Just like their male colleagues, the women involved in athletic programs sought to honour those who made special or particularly significant contributions to the development and success of women’s athletics at Western. In 1948, it was recommended that women should be honoured with colours and shields for outstanding athletic achievement as men at the university were, but that these individuals should be chosen at the discretion of the Women’s Athletic Committee.
Later that year, WAC awarded the first Purple Blanket (an athletic honour previously reserved for men participating in two or more sports) to a woman, Doris Shirley, for her participation in basketball, tennis and ornamental swim team. This tradition of recognition for women’s athletics continues today in the form of the White Blanket. Female athletes also continue to receive Purple Blankets, marking athletic achievement at the provincial or national level.
In 1957, the FWP Jones Trophy was established to annually honour the person who made the greatest contribution to women’s athletics during their years spent at Western. The trophy has now become an important aspect of the athletic tradition at Western, honouring athletes competing in all programs at Western.
Below is a list of winners of the award, with photographs and information provided by the WAA.
| Thumbnail | First Name | Last Name | Sport(s) | Year | Additional Information |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | Shirley | Moser | Swimming (1952-58) Volleyball (1953-58) Archery | 1957-58 | Team Championships: WIAU Volleyball Champions (1953-58) WIAU Swimming Champions (1953-58) Swimming Relay Record Holding Team Member Special Achievements and Honours: President of WAC |
 | Mary Lou | Dresser | Basketball (1954-59) Volleyball (1956-59) | 1958-59 | Special Achievments and Honours: Captain of Volleyball Team Vice President of WAC |
 | Yvette | Walton | Volleyball (1956-61) Basketball (1957-60) Tennis (1956-60) Archery (1957-61) | 1959-60 | Team Championships: WIAU Volleyball Champions (1956-61) WIAU Basketball Champions (1957-60) Special Achievements and Honours: White Blanket Award (1960) |
 | Andrea | Jeffrey | Basketball (1957-61) Volleyball (1957-61) | 1960-61 | Team Championships: WIAU Basketball Champions (1958-60) WIAU Volleyball Champions (1957-61) Special Achievements and Honours: President of WAC (1960-61) |
 | Eleanor | Ward | Volleyball (1958-1962) Basketball, Track and Field | 1961-62 | Team Championships: WIAU Volleyball Champions (1958-1962) WIAU Basketball Champions Special Achievements and Honours: Indoor Track and Field High Jump Record |
 | Marg | Wagstaff | Basketball (1960-65) Archery (1959-63) | 1962-63 | Special Achievements and Honours: Volleyball Team Manager (1961) |
 | Martha | Borshke | Basketball (1961-64) Volleyball (1960-62) Field Hockey (1963-64) Outdoor Track and Field (1963-64) | 1963-64 | Team Championships: WIAU Basketball Champions (1961-64) WIAU Volleyball Champions (1960-62) Special Achievements and Honours: President of WAC (1962-63) |
 | Sue | Hilton | Basketball (1961-65) Volleyball (1961-62) | 1964-65 | Team Championships: WIAU Basketball Champions (1962-65) WIAU Volleyball Champions (1961-62) |
 | Joanne | Smith | Field Hockey (1962-66) Basketball (1964-66) Ice Hockey (1963-64) Volleyball (1962-63) | 1965-66 | Team Championships: WIAU Volleyball Champions (1962-63) WIAU Basketball Champions (1964-66) Special Achievements and Honours: Co-Captain of Basketball Team (1965-66) |
