BETHLEHEM, Pa. – Navy was selected as the preseason favorite in the 2025-26 Patriot League Women’s Basketball Poll, while junior guard Zanai Barnett-Gay was voted both Preseason Player of the Year and Preseason Defensive Player of the Year, the League office announced Thursday.
The Mids collected 71 total points and two first-place votes to edge out Army West Point (68 points, two first-place votes) for the top spot. Loyola Maryland followed in third with 63 points and three first-place votes, while Holy Cross placed fourth with 60 points and two first-place votes. Defending champion Lehigh rounded out the top five with 57 points and one first-place vote. Colgate (34), Bucknell (33), Boston University (32), Lafayette (21), and American (11) completed the poll.
Barnett-Gay headlines the five-member Preseason All-Patriot League team, which features four returning All-League honorees from last season. She is joined by Holy Cross senior guard Kaitlyn Flanagan, a 2025 Second Team selection, along with 2025 Third Team selections Army West Point junior guard/forward Fiona Hastick and Colgate senior guard Anne Bair. Loyola Maryland graduate forward Lex Therien, a 2024 First Team All-League selection, rounds out the preseason team.
Voting for the Patriot League women's basketball preseason poll, Player of the Year, and All-League team was conducted by league head coaches who are not permitted to vote for their own teams or student-athletes.
2024-25 Patriot League Women's Preseason Player and Defensive Player of the Year
Zanai Barnett-Gay, Navy, So., G, Glenn Dale, Md./Riverdale Baptist School
2024-25 Stats: 31 GP, 19.0 ppg, 7.7 rpg, 3.1 apg, .411 FG%, .313 3P%, 72 stls, 12 blks
Career Honors: First Team All-Patriot League (2024, 25), Patriot League Defensive Player of the Year (2025), Patriot League All-Defensive Team (2025) Patriot League Rookie of the Year (2024), ECAC Rookie of the Year (2024), Patriot League All-Rookie Team (2024)
*Barnett-Gay helped Navy to a 19-12 overall record and an 11-7 mark in Patriot League play, securing the No. 4 seed in the 2025 Patriot League Tournament.
*The junior ranked second in the League in scoring (19.0 ppg), fourth in rebounding (7.7 rpg), and first in steals (2.3 spg).
*On the national stage, ranked 32nd in scoring and earned a spot on the USBWA Ann Meyers Drysdale Award Midseason Watchlist for National Player of the Year consideration.
*Barnett-Gay is a two-time First Team All-Patriot League selection, she has also earned Defensive Player of the Year (2025), Rookie of the Year (2024), and ECAC Rookie of the Year (2024).
*She enters the 2024-25 season with 1,135 career points, 423 rebounds, 186 assists, and 161 steals.
2025-26 Patriot League Women's Basketball Preseason All-Patriot League Team
Fiona Hastick, Army West Point, Jr., G/F, Reston, Va./ Paul VI Catholic
2024-25 Stats: 33 GP, 10.9 ppg, 4.4 rpg, 2.6 apg, .355 FG%, .307 3P%, 22 blocks, 36 steals
Career Honors: Patriot League Third Team All-League Selection (2025), Patriot League All-Rookie Team Selection (2024)
Anne Bair, Colgate, Sr., G,
Gettysburg, Pa./Gettysburg Area
2024-25 Stats: 33 GP, 12.5 ppg, 2.3 rpg, 3.5 apg, .887 FT%, .371 3P%, 54 steals
Career Honors: Patriot League Third Team All-League Selection (2025)
Kaitlyn Flanagan, Holy Cross, Sr., G, Plymouth Whitemarsh/ Plymouth Meeting, Pa.
2024-25 Stats: 31 GP, 9.7 ppg, 2.2 rpg, 5.2 apg, .382 FG%, 33 steals, 20 blocks
Career Honors: Patriot League Second Team All-League selection (2025), Patriot League All-Rookie Team (2023), CSC Academic All-District Team (2023-24)
Lex Therien, Loyola Maryland, Sr., F, Marlton, N.J./Cherokee
2023-24 Stats: 31 GP, 15.7 ppg, 10.7 rpg, 1.9 apg, 0.2 bpg, 1.45 spg, .554 FG%
Career Honors: First Team All-Patriot League (2024), Second Team All-Patriot League (2023), Second Team All-Patriot League (2022), Patriot League Rookie of the Year (2022), Patriot League All-Rookie Team (2022)
2025-26 Women's Basketball Preseason Player and Defensive Player of the Year: Zanai Barnett-Gay, Navy, Jr., G
2025-26 Patriot League Women’s Basketball Preseason All-Patriot League Team
Fiona Hastick, Army West Point, Jr., G/F
Anne Bair, Colgate, Sr., G
Kaitlyn Flanagan, Holy Cross, Sr., G
Lex Therien, Loyola Maryland, Gr., F
Zanai Barnett-Gay, Navy, Jr., G
2025-26 Patriot League Women’s Basketball Preseason Poll
- Navy – 71 (2 first-place votes)
- Army West Point – 68 (2)
- Loyola Maryland – 63 (3)
- Holy Cross – 60 (2)
- Lehigh – 57 (1)
- Colgate – 34
- Bucknell – 33
- Boston University – 32
- Lafayette – 21
- American – 11
ABOUT THE PATRIOT LEAGUE
The Patriot League is in its fourth decade of academic and athletic achievement, continually demonstrating that student-athletes can excel in both academics and athletics without sacrificing high standards. The League's athletic success is achieved while its member institutions remain committed to its founding principle of admitting and graduating student-athletes who are academically representative of their class. Participation in athletics at Patriot League institutions is viewed as an important component of a well-rounded education.