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Excitement Builds for Navy Women’s Basketball Showdown Against Army
ANNAPOLIS, Md. – This Saturday, the Navy women’s basketball team is set to face off against Army in a highly anticipated service academy clash, with the 2025 Women’s Basketball Star on the line. The Mids (15-8, 7-5 PL) are determined to secure a win against the Black Knights (17-5, 9-3 PL) to enhance their position within a competitive Patriot League leaderboard. Having previously met three weeks ago, where Army triumphed 59-49, the Mids aim to flip the script in this rematch. Fans can tune in to CBS Sports Network at 11 a.m. to catch all the action live at Alumni Hall, with the game proudly sponsored by USAA.
This weekend promises an action-packed lineup, including the Men’s Basketball Star game at 1:30 p.m. and Sunday’s Wrestling Star competition, all part of the 2024-25 Star Series sponsored by USAA. Army currently leads the series with a narrow 9-7 advantage after 16 contests, but with seven more matchups remaining this season, the Mids are eager to make a statement.
Live Coverage and Matchup History
The Navy-Army matchup will feature live stats available online and will also be broadcasted on CBS Sports Network. For those who prefer audio coverage, a live stream will be accessible via WNAV: listen on 99.9 FM, 1430 AM, WNAV.com, or through iHeart and Audacy platforms.
Navy and Army have a storied rivalry, having played each other 84 times since their first meeting on January 18, 1981. Army holds a narrow edge in the all-time rivalry with 44 wins to Navy’s 40. The series is closely contested at different venues, with Navy aiming to snap a three-game losing streak at Alumni Hall, their last victory coming on January 22, 2022. The upcoming game will mark the 43rd Star Game between the teams, where Army leads with 26 wins to Navy’s 16. The Mids are looking for their first Star win since 2018 (0-5 record since then).
Recent Encounters
In their most recent encounter on January 26, 2025, the Mids fell to the Black Knights in a challenging game, ending 59-49. Navy struggled early, trailing 21-12 at the end of the first quarter, with both teams nearly equal in performance over the next three quarters (38-37). Leading the offense, Julianna Almeida and Zanai Barnett-Gay each scored 15 points, while Toni Papahronis showcased her defensive prowess with a career-high four blocks.
Despite a fierce effort from the Mids, the Black Knights leveraged strong shooting, outperforming Navy from the field with 34.8 percent to 33.3 percent and also shining beyond the arc. This game illustrated the competitiveness and resilience of both teams, setting the stage for another thrilling contest.
Team Stats Comparison
| Statistics | Navy | Army |
|---|---|---|
| Record / League-Only | 15-8 / 7-5 PL | 17-5 / 9-3 PL |
| Home / Away / Neutral Record | 7-5 / 7-3 / 1-0 | 9-3 / 8-2 / 0-0 |
| Points Per Game | 66.7 PPG | 63.2 PPG |
| Points Allowed Per Game | 61.0 PPG | 57.0 PPG |
| Field Goal Percentage | 37.9 % | 40.4 % |
| 3-Point Percentage | 31.1 % | 34.8 % |
| Free Throw Percentage | 67.0 % | 73.6 % |
| Rebounds Per Game | 40.5 RPG | 34.5 RPG |
| Assists/Turnovers Per Game | 13.4 / 13.7 | 14.2 / 13.5 |
Individual Standouts
| Leader Category | Navy | Army |
|---|---|---|
| Points Per Game | Zanai Barnett-Gay, 20.0 ppg | Trinity Hardy, 13.3 ppg |
| Rebounds Per Game | Z. Barnett-Gay, 7.9 rpg | Kya Smith, 7.4 rpg |
| Assists Per Game | Z. Barnett-Gay, 3.2 apg | T. Hardy, 3.0 apg |
| Field Goal Percentage | Morgan Demos, 49.4 % | Camryn Tade, 47.1 % |
| 3-Point Percentage | Z. Barnett-Gay, 37.0 % | Reese Ericson, 41.4 % |
| Free Throw Percentage | Mary Gibbons, 79.4 % | C. Tade, 82.0 % |
Recent Game Highlights
The Mids faced off against Lehigh on Wednesday, where Zanai Barnett-Gay made history by becoming the 23rd player in Navy women’s basketball history to reach the 1,000-point milestone. She scored an impressive 26 points in the match. Although Navy battled hard and mounted a comeback to tie the game at 53-53 during the third quarter, they ultimately fell to Lehigh, 74-56.
Parking and Shuttle Information
Please note that the general public cannot drive onto the U.S. Naval Academy. Fans can park at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium for a fee and utilize the shuttle service, running every 10 minutes, which begins 90 minutes before the game and continues for an hour post-game. Fans aged 18 and over must present a government-issued photo ID and access the parking area via Gate 5 off Taylor Ave.