 | Elaine | McRae | Basketball (1962-67) Field Hockey (1965-667) Volleyball (1962-63) | 1966-67 | Team Championships: WIAU BAsketball Champions (1962-67) WIAU Field Hockey Champions (1966-67) Special Achivements and Honours: Captain of Basketball Team (1965-66) |
 | Jean | Richardson | Basketball (1964-68) Field Hockey (1964-68) Track and Field (1964-68) | 1967-68 | Team Championships: WIAU Baksetball champions (1964-65, 1965-66, 1966-67) WIAU Field Hockey Co-Champions (1966-67) |
 | Jane | Allison | Volleyball (1965-67) Basketball (1967-69) Field Hockey (1966-67) Track and Field (1968-69) | 1968-69 | Team Championships: WIAU Volleyball Champions (1965-66) WIAU Basketball Champions (1968-69) Special Achievements and Honours: Captain of Basketball Team (1968-69) |
 | Beverley | Pierce | Basketball (1966-69) Track and Field (1966-69) | 1969-70 | Team Championships: WIAU Basketball champions (1966-67, 1967-68, 1968-69) |
 | Marion Lynn | Munro | Volleyball (1968-72) Tennis (1968-72) | 1971-72 | Team Championships: OWIAA Volleyball Champions Ontario Singles Tennis Champion Special Acheivements and Honours: Captain of Volleyball Team (1968-72) White Blanket Award (1972) Member of the Canadian Volleyball Team (1971-73) |
 | Janet E. | Mackay | Ice Hockey (1969-73) Track and Field (1969-73) | 1972-73 | Team Championships: WIAU and OWIAA Track and Field (1969-70, 1970-71, 1972-73) Special Achievements and Honours: 3 Gold Medals in Tarck and Field (1970, 1973) Assistant Captain of Ice Hockey (1970-73) |
 | Evelyn J. | Weatherston | Track and Field (1970-73) Basketball (1969-75) | 1972-73 | Team Championships: WIAU Basketball Champions OWIAA Basketball Champions OWIAA Track and Field Champions (1973) Special Acheivements and Honours: OWIAA 1st in Javelin (1972-73) Captain of Basketball (1972-73) |
 | Mary | Riezebos | Outdoor Track and Field (1970-73) Basketball (1970-75) | 1973-74 | Team Championships: OWIAA Basketball Champions (1971-74) OWIAA Track and Field Champions (1971-72) Special Achievements and Honours: OWIAA 1st High Jump OWIAA 1st 100m OWIAA 1st 4x100 relay OWIAA 1st 4x400 relay (1971-72) |
 | Therese | Quigley | Tennis (1971-75) Volleyball (1971-77) | 1974-75 | Team Championships: OWIAA Volleyball Champions (1972-76) CIAU Volleyball Champions (1972, 1975, 1976) CIAU Silver Medal (1973, 1974) |
 | Judy A. | Alaszkiewicz | Volleyball (1972-77) Archery | 1975-76 | Team Championships: OWIAA Volleyball Champions (1972-77) CIAU Volleyball Champions (1972, 1975, 1976) CIAU Volleyball Silver (1973, 1974, 1977) Special Achievements and Honours: Member of Women's Volleyball National Team (1972-74) |
 | Patricia | Kitchen | Swimming (1970-77) | 1976-77 | Special Achievements and Honours: OWIAA Record-Holder in 100yd &200yd Breaststroke (1970-74, 1977) CIAU Champion in 1007d breastroke (1974, 1976) Captain: 1973-77 |
 | Marilyn | Robbins | Tennis (1974-78) Ski Team (1974-78) | 1977-78 | Team Championships: Jamie Mordan Memorial Award (1974-78) Ski Team Ontario Champions Special Achievements and Honours: Can Am Champion (Skiing) OWIAA Champion (Skiing) |
 | Janet | Dick | Track and Field (1975-80) Cross Country (1975-80) | 1978-79 | Team Championships: OWIAA Champions (1979-80) Special Achievements and Honours: OWIAA Track and Field Medals (8 Golds, 5 Silver, 4 Bronze) MVP Track and Field (1975-76, 1978-79) MVP Cross Country (1977-78, 1979-80) 2 Gold at ontario Senior Championships (800m, 1500m) in Summer 1980 |
