High school girls basketball: Best team in every state heading into 2025-26 season

Archbishop Mitty, Incarnate Word Academy and Bishop McNamara lead the best from around the nation.

Thumbnail image of this articles writer: Aaron Williams
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Nov 19, 2025, 11:30am
Our preview of the 2025-26 high school girls basketball season continues with a look at the top team in all 50 states.

TOP PLAYERS AT EVERY POSITION: Point guards | Shooting guards | Wings/forwards | Posts

Earlier this week, we looked at the best player in each state and will roll out the Preseason MaxPreps Top 25 rankings and All-America teams later this week.

From Alabama to Wyoming and every state in between, we searched coast-to-coast to find the best team from your state heading into the season.
Alabama
The Bucs are seeking their sixth-straight Class 7A title. Back and healthy is 6-foot-3 center Khloe Ford along with Aaliyah Blanchard and Class of 2029 standout Kristen Winston.

Alaska
It's tough to go against three-time Class 3A champion Grace Christian (Anchorage) but the Whalers return their top seven scorers from a state runner-up team led by junior Kylen Burnell (21.7 points per game) and senior Aiga Unutoa (18.5).

Arizona
The reigning Open Division champions lose Destiny Lunan to graduation but return plenty of talent with championship experience. Dashia Richardson averaged 11.0 points per game and transfer T'Mea Eteuati averaged 16.3 in Utah last season.

Arkansas
Conway
The Wampus Cats went 29-3 before falling in the Class 6A quarterfinals. Traniyah Weston, Kylie Johnson and Mi'Raiyh Wilson are ready to build on Conway's legacy.

California
Archbishop Mitty (San Jose)
McKenna Woliczko should be back from last season's ACL injury. Mitty retooled in her absence to reach a fifth straight Open Division final.

Colorado
Bri Crittendon helped the Ravens to a 21-6 mark last season while averaging 26.4 points per game. Also back for their senior seasons are Chloe Parker (11.1 points per game) and Shay Vigil (10.8).

Connecticut 
In addition to Abby Casper, the Lions return most of the squad that went 24-2 and captured the Class L title, their third straight across three classes. Also back are Maeve Staunton, Zoey Canning, Lily Johnson and Samantha Casper.

Delaware 
The Vikings fell in last year's state final but return a trio of all-state picks in seniors Skylar Bolden, Taniyah Reese and ZaMaylah Seda-Owens. 

District of Columbia
St. John's
The Cadets fell in the DCSAA Class AA final but return All-WCAC first-teamer Morgan Stewart, who is committed to Florida State. She averaged 19.8 points per night and is joined by SMU commit Camille Nesmith (12.1) and New Hampshire commit Sam Eller (5.6).

Florida 
The Ascenders have retooled the lineup after heavy graduation losses. South Carolina commit Kelsi Andrews leads a talented crew that also includes Miciah Fusilier, Nevaeh Roberson and Jessie Moses.

Georgia 
Giaunni Rogers led state semifinalist St. Francis in scoring as a sophomore with 16.3 points per game while Cam Golston chipped in 12.6 per night.

Hawaii
The Warriors ended the five-year championship run of 'Iolani behind Nihoa Dunn, who had 18 points in the title game. She averaged 16.1 points and 7.4 rebounds for the 29-3 Warriors and is joined by Rylee Paranada (8.6 ppg).

Idaho
Middleton
The Class 5A runner-up brings back nearly 50 points per night in scoring from lat year's 25-2 squad. The Vikings are led by senior Zoey Blackwell (12.9 points per game), junior Olivia Blackwell (8.8) and senior Miley Steele (8.0).

Illinois
Naperville Central (Naperville)
The transfer addition of five-star Trinity Jones makes the Redhawks a contender. The uncommitted senior missed all of last year with an ACL injury but averaged 17.2 points, 8.3 rebounds and 2.0 steals per game as a sophomore at Bolingbrook.

Indiana
Lawrence Central (Indianapolis)
Returnee Lola Lampley averaged 11.8 points, 6.4 rebounds and 3.6 assists per game and is joined by Aniyah Mckenzie. Transfers Keadriah Butler (Boston College), Aubri Ingram and Riley Schellhammer will offset graduation losses.

Iowa
Johnston
The Dragons seek a third straight state title behind Notre Dame commit Jenica Lewis, Missouri Western commit Jaliyah Kinnetz, junior Ari Phillips and Kelli Kalb. Johnston enters 2025-26 with the nation's longest win streak at 55 games.

Kansas 
The Panthers return their top five scorers from last year's Class 6A runner-up team that went 21-4. Senior Macayla Askew (13.8 points per game), junior Aysia Fox (10.2), sophomores Sarai Graham (7.9) and Siuanna Carter (7.4), and senior Karlie Demel (6.7).

