Maddie Zimmer, a senior from Northwestern University’s field hockey team, has been named the Honda Sport Award winner for Field Hockey, 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 49 years to the top women athletes in 12 NCAA-sanctioned sports, signifying “the best of the best in collegiate athletics.” The recipient of the sport award becomes a finalist for the Collegiate Woman Athlete of the Year and the prestigious 2025 Honda Cup, which will be presented during a live telecast on CBS Sports Network on June 30, at 7 pm ET, in New York City.
Zimmer was selected via a nationwide vote of administrators from over 1,000 NCAA member schools. The other finalists for this year’s award were Manu Ghigliotti (Saint Joseph’s), Sophia Gladieux (Penn State) and Ryleigh Heck (North Carolina).
Zimmer, a senior midfielder from Hershey, Pa., capped off a stellar season by earning the title of 2024 NFHCA National Player of the Year. A three-time NFHCA First Team All-American and a four-time All-American overall, Zimmer also earned recognition as the 2024 Big Ten Player of the Year and the NFHCA West Region Player of the Year. Her achievements include being named a two-time NCAA Tournament MVP and a two-time member of the NCAA All-Tournament Team.
Zimmer’s excellence throughout her collegiate career includes four First Team NFHCA All-Region selections and four First Team All-Big Ten honors. She was also selected for the 2024 NFHCA Senior Team.
Her leadership was instrumental in helping Northwestern University secure the 2024 NCAA Championship title, the program’s second overall. In the championship game, Zimmer contributed two goals and an assist for a total of five points, and in the lead-up to the finals, she recorded game-winning assists in both previous tournament games.
Zimmer finished the season with 32 points on 10 goals and 12 assists, solidifying her reputation as one of the sport’s most impactful players. Beyond her collegiate success, Zimmer is also a member of the U.S. National Team and represented her country in the 2024 Paris Olympics.
“Maddie shines on and off the field every day, and she is immensely deserving of winning the Honda Award”, said head coach Tracy Fuchs and Class of 1988 Honda Award winner for Field Hockey. “She is a focused and dominant player, a great leader and most of all an amazing person. We are incredibly proud to call Maddie a Wildcat, as she continually exemplifies Northwestern values and represents the very best of the student-athlete experience."
The CWSA, now in its 49th year, continues to honor the nation’s top NCAA women athletes for their exceptional athletic achievements, leadership, academic excellence, and dedication to community service. Since the inception of its partnership in 1986, Honda has contributed over $3.4 million in institutional grants to support women’s athletics programs at the universities of award winners and nominees.
About Honda Corporate Social Responsibility
For more than 60 years in the U.S., Honda has been committed to making positive contributions to the communities where its associates live and work. Honda’s mission is to create products and services that improve the lives of people while conducting its business in a sustainable manner and fostering a diverse and inclusive workplace. Accordingly, Honda believes in helping people reach their life’s potential through its focus on the areas of education, the environment, mobility, traffic safety and community. Learn more at http://csr.honda.com/.