville), Sabrina Ionescu (Oregon) and Teaira McCowan (Mississippi State).
“It is a complete honor,” stated Gustafson. “I am excited to receive an award that not only highlights myself as a basketball player, but more importantly as a person, and as a woman. I couldn’t have done any of this without my teammates, coaches, or the University of Iowa. They have all set me up for success, and I couldn’t be more thankful for them.”
A native of Port Wing, Wisconsin, Gustafson ended her collegiate career as the most decorated Hawkeye in program history. She owns 16 Iowa records, including career marks for points (2,804) and rebounds (1,460).
In 2018-19, she became just the fourth Division I female student-athlete and the only post player to eclipse 1,000 points in a single season. She is the only women's player in Division I history to average 27.8 or more points, 13.3 or more rebounds, and shoot 69.6 percent or better from the field.
The first consensus national player of the year in Big Ten history, Gustafson registered 33 double-doubles during her senior campaign, tying an NCAA record. Her 88 career double-doubles rank fourth all-time, her 65.7 career field goal percentage ranks fifth nationally, and her 1,459 career rebounds ranks 14th. The field goal percentage and rebounds are also Big Ten Conference records.
Gustafson was selected by the Dallas Wings with the 17th overall pick in the WNBA Draft in New York City. Gustafson is the 13th Hawkeye drafted into the WNBA and the first since Sam Logic was the 10th overall pick in 2015.
“Megan has received many awards for her excellence on and off the court this past season, but the Honda awards is special because it is voted on by women’s sport administrators from across the country,” said head coach Lisa Bluder. “Megan represents all that is good about women’s basketball and will be an excellent representative of this prestigious award.”
Honda Sport Award winners will be presented with the honor during on-campus presentations throughout the year.
The CWSA, in its 43rd year, honors the nation’s top NCAA women athletes recognizing superior athletic skills, leadership, academic excellence and eagerness to participate in community service. Since commencing its sponsorship in 1986, Honda has provided more than $3.1 million in institutional grants to the universities of the award winners and nominees to support women’s athletics programs at the institutions.