WA golf superstar Minjee Lee has broken through to claim the 2025 WA Sport Star award after a phenomenal year which saw her claim her third victory in a Major.
The Royal Fremantle Golf Club product claimed the coveted golden trophy in her 10th year of being a finalist, with her first nomination coming back in 2014.
Lee enjoyed a resurgent season in 2025, bouncing back from some lean years to beat the field and win the Women’s PGA Championship in June and climb to No.3 in the world rankings.
She also led Australia to a first ever International Crown title in October, where she was named MVP, and won the Greg Norman Medal for the fourth time as Australia’s leading golfer.
Her win was announced at SportWest’s WA Sport Awards on Thursday night at Crown Perth.
The event also saw skateboarder Mia Kretzer – the youngest-ever X Games gold medallist – named Junior Sport Star and the Perth Thundersticks women win Team of the Year after back-to-back Hockey One titles.
Lee’s coach Richie Smith was named the RSM Australia Coach of the Year for the second consecutive year and third time overall.
Tennis’ Rosario Corvaia was named ActiveXchange Official of the Year, Paddle WA’s Pause for Life won Hyundai Initiative of the Year, and Hayden Marchetto from WA All Abilites Football Association was CITS Sport Administrator of the Year.
Lee had previously been named WA’s Junior Sport Star in 2012 and 2014.
Her win is the seventh time in the past 10 years a female athlete has claimed WA Sport’s leading individual accolade.
Nina Kennedy won the award last year, with Sam Kerr (2023, 2018, 2017), Madison de Rozario (2021) and fellow golfer Hannah Green (2019) rounding out that list.
Comments attributable to Minjee Lee:
“It feels pretty amazing,” she said.
“I’ve been really close to winning this award so many times, so it’s really special.”
On the WA Sport Awards female athlete dominance:
“I don’t know, maybe we’re just tough,” she said.
“Everybody’s got such a great work ethic and we know what it takes to be the best. Women’s sport in general is being embraced and we feel more empowered to be the best we can be.
“We just have great determination and, you know, women are the best and we can do anything. We’re just strong.”
Comments attributable to SportWest CEO Troy Kirkham:
“To have every part of sport in Western Australia represented for these awards with 470 guests from current day OIympians and professional athletes, past winners and valued volunteers, community club members and administrators make this as a truly special occasion on the WA sporting calendar.
“To be able to honour the commitment of people connected to sport in the WA community alongside our high performers on and off the field has made the 2025 WA Sport Awards an occasion that will live long in the memory of those who were part of the celebration.
“We had 265 nominations this year and all of them, along with our finalists and winners highlighted should all be celebrated for their achievements and contributions.
“For Minjee Lee to be rewarded for an incredibly high standard of performance over the last decade and receive her first WA Sports Star Award. She has been close on a number of occasions and we know how thrilled she was to finally claim that coveted gold statue.
“We’ve already got an eye to the 2026 WA Sport Awards being presented early next year when we’ll make 70 years since the first WA Sport Award was delivered to Morna Pearce from hockey in 1956.”
FULL LIST OF WINNERS
WA Sports Star: Minjee Lee (golf)
Junior Sports Star: Mia Kretzer (skateboarding)
Team of the Year: Perth Thundersticks Women (hockey)
RSM Australia Coach of the Year: Ritchie Smith (golf)
ActiveXchange Official of the Year: Rosario Corvaia (tennis)
Service to Sport – May Campbell Medal: Gaye Teede (netball); Brett Woolfitt (rowing); Tom Hoad (water polo)
Hyundai Sport Initiative of the Year: Pause for Life (Paddle WA)
Community Sporting Event of the Year: Fuel to Go & Play Association Championships (Netball WA)
CITS Sport Administrator of the Year: Hayden Marchetto (WA All Abilities Football Association – Australian Rules)
revolutioniseSPORT Community Club of the Year – John Gilmour Medal: Hamersley Rovers Junior Football Club (Football/Soccer)
Organisation of the Year: Football Futures Foundation (Football/Soccer)
Road Safety Commission Best On Road Award: Samantha Saffioti, Roleystone Junior Football Club (Australian Rules Football)
Camera House Leederville Sport Image of the Year: Elyse Hudson
