Junior guard led Wagner to 18 wins, Class A state tournament appearance.
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.
Ashlyn Koupal of
Wagner is the 2024-25 South Dakota MaxPreps Player of the Year. The 6-foot-3 junior guard led the Red Raiders to an 18-7 record and Class A state tournament appearance.
For the season, Koupal averaged 22.2 points, 10.4 rebounds and 5.0 assists per game. In a 58-47 win over Mt. Vernon/Plankinton (Mt. Vernon) in the seventh-place game of the state tournament, she piled up 33 points, 10 rebounds, nine blocks and three assists.
Regarded as a top 15 prospect in the Class of 2026 by
247Sports, Koupal holds offers from Alabama, Baylor, Colorado, TCU and Utah among others.
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 South Dakota MaxPreps Players of the Year2021-22 — Ndjakalenga Mwenentanda, Washington (Sioux Falls)
2022-23 — Brooklyn Harpe, Washington
2023-24 — Mahli Abdouch, O'Gorman (Sioux Falls)
