High school girls basketball: Incarnate Word Academy of Missouri tops list of longest win streaks coming out of 2023-24 season

Red Knights extended streak to 131 consecutive wins in an emotional state championship game.

Thumbnail image of this articles writer: Kevin Askeland
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Apr 11, 2024, 1:00pm
With four straight undefeated seasons and 131 wins in a row, Incarnate Word Academy (St. Louis, Mo.) could break the national record for consecutive high school girls basketball victories early in the 2024-25 season.

The Red Knights head the list of longest active girls basketball win streaks by nearly 80 victories and rank No. 3 all-time for consecutive 5-on-5 victories. Central Plains (Claflin, Kan.) set the record with 138 from 2015 to 2020 while Duncanville (Texas) had 134 from 1987 to 1991.

Incarnate Word Academy's last victory in the streak came under extraordinarily challenging circumstances. The Red Knights had to face Kickapoo (Springfield) in the Class 6 state championship game last month without head coach Dan Rolfes.

Rolfes, a 13-time state champion, suffered a heart attack following IWA's semifinal win and spent more than 25 days in the hospital.

The Rolfes family has posted online that the coach has returned home this week but still faces a long recovery.

Tanner Wilkenson stepped in for Rolfes during the championship game, but it remains to be seen who will be leading the Red Knights as they begin next season eight games short of breaking the all-time wins mark.

The all-time girls basketball win streak belongs to Baskin (La.), which won 218 in a row from 1947 to 1953 playing 6-on-6 basketball. Monetta (S.C.) won 154 in a row from 1933 to 1940, Hanover (Mass.) won 154 in a row from 1965 to 1975 and Taylor County (Butler, Ga.) won 134 in a row from 1968 to 1972. Most states discontinued playing 6-on-6 basketball in the mid-1970s.
Incarnate Word Academy celebrates after winning its seventh consecutive state title last month. (Photo: David Smith)
Incarnate Word Academy celebrates after winning its seventh consecutive state title last month. (Photo: David Smith)
Longest girls basketball win streaks

1. 131 — Incarnate Word Academy (St. Louis, Mo.)
2. 52 — Saco/Whitewater/Hinsdale (Saco, Mont.)
3. 47 — Mt. Vernon-Enola (Mt. Vernon, Ark.)
4. 41 — Grace Christian (Newport, N.C.)
5. 38 — Loyola Academy (Wilmette, Ill.)
5. 38 — Lincoln (Ill.)
5. 38 — Dalton (New York, N.Y.)
8. 34 — Newcastle (Texas)
8. 34 — Crane (Ore.)
10. 33 — Colorado Springs Christian (Colorado Springs, Colo.)

32 in a row
Grayson (Loganville, Ga.)

31 in a row
Farmington (Ark.)

30 in a row
Neshoba Central (Philadelphia, Miss.)
Douglas (Wyo.)

29 in a row
West Rowan (Mt. Ulla, N.C.)
Johnston (Iowa)

28 in a row
Hammond (Columbia, Md.)
Needles (Needles, Calif.)
El Reno (Okla.)

27 in a row
Corbett (Ore.)
Western Christian (Salem, Ore.)
Silver Lake (Kan.)
Liberty Christian (Lynchburg, Va.)
Cherokee (N.C.)

26 in a row
Purcell Marian (Cincinnati, Ohio)
Clear Creek-Amana (Tiffin, Iowa)
O'Gorman (Sioux Falls, S.D.)

25 in a row
North Linn (Troy Mills, Iowa)
Baldwin (Milledgeville, Ga.)
Shelley (Idaho)
Lawrence Central (Indianapolis, Ind.)
Benilde-St. Margaret's (St. Louis Park, Minn.)
Skyview (Billings, Mont.)
Bishop Manogue (Reno, Nev.)
Sumter (S.C.)

24 in a row
Bedford (N.H.)
Jasper (Ala.)
Rosepine (La.)
Laurel (Miss.)
Overton (Neb.)

23 in a row
Hebron Christian (Dacula, Ga.)

22 in a row
Oceanside (Rockland, Maine)
Marist (Atlanta, Ga.)
Ridgeline (Millville, Utah)
Littleton (N.H.)
North Pitt (Bethel, N.C.)
South Medford (Medford, Ore.)
Idabel (Okla.)

21 in a row
Andrew Jackson (Kershaw, S.C.)
Jackson (Atlanta, Ga.)
Sacred Heart (Louisville, Ky.)
Parkway (Bossier City, La.)
Africentric Early College (Columbus, Ohio)

20 in a row
Bethany (Okla.)
Metlakatla (Alaska)
Dr. Phillips (Orlando, Fla.)
Lynden (Wash.)
Bountiful (Utah)
Bradley Central (Cleveland, Tenn.)

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