2025-26 Mississippi Valley Conference Preview Predicted Order of Finish1)
Aquinas2)
La Crosse Central3)
Onalaska4)
Holmen 5)
Sparta6)
La Crosse Logan7)
Tomah Players to Watch Charley Casey, Holmen – Casey received first-team all-league laurels as a junior, averaging 10.4 points, 11 rebounds, 1.8 assists, and 1.7 blocks per game.
Samantha Davis, Aquinas – Davis was named Mississippi Valley Player of the Year and WBCA all-state as a junior. The Division I Bradley University commit averaged 17.2 points, 10.1 rebounds, 1.9 assists, and 2.9 steals per game.
Ava Fernholz, Aquinas – As a sophomore, Fernholz earned second-team all-league honors, tallying 8.4 points, 3.4 rebounds, 3.8 assists, and 2.2 steals per contest.
Ellie Gillitzer, La Crosse Central – Gillitzer received second-team all-league recognition as a sophomore, averaging 9.3 points, 4.3 rebounds, 2.2 assists, and 2.6 steals per game.
Kayla Ketelhut, Onalaska – As a freshman, Ketelhut took home second-team all-MVC, averaging 10 points and 4.2 rebounds per contest.
Macy Kline, Holmen – Kline was voted first-team all-conference as a junior, tallying 11.4 points, 5.0 rebounds, 4.3 assists, and 3.6 steals per contest.
Olivia Passehl, Onalaska – Passehl tallied 9.6 points per game and knocked down 70 three-pointers last season at Aquinas.
Alahnna Simpson, La Crosse Central – Simpson was named first-team all-MVC and honorable mention WBCA all-state as a junior. The Division I Eastern Illinois University commit posted 20.2 points, 8.2 rebounds, 3.3 assists, 4.1 steals, and 1.3 blocks per game.
Brielle Plueger, Tomah – Plueger was a first-team all-league performer as a sophomore, scoring 12.7 points per game.
Team Capsules Aquinas (La Crosse) Coach: Dave Donarski, 12th year (264-30)
2024-25 Record: 23-5, lost to D4 state champion Cuba City in a sectional final
2024-25 Conference Finish: MVC champions (12-0)
Top Returnees: Samantha Davis (6-0, sr., 17.2 PPG, 10.1 RPG, 1.9 APG, 2.9 SPG), Ava Fernholz (5-6, jr., 8.4 PPG, 3.8 APG, 2.2 SPG)
Other Returnees: Alaina Elias (5-9, sr., 4.4 PPG, 2.2 SPG), Eva Willenbring (5-3, jr., 2.5 APG), Liv Dickinson (5-6, jr.), Gabriella Stratman (5-7, jr.), Adelaide Bezemek (5-8, jr.)
Newcomers: Hadley Alderson (5-7, soph.), Ella Hargrove (5-6, soph.), Anna Binsfield (5-9, soph.)
Team Notes: The Blugolds returned two of their top three scorers from last year's team, which finished one win away from the WIAA state tournament. Headlining the roster is Samantha Davis, a Division I Bradley University commit. Aquinas has captured the last 10 Mississippi Valley titles and enters the year with a 114-game league winning streak, the longest active streak in the state.
Holmen Coach: Lionel Jones, 1st year
2024-25 Record: 12-12
2024-25 Conference Finish: 3rd, 8-4
Returnees: Macy Kline (5-4, jr., 11.4 PPG, 5 RPG, 4.3 APG, 3.6 SPG), Charley Casey (6-0, sr., 10.4 PPG, 11 RPG, 1.8 APG, 1.7 BPG), Makenzie Nunemacher (5-5, soph., 8.1 PPG, 4.5 RPG), Aspyn Archer (5-7, soph.), Reese Tierney (5-4, soph.), Alayna Wood (5-6, soph.), Linley Regan (5-9, jr.), Chiara Theisen (6-0, jr.)
Team Notes: The Vikings returned several key players, but will need to adjust to a new head coach. Coach Jones was previously the head women's basketball coach at Viterbo University and also served as the head girls coach at Durand-Arkansaw, where he guided them to the WIAA state tournament in 2017.
