Wisconsin high school girls basketball: Woodland East Preview

2025-26 Woodland East Conference Preview

Predicted Order of Finish

1) Whitnall
2) Greenfield
3) Milwaukee Lutheran
4) South Milwaukee
5) Brown Deer
6) Shorewood
7) Cudahy
Players to Watch

Maddie Becker, South Milwaukee – Becker received first-team all-league honors as a junior, averaging 12.4 points and 7.0 rebounds per game.

Olivia Hoedel, Greenfield – As a junior, Hoedel earned second-team all-Woodland East, tallying 10.4 points, 6.3 rebounds, 4.4 assists, and 3.6 steals per contest.

Ella Koch, Whitnall – Koch was named second-team all-conference as a junior, averaging 7.9 points, 8.7 rebounds, 4.0 assists, and 2.4 steals per contest.

Armani Tauschek, Greenfield – Tauschek was named first-team all-league as a junior, averaging 12.9 points, 4.1 rebounds, and 2.0 assists per game. She also shot 49-for-117 from behind the arc.

Riley Ward, Whitnall – Ward was voted first-team all-Woodland East as a junior, averaging 18.5 points, 5.5 rebounds, 2.2 assists, and 2.4 steals per game. She also made 40 three-pointers.

Team Capsules

Brown Deer
Coach: Donald Nelson, 5th year (51-50); 13th overall (154-140)
2024-25 Record: 12-13
2024-25 Conference Finish: 3rd, 7-5
Returning Starters: Jaila Washington (5-7, jr.), Jalisa Washington (5-7, jr.), Hai'Lee Lewis (5-4, soph.)
Other Returning Letterwinners: Taylor Reed (5-4, sr.), Ja'Niyah Jones (5-4, sr.)
Newcomers: Aaliyah Kornis (5-4, fr.)

Team Notes: The Falcons graduated their top three scorers from last season, including Ameerah Grant, who led the state in scoring with 39.5 points per game. Coach Nelson told MaxPreps they're looking for returning players to step up in all facets of the game.

Cudahy
Coach: Mallory Kleczka, 1st year
2024-25 Record: 5-15
2024-25 Conference Finish: T6th, 1-11
Notable Returnees: Alanys Quintero (5-4, jr., 9.3 PPG, 2.6 APG, 2.5 SPG), Haley Steffes (5-9, jr.), Mirelys Quintero (5-1, sr.)

Team Notes: The Packers returned a few key players from last season.

Greenfield
Coach: Eric Katz, 1st year
2024-25 Record: 15-11
2024-25 Conference Finish: 2nd, 10-2
Notable Returnees: Armani Tauschek (5-9, jr., 12.9 PPG, 49 3PM, 2 APG), Olivia Hoedel (5-8, sr., 10.4 PPG, 6.3 RPG, 4.4 APG, 3.6 SPG), Ella Cruz (5-6, sr., 5.5 PPG), Marija Kosanovic (5-8, sr.)

Team Notes: The Hustlin' Hawks welcomed back their top two scorers from last season.

Milwaukee Lutheran
Coach: Eugene Dixon
2024-25 Record: 11-14
2024-25 Conference Finish: 5th, 5-7
Notable Returnees: Kaniya Martin (5-8, sr., 8.9 PPG), E'Mari Allen (5-3, sr., 8.5 PPG), Janiyah McKinley (5-5, sr., 8.3 PPG), Taniaja Hoover (soph.)

Team Notes: The Red Knights returned several contributions from last season.

Shorewood
Coach: Velvet Moore-Owen, 2nd year
2024-25 Record: 12-12
2024-25 Conference Finish: 4th, 6-6
Notable Returnees: Nyah Nelson (soph., 5.7 PPG, 12.8 RPG), Audrey Burns (jr.), Alaina Tautges (soph.), Kate Thiel (soph.)

Team Notes: The Greyhounds will have the task of replacing Woodland East Player of the Year Serinity Metcalfe, who finished second in the state in scoring with 38 points per game.

South Milwaukee
Coach: Jim Grassl, 13th year
2024-25 Record: 2-23
2024-25 Conference Finish: T6th, 1-11
Returning Starters: Maddie Becker (5-10, sr., 12.4 PPG, 7 RPG), Breanna Regan (5-5, jr., 7.5 PPG), Maedo Pietrowski (5-6, jr.), Mikayla Rapant (5-4, sr.)
Other Returning Letterwinners: Alaina Johnson (5-4, jr.), Kathryn Doorn (5-11, soph.)
Newcomers:

Team Notes: The Rockets welcomed back nearly their entire roster from last season.

West Allis Central 
Coach: Dean Mlachnik, 3rd year
2024-25 Record: 5-20
2024-25 Conference Finish: 7th in Woodland West, 0-12
Noable Returnees: Joymaris Fernandez (5-1, sr.), Chloe Beal (5-9, jr.), Anais Beson (5-2, jr.), Jamyah Simos (5-6, soph.)

Team Notes: The Bulldogs join the league after formerly competing in the Woodland West. They entered the year with a 44-game conference losing streak.

Whitnall (Greenfield)
Coach: Anthoni Parr, 4th year; 8th overall
2024-25 Record: 21-4, lost to Union Grove in D2 sectionals
2024-25 Conference Finish: Woodland West champions, 12-0
Returning Starters: Riley Ward (5-10, sr., 18.5 PPG, 40 3PM, 5.5 RPG, 2.2 APG, 2.4 SPG), Taylor Pitta (5-10, sr., 8.8 PPG), Ella Koch (5-11, sr., 7.9 PPG, 8.7 RPG, 4 APG, 2.4 SPG)
Other Notable Returnees: Emily Teixera (5-8, sr.), Tess Grochowski (6-0, jr.), Sienna Malone (5-10, jr.)

Team Notes: The Falcons brought back three starters from last year's squad, which went unbeaten in Woodland East play and advanced to sectionals.