Natalie Bruns, a graduate student forward from New York University (NYU), was named the DIII Honda Athlete of the Year finalist for Basketball for the second straight season as announced today by Executive Director Chris Voelz of THE Collegiate Women Sports Awards (CWSA) presented by Honda.

Bruns is now one of 11 finalists for the prestigious DIII Honda Athlete of the Year. This will be voted on at the end of the academic year by national balloting among 1,000 NCAA member schools as part of the CWSA program, now in its 49th year.

“It’s an honor to be a finalist for this award again,” said Bruns. “I chose to come to NYU because of the opportunities in academics, athletics, and the community and there is no better way to be recognized than being a finalist for the Honda award in my final year of athletics. I can’t thank my coaches, teammates, and family enough for the endless support and inspiration. They are the reason for my success.”

Bruns capped off a phenomenal season by leading NYU to its second straight NCAA Division III championship and third overall, while guiding the team to a second consecutive undefeated season with a 31-0 record. The Violets’ 62-game winning streak now stands as the eighth-longest in NCAA women’s basketball history across all divisions. Bruns was named the Most Outstanding Player at each of the past two national championship sites.

Her outstanding season earned her consecutive 2025 Women’s Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA) and D3Hoops.com National Player of the Year honors. She is also a three-time WBCA All-American and was recognized as the University Athletic Association (UAA) Player of the Year for the third consecutive season, while earning First Team All-UAA honors for the third time.

Bruns, hailing from St. Louis, Mo., leaves an indelible mark on the NYU program, finishing as the school’s all-time leader in career blocked shots (328) and ranking sixth in points scored (1,661). During the 2025 season, she averaged 17.2 points and 6.5 rebounds, while tallying 91 blocks, 163 assists, and 63 steals—the latter three being career-high figures. Over her remarkable career, she averaged 14.2 points, 7.4 rebounds, 251 assists, and 186 steals, solidifying her legacy as one of the most complete players in program history.

Off the court, Bruns is equally accomplished. She is a four-time UAA All-Academic honoree and was named the 2024 College Sports Communicators (CSC) Academic All-America Team Member of the Year for Women’s Basketball. Most recently, she earned the NCAA Elite 90 Award, which honors the championship-site participant with the highest grade point average.

“Natalie has had a prolific career both on and off the court at NYU where she has left a permanent mark in the history books, graduating as one of the most decorated women's basketball players in the history of Division III,” stated head coach Meg Barber. “However, it is the positive impact she has left on the people around her that is most impressive. Her legacy will be felt for years to come, and she built that legacy in the simplest of ways, through a consistency of hard work, dedication, commitment to those around her and bringing joy and maturity to an incredible four-year career. I couldn't be prouder to see her name associated with the prestigious Honda Athlete of the Year for a second straight year!”

All Honda Sport Award finalists from DIII and DII will vie for the prestigious 2025 Honda Athlete of the Year award in their respective divisions, presented on a live telecast on CBS Sports Network on Monday, June 30, 2025, at 7 PM ET, from its new home in New York City.

The Honda Award finalists are recognized in 11 DIII and DII NCAA-sanctioned sports; cross country, basketball, field hockey, golf, lacrosse, soccer, softball, swimming & diving, tennis, volleyball, and track & field.

The CWSA, entering its 49th 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 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/.