Former stand-out Missouri State University swimmer Lily DeSpain has been selected as a top-30 honoree for 2024 NCAA Woman of the Year.
Now attending the University of Arkansas to obtain a doctorate of medicine, DeSpain wrapped up her outstanding two-year career with the Bears in May. She was named the 2024 MSU Female Athlete of the Year as well as the 2024 Missouri Valley Conference Swimming and Diving Scholar-Athlete of the Year.
DeSpain is one of 10 honorees picked from NCAA Division I. 10 student-athletes are picked from all three divisions of NCAA sports. The NCAA reported this year’s Woman of the Year nomination total as “record-breaking,” noting that 627 female student-athletes were nominated.