IRVING, Texas – East Carolina women’s soccer player Maeve English and Temple volleyball player Taylor Davenport have been named as the American Conference’s nominees for the 2025 NCAA Woman of the Year award.
The NCAA Woman of the Year program, established in 1991, honors the academic achievements, athletic excellence, community service and leadership of graduating female college athletes from all three divisions. Hundreds of athletes are nominated by their schools each year for the prestigious award, with conferences celebrating their top choice for the award. From the nominations, the Top 30 honorees – 10 from each division – are selected, and will be announced this fall. The NCAA Woman of the Year will be announced this fall and celebrated during the NCAA Convention.
English, a Winterville, North Carolina, native, was a 5-year starter in goal for the Pirates. For her efforts in leading East Carolina to the 2024 American Women’s Soccer Championship, she was named the tournament’s Most Outstanding Defensive Player. She was named to the All-Conference Second Team in 2022 and 2023 and the Third Team in 2024. English graduated with a bachelor’s degree in engineering with a 3.60 cumulative GPA.
Davenport, a Columbia, South Carolina, native, finished her Cherry and White career with a stellar season. The graduate student was named First-Team All-American Conference as well as Second-Team All-ECAC in 2024. The outside hitter finished the season at the top of the American in kills (438) and points (499.5), while finishing second in kills per set (4.29). She was also a member of the College Sports Communicators Academic All-District Team in 2023. Davenport earned a bachelor’s degree in health professions with a 3.70 cumulative GPA.
In addition to the conference nominees, the following student-athletes were selected as institution nominees:
Vanessa Mellynchuck – UAB Women’s Tennis
Liyah Jones – Charlotte Women’s Track and Field
Lara Kretschmer – Charlotte Women’s Volleyball
Momo Nakao – Memphis Women’s Soccer
Tabytha Toelke – Memphis Women’s Volleyball
Alika Crawford – North Texas Women’s Track and Field
Maria Clara Andrade – South Florida Women’s Volleyball
Samantha Puisis – South Florida Women’s Basketball
Jordyn Jenkins – UTSA Women’s Basketball
Janae Dean – Tulane Women’s Track and Field
Delanie Crawford – Tulsa Women’s Basketball
Destiny Masters – Wichita State Women’s Track and Field
