BETHLEHEM, Pa. – Holy Cross' Haley Murphy and Boston University's Vera Sjöberg were selected as the Patriot League's nominees for the NCAA Woman of the Year Award.
 
Sjöberg and Murphy are among the Division I nominees on the ballot for the NCAA Woman of the Year Award, a program established in 1991. The nominees were selected based on four pillars, including academics, athletics, service and leadership. Sjöberg and Murphy were chosen through a vote by the Patriot League's Senior Woman Administrators (SWA).
 
Next, the NCAA Woman of the Year selection committee, made up of representatives from the NCAA membership, will choose the top 30 honorees – 10 from each division. The top 30 honorees will be recognized, and the 2025 NCAA Woman of the Year will be announced at the 2026 NCAA Convention in January.
 
Haley Murphy, Holy Cross Women's Track and Field
Murphy's athletics career at Holy Cross was a model of consistent hard work leading to success. The Danvers, Mass. native began her collegiate career as a walk-on with the Crusaders' women's track and field squad during the 2021-22 season. She finished her career in May, capturing the gold medal in the 400-meter hurdles with a meet record time of 59.08 at the 2025 Patriot League Women's Outdoor Track and Field Championship.
 
Athletic success came gradually for the team captain and three-time Academic All-Patriot League selection. Murphy made steady improvements through her first two years on campus, culminating in a bronze medal performance in the 400m hurdles at the 2023 Patriot League Outdoor Track and Field Championship. Her work continued to pay off, breaking out during her junior year to earn bronze again in the 400m hurdles at the League outdoor championship and gold at the New England Intercollegiate Amateur Athletic Association (NEICAAA) Outdoor Championship. As a senior, Murphy stood atop the medal stand in the 400m hurdles in the Patriot League Outdoor Championship during a season that saw her break school records in the indoor and outdoor 400m, 400m hurdles and as part of the Crusaders' 4x400m relay to earn All-League honors twice.
 
Away from the track, Murphy has been a valuable member of the Holy Cross community. She served as a representative for the school's Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC), helping with impactful community outreach initiatives in Worcester. Murphy also served as the Vice President of Holy Cross' Alpha Sigma Nu Jesuit Honor Society and worked part-time as a library research assistant. The chemistry major, who graduated with a 3.9 GPA, has also performed research in the campus's biochemistry lab.
 
Murphy's Personal Statement
"Reflecting on my time as a Holy Cross student athlete, I am filled with gratitude for the opportunity to excel equally in academics, athletics, and co-curriculars. It is the multifaceted nature of my collegiate experience which shaped me into the woman I am today, and imbued in me not just the confidence to pursue a PhD, but also the specific "how" and "why" I would seek a career in cancer research and change the lives of others.
 
As a walk-on with very few high school seasons under my belt, the first years of my college track career consisted mainly of development, with minimal achievements. Seeking success elsewhere, I focused on academics and began to pursue a career in cancer research. I earned a position as a research assistant in a biochemistry lab on campus, and then a spot in the Chemical Biology REU summer program at New York University. These experiences provided me with unique opportunities; I presented my research at a national conference, produced a senior research thesis, and got a taste of both the rigor and allure of a PhD program.
 
Eventually, my consistency on the track began to pay off. At the end of my career, I had collected two bronze, one silver, and one gold medal at the Patriot League Championships and broken 9 school records. Seeing the results of my hard work convinced me that I could be successful as a PhD candidate, too, and propelled me to apply for graduate school. I believed I could rely on the skills I developed as a student-athlete to find success in my postgraduate studies. Countless arduous track workouts and the disciplined nature of track taught me hard work and patience. Practicing and competing for 20+ hours a week while also working a part-time job on campus, maintaining a strong GPA, and devoting 15 hours a week to my research instilled in me a strong work ethic and the importance of time management. Building upon these skills would be the "how" I achieved my goals.
 
Co-curricular leadership roles also filled my schedule, such as being a Student-Athlete Advisory Committee Representative and Vice President of the Alpha Sigma Nu Jesuit Honor Society. These community-centered organizations introduced me to the Jesuit principle of "men and women for and with others", and I quickly internalized the philosophy. I deepened my involvement in the mission, directing a food and clothing drive for the homeless population around Holy Cross through Alpha Sigma Nu. Being a person "for and with others" still drives my desire to earn a PhD, which will grant me the ability to participate in groundbreaking cancer research that will improve the lives of others. This became my "why".
 
