Virginia’s swimming sensation Gretchen Walsh has clinched the 2025 Honda Cup, a crown jewel in collegiate athletics, marking a milestone that puts her name alongside legends of the past.
Walsh, a dominant force in the pool and a relentless competitor across a grueling Olympic year, now stands as the nation’s top woman collegiate athlete. And she’s only 21.
A Swimmer’s Season That Never Let Up
There’s a rhythm to elite swimming, but it rarely includes breaks.
For Walsh, the past year was a blur of chlorine, stopwatch beeps, and finish-line touches. After blazing through NCAA championships and then helping Team USA secure gold in Paris in the 4x100m medley relay, the Virginia junior didn’t have time to catch her breath.
“It’s all-year-round,” Walsh said at the Honda Sports Awards ceremony. “It never stops. But to have these moments where the grind actually gets noticed—it just hits different.”
She’s not exaggerating.
In 2024, Walsh broke multiple NCAA records, carried the University of Virginia to its fourth straight national championship, and then followed it up by delivering under the Olympic lights in France. That’s a calendar most athletes can only dream of. And somehow, she made it look effortless.
Historic Company and Charlottesville Cheers
The Honda Cup is awarded annually to the nation’s top female college athlete across all sports. For the University of Virginia, it’s been a 34-year wait.
Basketball legend Dawn Staley last brought the trophy to Charlottesville in 1991. Now, it’s sitting on a different shelf in the athletics department.
Staley—now a celebrated coach and Hall of Famer—congratulated Walsh via social media, calling her “a trailblazer in the water, and a Cavalier forever.”
Only eight other swimmers in history have won the Cup. And this group isn’t just elite—they’re practically household names:
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Tracy Caulkins (1982, 1984)
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Missy Franklin (2015)
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Katie Ledecky (2017)
That’s not bad company.
Walsh’s coach at UVA, Todd DeSorbo, said in a press release, “Gretchen’s discipline, attitude, and commitment to her teammates make her not just the best swimmer in the country—but one of the most inspiring student-athletes I’ve ever coached.”
A Finalist Field Full of Fire
Walsh didn’t win the award in a vacuum.
Two other finalists—UConn basketball guard Paige Bueckers and Texas Tech softball ace NiJaree Canady—had incredible years in their own right.
Bueckers, back from injury, led UConn to a Final Four appearance and reasserted herself as one of the most lethal playmakers in college hoops.
Canady? She was nearly unhittable on the mound, finishing with a 0.88 ERA and striking out more than 300 batters. That’s straight dominance.
But it was Walsh who stole the show in 2025, earning votes from a panel of administrators and media members across the country.
Grit Behind the Gold
Swimming isn’t always glamorous.
You’re staring at a black line for hours. Your fingers prune before the sun comes up. And unless you’re smashing records or collecting Olympic medals, most people won’t remember your name.
But Walsh’s story is different.
She’s been breaking records since she was a teen, and now she’s breaking barriers. In the NCAA, she’s led the wave of swimmers challenging and resetting what used to be thought of as “untouchable” times.
There’s also a mental toughness that’s hard to quantify.
“I really just want to be someone that people look at and say, ‘Wow, she was consistent. She worked hard. She brought people along with her,’” Walsh told local reporters after the announcement.
And she has. Virginia’s swim team isn’t just winning titles—they’re building a legacy, brick by brick, with Walsh as a cornerstone.
How She Compares to Past Honda Cup Swimmers
Let’s take a look at how Walsh stacks up statistically against previous Honda Cup-winning swimmers in their final seasons:
| Athlete | Year | NCAA Titles (Season) | Olympic Medals (That Year) | Major Records Broken |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gretchen Walsh | 2025 | 5 Individual + 3 Relay | 1 Gold (4x100m Medley) | 3 NCAA Records |
| Katie Ledecky | 2017 | 5 Individual | 1 Silver, 1 Gold (2016) | 3 American Records |
| Missy Franklin | 2015 | 3 Individual | None (Post-2012) | 1 NCAA Record |
| Tracy Caulkins | 1984 | 6 Individual | 3 Gold (1984) | Multiple NCAA/WR |
That’s pretty stacked.
And yes, her resume holds up—remarkably well.
What’s Next for Walsh?
Paris may be over, but the pool isn’t going anywhere.
Walsh is expected to return to Virginia for one more NCAA season before likely turning pro. That means more records, more relay gold, and potentially more Olympic medals in 2028.
And while most 21-year-olds are trying to juggle homework and social lives, Walsh is in the headlines, on the podium, and in history books all at once.
Still, she’s grounded.
“Being part of a team like this at UVA… it’s made me who I am,” she said. “The wins are great, sure. But these girls, these moments, they’re everything.”
There’s a reason Walsh stood out—not just for the stats, but for the story.
And now, with the Honda Cup in hand, she’s got another title: best in the nation.
