BETHLEHEM, Pa. – Navy was selected as the preseason favorite in the 2026-27 Patriot League Women’s Basketball Poll, while senior guard Zanai Barnett-Gay was voted Preseason Player of the Year and Preseason Defensive Player of the Year for the second consecutive season, the League office announced Thursday.
The Mids collected 81 points and nine first-place votes to claim the top spot, followed by Army West Point in second with 71 points. Lehigh placed third with 67 points and one first-place vote, while defending champion Holy Cross finished fourth with 53 points. Lafayette rounded out the top five with 52 points. Bucknell (37), Boston University (26), Colgate (22), Loyola Maryland (21) and American (20) completed the preseason poll.
Barnett-Gay headlines the five-member Preseason All-Patriot League Team, which features four returning postseason honorees. She is joined by Army West Point senior guard Camryn Tade, a 2026 First Team All-Patriot League selection, along with Army West Point senior guard Kya Smith and Lafayette senior guard Teresa Kiewiet, who both earned Second Team honors last season. Lehigh sophomore forward Leia Edwards, a 2026 Patriot League All-Rookie Team 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.
2026-27 Patriot League Women's Preseason Player and Defensive Player of the Year
Zanai Barnett-Gay, Navy, Sr., G, Glenn Dale, Md./Riverdale Baptist School
2025-26 Stats: 31 GP, 16.9 ppg, 8.4 rpg, 4.0 apg, .420 FG%, .310 3P%, 2.8 spg
Career Honors: AP All-America Honorable Mention (2026), Patriot League Player of the Year (2026), Patriot League Defensive Player of the Year (2025, 2026), First Team All-Patriot League (2024, 2025, 2026), All-ECAC First Team (2026), Patriot League All-Defensive Team (2025, 26), Patriot League Rookie of the Year (2024), ECAC Rookie of the Year (2024), Patriot League All-Rookie Team (2024)
*Barnett-Gay is the reigning Patriot League Player of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year and a 2026 AP All-America Honorable Mention selection.
*The three-time First Team All-Patriot League honoree led the Patriot League in scoring (16.9 ppg) and steals (2.8 spg) while ranking third in rebounds (8.4 rpg) and assists (4.0 apg) during the 2025-26 season.
*Barnett-Gay enters the 2025-26 season with 1,659 career points, 683 rebounds, 311 assists and 248 steals.
2026-27 Patriot League Women's Basketball Preseason All-Patriot League Team
Camryn Tade, Army West Point, Sr., G, Southlake, Tex./Carroll
2025-26 Stats: 34 GS, 12.9 ppg, 4.3 rpg, 2.4 apg, 1.5 spg, .369 3FG%, .860 FT%
Career Honors: 2025-26 Patriot League First Team All-League, 2025-26 Patriot League All-Defensive Team, 2025-26 Patriot League All-Academic Team
Kya Smith, Army West Point, Sr., F, Lubbock, Tex./Coronado
2025-26 Stats: 34 GS, 13.7 ppg, 10.2 rpg, 3.1 apg, 1.61 spg, .514 FG%
Career Honors: 2025-26 Patriot League Second Team All-League, 2025-26 Patriot League All-Defensive Team, 2025-26 All-Met Second Team
Teresa Kiewiet, Lafayette, Sr., G, North Mankato, Minn./ Mankato West
2025-26 Stats: 28 GS, 16.3 ppg, 6.1 rpg, 1.2 apg, 1.0 spg, .428 FG%, .366 3FG%, .804 FT%
Career Honors: 2025-26 Patriot League Second Team All-League, 2025-26 Patriot League Women’s Basketball Scholar-Athlete of the Year
Leia Edwards, Lehigh, So., G, London, England/Sierra Canyon
2025-26 Stats: 17 GP, 10 GS, 13.6 ppg, 7.7 rpg, 3.1 apg, 1.2 spg, .482 FG%, .354 3FG%
Career Honors: 2025-26 Patriot League All-Rookie Team
2026-27 Women's Basketball Preseason Player and Defensive Player of the Year: Zanai Barnett-Gay, Navy, Sr., G
2026-27 Patriot League Women’s Basketball Preseason All-Patriot League Team
Camryn Tade, Army West Point, Sr., G
Kya Smith, Army West Point, Sr., F
Teresa Kiewiet, Lafayette, Sr., G
Leia Edwards, Lehigh, So., F
Zanai Barnett-Gay, Navy, Sr., G
2026-27 Patriot League Women’s Basketball Preseason Poll
- Navy – 81 total points (9 first-place votes)
- Army West Point – 71
- Lehigh – 67 (1)
- Holy Cross – 53
- Lafayette – 52
- Bucknell – 37
- Boston University – 26
- Colgate – 22
- Loyola Maryland – 21
- American – 20
ABOUT THE PATRIOT LEAGUE
The Patriot League is in its fourth decade of academic and athletic achievement, continually demonstrating that student-athletes can excel at both academics and athletics without sacrificing high standards. The Patriot 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.