Aliyah Boston, a junior forward from the University of South Carolina, was named the Honda Sport Award winner for Basketball as announced 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 46 years to the top women athletes in 12 NCAA- sanctioned sports and signifies “the best of the best in collegiate athletics”.  The winner of the sport award becomes a finalist for the Collegiate Woman Athlete of the Year and the prestigious 2022 Honda Cup, which will be presented on a live telecast on CBS Sports Network on June 27th at 9 pm EST.

“I want to thank God for allowing me to be in a position to win this award; I am super excited to be selected for this honor,” said Boston.

Boston was chosen by a vote of administrators from over 1,000 NCAA member schools. Finalists included Caitlin Clark (Iowa), Ryne Howard (Kentucky) and NaLyssa Smith (Baylor).

“What Aliyah has done this season has been incredible to watch, and it has proven that she is truly a generational player,” stated head coach Dawn Staley. “You don't often see great players elevate their game before your eyes, and that's what she has done year after year of her college career. She was the most consistent dominant force in college women's basketball, despite the defensive schemes designed to stop her and the target on her back and our team every time we stepped on the floor."

Boston, a junior hailing from St. Thomas, USVI, was the 2022 consensus National Player of the Year and unanimous First Team All-American. She became the first player to earn both Player and Defensive Player of the Year honors from Naismith after earning the 2022 Naismith Defensive Player of the Year award. Her national awards also include her third straight year being named the Lisa Leslie Center of the Year.

The forward was named the 2022 NCAA Most Outstanding Player after leading South Carolina to its second national championship title. Prior to the Championship, she was named the 2022 SEC Player of the Year and is a three-time SEC Defensive Player of the Year. She earned All-SEC First Team honors all three years and is a two-time SEC All-Tournament performer. Her record-setting streak of 27 double-doubles in a row led the conference and nation at the time.

Off the court, Boston is the two-time CoSIDA Women’s Basketball Academic All-America of the Year.

"After watching the hard work and dedication Aliyah has shown throughout the season, it is most fitting that she end the season winning the prestigious Honda Sport Award,” stated USC Senior Woman Administrator Maria Hickman. “We are extremely proud of her accomplishments in all areas of representing our university.”

The CWSA, entering its 46th year, has honored the nation’s top NCAA women athletes for their superior athletic skills, leadership, academic excellence and eagerness to participate in community service.  Since commencing its partnership in 1986, Honda has provided more than $3.4 million in institutional grants to the universities of the award winners and nominees to support 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 the areas of education, the environment, mobility, traffic safety and community. Learn more at http://csr.honda.com/.