The Collegiate Women Sports Awards program began in 1976. It started out as the Broderick Awards, named after Tom Broderick. It was Broderick, Irv Grossman and Judie Holland who initiated the program. Subsequent to the passing of Broderick, the program continued under the guidance of Grossman and Holland and was renamed The Honda Awards program in 1985 when American Honda Motor Co., Inc. agreed to sponsor the program. A third name change occurred in 2001 when the program became The Collegiate Women Sports Awards sponsored by Honda.

From its inception and continuing to this day, the awards have been voted on by all NCAA member institutions.

Today the program includes the following awards:

•   The Honda Cup (signifying the Collegiate Woman Athlete of the Year)

•   12 sports awards for the best female athlete in each of the 12 NCAA-sanctioned sports

•   Division II Female Athlete of the Year

•   Division III Female Athlete of the Year

•   Honda Inspiration Award

•   Irv Grossman Award of Merit