NEW HAVEN, Conn. - Sophomore midfielder Kaitlyn Chang (Houston, Texas), first-year midfielder/forward Emma Mueller (Barrington, R.I.) and first-year forward/midfielder Ella Ou (Houston, Texas) of the Yale field hockey team have earned the NFHCA's Scholar of Distinction Award. The NFHCA announced the winners of the award, which recognizes student-athletes who have achieved a cumulative grade-point average of 3.9 or higher through the first semester of the 2025-26 academic year, on Friday. 

All three honorees helped the Bulldogs to a historic season that included the program's first NCAA Tournament appearance and first Ivy League Tournament appearance.

Chang, who earned Yale's Player of the Year Award, enjoyed a breakthrough season. She was an honorable mention All-Ivy League selection,  starting all 18 games and notching a pair of assists. This is the second straight season in which she earned the NFHCA Scholar of Distinction Award.

Chang is a graduate of St. John's School.

Mueller provided valuable depth in her first season with the Bulldogs. She is a five-time USA Field Hockey Nexus program selection and was a three-time all-state selection in high school.

Mueller is a graduate of Barrington High School.

Ou appeared in 15 games this season, scoring her first career goal in the season-opening 8-2 win vs. LIU. She finished with a pair of goals and a pair of assists.

Ou is a graduate of The Kinkaid School.

Earlier this month, all three were part of a group of 14 Bulldogs named to the NFHCA National Academic Squad for 2025. The National Academic Squad honor recognizes those student-athletes who have achieved a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.50 through the first semester of the 2025-26 academic year.  

The NFHCA National Academic Team Awards, recognizing teams that had a GPA of 3.50 or better for the fall of 2025, will be announced Feb. 17.