Navy women's basketball stuns Florida in 69-54 victory

Navy women’s basketball delivered one of the biggest early-season upsets in the country Sunday, taking down Florida at home in a 69-54 win. This marks Navy’s first SEC victory since 1998, when they took down Ole Miss at home.

It’s the caliber of win that head coach Tim Taylor believes was years in the making.

Florida entered the matchup without star guard Liv McGill, but the Gators remain a potential NCAA Tournament team loaded with size, athleticism and depth. 

“It validates some things for us,” Taylor said. “When I first got here, we wanted to put ourselves on the national scene. It’s been a long five years trying to get it to where we think we can. I give hats off to Florida for even coming here to play us. A lot of times, you can’t get people to play you on your home court…They’re big, strong and athletic. Our kids fought and we came out with a win.”

Taylor credited Navy’s success to what he called the group’s strongest trait: connectivity.

“This group competes…,” he said. “The upperclassmen have embraced this really talented freshman class, and they’re about winning. When you have that type of competition every single day, it just breeds people getting better.”

Freshman sharpshooter Zoe Mesuch was crucial, stretching the floor and forcing Florida to adjust. Her three-point burst created space for veterans Zanai Barnett-Gay, who had 22 points in the win, and Julianna Almeida, shifting momentum.

“When she’s making threes, lanes start to open up for Julianna and Z…They hugged up to her in the second half, and then Z goes for 17 points…,” Taylor said. “What I’m surprised about is that she’s a willing defender. She gets in and she guards, but she’s a natural-born scorer.”

And while freshmen shined, Taylor emphasized the program-defining impact of star guard Barnett-Gay, who stayed despite the potential to transfer to a Power 5 program.

“She’s everything,” he said. “The thing about Z is her competitiveness every day…If you’ve watched her, how much she’s evolved and how much she’s developed because of being a gym rat. She can handle the ball, which she couldn’t do as a freshman. She wasn’t a great three-point shooter, but now has added that. She’s a silent leader and she just goes about her business.”

Unlike most programs nationally, Navy is not shaped by the transfer portal or NIL – realities that have dramatically shifted college basketball.

“The kids are choosing a lifestyle here…,” Taylor said. “We’re very authentic in recruiting. I actually, believe it or not, try to scare kids away on the first call. I tell them it’s really hard…But if you can do it, it’s unbelievable.”

The long-term vision is clear: a Patriot League championship, an NCAA Tournament appearance, and maybe more.

“I’d love to take this program and shock the world and get to the Sweet 16 and things like that…,” Taylor said. “I think this team can be really, really good.”

With a challenging non-conference slate ahead stacked with Richmond, South Florida, Duquesne, and Radford, Navy plans to use the win as a launchpad.

“I’m more excited because I know we’re going to get better,” Taylor said.

If Saturday was any indication, the Midshipmen just announced themselves as a team to watch all season long.