University of North Texas Athletics
James Named Finalist NCAA Woman of the Year
7/14/2020 1:00:00 PM | Women's Soccer
DENTON – Five-time conference champion, three-time team captain of the UNT soccer team and NCAA All-American Dominique James has been named a finalist for the NCAA's Woman of the Year.
James, who graduated magna cum laude in December from North Texas' G. Brint Ryan College of Business, was nominated by the UNT administration and chosen as a finalist by the NCAA, who aims to pick a winner based on academics, athletics, service and leadership.
"I want to thank coach Hedlund, the UNT administration and the NCAA for nominating me for this great honor," James said. "I'm very thankful for my time at North Texas and the opportunities both on and off the field it provided for me and prepared me to be a leader. I will forever be proud of my time at UNT, the five trophies we won and all the accomplishments my teammates and I earned."
James was raised in Fort Worth to dedicated parents that were former college athletes themselves. A 2016 graduate from Keller Central High School, James was not recruited heavily in high school as she dealt with multiple knee injuries late into her adolescents.
Furthermore, she was even once told by a coach to hang up her cleats, because she wouldn't be able to play DI soccer. James has said she used that as motivation.
One spring though, Mean Green head coach John Hedlund was attending a local high school match and saw James running all over the field. He immediately recognized her talent and potential and was surprised when he found out no one had offered her a scholarship yet.
"This is a great tribute to Dom and the UNT soccer program," Hedlund said. "She has had a stellar career here at UNT winning multiple championships, being named all-American along with winning several outstanding awards and now being a finalist for NCAA Woman of the Year. It's been an honor for me to coach Dom and watch her progress throughout her career into a great champion."
Under Hedlund's guidance, James used her natural born athleticism, work ethic and no nonsense attitude to develop into one of the nation's top defenders and graduate from UNT as one of its most accomplished student-athletes both on and off the field.
On the field she never missed a match and after seven matches into her freshman season she'd never be left off the starting lineup. As a freshman she'd help guide her team to the 2016 Conference USA regular season title and then in 2017 along with teammate Natalie Newell they became the youngest team captains in program history.
In total, James started 80 matches for UNT and captained the 2017, 2018 and 2019 teams to not just conference championships but NCAA Tournament berths.
A three-time first team all-conference honoree, she twice was named the conference's Defensive Player of the Year, becoming the first multi-winner in program history. In 2018 she was named the league's Player of the Year after leading North Texas to the regular season and tournament crown.
The two-time United Soccer Coaches All-South Region first team honoree in 2018 earned the highest on-field individual honor in program history when she was voted by opposing coaches to all-American status after captaining UNT to a No. 24 national ranking and NCAA Tournament berth.
At the start of 2019 James was named a MAC Herman Award Watch List finalist. The MAC Herman is awarded at the end of the year to the nation's player of the year. James was one of just 13 defenders to be named to the 58-woman watch list and the first player in program history to earn a watch list honor.
Off the field, James was an all-academic standout student-athlete that also was a member of multiple clubs and committees and played a pivotal role in empowering UNT student-athletes through the athletic department's Student-Athlete Advisor Committee. While not training and studying, James was a constant in the Denton community volunteering. In 2018 she was awarded the C-USA Spirit and Service Award for her leadership.
North Texas Athletics twice named her the university's female student-athlete of the year. UNT Athletics Hall of Famer Rosalyn Reades was named the NCAA Woman of the Year in 2002.
Rooted in Title IX, the NCAA Woman of the Year Award was established in 1991 to recognize graduating female student-athletes who have exhausted their eligibility and distinguished themselves in academics, athletics, service and leadership throughout their collegiate careers.
The winner will be announced this coming fall.
Support North Texas student-athletes by visiting MeanGreenScholarshipFund.com.
James, who graduated magna cum laude in December from North Texas' G. Brint Ryan College of Business, was nominated by the UNT administration and chosen as a finalist by the NCAA, who aims to pick a winner based on academics, athletics, service and leadership.
"I want to thank coach Hedlund, the UNT administration and the NCAA for nominating me for this great honor," James said. "I'm very thankful for my time at North Texas and the opportunities both on and off the field it provided for me and prepared me to be a leader. I will forever be proud of my time at UNT, the five trophies we won and all the accomplishments my teammates and I earned."
James was raised in Fort Worth to dedicated parents that were former college athletes themselves. A 2016 graduate from Keller Central High School, James was not recruited heavily in high school as she dealt with multiple knee injuries late into her adolescents.
Furthermore, she was even once told by a coach to hang up her cleats, because she wouldn't be able to play DI soccer. James has said she used that as motivation.
One spring though, Mean Green head coach John Hedlund was attending a local high school match and saw James running all over the field. He immediately recognized her talent and potential and was surprised when he found out no one had offered her a scholarship yet.
"This is a great tribute to Dom and the UNT soccer program," Hedlund said. "She has had a stellar career here at UNT winning multiple championships, being named all-American along with winning several outstanding awards and now being a finalist for NCAA Woman of the Year. It's been an honor for me to coach Dom and watch her progress throughout her career into a great champion."
Under Hedlund's guidance, James used her natural born athleticism, work ethic and no nonsense attitude to develop into one of the nation's top defenders and graduate from UNT as one of its most accomplished student-athletes both on and off the field.
On the field she never missed a match and after seven matches into her freshman season she'd never be left off the starting lineup. As a freshman she'd help guide her team to the 2016 Conference USA regular season title and then in 2017 along with teammate Natalie Newell they became the youngest team captains in program history.
In total, James started 80 matches for UNT and captained the 2017, 2018 and 2019 teams to not just conference championships but NCAA Tournament berths.
A three-time first team all-conference honoree, she twice was named the conference's Defensive Player of the Year, becoming the first multi-winner in program history. In 2018 she was named the league's Player of the Year after leading North Texas to the regular season and tournament crown.
The two-time United Soccer Coaches All-South Region first team honoree in 2018 earned the highest on-field individual honor in program history when she was voted by opposing coaches to all-American status after captaining UNT to a No. 24 national ranking and NCAA Tournament berth.
At the start of 2019 James was named a MAC Herman Award Watch List finalist. The MAC Herman is awarded at the end of the year to the nation's player of the year. James was one of just 13 defenders to be named to the 58-woman watch list and the first player in program history to earn a watch list honor.
Off the field, James was an all-academic standout student-athlete that also was a member of multiple clubs and committees and played a pivotal role in empowering UNT student-athletes through the athletic department's Student-Athlete Advisor Committee. While not training and studying, James was a constant in the Denton community volunteering. In 2018 she was awarded the C-USA Spirit and Service Award for her leadership.
North Texas Athletics twice named her the university's female student-athlete of the year. UNT Athletics Hall of Famer Rosalyn Reades was named the NCAA Woman of the Year in 2002.
Rooted in Title IX, the NCAA Woman of the Year Award was established in 1991 to recognize graduating female student-athletes who have exhausted their eligibility and distinguished themselves in academics, athletics, service and leadership throughout their collegiate careers.
The winner will be announced this coming fall.
Support North Texas student-athletes by visiting MeanGreenScholarshipFund.com.
Players Mentioned
Defense
/ Women's Soccer
Defense
/ Women's SoccerFriday, September 05
Friday, August 29
Monday, August 18
Monday, September 30