 | Sharon | Lane | Track and Field (1976-82) | 1979-80 | Team Championships: OWIAA Track and Field Champions (1978-79, 1979-80, 1980-81, 1981-82) Special Acheivements and Honours: MVP of Track and Field (1980) Canadian National Record Holder in 100m hurdles (1979-82) Silver Medal in Track and Field at Pan American Games (1979) Olympic Team Member (1980) Ontario University Champion in 50m hurldes, 50m sprint |
 | Cindy | Elliott-Pavan | Volleyball (1975-81) | 1980-81 | Team Championships: OWIAA Volleyball Champions (1975-78) CIAU Volleyball Champions (1975-78) CIAU Volleyball Silver Medal (1976-78) Special Achievements and Honours: Member of the Canadian National Women's Volleyball Team (1978-79) |
 | Joanne | Kennedy | Swimming (1976-81) | 1980-81 | Team Championships: 2nd Place OWIAA 6th Place CIAU Special Achievements and Honours: 5 CIAU Golds 11 OWIAA Golds |
 | Heather | Clarke | Rowing (1978-82) Nordic Skiing (1980-82) | 1981-82 | Team Championships: OWIAA Rowing Champions (1978-89, 1980-81, 1981-82) Special Achievements and Honours: Stroke of Winning Heavy Eight in Dad Vale Regatta (1981) 2nd Place in Women's Four at Henley Regatta (1981) 4th Place in Women's Eight at World Championship; first time in history of competition women were allowed to compete |
 | Alison | Armstrong | Track and Field (1979-83) | 1982-83 | Team Championships: OWIAA Champions Track and Field Champions (1979-83) CIAU Track and Field Champions (1980-83) Special Achievements and Honours: CIAU High Jump Record: 1.79m (1983) OWIAA Gold Medals: High Jump (3) CIAU Gold Medals: High Jump (3) |
 | Nancy | Lemon | Basketball (1980-84) | 1983-84 | Special Achievements and Honours: Team Captain: 1981-84 Team MVP: 1983-84 OWIAA All Star: 1982, 1983, 1984 Purple Blanket: 1984 |
 | Cathy | Lund | Rowing (1980-83, 1984-85) Nordic Skiing (1981-1983) | 1984-85 | Team Championships: OWIAA Champions: Rowing (1984-85) Special Achievements and Honours: Canadian National Team: 1978-79, 1981, 1986 Purple Blanket: 1984-85 |
 | Heidi | Thompson | Swimming (1982-86) | 1985-86 | Team Championships: OWIAA Champions: Swimming and Diving (1985-86) Special Achievements and Honours: Team Captain: 1983-84 All Canadian: 1984, 1986 CIAU Gold Medals: 1983-84, 1984-85(2), 1985-86(2) Pat Kitchen Award Winner (MVP): 1984, 1985, 1986 Purple Blanket 1986 |
 | May | Alizadeh | Cross Country (1983, 1986) Track and Field (1984, 1987) | 1986-87 | Team Championships: OWIAA Champions: Cross Country (1983, 1984), Track and Field (1984, 1985) CIAU Champions: Cross Country (1983, 1984) Special Achievements and Honours: OWIAA All Star: Cross Country (1983, 1986), Track and Field (1984, 1987) OWIAA Gold Medal: Cross Country (1986), Track and Field (1986) CIAU All Canadian: Cross Country (1983, 1984, 1986) UWO All Time Track & Field List: 3rd in 3000m Purple Blanket: 1987 |
 | Sandra | Anschuetz | Cross Country (1982, 1983, 1985-87) Track and Field (1983, 1984, 1987) | 1987-88 | Team Championships: OWIAA Champions: Cross Country 1982, Track and Field 1983 Special Achievements and Honours: Team Captain: Cross Country 1986, 1987 OWIAA All Star: Cross Country 1982, 1985, 1987, Track and Field: 1983, 1987 OWIAA Gold Medal: Cross Country 1985, 1987 CIAU All Canadian: Cross Country 1982, 1985, 1987, Track and Field, 1983, 1987 Purple Blanket: 1986 |
 | Brigitte | Gagne | Fencing (1985-88) Tennis (1988) | 1988-89 | Team Championships: OWIAA Champions - Fencing (1985, 1986, 1987, 1988) Special Achievements and Awards: Captain of Fencing (1986-88) OWIAA Individual Foil Champion (1986, 1987) Provincial Foil Team Champion (1988, 1989) Bronze W (1987) Purple Blanket: 1989 |
