Army West Point Athletics
November 09, 2026 | Women's Basketball
WEST POINT, N.Y. – Army West Point senior forward Kya Smith has been named the Patriot League Women's Basketball Player of the Week, the league office announced Monday.
"Every award Kya Smith receives is never a surprise to anyone in our program," head coach Katie Kuester said. "She shows up every single day as the same competitor and same contributor to her teammates. We are so proud of the growth we have seen in her game, and the sky is the limit for her this season."
Smith led the Black Knights to a 2-0 start, averaging 19.0 points, 8.0 rebounds, 3.0 assists and 2.5 steals per game. She shot 58.3 percent from the field (14-of-24) and 90.9 percent from the free-throw line (10-of-11).
The Lubbock, Texas, native opened the season with 16 points on 6-of-9 shooting, six rebounds and two steals in just 19 minutes in Army's 81-28 win over St. Thomas Aquinas on Nov. 2. Fourteen of her points came in the first half. The 53-point victory was the program's third-largest margin of victory as a Division I team.
Smith followed with a double-double in Army's 81-56 win at Brown on Thursday, posting 22 points, 10 rebounds, five assists, three steals and a block.
Joining the 1,000-Point Club
Smith entered the Brown game 21 points shy of 1,000. She reached 19 points on two free throws with 6:04 left, then went back to the line with 3:17 remaining. Her first free throw was the 1,000th point of her career, and she made the second as well.
Smith became the 21st player in program history to reach 1,000 career points, and the second in as many seasons, following Reese Ericson in 2025-26. She reached the milestone in her 95th career game.
A Proven Performer
Smith, a team captain, was named to the Preseason All-Patriot League Team and is the first Army player to land on the Becky Hammon Mid-Major Player of the Year Award Watch List. As a junior in 2025-26, she averaged 13.7 points and 10.2 rebounds per game, one of 23 players nationally to average a double-double. She earned All-Patriot League Second Team, All-Defensive Team and All-Met Second Team honors.
Up Next
Army (2-0) returns to Christl Arena on Wednesday, Nov. 11, to host George Mason in its Military Appreciation Game. Tipoff is set for 6 p.m., and the game will stream on ESPN+.
