The Big 12 Conference has announced BYU’s Meghan Hunter (track and field) and Oklahoma State’s Sivan Auerbach (cross country/track and field) as its nominees for the 2025 NCAA Woman of the Year award.
The NCAA Woman of the Year program honors the academic achievements, athletic excellence, community service and leadership of graduating female college athletes from all three divisions. To be eligible, a nominee must have competed and earned a varsity letter in an NCAA-sponsored sport, have a minimum cumulative undergraduate grade-point average of 2.50 on a 4.00 scale and have earned her undergraduate degree by summer 2025.
Hunter and Auerbach were selected by the Big 12 Senior Woman Administrators.
A recipient of the
2025 Bob Bowlsby Award, Hunter maintained a 3.95 GPA while earning a graduate degree in communication disorders. She was a 2024 Academic All-Big 12 honoree.
The 2024 Dr. Gerald Lage Academic Achievement Award honoree won the 2025 Big 12 title in the 800 meters, setting both a meet and school record with a time of 1:58.99. She also ran the 400-meter leg of the BYU distance medley relay that broke the NCAA and school records with a time of 10:37.58.
The Provo native earned First Team All-America honors in the 800 meters after placing third at the 2025 NCAA Outdoor Championships.
In 2019, shortly after signing her letter of intent with BYU, Hunter was involved in a devastating car accident that resulted in a broken neck. Doctors initially said she would never be able to run again. A CWSA Honda Inspiration Award finalist, she defied expectations through intense physical and mental rehabilitation, eventually returning to become an All-American. Hunter’s experience is viewed as an inspiration to her teammates and coaches.
Auerbach, a double major in computer engineering and computer science with minors in mathematics and physics, maintained a 4.00 GPA while in Stillwater.
The three-time USTFCCCA Academic All-American became the first woman in NCAA History to win the Elite 90 twice in cross country (2023 and 2024).
A two-time Big 12 indoor champion in the 1,000 meters, Auerbach also holds several Israeli national records (indoor and outdoor mile, 1,000 meters, indoor 800 meters and outdoor 1,500 meters).
She was named a College Sports Communicators Second Team Academic All-American in 2025, marking her third consecutive season receiving national academic recognition. Auerbach spent time volunteering at local Stillwater elementary schools and the Stillwater Humane Society Animal Shelter while also leading efforts to reinstate the Hillel Jewish Student Organization at OSU.
The NCAA Woman of the Year Selection Committee, made up of representatives from the NCAA membership, will select the Top 30 honorees – 10 from each division – from the conference-level nominees. The Top 30 will be announced later this year.
Arizona leads Big 12 programs with four NCAA Woman of the Year winners: Tanya Jones (1994 - track and field), Whitney Myers (2007 - swimming & diving), Lacey Nymeyer (2009 - swimming & diving) and Justine Schluntz (2010 swimming & diving). Texas Tech’s Ifeatu Okafor received the honor in 2013 (track and field).
Established in 1991, the NCAA Woman of the Year program recognizes graduating student-athletes for excellence in academics, athletics, community service and leadership throughout their college careers.