WILMINGTON, N.C. – UNCW women's basketball graduate forward Ali Zelaya was one of five collegiate basketball players named Ann Meyers Drysdale National Player of the Week by the U.S. Basketball Writers Association on Tuesday, following two dominant double-double performances in wins against Hofstra and Stony Brook.
Zelaya joined some of the nation's top players as this week's honorees, including National Player of the Year contender Hannah Hildalgo (Notre Dame), Georgia Amoore (Kentucky), Lucy Olsen (Iowa) and Riley Weiss (Columbia).
"Ali is part of a group that has rejuvenated UNCW women's basketball," head coach Nicole Woods said. "Her presence in the paint on both ends of the court has been game-changing for us. Our team is better when she's on the court. I am so happy for her as she deserves this!"
Zelaya averaged 24 points, 13.5 rebounds and three blocks in the two victories while shooting 46.2% from the field on 39 attempts. She played an average of 36.5 minutes over both contests and ranked second in the nation for the week of Jan. 27 with 11 defensive rebounds per game.
Zelaya set a new career-high with 26 points, shooting 11-of-23 from the field, in UNCW's 65-57 win against Stony Brook on Sunday afternoon. She also grabbed 14 rebounds and blocked three shots against the Seawolves to recorded her fourth straight double-double and seventh of the season. Zelaya's double-double against the Seawolves was the 400th double-double in program history. She recorded her 10th rebound in the third quarter to achieve the feat.
On Friday night against Hofstra, Zelaya scored 22 points, shooting 7-of-16 from the field, with 13 rebounds and three blocks in the Seahawks' 70-67 overtime triumph over the Pride in Trask Coliseum.
Zelaya is among the nation's elite in four statistical categories. She is 15th in defensive rebounds per game (7.8), 19th in blocks (46), 26th in blocks per game (2.09) and 34th in rebounds (206). She leads the Coastal Athletic Association in blocks, rebounds, rebounds per game and defensive rebounds per game.
After spending four seasons at North Carolina, Zelaya quickly ascended into UNCW's program record book during the 2024-25 season. In 22 career games as a Seahawk, Zelaya is tied with Krystle Taylor (1987-88) for 14th all-time in program history with 46 blocked shots.
