The following is a spotlight on Addie Budnik, the University of Richmond nominee for the prestigious NCAA ​Woman of the Year award. The Atlantic 10 institutions nominated a total of 17 outstanding student-athletes for the ​award (READ MORE). The A-10 will spotlight each of the institutional nominees.

Addie Budnik Profile

Addie Budnik is a prolific basketball standout that

led Richmond to its first-ever Atlantic 10 regular

season and championship titles, gathering

several awards throughout her run as a

Spider. A three-time All-Conference

selection, she was the A-10 Defensive

Player of the Year and Women’s Basketball

Championship Most Outstanding Player in

2024, a bookend to a career that began as the

2021 A-10 Rookie of the Year. She was named to

the All-Championship Team twice, the

All-Defensive Team and the All-Rookie Team. The

seventh-leading scorer in UR history, Budnik also

was the 2023 Richmond Athletics Female

Student-Athlete of the Year, the 2024 Spiderman

Award, given to a student-athlete who best

exemplifies the competitive excellence and

personal characteristics desired of at UR, and

she was a finalist for the 2024 RVA Sports

Awards Finalist for Female Athlete of the Year.

A four-year member of the A-10 Commissioner’s

Honor Roll, the Richmond Scholar-Athlete

Award, the UR Dean’s List, Budnik was voted

the Most outstanding student in Business

Analytics in 2024. A Summa Cum Laude graduate, she was a member of Beta Gamma Sigma, an international ​honor society for students earning a business degree. She was twice named Academic All-District by CSC ​and a Atlantic 10 All-Academic selection in women’s basketball in 2023.

A team captain throughout her UR tenure, she served as a Women’s Basketball Camp Coach, and was a team ​representative on the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC). She worked as a Member Services ​Assistant at the UR rec center and also took part in the Spider Leadership Initiative her first three years on ​campus.

Q & A

What would you consider the top moment of your college career?

The top moment of my career was definitely winning the A-10 ​championship. It was incredible to see the program grow and all of ​our hard work pay off over four years. In addition to winning, feeling ​the immense support from the community and inspiring our young ​fans made it even more special.

What was the hardest obstacle you faced as a student-athlete?

The hardest obstacle was managing the time demands and pressures ​that come with being a student-athlete. Between practice, travel, ​games, class, and more, finding a balance between your academics, ​athletics, and social life is crucial. In addition, there is extreme ​pressure to excel in everything you do as a college athlete, so finding ​a healthy balance is really important and challenging.

What is one thing you would go back and do differently if you ​could?

I would go back and embrace every moment of my college career, ​both the good and bad. Every moment significantly impacted my ​growth as a person and helped create so many memories of my ​college experience. Time goes by fast, and I would not take any small ​moment for granted.

Who or what has been your biggest inspiration or motivation?

My teammates have been my biggest motivation throughout my ​career. As one big family with common goals, we provide support ​and accountability for one another, helping stay focused and give our ​best effort daily. My teammates constantly show up for one another, ​which motivates me to be the best person, player, and support on ​and off the court.

What do you think is the most important issue for student-athletes ​today?

Due to the constant pressure to excel academically, athletically, and ​socially, mental health is a critical issue for student-athletes today. ​These stressors can take a toll on student-athletes, causing anxiety, ​depression, and burnout. Schools are taking the initiative to reduce ​the stigma surrounding student athlete’s mental health and offer ​access to resources. However, more steps are still needed to combat ​this pressing issue.

What accomplishment are you most proud of?

I am most proud of helping lead our team through our historic season, ​which included winning the 2024 A-10 championship and holding an ​undefeated record at home. It was incredible to help build the ​program and experience a championship with my senior class after ​going through the ups and downs of our four years.

What are the top three things on your bucket list?

1. Travel the world

2. See the Northern Lights

3. Run a marathon