The Academic All-America program is selected by the College Sports Communicators (formerly known as College Sports Information Directors of America, or CoSIDA), and recognizes combined athletic performance and academic achievement excellence of the nation's top student-athletes.
From 1996 through 2011, one winner each was chosen from both the College and University Divisions for all twelve Academic All-America teams.
[1][a] Currently, each team selects Academic All-District honorees in eight geographic districts across the United States and Canada.
The six Division I overall winners have been Rebecca Lobo (1995, before there were separate awards by level), Ruth Riley (2001), Stacey Dales-Schuman (2002), Maya Moore (2011), Aliyah Boston (2022) and Caitlin Clark (2023 and 2024).
[8] As of August 2024[update], there have been 11 repeat winners of this award, including 7 times in Division I: Michelle Flamoe (1988 and 1989), Karen Jennings (1992 and 1993), Moore (2010 and 2011), Elena Delle Donne (2012 and 2013), Ally Disterhoft (2016 and 2017), Boston (2021 and 2022), and Clark (2023 and 2024).