Israeli Women Athletes Honored at Annual WSP Sports Awards Ceremony

The annual Israeli Women’s Sports Awards ceremony took place on July 30, 2026, at the WSC Sports offices in Ramat Gan, celebrating outstanding female athletes and coaches across various sports. The event was organized by WSP, The Voice of Women Athletes in Israel, and attended by notable figures including Knesset member Simon Davidson, Dana Sender (Chair of the Women’s Basketball Premier League), Orit Raz (Head of Women’s Football at the Israel Football Association), and other prominent leaders in Israeli women’s sports.

In basketball, Eden Tzipel, forward and captain of Hapoel Rishon LeZion and Israeli national team member, was named Player of the Year after leading her team to a historic championship. Daniela Reuven was honored as Coach of the Year for guiding Maccabi Carmiel Beit HaKerem to the playoffs in their return season to the Premier League before moving to coach Maccabi Haifa.

In football, Smadar Cohen of Hapoel Katamon Jerusalem was named Player of the Year after leading her club to its first championship and becoming the league’s top scorer with 28 goals, also making her debut for the Israeli national team. Coach Tzach Sharoni was recognized as Coach of the Year for his first season leading the team to historic success.

Other awardees included Raz Harshko as Olympic Athlete of the Year, Linor Kalman as Paralympic Athlete of the Year, and Katrina Zilberman as Volleyball Player of the Year. The Artistic Roller Skating team was named Team of the Year.

Noa Zlevansky, founder of WSP, emphasized the importance of empowering women athletes and increasing media coverage to inspire future generations. She highlighted WSP’s growth over four years into a platform with a 30-person team dedicated to promoting women’s sports in Israel. Zlevansky dedicated the event to her late mother, who inspired her commitment to social justice and empowerment.

The ceremony underscored the ongoing efforts to elevate women’s sports in Israel, recognizing achievements and advocating for greater visibility and support across all disciplines.