ST. LOUIS – Missouri Valley Conference member institutions nominated five outstanding female student-athletes for the prestigious NCAA Woman of the Year award. The nominees represent five sports across four institutions.
 
The league’s Council of Faculty Athletic Representatives (FARs) voted to select two student-athletes – Kira Fallert (UNI volleyball) and Chloe Farro (Indiana State swimming & diving) – as the 2025 NCAA Woman of the Year Conference finalists.


 
Kira Fallert – Northern Iowa, Volleyball
Maplewood, Minn. / Communication Sciences and Disorders
Fallert, the 2024 MVC Volleyball Co-Player and Scholar-Athlete of the Year, finished her career as a two-time all-conference performer, three-time Elite 18 Award winner and three-time Scholar-Athlete First Team selection. She finished seventh in program history in career kills and is a member of UNI’s double-grand club with more than 1,000 kills and 1,000 digs. Fallert, who was named the 2025 MVC Dr. Charlotte West Scholar-Athlete Award winner by the Council of FARs, has been a prominent member of her community, volunteering at her hometown church, helping at camps for children with communication disorders, coaching youth volleyball and serving at food banks.
 
“Holding myself to such high standards developed strong time management and emotional dedication traits essential to my future as a speech-language pathologist. The confidence I now have in reaching my professional goals stems largely from the discipline and drive volleyball instilled in me.”


 
Chloe Farro – Indiana State, Swimming & Diving
Savaneta, Aruba / Marketing
Throughout her career, Farro earned several awards for her academic and athletic success. A three-time all-conference performer, Farro has landed a spot on the MVC Scholar-Athlete Team in all three years she was eligible. She was nominated for the National Society of Leadership and Success in 2023, being recognized for leadership potential, academic achievement and community involvement. Farro, a two-time team captain, has participated in several volunteer opportunities, both with Indiana State University and her home country of Aruba. She was also selected as the flag bearer for Aruba at the 2024 Paris Olympics Opening Ceremony.
 
“Over my college career, I've significantly improved my ability to manage my time, which has made it easier to maintain a strong academic performance. By being a leader on the team, I have developed the skills needed for my future professional career. Every early morning practice, late-night study session, and leadership duty has helped me grow into a more balanced, determined, and confident version of myself.”
 
One of the most prestigious awards sponsored by the NCAA, the Woman of the Year award was established in 1991 to celebrate the achievements of women in intercollegiate athletics. Now in its 35th year, the NCAA Woman of the Year award honors graduating female college athletes who have distinguished themselves in academics, athletics, service and leadership throughout their collegiate careers.
 
All Conference finalists are advanced to the Woman of the Year selection committee. The selection committee will choose the top 10 honorees in each division. From among those 30 honorees, the selection committee will select the 2025 NCAA Woman of the Year. The top 30 honorees will be honored, and the 2025 NCAA Woman of the Year winner will be announced later this fall.
 
Each nominee had noteworthy credentials athletically, academically and within the communities that they represent. A full list of additional institutional nominees, their sport, hometown and academic studies is included below, as well as complete profiles of each additional candidate.
 
Paola Campigotto – Murray State, Tennis
Joinville, Brazil / Psychology
Campigotto was a three-time all-conference performer and recipient of several academic awards throughout her time with the Racers. She posted 125 career victories, including five MVC individual tennis titles and a doubles title at the No. 3 position during the 2024 championship. Aside from her Student-Athlete Advisory Committee work in 2023, Campigotto volunteered with various events and organizations, including local food pantries, elementary schools and tennis clinics.
 
“I’m forever grateful to Murray State University for the experiences that helped me discover who I am. I learned that I am strong, capable, and ready to lead with purpose and integrity. I also learned the importance of staying grounded in kindness, service, and gratitude. These values, reinforced by every challenge and triumph, now guide me as I step into the next chapter of my life.”
 
Maya Johnson – Belmont, Softball
Columbia Station, Ohio / Nursing
A seven-time MVC Pitcher of the Week honoree in 2025, Johnson was recognized as the MVC Pitcher of the Year and tournament MVP, as well as the 2025 MVC Softball Scholar-Athlete of the Year. A three-time all-conference performer, Johnson finished the 2025 campaign as the NCAA statistical champion in total strikeouts, strikeout-to-walk ratio, shutouts, and walks allowed, hits allowed and strikeouts per seven innings. For her success in the circle, Johnson has been recognized as an All-American by the National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA), Softball America and D1 Softball. Her community work involves serving as an ambassador for the Lupus Foundation of America, as well as involvement with Team IMPACT and various children’s hospitals.
 
“My time as a student-athlete became a journey of growth and overcoming. The way my coaches and teammates believed in me helped me understand the profound impact one positive person can have on someone’s life. I spent my career not just proving others wrong but proving to myself that I was capable.”
 
Katelyn Young – Murray State, Basketball
Oakwood, Ill. / Organizational Communication
A three-time All-MVC performer, Young has been recognized nationally on several occasions for her athletic success. She was a three-time Becky Hammon Mid-Major Player of the Year watch list honoree, including a semifinalist during the 2021-22 season. Young finished her career ranking 14^th all-time in points scored in NCAA Division I women’s basketball history and holds the career points record in Murray State basketball history, men’s or women’s, while holding the women’s career rebounding record. Young is a multiple-time recipient of the MVC Commissioner’s Academic Excellence Award, and she has served as a volunteer reader at local elementary schools in Murray, Kentucky. She also has experience serving with Special Olympics, Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) and food pantries.
 
“Of course, this journey hasn’t been without its challenges. Injuries, the emotional strain of competition, and navigating the uncertainty of a global pandemic have all tested me in unexpected ways. But I’ve learned that vulnerability is not a weakness; it’s a pathway to empathy, connection, and growth. These experiences have made me more aware of how I can support others through their own challenges.”