The following information was compiled from press releases sent out by the AAU and USA Softball this week.

The AAU Sullivan Award is one of the most prestigious in sports and this week 39 athletes were announced as athletes under consideration representing their respective sports.

Since 1930, the AAU James E. Sullivan Award has been presented to the most exceptional athlete at the collegiate, Olympic, or other similarly elite level in the United States.

As well as honoring athletic excellence, the AAU Sullivan award also recognizes the chosen athlete’s character and honors their quality of leadership, citizenship, and sportsmanship.

This year’s Sullivan Award winner will be announced on Tuesday, April 15 at the New York Athletic Club in New York City.

Representing Softball…

Thirty-nine (39) athletes, each at the top of their respective sports, have been chosen as semi-finalists for the 95^th AAU James E. Sullivan Award.

Representing softball is Jessi Warren, the former Florida State infield who helped the Seminoles win a national championship in 2018.

Warren, a member of the U.S. Women’s National Team, is a Florida native and made her Team USA debut in 2024 at the WBSC Women’s Softball World Cup Finals in Italy, where she achieved a .444 batting average and received the Most Runs Batted In Award and an All-World Team selection. She played a vital role in securing a silver medal with a 5-1 record.

At Florida State, Warren led the Seminoles to the NCAA title, appeared in two WCWS, and earned the Most Outstanding Player award in 2018.

Since graduating in 2018, she has excelled professionally, winning the Athletes Unlimited Pro Softball AUX Defensive MVP twice and becoming the first player in the league to be named the top defensive player three times.

Warren is known for her exceptional skills at third base and her leadership on and off the field. Currently, she is also attending nursing school, showing her commitment to making a positive impact.

This Year’s Class

Premier collegiate athletes, Olympic champions, and paralympic stars highlight this year’s class of incredible semi-finalists.

“We have an incredible group of athletes for this year’s AAU Sullivan Award,” said Jo Mirza, AAU President.

“We’re proud of these athletes for both excelling in their sport as well as being leaders in their communities.”

The winner will join a renowned list of recipients.

Last year, Caitlin Clark became the first two-time winner of the award. This year, a new name will join the list of historic winners. Other prior winners include Michael Phelps, Jackie Joyner-Kersee, Michelle Kwan, Peyton Manning, Simone Biles, Carl Lewis, and Carissa Moore.

*****

This year’s group of semi-finalists, each nominated by their school, national governing body, or other representatives, includes:

• Aaron Brooks, Wrestling, Pennsylvania State University
  • 2024 Olympic Champion, 4x NCAA Penn State Champion

• Abbas Karimi, Para Swimming, USOPC Para Swimming
  • 2x 2024 Paralympic Silver Medalist, 2022 World Para Swimming Gold Medalist

• Ace Bailey, Basketball, Rutgers University Basketball
  • 2024 Georgia Gatorade Player of the Year, 2024 McDonald’s All-American

• Ashton Jeanty, Football, Boise State University
  • 2024 Maxwell Award Winner, 2024 Doak Walker Award Winner, 2024 Heisman Runner Up

• Bobby Finke, Swimming, USA Swimming
  • 2x Olympic Gold Medalist, 2x Goggle Award Winner

• Charlie Condon, Baseball, USA Baseball, University of Georgia
  • 2024 USA Baseball Golden Spikes Award Winner, 2024 Dick Howser Trophy Winner, and 2024 Bobby Bragan Award Winner

• Cole Hocker, Track and Field, University of Oregon
  • Olympic Gold Medalist, 2024 World Indoor Championship Silver Medalist

• Dylan Harper, Basketball, Rutgers University
  • 3x Big Ten Freshman of the Week, March Madness Player of the Week

• Frederick Richard, Gymnastics, USA Gymnastics
  • 2024 Olympic Bronze Medalist, 2024 US National Silver All-Around

• Gable Steveson, Wrestling, University of Minnesota
  • 2x NCAA Champion, 2021 Olympic Gold Medalist

• Grant Holloway, Track and Field, USA Track and Field
  • Olympic Gold and Silver Medalist, 3x World Champion

• Gretchen Walsh, Swimming, USA Swimming, University of Virginia
  • 2x Olympic Gold Medalist, 2x Olympic Silver Medalist, 2024 NCAA Champion

• Ilia Malinin, Figure Skating, U.S. Figure Skating
  • 2024 World Champion, 2024 Lombardia Trophy Winner, 3x US Champion