Kentucky
Indiana commit Ashlinn James helped the Rockets to the championship game last season and grabs the torch as the state's top talent with the graduation of ZaKiyah Johnson. James is joined by Ava Moore, Jaida Allen and Se'Rae Palmer as Assumption looks to earn a state title.

Louisiana 
The Kittens went 25-5 with a Division IV Select state title and return a core than includes senior Asia Patin (14.6 points per game), juniors Jamya Cain (7.0) and Kori Wesley (6.8), and sophomore Dalana Earl (4.8).

Maine
Lawrence (Fairfield)
Senior and Holy Cross commit Maddie Provost is back for the Bulldogs after averaging 20.9 points, 4.6 assists and 3.1 steals per night. She is joined by senior Ashley Shores as they look to advance past last year's semifinal appearance.

Maryland
Bishop McNamara (Forestville)
Qandace Samuels and NyAir McCoy, both MaxPreps Sophomore All-Americans, are the next in a long line of Mustang superstars. Samuels averaged 14.6 points  per game while McCoy contributed 5.7 steals and 5.0 assists. 

Massachusetts
Wachusett Regional (Holden)
Senior Jaelynn Scott returns for the Mountaineers after lifting them to the Division 1 title, the school's first, last season with her buzzer-beating layup in the championship game. She scored 33 in the final and is joined by returners Sophie Gibbons and Teegan Lanpher.

Michigan
Belleville
Class of 2027 standout Sydney Savoury paced the Tigers to a 28-1 record and the Division 1 state championship, averaging 26.5 points, 7.0 rebounds and 4.0 assists per game. She's back and looking for the repeat.

Minnesota
Providence Academy (Plymouth)
Maddyn Greenway will be chasing the state scoring record entering her senior season with 4,454 points. 

Mississippi
Madison-Ridgeland Academy (Madison)
The Patriots fell in last season's 6A final but a revamped playoff format along with returners Presley Hughes, Annie Toler and Alyssa Dampier, daughter of former NBA player Erick Dampier, could see MRA hoist the trophy at the end of the season.

Missouri
Incarnate Word Academy (St. Louis)
The Red Knights saw their national-best 141-game win streak snapped last season but head coach Dan Rolfes' team shook it off to win a state title. Nevaeh Lucious was big down the stretch for IWA, which won its 11th state title in 12 seasons.

Montana
Loyola-Sacred Heart (Missoula)
Spencer Laird is back for the Rams after averaging a team-high 20.0 points, 11.5 rebounds and 5.5 steals as a sophomore. She fueled the Rams to a 19-4 mark as they reached the Class B semifinals.

Nebraska
Lincoln North Star (Lincoln)
The Navigators fell to eventual Class A champion Millard West in the semifinals. They return leading scorer Ani Leu (14.5 points per game) and fellow senior Kendall Anderson (8.3) along with junior Joyce Johnson (7.0).

Nevada
The reigning Class 5A champions are led by MaxPreps All-American Nation Williams. One of the game's best bigs, she averaged 17.3 points, 10.4 rebounds, 3.5 assists, 2.8 steals and 2.1 blocks per game. She is joined by Sanai Branch, Inieye Oruh and D'Arrah Mitchell.

New Hampshire
When you haven't lost in two seasons — 49 games — you lay claim to the state's best. Sarah Muir, Annie Zink and Mel McCarthy all are back from the 25-0 Division 1 championship team.

New Jersey
The Caseys fell in the South Jersey Non-Public A final but return a good chunk of the team that went 28-5. Indiana commit Addy Nyemchek is back after averaging 14.0 points and 7.0 rebounds per night. She is joined by Bucknell commit Tessa Liggio and sister and Rhode Island commit Katie Liggio as well as Daniela Maletsky.

New Mexico
La Cueva (Albuquerque)
The top five scorers from a squad that went 22-8 and reached the Class 5A semis. Jordyn Dyer (Pacific) leads La Cueva after averaging 20.5 points and 6.6 rebounds per night. Also back are sophomores Payton Lobato and Siena Tesinsky along with seniors Paz Romero and Kali Burtenshaw.

New York
Long Island Lutheran (Brookville)
The Crusaders get key cogs Savannah Swords and Sanai Green back after missing last year with injury and are bolstered by the emergence of Olivia Jones in their absence. Transfers including Cece Arico thrust Long Island Lutheran back into the national picture.

North Carolina
Lake Norman (Mooresville)
Navy commit Kelsey Rhyne is back after averaging 14.7 points per game for the Class 4A state champions. Senior guards Rayana Minard and Kaiya Bond are back along with transfers Jeta North and Finley Sherrill.

