UCLA softball player Natasha Watley was named the Collegiate
Woman Athlete of the Year when she received the 27th annual
Honda-Broderick Cup on June 23.
The senior shortstop was among the leaders in the nation by
hitting .481 with 64 runs and 35 stolen bases. She also had some
power, hitting 10 home runs.
More importantly for the Bruins, Watley helped lead UCLA to a
softball NCAA Championship. She hit .440 in the Women’s
College World Series and got several key hits, including a
game-tying single in the seventh inning with two outs in the
elimination game the night before the NCAA Championship game.
“I am extremely honored,” Watley said. “It was
great to win the Honda Award for softball, but to be the Collegiate
Woman Athlete of the Year and winning the Honda-Broderick Cup just
tops it all off.”
A Honda Award is given to the top athlete in 12 different
sports, with the 12 winners eligible for the Honda-Broderick
Cup.
The list was cut down to five on June 18 ““ Watley,
Princeton lacrosse player Rachel Becker, Cal swimmer Natalie
Coughlin, Connecticut basketball player Diana Taurasi, and Stanford
volleyball player Logan Tom.
The balloting for the award involved all NCAA member
institutions.
“To be in the company of the people who have won this
award previously and to have my name listed with a person like Lisa
Fernandez is unbelievable,” Watley said.
Some of the best female athletes in the world have won the
award, including Fernandez, Jackie Joyner-Kersee, Mia Hamm and
Angela Williams.
Watley joins Fernandez, Joyner-Kersee and Ann Meyers as the only
four Bruins to have won the award.
“UCLA softball is thrilled that Natasha Watley was chosen
as the top female athlete in the country,” UCLA softball head
coach Sue Enquist said. “Natasha’s excellence
transcends the softball field. She not only is a great softball
player, but is an incredible student-athlete with character and
class.”
Watley was in Honolulu helping the USA Softball national team
win the U.S. Cup when she was informed she had won the award.
The award was presented to her at Columbia University in New
York City.