Aug. 27, 2008

EVANSTON, Ill. -- Midfielder Hannah Nielsen (Adelaide, Australia/Brighton Secondary) was announced as one of 10 finalists for the 2008 Women's Sports Foundation Sportswoman of the Year. She is one of two collegiate athletes on the list, which also includes professional athletes as well as Olympians.

The award is given annually by the Women's Sports Foundation to help recognize superhuman efforts by selecting two champion athletes (one individual, one team) for their Sportswoman of the Year Award. Athletes were considered for the 2008 award based on their athletic achievements between August 1, 2007, and August 24, 2008. The award winners will be announced on October 14, 2008, and honored at the Annual Salute to Women in Sports Awards Dinner at the Waldorf=Astoria in New York City.

Nielsen played a key role in helping the Wildcats to their fourth-consecutive national championship this past season, becoming the first player in NU history to record back-to-back 100 point seasons. She is Northwestern's all-time assist leader, and was named the Player of the Year by the American Lacrosse Conference, Inside Lacrosse, IWLCA, WomensLax.com and womenslacrosse.com.

Nielsen capped off an amazing season by taking home the Tewaaraton Trophy, given annually to the nation's top collegiate lacrosse player, and also won the Honda Sports Award for lacrosse as well as the Big Ten Suzy Favor Award for the conference's top female athlete.

Among those nominated along with Nielsen are former Tennessee basketball player Candace Parker, gold medalists Misty May-Treanor and Kerri Walsh and tennis stars Venus and Serena Williams. Past winners of the award include golf superstar Annika Sorenstam and Olympians Natalie Coughlin, Michelle Kwan, Gail Devers and Bonnie Blair.

Wildcat fans can vote for Hannah by visiting the Women's Sports Foundation website at www.womenssportsfoundation.org until midnight on September 2. Each fan that votes will be entered into a drawing to win one of five items autographed by their favorite sportswomen.

The Women's Sports Foundation is an educational nonprofit (501(c)(3) charity) organization founded in 1974 by tennis legend Billie Jean King designed to advance the lives of girls and women through sports and physical activity.