NEW YORK (AP) — Ann Meyers Drysdale felt nostalgic spending the day with so many other Honda Cup award winners, including fellow UCLA Bruins great Jackie Joyner-Kersee. The award, given annually to the top female college athlete, was celebrating its 50th annivesary Monday. The best player in every sport is invited to the ceremony each year.
“When you’re a young college athlete, you don’t understand the importance of it,” said Meyers Drysdale, who starred in basketball at UCLA and won the award in its second year in 1978. “There’s so many basketball players, which is, you know, pretty exciting. But just the great athletes from all the different sports, I think that’s what I’m appreciative of the Honda Awards, that they recognize so many athletes from so many different sports.” Out of all the individual sport winners, an overall Athlete of the Year is chosen to receive the Honda Cup.
In addition to athletic performance, the award honors college athletes for their leadership, academics and community service. “It’s great that it honors more than just what is done on the court or field,” said Jen Rizzotti, who won the award in 1996 after a successful basketball career at UConn. “They make sure that they’re well-rounded and have a balanced portfolio.
They give back in the community, they’re great in the classroom.” Delta State basketball great Lusia Harris won the first Honda Cup in 1977. There have been 18 other basketball players crowned as the top athlete, more than any other sport. Maya Moore and Caitlin Clark each won twice.
UCLA softball great Rachel Garcia and Florida swimmer Tracy Caulkins are the only other athletes to win twice. Tennessee star Chamique Holdsclaw won the award in 1998. She loved the chance to get to know so many athletes from other sports.
“It exposed me to different things and to people playing different sports,” Holdsclaw said. “I was learning about things like women’s lacrosse and growing up in New York City and playing at Tennessee we didn’t have that. I think it was great that the award recognized greatness in every sport.” The award ceremony has come a long way from the first in 1977.
Summary from source