Northwestern University Athletics
Zimmer Seeks Repeat, Tabbed Finalist for CWSA Honda Award in Field Hockey
1/6/2026 1:04:00 PM | Field Hockey
EVANSTON, Ill. – Northwestern field hockey's Maddie Zimmer has been named a finalist for the 2025-26 Honda Sports Award for Field Hockey, honoring one of the nation's top collegiate athletes.
The graduate student, who was the Class of 2025 field hockey winner, is the first Wildcat to be named a finalist twice since Chelsea Armstrong (2011-13), and seeks to join elite company in repeating the award.
The honor is presented annually by the Collegiate Women Sports Awards (CWSA) to the top women athletes in 12 NCAA sports.
The midfielder from Hershey, Pa., claimed back-to-back NFHCA Player of the Year accolades, becoming the first in the Big Ten to do so. An Olympian, captain, and four-time First Team All-American, Zimmer has been a leader on and off the field in her time at Northwestern. In her final collegiate season, the midfielder recorded 27 points with five goals and 17 assists. Thriving in an essential role on the turf, Zimmer's skill and speed played a key part in NU's 2025 National Championship campaign. She delivered crucial assists and plays to carry the 'Cats to reign in back-to-back seasons, finishing their historic season 22-1.
Zimmer, a three-time NCAA Tournament Most Outstanding Player (2021, 2024, 2025), scored in every postseason game of her final season. Becoming the first 'Cat in program history to be a three-time national champion, Zimmer was also named to the NCAA All-Tournament team and claimed Most Outstanding Player in each title run.
The winner of the Honda Sports Award will be announced soon, with the recipient becoming a finalist for the Honda Cup as the Collegiate Woman Athlete of the Year.
The graduate student, who was the Class of 2025 field hockey winner, is the first Wildcat to be named a finalist twice since Chelsea Armstrong (2011-13), and seeks to join elite company in repeating the award.
The honor is presented annually by the Collegiate Women Sports Awards (CWSA) to the top women athletes in 12 NCAA sports.
The midfielder from Hershey, Pa., claimed back-to-back NFHCA Player of the Year accolades, becoming the first in the Big Ten to do so. An Olympian, captain, and four-time First Team All-American, Zimmer has been a leader on and off the field in her time at Northwestern. In her final collegiate season, the midfielder recorded 27 points with five goals and 17 assists. Thriving in an essential role on the turf, Zimmer's skill and speed played a key part in NU's 2025 National Championship campaign. She delivered crucial assists and plays to carry the 'Cats to reign in back-to-back seasons, finishing their historic season 22-1.
The 2025 @NFHCA ???????????????? Player of the Year. ??
— Northwestern Field Hockey (@NUFHCats) December 18, 2025
Maddie Zimmer, the ????????-????-???????? best on the field ?? pic.twitter.com/lQFX5Oasyd
Zimmer, a three-time NCAA Tournament Most Outstanding Player (2021, 2024, 2025), scored in every postseason game of her final season. Becoming the first 'Cat in program history to be a three-time national champion, Zimmer was also named to the NCAA All-Tournament team and claimed Most Outstanding Player in each title run.
???????????? ???????????? ??????
— Northwestern Field Hockey (@NUFHCats) November 25, 2025
Three national titles + three-time Most Outstanding Player. One of the best to ever wear the ??. ???? pic.twitter.com/GRHYITwXp5
The winner of the Honda Sports Award will be announced soon, with the recipient becoming a finalist for the Honda Cup as the Collegiate Woman Athlete of the Year.
Players Mentioned
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