Maddie Zimmer, a graduate student from Northwestern University, has been named the Honda Sport Award winner for Field Hockey for the second consecutive year, as announced today by Chris Voelz, Executive Director of The Collegiate Women Sports Awards (CWSA).

The announcement comes during a landmark moment for the organization, as the CWSA celebrates its 50th anniversary during the 2025–26 collegiate athletics season. For five decades, the Honda Sport Award has honored the nation’s top women athletes in 12 NCAA-sanctioned sports, symbolizing “the best of the best in collegiate athletics.” Zimmer is now a finalist for the prestigious Collegiate Woman Athlete of the Year and Class of 2026 Honda Cup, to be presented live on Monday, July 27, at 7 p.m. ET on CBS Sports Network.

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 Bronte-May Brough (Harvard), Bo van Kempen (Syracuse) and Beth Yeager (Princeton).

“I’m incredibly honored and grateful to be named the Honda Sport Award Winner for Field Hockey again this year,” said Zimmer. “I owe a big thank you to my family, coaches, teammates, and community at Northwestern for their unwavering support throughout this season and my collegiate career. My time at Northwestern has been nothing short of remarkable, and I’ll always be grateful to be a Wildcat and work alongside some of the best coaches and players in the country.”

A two-time National Field Hockey Coaches Association (NFHCA) National Player of the Year, Zimmer capped her career as a four-time NFHCA First Team All-American and a five-time All-American overall, becoming the first player in program history to earn First Team honors in all four seasons.

Her dominance extended to both the conference and regional levels, earning two Big Ten Player of the Year awards and two NFHCA West Region Player of the Year honors. The midfielder was a fixture in the postseason spotlight, named NCAA Tournament MVP three times and selected to the NCAA All-Tournament Team on three occasions. Across her career, she was also a five-time First Team NFHCA All-Region and five-time First Team All-Big Ten selection.

A native of Hershey, Pa., she helped lead her team to the 2025 NCAA Championship, the program’s third national title and second straight, finishing the season with 27 points, including 17 assists and five goals. Her vision and playmaking ranked her 12th nationally in assists per game (0.74), underscoring her impact on both ends of the field.

Beyond the field, she was a four-time NFHCA National Academic Squad selection and a two-time Big Ten Distinguished Scholar, reflecting her commitment to success in the classroom. Her achievements have also translated to the international stage as a member of the U.S. National Team, culminating in her participation at the 2024 Paris Olympics.

“Maddie is an exceptional Field Hockey player, but more importantly, an incredible teammate, leader, and competitor,” said head coach Tracey Fuchs (Class of 1988 Honda Award winner). “She is so deserving to be the back-to-back Honda Award winner and epitomizes what it means to be a Northwestern Student Athlete!”

As the CWSA marks its 50th anniversary, the organization continues its longstanding mission to honor excellence in athletics, leadership, academics, and community service. Since 1986, Honda has contributed more than $3.4 million in institutional grants to support women’s athletics programs nationwide.

About Honda Corporate Social Responsibility and the Honda USA Foundation 

For more than 65 years in the U.S., Honda has been committed to making positive contributions to the communities where its associates live and work. The company’s mission is to create products and services that help people fulfill their life’s potential, while conducting business in a sustainable manner and fostering an inclusive workplace. Advancing its corporate social responsibility, Honda and the Honda USA Foundation support this direction through giving focused on education, the environment, mobility, traffic safety, and community.  

Learn more at http://csr.honda.com/.