Jillian Cox from the University of Texas, University of Virginia’s Claire Curzan and Gretchen Walsh and Chiara Pellacani of the University of Miami have been announced as the four finalists for the Class of 2025 Honda Sport Award for Swimming & Diving, as revealed 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, recognizing the top women athletes in 12 NCAA-sanctioned sports and symbolizing “the best of the best in collegiate athletics.” The recipient of the sport award will become a finalist for the prestigious Collegiate Woman Athlete of the Year and the 2025 Honda Cup, which will be presented during the live broadcast of the Collegiate Women Sports Awards Presented by Honda on June 30, at 7 pm ET, on CBS Sports Network.
The swimming & diving finalists were chosen by a panel of experts and coaches from the College Swimming & Diving Coaches Association of America (CSCAA). The Honda Sport award winner for swimming & diving will be announced later this week after voting by administrators from over 1,000 NCAA member schools. Each NCAA member institution has a vote.
Cox, hailing from Cedar Park, Texas, had a standout freshman season, capturing the NCAA Championship in the 500 Free and the 1650 Free to sweep the distance events and earn two First Team CSCAA All-American honors. She holds two Texas records in the 500 Free and 1000 Free and helped lead her team to its 13th consecutive conference title (12 Big 12, 1 SEC). Cox also claimed SEC Championship titles in the 500 Free and 1650 Free, setting a new pool and SEC meet record in the latter.
Curzan, a sophomore from Cary, N.C., dominated the 2025 NCAA Championships, winning six titles, including the 100 Back, 200 Back, and four relay events. She became the first female swimmer to win an NCAA title at two different schools, having claimed the 200 Back at Stanford in 2023. A 14-time CSCAA All-American, Curzan helped Virginia capture its fifth consecutive National Championship. She is also a five-time ACC Champion and 10-time Conference Champion.
UVA teammate Walsh was named the Class of 2024 Honda Award winner for Swimming & Diving, marking her third time as a finalist. The senior from Nashville, Tenn., captured CSCAA Swimmer of the Year honors for the second consecutive year, leading Virginia to its fifth straight NCAA team title. She capped off her collegiate career by claiming seven NCAA titles, including individual crowns in the 50 Free, 100 Free, and 100 Fly, bringing her career total to 25 NCAA titles (nine individual).
Pellacani earned 2025 CSCAA Diver of the Year honors after winning the NCAA Championship in the 1-meter event and finishing runner-up in the 3-meter. A two-time CSCAA All-American, she also claimed the 2025 ACC Championship title in the 3-meter and took bronze in the 1-meter. The redshirt junior hailing from Rome, Italy, boasts six total conference medals (two gold, two silver, two bronze) overall.
The CWSA, now in its 49th year, celebrates the nation’s top NCAA women athletes for their excellence in athletics, leadership, academics, and community service. Since its partnership began in 1986, Honda has provided more than $3.4 million in institutional grants to the universities of award winners and nominees, supporting the growth and success of women’s athletics programs.
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 improving children’s health, inspiring underrepresented students, preserving the environment for future generations, creating safety for everyone, and strengthening our communities. Learn more at http://csr.honda.com/.