Ontario Christian, Bishop McNamara, Bullis, Etiwanda among contenders to challenge top-ranked Monarchs.
For the first half of the 2024-25 season,
Archbishop Mitty (San Jose, Calif.) seemed unstoppable. Then junior forward
McKenna Woliczko went down with a season-ending ACL injury. However, the Monarchs made it back to their fifth straight California Open Division final before losing to
Etiwanda and finishing ranked No. 7 nationally.
Archbishop Mitty opens the season at No. 1 in the MaxPreps Top 25 high school girls basketball rankings. The lessons learned without Woliczko in the lineup will serve head coach Sue Phillips and her team well. The emergence of point guard
Tee McCarthy as well as
Emma Cook,
Maliya Hunter,
Devin Cosgriff and
Ze'ni Patterson could be the catalyst for the Monarchs to, in the words of Phillips "finally win the last one."
Another Maryland program in
Bullis (Potomac) comes in at No. 4, led by five-star junior
Ivanna Wilson-Manyacka. With the build to play in the paint and the game to shoot from anywhere, Wilson-Manyacka could emerge as one of the game's next superstars this season.
Rounding out the top five is three-time defending California Open Division champion Etiwanda. Head coach Stan Delus has built a powerhouse and though the Eagles lost a trio of Division I players,
Arynn Finley and
Chasity Rice give plenty of hope for four in a row.
The MaxPreps Top 25 is limited to schools that compete for a state championship sanctioned by a NFHS-recognized governing body. Post-graduate or non-scholastic programs are not eligible for inclusion.
1. Archbishop Mitty (San Jose, Calif.) 27-4, No. 7 in final MaxPreps Top 25
Key losses: None
Breakdown: The
Monarchs were ranked No. 1 when they lost Woliczko to a season-ending
knee injury in January. McCarthy, Patterson, James and Cosgriff
all adapted and learned new roles on the fly that propelled them to the state championship game for the fifth consecutive season.
Key losses: Alanna Neale, Sydney Douglas
Breakdown: The
Knights go as Smith goes but the emergence of MaxPreps National
Freshman of the Year Griffin took a load off her shoulders.
Junior Robinson averaged 8.3 points per game and was outstanding in a complementary role. Smith's scoring numbers were down last year from her freshman campaign but don't be fooled as she can take over a game.
Key losses: Zhen Craft, Mary Amoateng, Vanessa Harris
Breakdown: The goal for the Mustangs is simple: Win it all. To that end, be ready against Bishop McNamara, which hangs its hat on defending for 32 minutes. The Maryland
power lost some big-time players to graduation after their WCAC title,
but Samuels and McCoy, both MaxPreps Sophomore All-Americans, are the next in a long line of stars. Samuels averaged 14.6 points and McCoy contributed 5.7 steals and 5.0 assists.
4. Bullis (Potomac, Md.)Key losses: Meghan Yarnevich, Sanai Troutman
Breakdown: Wilson-Manyacka
is multi-faceted and one of the most skilled players in the game. The junior's versatility fuels the Bulldogs as she can play point and hit from deep or handle things in the paint and finish through contact. She has plenty of talent around her as head coach Justin Leith has assembled a team
that looks to make a national splash.
Key losses: Aliyahna Morris, Grace Knox, Shaena Brew
Breakdown: The
Eagles lost key pieces from a program that captured an unprecedented
third straight Open Division crown. However, Finley and Rice look to
sustain the program's excellence.
6. Sierra Canyon (Chatsworth, Calif.)Key losses: Leia Edwards, Ashley Redd, Jalen Samuels
Breakdown: Robinson
is one of the most exciting players in the country and can take
over a game on both ends of the floor. Krstevski provides the
Trailblazers a low-post presence and the addition of transfer Hatter
provides depth for the grueling Southern California push toward a state
title.
7. St. John's (Washington, D.C.)Key losses: None
Breakdown: The
Cadets fell in the DCSAA Class AA final but return All-WCAC
first-teamer Stewart, who averaged 19.8 points
per night. Head coach Jonathan Scribner brings back the entire team from last
season, including Nesmith (12.1 points per game) and Eller (5.6).
Key losses: Ellery Giddens
Breakdown: Nearly the entire starting five returns from last year's Class 5A championship team, including MaxPreps All-American Ojo after averaging 18.0 points, 8.1 rebounds and 5.0 assists per game. Rickenbacker, James and Aluana and Amani Olds all fit into head coach Darnell Dozier's style of play as they look for an 11th title in 12 seasons.
9. Mater Dei (Santa Ana, Calif.)Key losses: Addie Deal, Nohelani Stores, Amaya Williams, Devyn Kiernan
Breakdown: Wynn, the
coach's daughter who recently committed to Dawn Staley's program, can fill the basket. She can handle
business in the paint while being deadly from range. Hoss' offensive
game has improved over the summer while Golightly and Lewis should step
into bigger roles.
Key losses: Jordyn Smith
Breakdown: The Timberwolves stunned Clackamas and Jazzy Davidson last year, winning the Class 6A final. Best averaged averaged 15.1 points per game as a freshman. Tualatin has another impact frosh in Dawkins this season.
