SEATTLE - Seattle U women's soccer forward Caroline Penner has been named a finalist for the Seattle Sports Star of the Year, Women's Sports Award, as announced by the Seattle Sports Commission. The winner will be crowed at the 91st Sports Star of the Year Awards, held March 13, 2026, at the Seattle Convention Center Summit.
Penner, a senior out of Olympia, Wash., had a stellar final season as a Redhawk. She led the team and the West Coast Conference in goals (17) and points (40), while also ranking in the top 15 nationally in both categories. She was named the conference's Offensive Player of the Year, becoming the first newcomer to do so in WCC history.
Her efforts led the Redhawks to a 10-3-6 mark in 2025 and helped them reach their highest NET ranking in program history at 65.
The accolades did not stop on the pitch in 2025, as she was named a College Sports Communicators Academic All-American. She was also named to her fourth straight Academic All-Conference selection.
The last Seattle U student athlete to win a category at the Sports Star of the Year awards was women's basketball's McKenzi Williams during the 86th edition of the event, as she captured the Female Sports Star of the Year. The women's soccer program has also been featured before, as Seattle U Athletics Hall of Famer Stephanie Verdoia was named Female Sports Star of the Year at the 80th annual awards show.
Founded in 1935 by sports editor Royal Brougham and the Seattle Post-Intelligencer, Sports Star of the Year (SSY) has celebrated the achievements of Washington sports for nine decades. Voting for this year's nominees is now live and open to the public, it will close on Thursday, February 14. Those looking to vote can do so at the following link: HERE.
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