SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. – The NCAA announced on Wednesday morning that San Diego softball alumni left-handed pitcher McKenna Braegelmann has been selected as one of two nominees from the West Coast Conference for the 2025 NCAA Woman of the Year Award. 

Created in 1991, the NCAA Woman of the Year Award recognizes graduating female student-athletes who have distinguished themselves in athletics, academics, leadership and community service.  Joining Braegelmann in receiving this nomination is Gonzaga women's basketball student-athlete Yvonne Ejim.

Braegelmann, a left-handed pitcher from Tacoma, Washington was a key member of the USD community on and off the field during her five seasons with the Toreros. She capped off her tremendous career in 2025 by being selected as an All-WCC Honorable Mention and to the WCC's All-Academic Team. She authored one of the highlights of San Diego's season as she threw her first career no-hitter to defeat LMU and then pitched the very next day going the distance to help the Toreros win their series with the Lions on the road. 

For her career, Braegelmann compiled an 18-15 record in 62 career appearances to go along with a 3.10 ERA, nine complete games, three shutouts, 230.2 innings pitched, 172 strikeouts and a .251 opponents batting average. She had a standout performance during her freshman season as she posted a 6-1 record to go along with a 2.34 ERA while holding opposing hitters to a microscopic .183 batting average. After overcoming an injury and missing the 2023 season, Braegelmann showed tremendous courage returning to the field and posting a 3.71 ERA in 17 games pitched while tossing a career-high 68 innings. 

Off the field, Braegelmann made the most of her collegiate career as she worked as an advocate for mental health awareness among collegiate athletes. Providing tremendous leadership for her fellow student-athletes, Braegelmann served as co-president of the Student Athlete Advisory Council for the 2024-25 athletic year and worked as the Mental Health and Welness Chair during the 2022-23 athletic year. She spoke on behalf of mental health for student-athletes in front of the USD Board of Trustees and served as the scholar-athlete representative on the USD Board of Trustees Athletic Committee. Among her other mental health initiatives, Braegelmann created a survey regarding the mental health rates among USD student-athletes which led to advancements like increased mental health staff, an eating disorder specialist on staff, increased mandatory programming for student-athletes and increased conversations with the athletic department. 

Her tireless effort advocating for mental health awareness helped her earn the WCC's 2024 Champion of Change award as her impact on the USD community will be felt for years to come. 

Braegelmann is the third straight Torero to be nominated by the conference for the NCAA's Woman of the Year award following Gabby Blossom (volleyball) in 2023 and Gianna Sbarboro in 2024 (cross country and track and field). 

Following graduating from USD this spring, Braegelmann has stayed within the WCC as she went back to her home state of Washington and is working in Gonzaga's life skills development department as a graduate intern helping student-athletes develop life skills. She is currently pursuing her master's degree in sports and athletic administration.