 | Sara | Ostler | Field Hockey (1984-86, 1988) Indoor Hockey (1985-87, 1989) | 1988-89 | Special Achievements and Honours: Team Captain: Field Hockey (1984-86, 1988), Indoor Hockey (1986, 1987, 1989) MVP: Field Hockey (1985-86), Indoor Hockey (1987, 1989) OWIAA All Star: Field Hockey (1986, 1988), Indoor Hockey (1987, 1989) All Canadian: Field Hockey (1988) Member: Ontario Field Hockey Team (1987) Purple Blanket: 1989 |
 | Marnie | McBean | Rowing (1986-90) | 1989-90 | Team Championships: OWIAA Rowing Champions (1986-1989) Special Achievements and Honours: Team Captain (1990) Vice Captain (1989) OWIAA Singles Champion (1990) Ontario Rowing Association Athlete of the Year (1989) Ontario Rowing Championships - Gold (1990) Canadian Championships - Gold (1988) Olympic Team Spare (1988) World Student Games - Silver (1989) Purple Blanket: 1990 |
 | Brenda | Arbuckle | Cross Country (1987-91) Track and Field (1987-91) | 1990-91 | Team Championships: OWIAA Champions Cross Country (1990) CIAU Champions Cross Country (1988, 1990) Special Achievements and Honours: MVP Cross Country (1989) OWIAA All Star, Cross Country (1987, 1988, 1989, 1990) OWIAA Gold Medal Cross Country (1990) Gold Medal - Track and Field (1988) Silver Medal Track and Field (1989) CIAU All Canadian - Cross Country (1989, 1990), Track and Field (1988) CIAU Bronze Medal - Cross Country (1990) Silver Medal - Track and Field (1988) Bronze Medal - Track and Field (1989) Purple Blanket: 1991 |
 | Lori | Coleman | Squash (1990-92) | 1991-92 | Team Championships: OWIAA Champions (1990, 1992) Special Achievements and Honours: Team Captain (1992) MVP (1992) OWIAA All Star (1990, 1991, 1992) OWIAA Individual Champion (1990, 1991, 1992) National Team Member (1989-1992) Purple Blanket: 1992 |
 | Michele | Mommersteeg | Basketball (1988-93) | 1992-93 | Team Championships: OWIAA Champions (1991, 1992) OWIAA Bronze Medal (1993) Special Achievements and Honours: Team Captain (1990, 1991, 1992) MVP (1993) UWO Career Scoring Leader (960 pts, 1993) OWIAA Rookie of the Year (1989) OWIAA West Division MVP (1993) OWIAA All Star (1990, 1991, 1992, 1993) OWIAA 2-Time Athlete of the Week (1993) CIAU 2nd Team All Canadian (1993) CIAU Athlete of the Week (1993) Purple Blanket: 1992 |
 | Paula | Schwan | Cross Country (1989-94) Track and Field (1989-94) | 1993-94 | Team Championships: OWIAA Cross Country Champions 1989, 1990, 1992 CIAU Cross Country Champions 1989, 1990 Special Achievements and Honours: Team Captain, Cross Country 1992, 1993 MVP Cross Country 1993 OWIAA All Star, Cross Country 1989, 1990, 1992, 1993 OWIAA Bronze Medal, Cross Country 1990 CIAU All Canadian, Cross Country 1990, 1992, 1993 CIAU Silver Medal, Cross Country 1990 MVP Track and Field 1991 OWIAA All Star, Track and Field 1991, 1993 OWIAA Track and Field Medals - 2 Gold, 2 Silver, 2 Bronze, 1990-1993 CIAU All Canadian, Track and Field 1991 Purple Blanket 1994 |
 | Michele | Vesprini | Basketball | 1994-95, 1995-96 | Team Championships: OWIAA Silver Medal (1992) OWIAA Bronze Medal (1993, 1994, 1995, 1996) Special Achievements and Honours: Team Captain (1994, 1995, 1996) MVP (1994, 1995, 1996) First two-time winner FWP Jones Trophy UWO/OWIAA All-Time Career scoring leader (1171 pts, 1996) OWIAA Rookie of the Year (1992) OWIAA West Division MVP (1994, 1995, 1996) OWIAA All Star (1994, 1995, 1996) CIAU All Canadian (1994, 1995, 1996) CIAU All Rookie Team (1992) Purple Blanket: 1995 |
