Best Female College Athlete ESPY Award
List of winners and nominees

Year
Image
Winner
University
Sport
Other nominees
Ref(s)
2002
Sue Bird playing in a basketball game in 2012
Sue Bird
University of Connecticut Huskies
Basketball
Natalie Coughlin – California Golden Bears (Swimming) Jennie Finch – Arizona Wildcats (Softball) Stacey Nuveman – UCLA Bruins (Softball) Jackie Stiles – Missouri State Lady Bears (Basketball)
-
2003
Diana Taurasi competing in a basketball match in 2014
Diana Taurasi
University of Connecticut Huskies
Basketball
Alana Beard – Duke Blue Devils (Basketball) Natalie Coughlin – California Golden Bears (Swimming) Cat Osterman – Texas Longhorns (Softball)
-
2004
Diana Taurasi at the White House in 2008
Diana Taurasi
University of Connecticut Huskies
Basketball
Alana Beard – Duke Blue Devils (Basketball) Tara Kirk – Stanford Cardinal (Swimming) Cat Reddick – North Carolina Tar Heels (Soccer) Jessica van der Linden – Florida State Seminoles (Softball)
-
2005
Cat Osterman competing in a softball tournament in 2006
Cat Osterman
University of Texas Longhorns
Softball
Seimone Augustus – LSU Lady Tigers (Basketball) Nicole Corriero – Harvard Crimson (Ice hockey) Kristen Maloney – UCLA Bruins (Gymnastics) Katie Thorlakson – Notre Dame (Soccer)
-
2006
Cat Osterman competing in a softball tournament in 2006
Cat Osterman
University of Texas Longhorns
Softball
Seimone Augustus – LSU Lady Tigers (Basketball) Virginia Powell – USC Trojans (Track and field) Christine Sinclair – Portland Pilots (Soccer) Courtney Thompson – Washington Huskies (Volleyball)
-
2007
Taryne Mowatt attending a Red Carpet event in 2008
Taryne Mowatt
University of Arizona Wildcats
Softball
Monica Abbott – Tennessee Volunteers (Softball) Kerri Hanks – Notre Dame Fighting Irish (Soccer) Kara Lynn Joyce – Georgia Bulldogs (Swimming)
-
2008
Candace Parker playing for the Los Angeles Sparks in 2017
Candace Parker
University of Tennessee Lady Vols
Basketball
Rachel Dawson – North Carolina Tar Heels (Field hockey) Angela Tincher – Virginia Tech Hokies (Softball)
-
2009
Maya Moore attending a celebratory dinner in 2009
Maya Moore
University of Connecticut Huskies
Basketball
Kerri Hanks – Notre Dame Fighting Irish (Soccer) Courtney Kupets – Georgia Gymdogs (Gymnastics) Danielle Lawrie – Washington Huskies (Softball) Dana Vollmer – California Golden Bears (Swimming)
-
2010
Maya Moore playing for the United States National Women's Basketball team in 2010
Maya Moore
University of Connecticut Huskies
Basketball
Tina Charles – Connecticut Huskies (Basketball) Megan Hodge – Penn State Nittany Lions (Volleyball) Megan Langenfeld – UCLA Bruins (Softball)
-
2011
Maya Moore holding a gold-plated trophy in 2011
Maya Moore
University of Connecticut Huskies
Basketball
Blair Brown – Penn State Nittany Lions (Volleyball) Dallas Escobedo – Arizona State Sun Devils (Softball) Melissa Henderson – Notre Dame Fighting Irish (Soccer) Katinka Hosszú – USC Trojans (Swimming)
-
2012
Brittney Griner holding a trophy amongst a group of people in 2012
Brittney Griner
Baylor University Lady Bears
Basketball
Alexandra Jupiter – USC Trojans (Volleyball) Caitlin Leverenz – California Golden Bears (Swimming) Teresa Noyola – Stanford Cardinal (Soccer) Jackie Traina – Alabama Crimson Tide (Softball)
-
2013
Brittney Griner competing in a 2017 basketball game
Brittney Griner
Baylor University Lady Bears
Basketball
Kara Cannizzaro – North Carolina Tar Heels (Lacrosse) Crystal Dunn – North Carolina Tar Heels (Soccer) Keilani Ricketts – Oklahoma Sooners (Softball)
-
2014
Breanna Stewart holding a plague in her left hand in 2012
Breanna Stewart
University of Connecticut Huskies
Basketball
Morgan Brian – Virginia Cavaliers (Soccer) Taylor Cummings – Maryland Terrapins (Lacrosse) Micha Hancock – Penn State Nittany Lions (Volleyball) Hannah Rogers – Florida Gators (Softball)
-
2015
Missy Franklin competing in an outdoor swimming tournament in 2014
Missy Franklin
University of California, Berkeley Golden Bears
Swimming
Taylor Cummings – Maryland Terrapins (Lacrosse) Lauren Haeger – Florida Gators (Softball) Micha Hancock – Penn State Nittany Lions (Volleyball) Breanna Stewart – Connecticut Huskies (Basketball)
-
2016
Breanna Stewart holding a gold-plated trophy in both hands in 2016
Breanna Stewart
University of Connecticut Huskies
Basketball
Samantha Bricio – USC Trojans (Volleyball) Taylor Cummings – Maryland Terrapins (Lacrosse) Raquel Rodríguez – Penn State Nittany Lions (Soccer) Sierra Romero – Michigan Wolverines (Softball)
-
2017
–
Kelly Barnhill
University of Florida Gators
Softball
Inky Ajanaku – Stanford Cardinal (Volleyball) Kadeisha Buchanan – West Virginia Mountaineers (Soccer) Kelsey Plum – Washington Huskies (Basketball) Zoe Stukenberg – Maryland Terrapins (Lacrosse)
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Question: Who won the Best Female College Athlete ESPY Award in 2002?
Answer: The inaugural winner of the Best Female College Athlete ESPY Award at the 2002 awards was University of Connecticut Huskies basketball player Sue Bird.