Gwen McGinnis, a senior pitcher from the University of Tampa, has been named a finalist for the Division II Honda Athlete of the Year award in softball as announced today by Chris Voelz, Executive Director of The Collegiate Women Sports Awards (CWSA), presented by Honda.

The announcement comes during a landmark moment for the organization, as the CWSA celebrates its 50th anniversary during the 2025–26 collegiate athletics season. McGinnis is now among 11 elite finalists for this prestigious award, which recognizes the top NCAA Division II athletes across various sports. The DII Honda Athlete of the Year will be selected by senior women administrators from over 1,000 NCAA member schools and will be honored during a live broadcast on CBS Sports Network on Monday, July 27th, at 7:00 pm ET, in New York City.

McGinnis added to her decorated career by earning the 2026 Portolite/National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) Division II Pitcher of the Year award and unanimous NFCA First Team All-America honors. She became the first player in both program history and Sunshine State Conference (SSC) history to receive Division II Pitcher of the Year recognition. A two-time SSC Pitcher of the Year, McGinnis also earned First Team All-SSC honors twice during her career.

The senior delivered a dominant 2026 season as the Spartans’ ace, helping lead the team to a South Region final appearance. She posted Division II’s only sub-1.00 ERA at 0.97, tied for the national lead with 12 shutouts and ranked second in the country with a 0.82 WHIP. She tossed her second career perfect game on March 21, at Palm Beach Atlantic, becoming the fourth player in program history to throw multiple perfect games in a career.

McGinnis also led the SSC with 26 victories against just six losses, a total tied for 10th nationally, while sharing the conference lead in saves with three. She surrendered only two home runs all season and ranked second in the conference with 155 strikeouts. She concluded her four-year career with a 64-15 record, a 1.18 ERA, eight saves, a 0.87 WHIP and 419 strikeouts against just 61 walks across 515.2 innings pitched.

“Gwen dominated this season not because she was healthy, but because she was relentless,” stated head coach Leslie Kanter. “She played through injuries that would have sidelined most athletes, yet she competed with a fire that lifted everyone around her. When the pressure rose, she rose higher. She didn’t just show up, she set the tone. When our team needed someone to carry us, she threw us on her back and refused to let us fall. Her toughness, her leadership, and her unwavering drive made every player beside her better.”

Now in its 50th year, the CWSA continues to honor the nation’s top female collegiate athletes for excellence in athletics, leadership, academics, and community service. Since partnering with Honda in 1986, the program has provided more than $3.4 million in institutional grants, strengthening and advancing 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/.