NEW YORK, N.Y. – Minnesota State senior Natalie Bremer has been named the DII Honda Athlete of the Year Award finalist for women's basketball presented by Collegiate Women's Sports Award (CWSA). 

As the CWSA marks its 50th anniversary during the 2025–26 collegiate athletics season, the significance of its premier honor continues to grow, recognizing the nation's top female collegiate athletes for excellence in athletics, leadership, academics, and community service. 

Since partnering with Honda in 1986, the program has awarded more than $3.4 million in institutional grants, further strengthening and advancing women's athletics programs across the country. Among this year's 11 finalists, Bremer has secured a spot in an elite group representing the best in NCAA Division II across all sports.

"I am so grateful and blessed to have been named a finalist for this award,"said Bremer. "There are so many great athletes within Division II and I'm extremely honored to be a finalist!"

Bremer, who hails from Lake City, Minnesota, delivered a landmark senior season highlighted by being named the WBCA NCAA Division II Player of the Year, becoming the first student-athlete in program history to earn a national player of the year honor. She also secured WBCA First Team All-America recognition after earning honorable mention accolades the previous season.

She led Minnesota State to a 29-3 overall record and a 21-1 finish in NSIC play, helping power the Mavericks to a program-record 27-game winning streak. Her impact was further recognized with NSIC Outstanding Senior of the Year honors as well as NSIC South Division Player of the Year recognition. 

Now holding the all time scoring record across both Minnesota State's men's and women's programs with 2,371 career points, Bremer has continued to elevate her performance throughout the season with one of the most dominant individual campaigns in the country. She produced elite offensive numbers, averaging 21.8 points per game while shooting .486 from the field and .371 from three point range. She also added 4.7 rebounds and 2.6 steals per game, finishing sixth nationally in scoring.

Off the court, Bremer has also distinguished herself academically, earning NSIC All Academic Team honors while being named to the Dean's List each semester. She is a three time College Sports Communicators Academic All District selection and has also received NSIC All Academic Team of Excellence recognition.

"Natalie has cemented herself as one of the very best in all of Division II Women's Basketball," stated head coach Emilee Thiesse. "She is a proven leader and performer who has made a profound impact on our program. Natalie fully embodies the values of Maverick Women's Basketball, committing herself to excellence not only on the court, but also in the classroom and within the community. She has elevated our program while continually pushing herself to reach new heights. We are extremely proud of Natalie for being named a finalist for the DII Honda Athlete of the Year—an honor she has truly earned."

The recipient of the DII Honda Athlete of the Year award will be chosen by senior women administrators from more than 1,000 NCAA member institutions, with the winner set to be announced live on CBS Sports Network on Monday, July 27 at 7:00 p.m. ET in New York City.