One of our favorite events every year is the Gatorade Player of the Year banquet which honors the best high school athletes in the nation. Winners are selected based on athletic excellence, academic achievement and exemplary character. Since its inception 29 years ago, the Gatorade Player of the Year program has become one of the most prestigious high school athletic awards in the nation.

During the award banquet, Gatorade selects one male and one female athlete as the Gatorade High School Athlete of the Year from a pool of 12 National Players of the Year nominees. The 12 sports recognized are football, volleyball, boys and girls cross country, boys and girls basketball, boys and girls soccer, baseball, softball and boys and girls track & field.

This year’s Female Player of the Year award was presented by the inimitable Mia Hamm. Meet all the girls who were nominated for this year’s award along with the winner!