University of California, Los Angeles, Athletics
Two-time Olympic gold medalist Maddie Musselman has been nominated for the 2021 AAU Sullivan Award. Voting open now!
Photo by: Ross Turteltaub
Musselman Nominated for AAU Sullivan Award
September 20, 2021 | Women's Water Polo
SOCIAL MEDIA: WWP on Twitter | WWP on Facebook | WWP on Instagram
ORLANDO, Fla. -- There is only one national award that puts the best in sports, male and female, head-to-head for the title of "top athlete," the AAU James E. Sullivan Award presented by Eastbay. The vote for the 91st rendition of the award will be open to the public starting Monday, September 20, 2021. The AAU Sullivan Award has been presented annually since 1930 to the most outstanding athlete in the United States. Representatives from the Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) created the Sullivan Award with the intent to recognize contributions and achievements from athletes across the country.ยTwo-time Olympic Games gold medalist and the Tokyo Olympic Games Women's Water Polo MVP, Maddie Musselman,ย has been chosen as one of the 38 nominees.
The finalist voting round opens at 10 a.m. on Monday, September 20 and closes at 11:59 p.m. on Monday, September 27. Voting for the award is open to the public byย clicking here. The AAU James E. Sullivan Award presentation will be held at the Rosen Centre in Orlando, Fla., on Friday, October 22 with a special recognition reception in conjunction with the Orlando Magic later that night.
ย
This year's group of nominees includes:
ย
โข Aari McDonald, Women's Basketball, University of Arizona
โข Allyson Felix, Track and Field, USA Track and Field
โข Ariel Torres, Karate, USA Karate
โข Athing Mu, Track and Field, USA Track and Field/Texas A&M
โข Ayo Dosunmu, Basketball, University of Illinois
โข Brad Snyder, Paralympic Swimming & Triathlon, US Naval Academy
โข Caeleb Dressel, Swimming, USA Swimming
โข Caitlin Clark, Women's Basketball, University of Iowa
โข Dana Rettke, Volleyball, University of Wisconsin
โข Dani Jones, Track and Field, University of Colorado Boulder
โข David Taylor, Wrestling, USA Wrestling
โข Drew Timme, Basketball, Gonzaga University
โข Erriyon Knighton, Track and Field, USA Track and Field
โข Evan Medell, Paralympic Taekwondo, USA Taekwondo
โข Gable Steveson, Wrestling, University of Minnesota/USA Wrestling
โข Grant Holloway, Track and Field, USA Track and Field
โข Javonte Perkins, Basketball, Saint Louis University
โข Jocelyn Alo, Softball, University of Oklahoma
โข Julia Arciola, Baton Twirling, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
โข Justin Fields, Football, Ohio State University
โข Kevin Kopps, Baseball, University of Arkansas
โข Logan Eggleston, Volleyball, University of Texas
โข Luka Garza, Basketball, University of Iowa
โข Lydia Jacoby, Swimming, USA Swimming
โขย Maddie Musselman, Water Polo, USA Water Polo
โข Madison Lilley, Volleyball, University of Kentucky
โข Michael Penix Jr, Football, Indiana University
โข Nick Lee, Wrestling, Penn State University
โข Nick Piccininni, Wrestling, Oklahoma State University
โข Obi Toppin, Basketball, University of Dayton
โข Paige Bueckers, Women's Basketball, University of Connecticut
โข Ryan Crouser, Track and Field, USA Track and Field
โข Sam Howell, Football, University of North Carolina
โข Simone Biles, Gymnastics, USA Gymnastics
โข Sunisa Lee, Gymnastics, USA Gymnastics
โข Sydney Hilley, Volleyball, University of Wisconsin
โข Sydney McLaughlin, Track and Field, USA Track and Field
โข Tamyra Mensah Stock, Wrestling, USA Wrestling
ย
"These exceptional athletes truly embody the spirit of the AAU James E. Sullivan Award," said Jennings "Rusty" Buchanan, AAU President and CEO of the AAU. "They not only top performers in their sport, but also display qualities of leadership, good character, and sportsmanship both on and off the field."
ย
Last year, the AAU crowned co-winners Sabrina Ionescu, University of Oregon, and Spencer Lee, University of Iowa. Ionescu became the seventh basketball player to take home the award, while Lee became the fifth wrestler to be named the top athlete. The pair are the third duo to win, following the footsteps of the 86th recipients, former Navy quarterback, Keenan Reynolds and former University of Connecticut forward, Breanna Stewart in 2015 and the basketball twins Kelly and Coco Miller in 1999.
ย
Ionescu and Lee joined a world renowned list of Sullivan Award recipients, including famed Olympians Michelle Kwan (2001), Michael Phelps (2003), Shawn Johnson (2008),ย Peyton Manning (1997), and Missy Franklin (2012).
ย
Players Mentioned
ATK
/ Women's Water PoloNo. 4 UCLA vs. No. 3 Hawai'i Highlights
Monday, April 14
Highlights - UCLA W. Water Polo vs. Princeton (March 13, 2025)
Friday, March 14
UCLA vs. Princeton
Thursday, March 13
No. 4 UCLA vs. No. 15 Indiana
Sunday, March 09