Sophomore guard led St. Mary's to third state championship in four years.
Each year since 2006, MaxPreps has recognized outstanding performers in high school girls basketball. The tradition continues to close out the 2024-25 season by naming the top player in each state. Selections are based on team success and individual excellence in addition to local and state accolades.
Bella Owumi of
St. Mary's (Lynn) is the 2024-25 Massachusetts MaxPreps Player of the Year. The 6-foot sophomore guard led the Spartans to a 25-3 record and third Division 3 state championship in four years. with a 46-38 win over Norwell. In the finals, Owumi scored 19 to win her third championship in four season.
For the season, Owumi averaged averaged 17.1 points, 13.7 rebounds, 4.5 steals and 3.8 assists on the season. She scored 19 points in a 46-38 win over Norwell in the title game.
Owumi was the Catholic Central League most valuable player and surpassed 1,000 career points this season.
Already holding more than 15 college offers, Owumi helped St. Mary's win a state championship as a seventh-grader and was offered by the University of Rhode Island at that time.
Each state's MaxPreps Player of the Year will be considered for inclusion in the MaxPreps All-America Team, which is scheduled to be released in April. Past selections include 2024 WNBA Most Valuable Player A'ja Wilson (2014) as well as 2024 All-WNBA first team picks Caitlin Clark (2020), Napheesa Collier (2015), Breanna Stewart (2012) and Alyssa Thomas (2010).
Past Massachusetts MaxPreps Players of the Year2021-22 — Megan Olbrys, Norwood
2022-23 — Anna Foley, Andover
2023-24 — Mary Gibbons, Wachusett (Holden)
