NC State Women’s Basketball celebrated a standout moment for senior forward Maddie Cox on Friday, announcing that she has been named a recipient of the Kay Yow Fund Servant Leader Award.
In a post from the official @PackWomensBball account, the program highlighted Cox as “a leader in the community and on the court,” recognizing her for the prestigious honor from the Kay Yow Cancer Fund.
The award honors student-athletes who best embody the spirit of legendary NC State coach Kay Yow: selfless leadership, character, humility, and a commitment to putting others first both on and off the court. Recipients, nominated by their coaches, receive a special Servant Leader patch for their jerseys. The honor carries extra meaning at NC State, where Yow coached for more than three decades, built a powerhouse program, and coached the 1988 U.S. Olympic team to gold while battling breast cancer for 22 years. The Kay Yow Cancer Fund continues her mission of supporting research and improving lives in the fight against cancers affecting women.
Cox, a 6-2 forward from Flower Mound, Texas, has steadily grown into a respected presence for the Wolfpack. A business administration major with a strong academic record (including multiple ACC All-Academic Team selections and a GPA in the 3.7 range), she has also been recognized for her character through awards like Heart of the Pack. On the court she has contributed as a versatile, hardworking contributor across more than 90 career games, including a Final Four run as a freshman. Off the court, her consistent support of teammates and community involvement reflect the servant-leader qualities the award celebrates.
From a basketball family, with older sisters Lauren (WNBA draft pick and national champion) and Whitney (Division II national champion), Cox has carried that competitive and team-first mindset into her NC State career. Being selected for the Kay Yow Servant Leader Award is a fitting acknowledgment of the leadership she has shown throughout her time in Raleigh.
Congratulations, Maddie. Go Pack! 🐺🏀
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