Heck Named Finalist For 2025 Honda Award

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. – North Carolina star forward Ryleigh Heck has been named a finalist for the 2025 Honda Sport Award for Field Hockey, it was announced on Thursday. She is looking to become the third Tar Heel to win the award multiple times.

Heck claimed the 2024 Honda Award after helping lead Carolina to its 11^th national championship last season. She was the sixth different Tar Heel to claim the honor on the ninth occasion overall.

This season has been just as productive for the Ocean City, N.J., product, who has already picked up NFHCA South Region Player of the Year and Atlantic Coast Conference Offensive Player of the Year commendations. Heck racked up 15 goals and 15 assists as the biggest threat on the nation's most potent offense, helping North Carolina lead the country in goals and points per game.

Heck is one of four finalists, joined on the list by Manu Ghigliotti from Saint Joseph's, Penn State's Sophia Gladieux and Northwestern's Maddie Zimmer.

The Honda Sport Award has been presented annually by the Collegiate Women sports Awards (CWSA) for the past 49 years to the top women athletes in 12 NCAA sanctioned sports and signifies "the best of the best in collegiate athletics."

The field hockey finalists were selected by a panel of experts and coaches from the National Field Hockey Coaches Association (NFHCA). The Honda Sport award winner for field hockey will be announced later this week after voting by administrators from over 1,000 NCAA member schools. Each NCAA member institution has a vote.

The CWSA, now in its 49th year, celebrates the nation's top NCAA women athletes for their excellence in athletics, leadership, academics, and community service. Since its partnership began in 1986, Honda has provided more than $3.4 million in institutional grants to the universities of award winners and nominees, supporting the growth and success of women's athletics programs.

Players Mentioned

Ryleigh Heck

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