WINDOW ROCK, Ariz. — BYU guard Sydney Benally was recognized by the 25th Navajo Nation Council on Monday for her contributions to the Navajo Nation and her achievements on-and-off that basketball court.
During the recognition ceremony held on the opening day of the 2026 Summer Council Session, Speaker Crystalyne Curley expressed the Council's appreciation for Benally's leadership and example to Navajo children throughout the American Southwest.
“Sydney represents the very best of the Navajo Nation — hard work, humility, leadership, resilience, and perseverance,” Speaker Curley said. “She is an incredible role model who is inspiring the next generation of Diné youth to dream big, work hard, and believe that no obstacle is too great to overcome.”
Benally is serving as the first female ambassador for the Native American Basketball Invitational (NABI), at which she hosted meet-and-greets, participated in question-and-answer sessions and presented the NABI Tournament MVP trophy, which is named in her honor.
This summer, Benally has also hosted multiple basketball camps for native youth, with a two-day camp in Grants, New Mexico, drawing 382 campers in two sessions. She also spoke at the Los Angeles Native Youth Conference, as well as to a group of Shoshone Tribe youth in Idaho Falls, Idaho.
“Representing the Navajo Nation and NABI is incredibly motivating,” Benally said. “Interacting with Native youth helps me know that I am not alone on this journey. Not only do I have my faith in Jesus Christ and my family to lean on, but I also have the support of the entire Native community. It motivates me to do things the right way and strive to lead by example. I am grateful for the opportunity to pave the way for future Native athletes and to show them what they are capable of.”
Benally was one of 14 Native American women who played Division I women’s basketball last season and just one of two Navajo women, joined by Alyssa Harris of Northern Arizona.
During her first season with the Cougars, Benally set 14 freshman records, including program freshman marks for assists (148), games played (38) and games started (38). The Albuquerque, New Mexico, native was named Big 12 Freshman of the Week on Dec. 1, 2025, after scoring 18 points, grabbing two rebounds, dishing seven assists and recording two steals in BYU’s win over Virginia Tech at the U.S. Virgin Islands Paradise Jam.
The freshman played a pivotal role for the Cougars, providing timely performances—none more so than scoring 10 second-half points with three triples in a WBIT semifinal win over Kansas. She also dished a career-high 11 assists in her first collegiate game, a 91-57 win over Coastal Carolina.
Benally helped the Cougars win 26 games — the second-most in a single season in program history — and achieve a 9-9 league record, BYU's best in the Big 12 since joining the conference.
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