 | Angela | Nobes | Basketball (1994-97) | 1996-97 | Team Championships: OWIAA Bronze Medal (1994, 1995, 1997) OWIAA Silver Medal (1996) CIAU Bronze Medal (1997) Special Achievements and Honours: Team Captain (1997) MVP (1997) OWIAA West Division MVP (1997) OWIAA All Star (1995, 1996, 1997) CIAU Tournament All Star (1997) CIAU 2nd Team All Canadian (1997) CIAU Athlete of the Week (1997) Purple Blanket: 1997 |
 | Sara | Nathanson | Soccer | 1997-98 | Team Championships: OWIAA Gold Medal (1994) Special Achievements and Honours: Team Captain (1996, 1997) MVP (1994) UWO, OUA, CIAU Career Scoring Record (54 goals, 1997) OWIAA All Star (1994, 1995, 1996) OUA All Star (1997) OUA West Division MVP (1997) CIAU All Canadian (1995, 1996, 1997) CIAU 2nd Team All Canadian (1994) CIAU Tournament All Star (1994) CIAU Athlete of the Week (1994) Purple Blanket: 1997 (OWIAA became OUA in 1997-1998) |
 | Kristina | Farr | Cross Country Track and Field | 1998-99 | |
 | Marnie | Simpson | Volleyball | 1999-00 | |
 | Belinda | Chou | Wrestling | 2000-01 | CIAU Gold 2001, Silver 2000 CIAU--All Canadian 2000 and 2001 OUA Champion 1998-2001 OUA 1st-Team 1998-2001 OUA MVP 2001 Purple Blanket 2001, Academic All-Canadian 2005 2002 World University Bronze Medallist |
 | Leah | Bishop | Badminton | 2001-02 | OUA Team Gold (1999, 2001, 2002) OUA Team Silver (2000) OUA Individual Gold (2000, 2002) OUA Individual Silver (1999, 2001) OUA First Team All Star (1999, 2000, 2001, 2002) MVP (2000, 2001, 2002) Bronze W award (2001, 2002) Purple Blanket: 2002 OUA Squash Coach of the Year (2002) Canadian University Championships Silver (2002) |
 | Judy | McCartney | Rugby | 2002-03 | Team Achievements: CIAU 2nd place finish 02-03 OUA 2nd place finish 02-03 Personal Achievements: OUA all-star 00, 01, 02 OUA second team all-star 99-00 CIAU all Canadian 00,01 MVP 01, 02 Bronze W 00-01 Purple Blanket 02-03 Captain 00-01, 001-02, 02-03 Academic all Canadian |
 | Eva | Havaris | Soccer | 2003-04 | |
 | Jennifer | Kryszak | Rugby Wrestling | 2004-05 | |
 | Terri | McNutt | Wrestling | 2005-06 | CIS - 1st (2006), 2nd (2004), 3rd (2005) OUA - 1st (2003, 2004, 2005, 2006) CIS All-Canadian 2003, 2006 OUA all-star 2002-06 MVP: 2004, 2005, 2006 Bronze W Award: 2004 Purple Blanket: 2005 Academic All Canadian: 2005-06 |
 | Jen | Lam | Badminton | 2006-07 | OUA Gold Medal three times OUA Silver Medal Purple Blanket: 2007 World Universiades Games (Bangkok) 2007 OUA MVP four times UWO MVP four times OUA Athlete of the Week |
 | Jayne | Cation | Rugby | 2007-08 | CIS Team Champion (2004, 2005) OUA Team Champion (2004, 2005, 2006) Academic All-Canadian each year CIS two time All-Canadian OUA three time first team all-star CIS and OUA rookie of the year Team MVP 2008 |
 | Jen | Cotten | Track & Field | 2008-09, 2009-10 | |
 | Amanda | Anderson | Basketball | 2009-10 | |
 | Hayley | Nell | Swimming | 2010-11 | |
 | Sarah | Black | Rowing | 2011-12 | |
 | Jennifer | Trung | Swimming | 2012-13 | |
 | Brianne | Barry | Wrestling | 2013-14 | |
 | Caroline | Erdhardt | Track & Field | 2014-15 | |
 | Robin | Bone | Track & Field | 2015-16 | |
 | Joy Spear | Chief-Morris | Track & Field | 2016-17 | |
 | Jenna | White | Soccer | 2017-18 | |
 | Kelsey | Veltman | Volleyball | 2018-19 | |
| April | Clark | Hockey | 2019-20 | ||
 | Kate | Current | Cross Country / Track & Field | 2020-21 | |
| Joan-Shiao | Chen | Swimming | 2021-22 | ||
 | Karissa | Riley | Rowing | 2022-23 |