Key losses: Hope Counts, McKenna Schaefer
Breakdown: There is no doubting the talent of Maddyn Greenway, who will be on a quest to
break the state scoring record as well as climb the national scoring
ranks. Millerbernd averaged 14.1 as a sophomore and Beckett Greenway
chipped in 12.2 per night.
2024-25: 26-0, No. 10 in final MaxPreps Top 25
Key players: Jenica Lewis (Notre Dame),
Jaliyah Kinnetz (Missori Western),
Ari Phillips,
Kelli KalbBreakdown: The
owner of the nation's longest winning streak enters 2025-26 on a
55-game roll as the two-time Class 5A champion. Recent Irish commit
Lewis steps into the lead role for the Dragons but Kinnetz, Phillips
and Kalb all have big-game experience.
Key losses: Ayla Williams
Breakdown: The
reigning Class 5A champions are led
by MaxPreps All-American Williams in the repeat quest. One of the
game's best posts, she leads a big Bulldogs team that coach Karen Weitz
said needs her guards to complement their tough inside presence.
Key losses: Nevaeh Caffey, Peyton Hill
Breakdown: The Red Knights roll into the new season without the burden of its national-best win streak like last year. But make no mistake, the bar is high for a team whose goal each year is to win a state title. IWA will be led by big Cortez-Lucious, who is poised for a breakout season.
15. Red Bank Catholic (Red Bank, N.J.)Key losses: Christina Liggio
Breakdown: The
South Jersey Non-Public A runner-up returns seven seniors, led by
Nyemcheck and the Liggio sisters. The big three return 28 points per night.
Key losses: Carryn Easley, Amya Scott
Breakdown: The
PIAA Division 4A and Philadelphia Catholic League champion return Baker
after averaging a team-best 14.6 points per game last season as a
sophomore. Berry (13.5 points per game) also is back for her senior year and depth
will be a plus for the Saints, according to head coach Andrea Peterson.
Key losses: Diamond Fields, Yendrli Martinez
Breakdown: The Crusaders should battle Christ the King for the CHSAA Class AAA title behind point guard Howard, 6-3 Del Rosario and South Shore transfer Beasley, the daughter of former NBA player Michael Beasley.
Key losses: Alenna Dinker, Brooklyn Taylor
Breakdown: After
falling in the South Jersey Non-Public A semifinals, the Lancers look to win
their first state since 2022 and 18th overall. Kocis averaged 12.6 points, Lockhart added 12.3 and Taylor Sofilkanich tallied 9.3 points and 6.3 boards.
Key losses: Maia Velazquez, Elyssa Hinds
Breakdown: The Crusaders run through Vukosa, who is one of the best players in the country and a force in the paint. Pinnock and Lopez provide cover from outside and the addition of 6-5 Oneye is a boost.
Key losses: Jaylah Lampley, Laila Abdurraqib
Breakdown: Depite losing two Division I players to graduation, head coach Jannon Lampley thinks this Bears team is the best her program has seen. Lola Lampley averaged 11.8 points, 6.4 rebounds and 3.6 assists last year while Butler and Schellhammer come over as transfers to provide depth while looking for a deep postseason run.
Key losses: Kaitlyn Gipson, Layla Cannon
Breakdown: The Bucs are looking for a sixth straight Class 7A title with a healthy Ford returning after missing her junior year with an ACL injury. Blanchard provide more senior leadership while incoming freshmen Winston and Leonard are ready to step on the big stage.
Key losses: Iyana Stephens, Rylan Buschell
Breakdown: Class of 2027 standout Savoury paced the Tigers the Division 1 state championship, averaging 26.5
points, 7.0 rebounds and 4.0 assists per game. She is back and looking for the repeat along with senior Carter and sophomore Stephens.
2024-25: 27-4, No. 6 in final MaxPreps Top 25
Key losses: Jordyn Jackson
Breakdown: This is a new-look Quakers team after coach Tamika Dudley left for the first-year program at The St. James Perfomance Academy. But there is plenty of talent left led by future Blue Devil Fleary (14.2 points per game). Yoon dropped 10.4 points per night while Schneeberg added nearly 10 and 7 in the interior.
Key losses: Harley Wock, Delaney Egert
Breakdown: The Skippers were led by Lanelle Wright's 16.5 points per night while Williams poured in 15.3 points. Peterson, daughter of NFL star Adrian Peterson, averaged 13.0 points per night and Lariah chipped in 4.4 as a seventh grader.
Key losses: Desi Taylor, Amelia Basit
Breakdown: Rogers led the Knights in scoring as a sophomore at 16.3 points per game while Golston chipped in 12.6 per night while reaching the final four in the Private School bracket. They took third at the Sandra Meadows Classic last year and return this season looking to improve on that finish. A trip to the DMV in early December also will be a litmus test.
On the bubble: Bishop Gorman (Las Vegas, Nev.),
Sage Hill (Newport Beach, Calif.),
Ryan (Denton, Texas),
Lancaster (Texas),
Arrowhead (Hartland, Wis.),
Dawson (Pearland, Texas),
Boswell (Fort Worth, Texas),
Naperville Central (Naperville, Ill.),
Lincoln (Dallas, Texas),
Centennial (Corona, Calif.)
