INDIANAPOLIS (USBWA) - The United States Basketball Writers Association announced its weekly women's basketball playing honors on Tuesday and Navy's Zanai Barnett-Gay was featured in the release as one of five USBWA National Players of the Week. Selected from a ballot of weekly conference honorees and at-large additions, Barnett-Gay, who on Monday was named the Patriot League Player of the Week, earned top billing for her outstanding performance for Navy in victories over Longwood and Florida.

Faced with the task of going head-to-head with two previously undefeated foes, Barnett-Gay and the Mids dispatched of both the Lancers and Gators in commanding fashion as the Mids led for all but 27 seconds on Wednesday in their 74-66 victory over Longwood before coming back on Sunday and out-pacing Florida for nearly 34 minutes in a 69-54 win. Barnett-Gay was at the forefront of Navy's efforts in those two games as she posted her second double-double of the young 2025-26 season with 25 points and 13 rebounds to go along with six assists on Wednesday before rounding out her week with 22 points, eight boards and two assists on Sunday. The Glenn Dale, Maryland native was particularly clutch against the Gators as she collected 17 of her points in the second half, while navigating a tightrope with three personal fouls to help the Mids clinch their first win over an SEC opponent since 1998. For the week, Barnett-Gay averaged 23.5 points, 10.5 rebounds, 4.0 assists and 2.0 steals, while shooting 50.0% (14-28) from the field, 50.0% (6-12) from three-point range and 76.5 percent (13-17) from the foul line.

Through three games in 2025-26, Barnett-Gay has led Navy to an undefeated 3-0 mark with team-high averaged of 21.0 points, 10.3 rebounds and 1.7 steals per game with team-best shooting percentages of 47.4% from the field, 42.9% from three-point range and 84.0% from the charity stripe. Nationally, she ranks 13th in double-doubles (2), 21st in scoring and 35th in rebounds.

Barnett-Gay was joined in Tuesday's USBWA announcement by fellow Ann Meyers Drysdale National Players of the Week: Iowa State center Audi Crooks, Michigan guard Olivia Olson, Washington guard Sayvia Sellers and West Virginia guard Sydney Shaw. The Tamika Catchings National Freshman of the Week was Maryland guard Addi Mack, while the National Team of the Week was UCLA.

This is the third time in Barnett-Gay's career that she's been honored by the USBWA with a national weekly award as she was the organization's freshman of the week on Nov. 28, 2023 before earning a player of the week nod on Jan. 14, 2025.

Navy will be back in action on Wednesday night with a home tilt versus Rider. Tip-off between the Broncs and Mids is set for 7 p.m. at Alumni HAll.

About USBWA
The U.S. Basketball Writers Association was formed in 1956 at the urging of then-NCAA Executive Director Walter Byers. With some 900 members worldwide, it is one of the most influential organizations in college basketball. At the conclusion of the regular season, the USBWA will name finalists for both individual awards, which is voted on by the entire membership of the USBWA. The winners of the 2026 Ann Meyers Drysdale National Player of the Year and Tamika Catchings National Freshman of the Year will be announced and presented at the USBWA's annual awards event on site at the 2026 NCAA Women's Final Four in Phoenix. Additionally, the USBWA has selected a women's All-America team since the 1996-97 season.