New York —- Catawba College senior Yvonne Lee has been named a finalist for the Class of 2026 Honda Inspiration Award, The Collegiate Women Sports Awards (CWSA) announced Friday afternoon.
The Honda Inspiration Award recognizes a female collegiate athlete in NCAA Division I, II or III who has triumphed in the face of extraordinary physical and/or emotional adversity, injury, illness or personal sacrifice during her collegiate experience, and who has returned to achieve athletic success.
Just a few months after arriving to Catawba from Queens University of Charlotte in the fall of 2023, Lee was diagnosed with bone cancer. After intense treatment and rehabilitation, Lee rang the bell as cancer-free. On Saturday, Feb. 21 of this past season, Lee returned to the court for game action for the first time since 2023 for her Senior Day game against Mars Hill.
Each of the 2026 finalists' journeys will be featured in the CBS Sports Network special Defying the Odds, set for original release on Saturday, July 20 at 7 p.m. ET.
The winner of the Class of 2026 Honda Inspiration Award will be announced the following day, Sunday, July 21.