La Crosse Central Coach: Quartell Roberson, 9th year (102-84)
2024-25 Record: 18-8
2024-25 Conference Finish: 2nd, 9-3
Returning Starters: Alahnna Simpson (6-0, sr., 20.2 PPG, 8.2 RPG, 3.3 APG, 4.1 SPG, 1.3 BPG), Ellie Gillitzer (5-7, jr., 9.3 PPG, 31 3PM, 4.3 RPG, 2.2 APG, 2.6 SPG), Emmerson Keeney (6-0, sr., 4.1 PPG, 5.2 RPG)
Other Notable Returnees: Malayah Simpson (5-8, soph., 4.2 PPG, 1.8 SPG), Chloe Ackerman (5-7, sr.)
Team Notes: The Riverhawks returned three starters, headlined by Division I Eastern Illinois recruit Alahnna Simpson.
La Crosse Logan Coach: Abby Warren, 8th year
2024-25 Record: 6-19
2024-25 Conference Finish: 6th, 2-10
Notable Returnees: Lydia Mason (5-8, sr., 9.2 PPG, 6.7 RPG), Kaia Depaolo (6-0, sr., 5 PPG, 6.8 RPG, 1.8 APG, 1.8 SPG), Lillian Dettwiler 5-7, jr., 4.7 PPG), Kenna Streek (5-7, sr.), Emma Bacon (5-5, jr.), Maria Weber (5-10, jr.)
Team Notes: The Rangers brought back nearly their entire roster from last season, led by Lydia Mason.
OnalaskaCoach: Tom Cowley, 4th year (44-31); 20th overall (239-208)
2024-25 Record: 14-12
2024-25 Conference Finish: 4th, 7-5
Returning Starters: Kayla Ketelhut (5-9, soph., 10 PPG, 4.2 RPG), Finley Walters (5-7, jr., 6.8 PPG PPG), Lauren Pica (5-7, jr., 6 PPG), Natalie Marso (5-10, jr., 4.6 PPG, 8.6 RPG, Olivia Passehl (5-7, jr., 9.6 PPG, 70 3PM; transfer from Aquinas),
Other Returning Letterwinners: Raelyn Cowley (5-10, sr.), Avery Cowley (5-10, soph., 4 RPG), Mara Klein (5-9, jr.), Elodie Most (6-2, soph.), Kenzie Bauer (5-7, soph.)
Newcomers: McKenna Alderman (soph.), Sadie Peterson (5-5, soph.), Amelia Spencer (soph.), Julianna Dunn (soph.), Cali Grosch (soph.), MJ Heit (5-7, soph.)
Team Notes: The Hilltoppers welcomed back the majority of their roster and added Olivia Passehl, who transferred in. Coach Cowley told MaxPreps that experience and depth are strengths, while shooting consistency is a weakness.
SpartaCoach: Chris Schofield, 1st year
2024-25 Record: 12-14
2024-25 Conference Finish: 5th, 3-9
Returning Starters: Elexa Jones (5-8, sr., 11.4 PPG), Tiana Leis (5-8, sr., 9.6 PPG, 5.2 RPG), Lily Seifert (5-6, sr., 8.7 PPG, 30 3PM, 5.8 RPG, 2.6 APG), Abby Berendes (5-7, jr., 6.2 PPG), Izzy Mickelson (5-8, sr., 4.6 PPG, 6.4 RPG, 2 APG)
Other Returnees: Cecila Hemmersbach (5-6, jr.), Kaylie Church (5-5, sr.), Lillian Berg (5-11, jr.)
Team Notes: The Spartans returned nearly their entire roster from last season.
Coach: Mark Von Haden, 13th year
2024-25 Record: 2-24
2024-25 Conference Finish: 7th, 1-11
Notable Returnees: Brielle Plueger (jr., 12.7 PPG), Abby Gordon (jr., 6 PPG), Avary Chapman (sr., 6 PPG)
Team Notes: The Timberwolves are 2-22 over the last two years in league play.
