NCAA WOMAN OF THE YEAR DETAILS

SAN MATEO, Calif. – The West Coast Conference announced BYU cross country’s Olivia Hoj-Simister and Pacific basketball’s Valerie Higgins as its nominees for the 2021 NCAA Woman of the Year award. Established in 1991, the NCAA Woman of the Year award recognizes graduating female college athletes who have exhausted their eligibility and distinguished themselves in academics, athletics, service and leadership throughout their collegiate careers.
 
Olivia Hoj-Simister, BYU Cross Country/Track
Hoj-Simister capped a remarkable career with BYU Cross Country, by helping the Cougars secure a runner-up finish at the 2019 NCAA National Championship. A two-time All-WCC First Team selection, Hoj-Simister helped BYU to 13 race titles and 27 top-10 individual showings in her four-year career.
 
The Holladay, Utah native was active on campus, serving as the co-chair for BYU SAAC since her arrival on campus in 2016. A standout in the classroom, Hoj-Simister posted a sparkling 3.94 GPA in Public Health (Emphasis Health Promotion) and was a five-time honoree on the USTFCCCA All-Academic honor roll and was a three-time WCC All-Academic Team selection.
 
Hoj-Simister is currently pursuing her Master’s Degree in Public Administration at BYU with an emphasis in the Non-Profit sector. Hoj-Simister is the first Cougar to earn a Female Postgraduate Scholarship Award since the program was established in 2004.

Valerie Higgins, Pacific Basketball
During her time in a Pacific uniform, Higgins served as a model of consistency and production. Finishing her career as one of the most accomplished student-athletes on the court, Higgins was the West Coast Conference Defensive Player of the Year twice during her time in Stockton, as well as earning All-WCC First Team Honors three times. Overall, Higgins ranks in the top ten in points (1,357, sixth), rebounds (744, seventh), assists (271, ninth), steals (278, second), blocks (75, ninth), and free throw percentage (.783, fourth) in program history.

Higgins was a third round selection by the New York Liberty in the 2021 WNBA Draft – the first in program history. Higgins is currently continuing her playing career overseas.
 
Conferences selected up to two nominees each from the pool of institutional nominees. The NCAA Woman of the Year selection committee, made up of representatives from the NCAA membership, will choose the Top 30 honorees — 10 from each division.

The selection committee will determine the top three honorees from each division from the Top 30 and announce the nine finalists in September. From those nine finalists, the NCAA Committee on Women's Athletics will then choose the 2021 NCAA Woman of the Year. The Top 30 honorees will be celebrated and the 2021 NCAA Woman of the Year will be named this fall.
 
The NCAA Woman of the Year program was established in 1991 and honors the academic achievements, athletics 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 and must have earned her undergraduate degree by Summer 2021.
 
For more on the NCAA Woman of the Year click here.