Cal State Dominguez Hills junior Nala Williams has been named a finalist for the DII Honda Athlete of the Year for Basketball, as announced today by Chris Voelz, Executive Director of The Collegiate Women Sports Awards (CWSA) presented by Honda.

Williams is among 11 elite finalists for this prestigious award, which recognizes the top NCAA Division II athletes across various sports. The winner will be determined through national balloting by representatives from over 1,000 NCAA member schools and will be honored during a live telecast on CBS Sports Network in June in New York City.

“It is such an honor to be in consideration for this award,” stated Williams. “I am truly appreciative for my coaches, teammates, and family; who have all contributed to my experienced success.”

Most recently, Williams was named the 2025 Women’s Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA) National DII Player of the Year, becoming the first player in program history to earn the honor, as well as a WBCA First Team All-American nod. The Long Beach Calif., native led the Toros to its first-ever NCAA Championship title game appearance, finishing runner-up, and a program-record 36 wins.

Her accolades on the year also include the California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) Player of the Year, CCAA Defensive Player of the Year, All-CCAA First Team, D2 CC West Region Player of the Year, All-West Region First Team and a member of the CCAA All-Tournament Team.

On the season, she averaged a team-leading 17.0 points, 4.2 assists, 4.0 steals and added 5.1 rebounds.

“Nala has been an absolute dream to coach,” stated head coach John Bonner. “She is selfless, intelligent, and engaging while also being an excellent basketball player. I can’t say enough about her work ethic, passion, and drive for the game, her teammates, and community.”

Now in its 49th year, the CWSA honors the nation’s top female collegiate athletes for their exceptional athletic performance, leadership, academic achievements, and community service. Since partnering with Honda in 1986, the program has awarded over $3.4 million in institutional grants to support women’s athletics at universities across the country.

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/.