Jordan Larson Named Sportswoman of the Year

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (Oct. 13, 2021) – U.S. Women’s National Team Captain Jordan Larson was named the Women’s Sports Foundation’s Sportswoman of the Year for Team Sport on Wednesday during the organization’s Annual Salute, part of a national broadcast on Yahoo Sports.

Larson was honored for leading the U.S. Women to their first Olympic gold medal in August at the Summer Games in Tokyo. She was named the tournament’s Most Valuable Player and Best Outside Hitter.

“This award by the Women’s Sports Foundation is really something that I am just so grateful for,” Larson said on the broadcast. “I am so blessed to have had the path that I’ve had that has led me here today. It is something I will never take for granted… It is definitely one of the top accolades that I’ve achieved.”

Earlier in 2021, Larson led the U.S. Women to their third-straight FIVB Volleyball Nations League title. In April, she was the champion of the inaugural season of the Athletes Unlimited professional volleyball league.

“I grew up a small-town girl. I just had big dreams of being on the big stage… I’m just proud to represent Team USA and USA Volleyball at the highest level,” Larson said.

Larson, a three-time Olympic medalist, acknowledged the volleyball players and teams who came before her along with her current teammates in her acceptance speech. She also talked about her mother Kae who died of breast cancer in 2009.

“Every time I go out to play, I always think, ‘She has the best seat in the house.’ I’m just sad she can’t see what has transpired in the last year. I know she would be super proud.”

Sitting volleyball player Kaleo Maclay, a two-time Paralympic gold medalist, was also part of the broadcast as a recipient of the Child Care Grant, a Power of She Fund grant designed to support female athletes with children. The Power of She Fund was established by Athleta, in partnership with the Women’s Sports Foundation.

Recognized as the biggest night in women’s sports, the event also honored track Olympian Allyson Felix, tennis player Naomi Osaka and sports executives Kim Ng and Larry Scott.

Watch the replay at sports.yahoo.com.