• Jackson Koivun, Men’s Golf, Auburn University
  • 2024 Ben Hogan Award Winner, Fred Haskins Award Winner, and Jack Nicklaus Award Winner

• Jacob Fowler, Ice Hockey, Boston College
  • 2024-2025 Hobey Baker Award Nominee, 2025 Mike Richter Award Semi-Finalist 

• Jarryd Wallace, Para Track and Field, USA Track and Field
  • 5x World Championship Medalist, 4x Paralympian

• Jessie Warren, Softball, USA Softball
  • 2x Athletes Unlimited Pro Softball AUX Defensive MVP, 2024 Women’s Softball World Cup Silver Medalist

• JuJu Watkins, Women’s Basketball, University of Southern California
  • 2024 Naismith Trophy Finalist, 2024 Wade Trophy Finalist

• Julia Lopez Ramirez, Golf, Mississippi State
  • 2024 SEC Golfer of the Year, No. 1 in World Amateur Golf Rankings for 2024

• Julie Letai, Speedskating, USA Speedskating
  • 2024 Speed Skating World Championship Silver Medalist, 2022 Winter Olympian

• Katie Ledecky, Swimming, USA Swimming
  • 2024 Olympic Gold and Bronze Medalist, American Women’s Record Holder for Most Olympic medals

• Lee Kiefer, Fencing, USA Fencing
  • 3x Olympic Gold Medalist, 4x NCAA Champion

• Lexi Rodriguez, Volleyball, University of Nebraska
  • 2024 Honda Sport Award Finalist, 2024 AVCA National Player of the Year Finalist

• Maddie Zimmer, Field Hockey, Northwestern University
  • 2024 Olympian, 2024 NFHCA National Player of the Year, 2024 Honda Sports Award Winner

• Mondo Duplantis, Track and Field
  • 2x Olympic Champion, 2x World Outdoor Champion, 2x World Indoor Champion

• Noelle Malkamaki, Para Track and Field, USA Track and Field, US Paralympic Committee
  • 2024 Paralympic Gold Medalist, 3x Shot Put F46 World Champion

• Olivia Babcock, Volleyball, University of Pittsburgh
  • 2024 AVCA National Player of the Year, 2024 ACC Player of the Year

• Paige Bueckers, Basketball, University of Connecticut
  • 2024 WBCA, AP, USBWA, and Wooden Award First Team All-American, 2024 Big East Player of the Year

• Phia Gladieux, Field Hockey, Pennsylvania State University
  • 2024 Olympian, Penn State’s All Time Leading Goal Scorer

• Phoebe Bacon, Swimming, University of Wisconsin
  • 2024 Olympian Swimmer, 2x NCAA 200m Backstroke Champion

• Roderick Townsend, Para Track and Field, USA Track and Field
  • 5x Paralympic Medalist, 10x World Championship Medalist

• Ryan Crouser, Track and Field, USA Track and Field
  • 3x Olympic Champion, 2x World Champion

• Ryder Dodd, Water Polo, USA Water Polo
  • 2024 NCAA Champion, 2024 Olympic Bronze Medalist

• Stephen Nedoroscik, Gymnastics, USA Gymnastics
  • 2x Olympic Medalist, 2021 World Champion

• Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone, Track and Field, USA Track and Field
  • 3x World Champion, 400H World Record Holder

• Tahj Brooks, Football, Texas Tech University
  • All-time Rushing Leader at Texas Tech University, 2024 William V. Campbell Trophy Finalist

• Tatyana McFadden, Para Track and Field, USA Track and Field
  • 22x Paralympic Medalist, 24x World Championship Medalist

• Travis Hunter, Football, Colorado University
  • 2024 Heisman Winner, 2024 Associated Press National Player of the Year

• Trey Augustine, Ice Hockey, Michigan State University, USA Hockey
  • 5x World Junior Medalist, including 2024 U20 Gold Medalist, 2x Richter Award Semi-Finalist

***** 

ABOUT THE AAU:

The Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) is one of the largest, non-profit, volunteer sports event organizations in the country. As a multi-sport organization, the AAU is dedicated exclusively to the promotion and development of amateur sports programs. Founded in 1888 to establish standards and uniformity in sports, the AAU philosophy of “Sports For All, Forever” is now shared by nearly 800,000 members and 150,000 volunteers across 45 sports programs and 55 U.S. districts. For more information, visit www.aausports.org.