Aliyah Boston (St. Thomas, USVI) of the University of South Carolina was named the Collegiate Woman Athlete of the Year and presented with the prestigious Honda Cup during the 46^th anniversary broadcast of the Collegiate Women Sports Awards (CWSA) show presented by Honda on CBS Sports Network, in the Founders Room at the Galen Center on the campus of USC. Honda has served as the program’s presenting sponsor for 36 years. 

Boston is the first Honda Cup recipient from the University of South Carolina. Boston’s head basketball coach at South Carolina, Dawn Staley, previously won the award in the Class of 1991 with the University of Virginia.

The Top Three finalists from the Class of 2022 included Boston along with senior softball standout Jocelyn Alo of the University of Oklahoma and senior gymnast sensation Trinity Thomas from the University of Florida.

“Congratulations to the CWSA Class of 2022 and this year’s Honda Cup winner, Aliyah Boston, on your remarkable achievements,” said Yvette Hunsicker, Vice President, Corporate Social Responsibility and Inclusion & Diversity, American Honda Motor Co., Inc. “As we celebrate 50 years of Title IX, we remain committed to advocating for gender equity for women in collegiate sports.”

The Top Three were selected by a voting of nearly 1,000 NCAA member schools and the Honda Cup winner was chosen by the Board of Directors of the Collegiate Women Sports Awards program. Previous Honda Cup winners include Rachel Garcia (2019 & 2021, Softball), Simone Manuel (2018, Swimming & Diving), Katie Ledecky (2017, Swimming & Diving), Breanna Stewart (2016, Basketball), Missy Franklin (2015, Swimming & Diving), Maya Moore (2011, 2012, Basketball), Candace Parker (2008, Basketball), Jackie Joyner-Kersee (1985, Track & Field), Mia Hamm (1994, Soccer) and Misty May (1999, Volleyball). 

Boston is the 16^th representative to win the Honda Cup from the sport of basketball which leads all sports sponsored through the program.

A junior forward on the 2022 National Championship women’s basketball team, she 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.

Boston 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. 

Internationally, she has five gold medals with USA Basketball. 

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

"The Honda Class of 2022 is truly an extraordinary group of women who have achieved notable accomplishments in their sports and in the classrooms across the nation,” said Chris Voelz, Executive Director of the Collegiate Women Sports Awards. “We are thrilled to have them join our elite family of the “best of the best”.

“To Aliyah Boston, this year’s Honda Cup winner, we commend and congratulate you on your remarkable achievements which led to your selection as the Cup winner and welcome you to this rare sisterhood, being named the very best female collegiate athlete in the nation.”

The CWSA, celebrating its 46th anniversary 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/.