Isabelle Bourne is Nebraska's most recent Big Ten Sportsmanship Award winner, claiming the honor as a senior in 2022-23. Bourne, who was a three-time co-captain and three-time honorable-mention All-Big Ten choice during her four-year career as a Husker, was a three-time Tom Osborne Citizenship Team member and a three-time Academic All-Big Ten selection. Bourne closed her career with more than 1,200 points and 600 rebounds - one of only 14 players in Nebraska history to achieve those combined career milestones.
Bella Cravens added Big Ten Sportsmanship Award recognition for the Big Red in both 2021 and 2022, becoming just the second Husker to win the award two times, joining Emily Wood (2017, 2018).
Grace Mitchell earned the award for the Big Red in 2020. A four-year contributor, Mitchell was a Big Ten Postgraduate Scholarship recipient as a standout in both the classroom and the community.
Maddie Simon earned Nebraska's Sportsmanship Award in 2019. Simon was a four-year contributor on the court for the Huskers. A Lincoln Pius X High School graduate, Simon played in 108 games as a Husker and was a three-time Academic All-Big Ten selection. She earned a prestigious Sam Foltz Hero 27 Leadership Award in 2017 and was a four-time member of the Tom Osborne Citizenship Team. She participated in the Nebraska Student-Athlete Service Trip Abroad to Nicaragua in 2017 and was chosen to participate in the WBCA "So You Want To Be A Coach" program at the 2019 NCAA Women's Final Four.
Emily Wood became Nebraska's first back-to-back Big Ten Sportsmanship Award winner in women's basketball in 2017 and 2018. Wood, who originally came to Lincoln from Salina, Kan., as a freshman walk-on in 2014-15, also earned Nebraska's Husker Award in 2017 and 2018 and NU's Teammate Award in 2015-16. She was also Nebraska's Lifter of the Year as a senior. A three-time academic All-Big Ten selection and a two-time Big Ten Distinguished Scholar, Wood graduated from Nebraska in just three years before playing her senior season on the court as a graduate student in 2017-18. Wood, who participated in the NCAA Career Forum in 2015, was a member of Nebraska's Student-Athlete Service Trip Abroad to the Dominican Republic in 2016. She also claimed a prestigious Nebraska Student-Athlete HERO Leadership Award in 2016. Wood was Nebraska's overall Big Ten Sportsmanship Award winner across all women's sports in 2017.
Hailie Sample claimed Nebraska's Big Ten Sportsmanship Award in 2015. Sample was a four-year starter for the Huskers, leading Nebraska to four consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances (2012-15). She was a member of the Big Ten All-Defensive Team in 2014. Natalie Romeo earned Nebraska's award in 2016.
Nebraska's first Big Ten Player of the Year Jordan Hooper claimed a Big Ten Sportsmanship Award as a senior in 2014. Hooper, a three-time first-team All-Big Ten selection, was a first-team WBCA All-American and a first-team Senior CLASS Award All-American in 2014. She was also a Big Ten Distinguished Scholar and a three-time first-team academic All-Big Ten choice.
Meghin Williams captured Nebraska's second Big Ten Sportsmanship Award in 2013.
Nebraska spent its first season in the Big Ten Conference in 2011-12, and senior guard Kaitlyn Burke claimed the women's basketball team's first Big Ten Sportsmanship Award.
Burke, who was the President of the Nebraska Student-Athlete Advisory Committee in 2011-12, was also Nebraska's overall Big Ten Sportsmanship Award winner across all women's sports. She was a two-time HERO Leadership Award winner during her five seasons at Nebraska. In the classroom, Burke was a three-time academic all-conference selection, and she also helped the Huskers to three NCAA Tournament appearances during her time in Lincoln.
Big Ten Sportsmanship Award
- Isabelle Bourne (2023)
- Bella Cravens (2022)
- Bella Cravens (2021)
- Grace Mitchell (2020)
- Maddie Simon (2019)
- Emily Wood (2018)
- Emily Wood (2017 - All Nebraska Women's Sports)
- Natalie Romeo (2016)
- Hailie Sample (2015)
- Jordan Hooper (2014)
- Meghin Williams (2013)
- Kaitlyn Burke (2012 - All Nebraska Women's Sports)