The National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA) has announced Louisville graduate guard Mykasa Robinson as a 2023 All-American Strength and Conditioning Athlete of the Year Award recipient. This prestigious award recognizes Robinson’s exceptional athletic accomplishments and her unwavering dedication to strength and conditioning. Nominated by Rhen Vail, Head Strength and Conditioning Coach for women’s basketball at Louisville, Robinson’s commitment to excelling in athletics while maintaining academic excellence serves as an inspiration to all student-athletes at the university.
“Mykasa Robinson embodies what it means to be a Louisville Cardinal – her heart, determination, grit, and toughness on and off the court make her a coach’s dream, a fan favorite, and a model student-athlete,” said Vail. As an exercise science major and aspiring Strength and Conditioning Coach, Robinson’s leadership qualities are evident not only in the weight room but also on the practice court, in the classroom, and within the community.
According to Vail, Robinson’s unwavering dedication to the process and strong work ethic in the weight room have contributed to her becoming the all-time leader in games played at Louisville, along with multiple All-ACC defensive team selections. “I could not think of a more deserving person for this award than Mykasa,” Vail added.
Robinson concluded her Louisville career last season, helping the Cardinals reach their fifth-straight Elite Eight, making Louisville the only school in the country to make each of the last five Elite Eights. Robinson set the program record for career games played this season, finishing with 162 games played. She also set the ACC record for most career conference wins (79) in both the women’s and men’s game.
During the past season, Robinson set career highs with 6.4 points, 5.1 rebounds, 4.2 assists, and 1.9 steals per game. She led the team in steals and assists, finished second in rebounding, and was fifth in points. She was named to the ACC All-Defensive Team for the third-straight season this year, becoming the first player to achieve this honor in three consecutive seasons since 2017. Robinson was also one of three Cardinals named to the ACC First Team All-Tournament, the most of any school.
What is the National Strength & Conditioning Association (NSCA)?
Established in 1978, the National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA) is a nonprofit association committed to advancing the strength and conditioning and related sport science professions worldwide. The NSCA empowers a community of professionals to maximize their impact by disseminating evidence-based knowledge and its practical application through industry-leading certifications, research journals, career development services, networking opportunities, and continuing education. The NSCA community comprises more than 60,000 members and certified professionals globally who further industry standards as researchers, educators, strength and conditioning coaches, performance and sport scientists, personal trainers, tactical professionals, and other related roles.