Sydney Benally attributes Rez Ball for learning resilience
BYU's Sydney Benally during a game on February 28 in Provo, Utah.
By YVONNE WARJACK
Sho-Ban News
PROVO, Utah — From all-day “Rez Ball” tournaments to the roaring crowd inside the Marriott Center, freshman point guard Sydney Benally is closing her first collegiate season at Brigham Young University with momentum rooted in years of preparation on and off the reservation.
Benally began playing basketball at five years old, encouraged by her parents, both former high school players who understood the powerful role the sport plays in Native communities. “I started playing basketball when I was five,” Benally said. “That’s what inspired me — just seeing how it brings everyone together.” Under her parents’ guidance — and later through years of training with former University of New Mexico Lobos standouts Greg Brown and Jamal Fenton — Benally developed into a disciplined point guard known for ball-handling precision, court vision, and endurance.
Early morning workouts before school and late-night sessions after practice became routine. “It was constant reps,” she said. “Before school, after school, individual workouts, group workouts — just constantly working. My dad always said high school practice wouldn’t be enough if I wanted to play Division I.” Her competitive edge was sharpened in reservation tournaments, where multiple games in a single day tested stamina and resilience. “I loved playing rez ball because it was game after game,” Benally said. “It taught me resilience. You learn to push through being tired because you just love the game.”
That preparation fueled one of the most decorated high school careers in New Mexico. Ranked No. 88 nationally in the Class of 2025 by ESPN HoopGurlz, Benally earned back-to-back New Mexico Gatorade Player of the Year honors in 2024 and 2025. She led consecutive 5A State Championship teams, became a two-time Native American Basketball Invitational (NABI) Champion and MVP, and was named the first female NABI Ambassador.
During her senior season, she averaged 20 points per game on 50.8 percent shooting. Now competing at the Division I level, Benally has adjusted to increased physicality, defensive pressure, and the addition of a shot clock — something not used in her New Mexico high school competition. “The biggest adjustment is the physicality,” she said. “In high school I was considered a bigger guard. Now I’m on the smaller end, so I have to handle pressure and be strong with the ball.”
Strength training has also become a major focus. “I wasn’t used to the weight room before BYU,” she said. “But you have to get stronger and faster at this level. It helps improve your game and prevents injury.” At BYU, Benally serves as a primary playmaker and on-ball defender. In her collegiate debut, she recorded 11 assists in a 91–57 win over Coastal Carolina. She later scored 18 points — 15 in the second half — in a 64–60 victory over Virginia Tech and earned Paradise Jam All-Tournament Team honors.
Beyond statistics, Benally carries the visibility of representing the Navajo Nation and the broader Native community. “I feel very blessed to represent my tribal community,” she said. “When we played at ASU and I saw the Native crowd, it was surreal. Seeing elders and youth there — it means everything.” She maintains regular contact with her grandmother and elders while balancing academics as a member of the National Honor Society.
During a recent meet-and-greet with Fort Hall students who traveled to Provo after completing essays, Benally shared a message of discipline and focus. “Focus on your own journey,” she said. “Don’t compare yourself to others. Put academics first, trust your work, and understand that it takes sacrifice.” Describing herself as naturally introverted, Benally credits basketball with building her confidence and leadership. “Basketball brought me out of my shell,” she said. “It helped me become a leader.”
As postseason play approaches, Benally remains focused on team goals while carrying the support of her family and community onto the court. From reservation gyms to Division I competition, Sydney Benally’s freshman season reflects preparation, perseverance, and representation on one of college basketball’s biggest stages.
