Thursday, August 10, 2023
by Evan O'Kelly

PORTLAND, Ore. – Eve Stephens of Alaska Anchorage and Vanessa Aniteye of Seattle Pacific were announced as the NCAA Woman of the Year nominees from the Great Northwest Athletic Conference on Thursday.

The two were selected from a field of 10 individual school nominees submitted by conference members for the 2022-23 academic year. Stephens and Aniteye are among a cast of 164 conference-level nominees including 39 from the NCAA Division II level for the 2023 Woman of the Year award. Since 1991, the award has recognized graduating female student-athletes for excellence in academics, athletics, community service, and leadership throughout their collegiate careers.

The Woman of the Year Selection Committee will proceed in selecting the top-30 honorees – 10 from each division – who will be announced in October. Nine finalists – three from each division – will be announced in November, followed by the announcement of the winner at the NCAA Convention in Phoenix in January.

Vanessa Aniteye
Seattle Pacific University
Cross Country/Track & Field

The 2023 NCAA national champion in the 800 meters during the indoor season, Aniteye broke the school record on her way to being named the USTFCCCA West Region Athlete of the Year and the GNAC Female Indoor Track Athlete of the Year. Aniteye graduated with a degree in exercise science while maintaining a 3.61 GPA. Aniteye assisted with teaching classes and with physical therapy for the Bayview Retirement Community.

Eve Stephens
University of Alaska Anchorage
Volleyball

Stephens capped arguably the greatest career in GNAC history by being named the NCAA Division II Player of the Year, after breaking the GNAC career record for kills with 1,926. Stephens was a three-time All-American and a two-time Academic All-American, and helped the Seawolves go 27-3 including a 17-1 mark in conference play during her senior year in 2022. Stephens completed her accounting degree with a 3.9 GPA, and spent time volunteering in the local youth sports and education community in Anchorage.