The inaugural winner of the Best Female College Athlete ESPY Award at the 2002 awards was University of Connecticut Huskies basketball player Sue Bird . During her collegiate career , Bird won two NCAA championships , and was awarded a further eight accolades for her achievements . She became the first of two Basketball players to be nominated for , and hence to win , the Best Female College Athlete ESPY Award . The 2003 winner of the award was Diana Taurasi of the University of Connecticut Huskies basketball team . Taurasi won the accolade again the following year , and is one of three woman to have been given the Best Female College Athlete ESPY Award more than once : the most any one woman has won is Maya Moore who earned three consecutive awards between the 2009 and 2011 ceremonies . Basketball players dominate the winners list , with eleven awards , while softball competitors have won four times , and just one swimmer ( the University of California , Berkeley Golden Bears ' Missy Franklin at the 2015 awards ) has been recognized in the accolade 's history . The 2017 winner of the Best Female College Athlete ESPY Award is Kelly Barnhill of the University of Florida Gators softball squad . The accolade was combined with the Best Male College Athlete ESPY Award to create the Best College Athlete ESPY Award which was presented for the first time at the 2018 ceremony
2015 awards
2015 ESPY Awards
Best Female College Athlete ESPY Award