London, ON - The Mustangs Rookie of the Year Awards recognize an outstanding female and outstanding male rookie student-athlete.

Nominees for the 2025-26 Female Rookie of the Year Award include:

• Sydney Cowan (Basketball, Kinesiology)
• Sydney Hardeman (Swimming, Kinesiology)
• Judy Li (Fencing, Health Sciences)

Winner: Sydney Cowan (Basketball, Kinesiology)

Cowan produced a breakout debut season in the OUA. She averaged 16.3 points per game (good for ninth overall in the league) and 358 points scored in total. She had one of the biggest highlights of the season when she drained the last-second three pointer to defeat the defending OUA champions Ottawa Gee-Gees.

Cowan is the ninth Mustang to take home the rookie of the year nod in program history, she is also becomes the second Mustang to take home the U SPORTS Rookie of the Year nod in program history, following Amanda Anderson in 2006. 

Click below for reaction to these awards and reflection on an outstanding season.