Way too Early State Title Predictions for Next Season

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The offseason is here. Champions have a gold ball in their school's hallway, and we're preparing for another strenuous run in grassroots basketball. However, before we get to that point when it comes to the content, there are things I want to do first. Today, we'll end with my way-too-early state champion predictions for the 2024-25 season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>D5: Lena</strong></h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>After a heartbreaking loss in the D5 State Title game, the best news for Lena is that they'll get all but two players back. [player_tooltip player_id='767273' first='Eva' last='Brooks'] is probably the most challenging player to guard in D5 because of her size and skill, and [player_tooltip player_id='842247' first='Madi' last='Thomson'] has proven she can be relied upon on the biggest stages in the state. Their experience at the Resch Center could drive them to finish the job next season, much like Albany did this season before co-oping with Monticello.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Biggest Challenger: Argyle/Pecatonica</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>D4: Cuba City</strong></h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Cubans have been knocking on the door of the state tournament the past two years, and they were a few inches short on an open [player_tooltip player_id='374234' first='Olivia' last='Olson'] three-pointer from being State Champions this season. They'll have everyone back next season, and, who knows, maybe a freshman cracks the rotation over there, and they get deeper. Regardless, kids like [player_tooltip player_id='914523' first='Ashley' last='Rowe'] and [player_tooltip player_id='534426' first='Dea' last='Crist'] have that experience of getting to state and competing in a state title game that nobody else in D4 will have next season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Biggest Challenger: The Prairie School</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>D3: Laconia</strong></h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>After a reign of terror in D4, the WIAA Performance factor will land Laconia in D3. Their only loss in their rotation is Callista Vande Berg, but there's still an unreal amount of depth in Rosendale. [player_tooltip player_id='342096' first='Tierney' last='Madigan'], [player_tooltip player_id='448258' first='Payton' last='Morgan'], [player_tooltip player_id='375953' first='Aubrey' last='Leonard'], [player_tooltip player_id='877430' first='Eva' last='Engel'], and Molly Duel have all played in the Resch Center six times in the past three seasons and have improved. D3 loses a lot of top-end talent across the best teams in the division, so who knows. D3 is usually wild, but I'll take Laconia taking home their first D3 state title.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Biggest Challenger: Edgewood</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>D2: Wauwatosa East</strong></h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>D2 will have a title game without Notre Dame or Pewaukee for the first time before COVID-19. There are two things I like to bet on when it comes to predicting state champions. Guard play and experience, and the only team that checks both of those boxes today is Wauwatosa East. [player_tooltip player_id='400915' first='Mikaia' last='Litza'] is becoming one of the top creative guards in the state, and she'll only get better in time. The other kids there are also some talented players in their own right. [player_tooltip player_id='509696' first='Emma' last='Close'], [player_tooltip player_id='766594' first='Audrey' last='Sellinger'], and [player_tooltip player_id='509715' first='Sadie' last='Kubacki'] are well above-average varsity players, so they'll be among the top teams in D2 next season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Biggest Challenger: Wisconsin Lutheran and Whitefish Bay</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>D1: Pewaukee</strong></h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>I've said it a million times, but I've thought the best two teams in the state the last two years were Notre Dame and Pewaukee, and the Pirates don't lose a starter, so they're still probably the best team in the state, and who knows what newcomer could come in next season and play rotational minutes for the Pirates. The Terrians are still awesome, [player_tooltip player_id='333100' first='Kennedy' last='Retherford'] has improved every year, and [player_tooltip player_id='536013' first='Giselle' last='Janowski'] is one of the top players in the 2026 class, and that doesn't mention other high level kids like [player_tooltip player_id='533084' first='Vanessa' last='Johnson'], who'll be back from injury, and [player_tooltip player_id='533086' first='Kylie' last='Pieper'] who made game-changing plays in high-profile games this season. The Pirates are in D1, but still as scary as ever.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Biggest Challenger: Kimberly and Arrowhead</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->