As I prepare for my next chapter as a graduate student at the Tri-Institutional PhD Program in Chemical Biology - a program that links Weill Cornell Medicine, Rockefeller University, and Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center - I am eager to engage with cutting edge cancer research, and build upon the unique and advantageous foundation I gained from my time as an NCAA student-athlete to take the next steps towards an impactful career in cancer research."

Vera Sjöberg, Boston University Women's Cross Country/Track and Field
Sjöberg concluded her career at Boston University as one of the most decorated student-athletes in Patriot League history. The Stockholm, Sweden native was the Patriot League's 2024-25 Women's Scholar-Athlete of the Year, after winning the sport-specific honors for cross country, indoor track and field and outdoor track and field. She graduated in three years with a cumulative GPA of 3.97 with her bachelor's degree in English.
 
On the course and track, Sjöberg shined throughout her career, particularly during the 2024-25 academic year. She won the Patriot League Women's Cross Country individual title to capture Runner of the Meet honors before going on to finish 42nd at the NCAA Cross Country Championship, the highest placement for a League runner. She won the one-mile, 3,000-meter and 5,000-meter events at the Patriot League Indoor Track and Field Championship, setting the meet records in the mile (4:40.14) and 5,000m (16:21.28). She finished eighth at the NCAA Championship to earn All-America honors in the indoor mile. She was also one of two athletes to qualify for the 1,500m and 5,000m at the NCAA Outdoor Championship, after winning both races in meet record times at the League championship to claim Patriot League Outdoor Track Athlete of the Meet honors.
 
Vera Sjöberg's Personal Statement
"As a track and field and cross-country athlete, I've been fortunate to compete at the highest level, representing Boston University at the NCAA Cross Country Championships in 2024 and the NCAA Indoor Championships in 2025, where I finished as an All-American in the mile. At the Patriot League Championships, I have consistently competed in two or three events to bring valuable points to the team and help us achieve our goals. I also represented Sweden at the 2025 World Indoor Championships in Nanjing, China, competing in the 1500 and gaining experience at the highest international level.
 
I had a difficult time as a freshman moving from Sweden to the U.S. and not competing in my first semester, so these moments have been the culmination of years of dedication and hard work, together with my teammates and coaches. As a team captain, I've helped lead with empathy, building a team culture rooted in trust and support where every athlete feels valued and supported. I have always strived to set a good example that will contribute to the team's future culture and development. The team has taught me so much about what it means to be a good teammate, take responsibility, and create a caring environment.
 
Academically, I have pursued a degree in English and a minor in Women's, Gender, and Sexuality Studies. My English studies have taught me the importance of literature and storytelling, as well as the value of expressing myself and voicing structural and existential issues. As an international student from Sweden, I've faced challenges with English as my second language and coming from a different culture, which has made me realize the importance of creating an inclusive environment where everyone feels welcome and appreciated, regardless of their background and identity.
 
Balancing elite athletics, academic rigor, and leadership has been challenging, but it has helped me strengthen my resolve to compete on the international stage, inspire women in sports, and use the written word to describe the world and promote change."
 
ABOUT THE NCAA WOMAN OF THE YEAR AWARD
Established in 1991, the NCAA Woman of the Year award is rooted in Title IX and recognizes women's student-athletes who have completed their undergraduate degrees and distinguished themselves in academics, athletics, service and leadership throughout their collegiate careers.
 
PATRIOT LEAGUE INSTITUTIONAL NOMINEES
In addition to Sjöberg and Murphy, four more Patriot League student-athletes were nominated for the NCAA Woman of the Year, including Chase Boyle (Loyola Maryland women's lacrosse), Lily Neilson (Bucknell field hockey), Kaylee Van Eps (Lehigh women's basketball), Emily Tannenbaum (Navy women's tennis) and Mimi Watts (American University swimming and diving).
 
ABOUT THE PATRIOT LEAGUE
The Patriot League is in its fourth decade of academic and athletic achievement, continually demonstrating that student-athletes can excel at both academics and athletics without sacrificing high standards. The Patriot League's athletic success is achieved while its member institutions remain committed to its founding principle of admitting and graduating student-athletes who are academically representative of their class. Participation in athletics at Patriot League institutions is viewed as an important component of a well-rounded education.