LAKELAND, Fla. — Florida Southern College women's basketball standout Sydney Gomes has been named to the 2025-26 College Sports Communicators (CSC) Academic All-America® Division II Women's Basketball Third Team, recognizing her exceptional achievements both on the court and in the classroom.
Gomes, a senior majoring in Sport Business Management, carries an impressive 3.96 GPA and was the only student-athlete from the Sunshine State Conference to earn Academic All-America® honors this season. She becomes the first Moccasin to receive the distinction since the 2018-19 campaign, when Anja Fuchs-Robetin was also named to the Third Team, and only the second member in FSC history.
The Academic All-America® program, selected by College Sports Communicators, highlights the nation's top student-athletes for their combined performances athletically and academically. The Division II Academic All-America® program is financially supported by the NCAA Division II national governance structure, assisting CSC in administering the awards for the 2025-26 season.
Across Division II women's basketball, the 15 honorees showcased elite academic excellence. Six members of the Academic All-America® teams boast a perfect 4.0 GPA, while the six First Team selections hold an average GPA of 3.93. Overall, the Division II Academic All-America® team posted a remarkable collective GPA of 3.86.
Gomes' Academic All-America® recognition caps a historic and highly decorated senior season. She was named a WBCA NCAA Division II Coaches' All-America honorable mention selection, becoming the 12th All-American in Florida Southern program history.
A native of Ponte Vedra, Florida, Gomes led the Moccasins to a 23-8 overall record and a 15-5 mark in Sunshine State Conference play, serving as the team's leader on both ends of the floor. She earned First Team All-Region honors and played a key role in guiding Florida Southern to its first SSC Championship game appearance in four years.
Her performance in the SSC Tournament was instrumental, as she totaled 58 points across three contests, scoring 12 against Tampa, 22 against Eckerd, and 24 against Nova Southeastern to earn All-Tournament Team honors.
Gomes capped her standout season by being named Sunshine State Conference Player of the Year, in addition to earning All-SSC First Team and All-Defensive Team recognition. She became just the 12th player in program history to earn SSC Player of the Year honors and the first since the 2018-19 season.
Statistically, Gomes ranked among the conference leaders, averaging 18.3 points, 8.1 rebounds, and 5.2 assists per game while playing 35.8 minutes per contest. She ranked second in the SSC in all three categories while shooting 45 percent from the field and 34 percent from beyond the arc.
A five-time SSC Player of the Week and one-time Defensive Player of the Week honoree, Gomes earned her second career All-SSC selection after previously being named to the second team in 2024-25. During her senior season, she recorded her third career triple-double, surpassed 1,000 career points, 500 rebounds, and 300 assists, and set the Florida Southern single-game assist record with 15.
In her final season, Gomes totaled 568 points and 244 rebounds, finishing her career as one of the most accomplished players in program history.
Off the court, Gomes has also made a meaningful impact in the community. She volunteered with VISTE, helping prepare Thanksgiving meals for those in need, participated in Night to Shine through the Tim Tebow Foundation, and dedicated time to working with individuals with special needs through Noah's Ark.
Her selection to the Academic All-America® Third Team further solidifies her legacy as one of the program's most well-rounded student-athletes, exemplifying the true meaning of success as a scholar-athlete.