North Dakota
Minot
The Magicians return senior and Oklahoma commit Leelee Bell from last year's 23-4 squad that reached the Class AA semifinals. She is joined by Eve Knutson and Maggie Fricke, who put up 28 points per night as a sophomore but missed last season with an ACL injury.

Ohio
Fairmont (Kettering)
Nearly every piece of a 22-win Firebirds team returns, including all-state sophomore Janiyah Hargrave and third-team All-State Kaylah Thornton. Hargrave worked with USA Basketball this summer after averaging 17.3 points last year while Akron commit Thornton posted 15.8 points per game.

Oklahoma
Lincoln Christian (Tulsa)
The Bulldogs are led by senior Nebraska commit Maddi Stewart, who averaged nearly 15 points per night in their Class 4A title season. They lose only senior Audrey Hopkins and return Jayla Albert (8.5 points per game), Kayli Atkinson (7.8) and sophomore Azariah Woodruff (7.2).

Oregon
Love Best scored 26 in the championship game as the Timberwolves shocked Clackamas in the Class 6A final. Best averaged averaged 15.1 points per game as Tualatin went 26-2. Freshman Kendall Dawkins should be an impact player along with junior guards Ries Miadich and Maaya Lucas.

Pennsylvania
The Moose went 27-4 with a fourth consecutive PISAA state title last winter. They are led by seniors Jordyn Palmer (22 points, 11 rebounds per game) and Ohio State commit Atlee Vanesko. They get a boost from St. Rose (Belmar, N.J.) transfer Jada Lynch, daughter of Kim Clijsters.

Rhode Island
Moses Brown (Providence)
The Quakers went 21-4 before a first-round exit in the postseason last year. Back are state Player of the Year Lauren Bousquet (22.8 points per game) along with Jaelynn Perez (13.1) and junior Marielle Nassiff (7.5).

South Carolina
South Pointe (Rock Hill)
Sophomore Kaleigh Lucas is back after dropping 20.8 points per game last season as the Stallions went 29-1 with a Class 4A semifinals. Joining her is junior Ja'Niya Cunningham (19.1 points per game) and incoming freshman Kemoni Hardy (5.7).

South Dakota
The Knights capped 2024-25 with a second straight Class AA title and 50th straight victory. They return all-state players senior Sydney Terveen (15.1 points per game) and junior Ruby Moore (14.3) looking for the three-peat.

Tennessee
Bradley Central (Cleveland)
The reigning Division 1 Class 4A champions lost a lot to graduation but Clemson commit Kimora Fields returns after averaging 19.9 points, 7.1 rebounds, 3.3 assists and 2.3 steals per game. She looks to help MaxPreps National Coach of the Year Jason Reuter win the school's fourth straight state title.

Texas
Senior Zaviyana Madison averaged 13.4 points, 4.5 assists and 3.0 rebounds per game to lead the Raiders a Conference 5A Division 1 state title last season. Also back from the 32-7 squad is Kinley Lewis (11.6 points, 5.6 rebounds) and Kaylin Jackson.

Utah
Lone Peak (Highland)
The Knights won the Class 6A title last year and return their five leading scorers, including BYU commit Kennedy Woolston. She is joined by junior Zuri Nordstrom (8.8 points per game) and senior Tatiana Harness (8.7).

Vermont
Mt. Mansfield (Jericho)
Juniors Maysa Long and Aly Dorman return for the Cougars after finishing 20-5 with a semifinal finish in the state Division 1 bracket. 

Virginia
The entire starting five from last year's Class 5A championship team, including MaxPreps All-American Micah Ojo, who averaged 18.0 points, 8.1 rebounds, 5.0 assists and 4.0 steals per game as the Cavaliers went 28-0. She is joined by seniors Jizelle James, Tristen Rickenbacker and Alauna Olds.

Washington
After winning the Class 4A title, the Pirates are back as Cheyenne Hull enters her junior year after winning MaxPreps Player of the Year honors. She averaged 22.4 points and 11.2 rebounds per game as the Pirates went 24-3. Joining her is junior point guard Isa Garcia.

West Virginia
The Timberwolves went 23-2 last season, won the Class AAAA title and return tournament MVP and first team all-state pick Sophi Hutchison along with second-team choice Brooklyn Ellis.

Wisconsin
Natalie Kussow is back for her senior season with the Warhawks. The Minnesota commit averaged 26.7 points, 9.9 rebounds, 3.8 steals and 3.0 assists as Arrowhead fell in the Division 1 semis. Kussow is joined by Lipscomb commit Presly Samz, Sidney Zehner and Libby Gilmore, who is back after missing last season with an ACL injury.

Wyoming
The Class 3A runner-up returns Grace Hays, who averaged 17.7 points, 7.6 rebounds, 6.0 steals and 3.0 assists per game for the 22-5 Broncs. Also back are all-state picks from Ellie Talich and Sydney Simone. 

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