Virginia Swimmer Gretchen Walsh Wins 2025 Honda Cup

Virginia swimmer Gretchen Walsh was named the 2025 Collegiate Woman Athlete of the Year, winning the prestigious Honda Cup awarded annually to the nation's top female college athlete. She is the ninth swimmer to win the award and the first since Simone Manuel in 2018, joining an elite group of past winners such as Katie Ledecky and Dawn Staley, the only other winner from Virginia. Walsh dominated the NCAA championships by winning three individual titles, setting NCAA and American records in each, and helped Virginia secure its fifth consecutive NCAA team title. The award, voted on by administrators from nearly 1,000 NCAA schools and selected by the Collegiate Women Sports Awards board, also recognizes athletes for leadership, academics, and community service. Walsh beat out finalists UConn basketball star Paige Bueckers and Texas Tech softball pitcher NiJaree Canady, ending Caitlin Clark's two-year winning streak. She expressed pride in representing swimming on a national stage and looks forward to continuing her career toward the World Championships and the 2028 Olympic Games.