JAMAICA, NY --- (www.YORKATHLETICS.com) York College alumnae Alicia Gumbs '25 and Maryam Khan '25 have been nominated for the 2025 NCAA Woman of the Year Award.  Gumbs and Khan are two of the 631 female student-athletes who were nominated, which is awarded to graduating female student-athletes for excellence in academics, athletics, community service, and leadership throughout their college careers.

A record-breaking 631 student-athletes were nominated by NCAA member schools for the 2025 Woman of the Year award. Within that nomination pool, 270 competed in Division I, 126 in Division II and 235 in Division III. Conference-wide, York's duo are two of eight CUNYAC student-athletes who were celebrated as NCAA Woman of the Year nominees.  

Hailing from Queens, Gumbs averaged an impressive 16.2 points, 5.7 rebounds, 3.4 assists, and 2.2 steals per contest over her 81-game career. Gumbs reached the 1,000-point milestone with a layup at Centenary University (Dec. 11, 2024) and finished with 1,316 career points—third-most in program history. The star guard also ranks among the top five in several all-time categories at York, including field goals, free throws, points per game, total assists, and assists per game. Before becoming the primary offensive option her last two years, Gumbs played a key role in York's back-to-back CUNYAC Championship semifinal appearances in 2021–22 and 2022–23.  

"I am beyond honored and grateful to be recognized as the Woman of the Year by York College. As an athlete, I poured my blood, sweat, and tears into every single game—giving it my all, no matter what challenges came my way. There were times when pushing forward felt impossible, but I remained grounded in my purpose and my passion. This honor means more than just recognition—it's a reflection of the hard work, the early mornings, the late nights, and the unwavering dedication I've poured into not only my sport, but also my community. From volunteering and working with young athletes to supporting my team both on and off the court, I've always strived to lead with heart, integrity, and strength. To be named Woman of the Year is the epitome of what being a woman is all about: resilience, leadership, service, and courage. I'm so proud to represent the values of York College and to show the next generation that greatness comes from grit, passion, and purpose. Thank you to everyone who believed in me, stood by me, and helped shape me into the woman I am today. This moment is for all of us." - Alicia Gumbs '25

Delivering another standout campaign in 2024–25, Gumbs averaged 20.2 points, 2.8 assists, and 2.9 steals per game—figures that ranked 4th, 12th, and 5th, respectively, among CUNYAC players. Leading the nation in minutes per game (39.6), the senior also ranked 21st in points per game and 40th in steals per game. A dynamic scoring threat, Gumbs topped the 20-point mark 11 times, highlighted by a season-high 33-point performance at John Jay College (Jan. 28) in 2024-25. Gumbs' consistency was recognized with four Metropolitan Basketball Writers Association (MBWA) Player of the Week Honorable Mention selections, a CUNYAC Player of the Week Honorable Mention, a second-consecutive CUNYAC All-Star Second Team citation, and a spot on the All-MBWA Division III Honorable Mention list. Throughout her York tenure, Gumbs garnered three CUNYAC weekly honors, eight MBWA laurels, and two York College Female Student-Athlete of the Year laurels to go with the York College Female Career Award.  A multi-sport athlete, Gumbs also competed in three seasons of softball and two seasons of women's volleyball, underscoring her all-around athletic excellence.

Khan thrived academically, landing on the Dean's List six times and graduating with a 3.772 grade-point average as a nursing major. Outside of York, Khan was a three-time CUNYAC Scholar-Athlete Honor Roll member, a two-time College Sports Communicators (CSC) Women's Tennis Academic All-District® Team honoree, and was recently honored by the CUNYAC as a 2024-25 Scholar-Athlete of the Year Honorable Mention. Involved in student leadership, Khan has previously served in leadership roles as President of the York College Nursing Club, as a student advocate for NACLI (National Coalition Against Censorship), and as a club member of both Nursing and the CUNY Coalition for Students with Disabilities (CCSD).

"This is one of the most humbling and rewarding moments of my journey so far. It means a lot to know that the hard work, long hours, and sacrifices haven't gone unnoticed. More than anything, it reminds me of the amazing support system I've had—my coaches, teammates, family, and everyone who believed in me along the way. This nomination isn't just mine; it belongs to all of us."" - Maryam Khan '25

Residing in the Jamaica section of Queens, Khan played three seasons (2022-24) with the women's tennis program, competing in 21 singles and doubles matches. Appearing on the No. 3-6 singles courts and in all three doubles positions, Khan posted doubles wins in each of her three seasons and claimed victories twice during the 2023 season in third and sixth singles. Capping off her career, Khan contributed to an 8–3 triumph on the No. 3 doubles court against Brooklyn College (10/18/2024). In her time at York, Khan was also selected as a 2023 CUNYAC Women's Tennis Preseason Player to Watch, claimed two York College Women's Tennis Coaches Awards, and took home the 2024 CUNYAC Women's Tennis Sportsmanship Award.

Conference offices will now select up to two nominees from the institutional pool to move forward in the process. Then, the NCAA Woman of the Year selection committee identifies the Top 30 – 10 from each division – and from there selects three finalists from each division. From the nine finalists, the NCAA Committee on Women's Athletics then selects the NCAA Woman of the Year, who is named during an awards presentation at the NCAA Convention.

Since 1991, the NCAA Woman of the Year program has recognized graduating student-athletes for excellence in academics, athletics, community service and leadership throughout their college careers.  Learn more about the award program, next steps, and previous winners by visiting ncaa.org/woty.

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