State Championships preview: 2026 (17U) Division

It is a rivalry that dates to elementary school in the Class of 2026: [program_tooltip program_id='712722' first='North' last='Tartan'] vs [program_tooltip program_id='714566' first='Minnesota' last='Stars'] 3SSB Hill nee [program_tooltip program_id='712914' first='Tayler' last='Hill Elite']. Way back in 2019 the two squads met for the 5th grade title at the AAU State Championships and they just might face off for the hardware again in 2025. When the tournament begins Friday night, they'll occupy the #1 and #3 seeds. A half dozen players who competed back then will still be in the lineup now. At the Prelims it was all Tartan when the two teams played as the Stars fell by a score of 62-41. Don't be fooled by the one-sided outcome. That was Prelims; this is State. Here's how the field lines up for the 2026 Division.   #1 seed – [program_tooltip program_id='712722' first='North' last='Tartan'] 2026 EYBL   Tartan won the 2026 Prelims with a 65-57 triumph over the Fury following wins over the Suns by 30, the Stars by 31 and [program_tooltip program_id='712665' first='Metro' last='Stars'] by 33. After going 3-2 two weeks ago at the EYBL circuit opener in Virginia, Tartan was firing on all cylinders this past weekend. As usual for coach Gerard Coury's group, defense is their calling card but they have plenty of scorers, too.   PLAYERS: [player_tooltip player_id='252381' first='Maddyn' last='Greenway'] (Kentucky), ranked #1 in the Prep Girls Hoops Class of 2026, is the engine that propels this squad which also boasts #3 [player_tooltip player_id='344333' first='Cail' last='Jahnke'], #4 [player_tooltip player_id='471360' first='Mya' last='Moore'] (Creighton), and #9 [player_tooltip player_id='502602' first='Morgan' last='Staloch'] (St. Thomas). 2028 #3 [player_tooltip player_id='644878' first='Sahara' last='Wilson'] occupies the paint. KEY ADDITIONS: Wisconsin #1 Adeline Sheplee and Iowa #6 Averie Lower have been huge additions for Tartan along with #18 [player_tooltip player_id='498663' first='Madison' last='Ohm'] of Byron, who started all 5 games in her first EYBL event.   #2 seed – [program_tooltip program_id='712687' first='Minnesota' last='Fury'] 2026 UAA   The Fury lost by just 8 points to Tartan in the Prelims final and cannot be underestimated. With Benilde-St. Margaret's coach Tim Ellefson at the helm, the squad is coming together nicely after a history of inconsistency. It is a talented group to be sure.   PLAYERS: Highly-sought guard [player_tooltip player_id='351665' first='Vienna' last='Murray'], a top 5 talent in the class, is a key performer for the Fury along with #8 [player_tooltip player_id='458305' first='Audrey' last='Shindelar'] (South Dakota State), #10 [player_tooltip player_id='280354' first='Tucker' last='Downs'] (South Dakota) and #11 [player_tooltip player_id='344332' first='Kate' last='Holmquist'] (Montana) at the point. Up front 12th-rated [player_tooltip player_id='339214' first='Jayci' last='Rath'] (St. Thomas) and #13 [player_tooltip player_id='362575' first='Callie' last='Oakland'] are standouts. #28 [player_tooltip player_id='502586' first='Maria' last='Radabaugh'] provides speed and energy. KEY ADDITIONS: Adding 17th-ranked [player_tooltip player_id='515676' first='Samantha' last='Voll'] from Monticello has been huge for the Fury. She was outstanding at the recent UAA circuit event and averaged 15 points per game at the Prelims.   #3 seed – [program_tooltip program_id='714566' first='Minnesota' last='Stars'] 2026 3SSB Hill   The two-time defending champions coached by P.J. Hill knocked off Stars Nilsen 75-48 to earn the 3rd seed. It seems like this squad gets underestimated every year. Do so at your peril because the team always seems to come up big when it matters most. Last year they crushed the Fury in the title game. The year before they scored a 1-point win over Tartan.   PLAYERS: The Stars are led by point guard [player_tooltip player_id='252383' first='Lanelle' last='Wright'] (ranked #6 in the class) and North Dakota #1 LeeLee Bell. Their core includes guards #19 [player_tooltip player_id='478390' first='Sinae' last='Hill'], #31 [player_tooltip player_id='567377' first='Sadie' last='Hall'], #32 [player_tooltip player_id='472446' first='Amaya' last='Penn'], #41 [player_tooltip player_id='502537' first='Kate' last='Hennessy'] and #44 [player_tooltip player_id='502543' first='Lauren' last='Beyer']. KEY ADDITIONS: Post #65 [player_tooltip player_id='719637' first='Deborah' last='Ayeni'] and guards #58 [player_tooltip player_id='478351' first='Dalia' last='Thornton-Fay'] and #69 [player_tooltip player_id='589280' first='Lyric' last='Singleton'].   Sleeper team – [program_tooltip program_id='712700' first='Minnesota' last='Suns'] 2026 P24   Led by longtime coach Dre Jefferson, this Suns group earned the 5th seed at Prelims but cannot be counted out in the big dance. After dispatching the [program_tooltip program_id='712665' first='Metro' last='Stars'] by 39 points on Friday night, the Suns got throttled by Tartan at 8 a.m. Saturday. Don't be fooled by the 30-point loss. The Suns were without their undisputed leader [player_tooltip player_id='205310' first='Tori' last='Oehrlein'], who was back home in Crosby-Ironton for her confirmation ceremony. The Minnesota commit (ranked #1A with Greenway) had the highest per-game points totals in the division at Prelims and she'll lead the way in the Suns' quest for an upset. They lost by just 2 points to the Stars on Sunday.   PLAYERS: Besides Oehrlein, the Suns have 6'3 post [player_tooltip player_id='502561' first='Marta' last='Forsline'] (#24 in the class), #23 [player_tooltip player_id='478373' first='Chloe' last='Carlson'], #43 [player_tooltip player_id='478375' first='Kadence' last='Pierce'], #48 [player_tooltip player_id='515674' first='Aubree' last='Hultman'], #85 [player_tooltip player_id='927228' first='Amaya' last='Pahl'] and the very lengthy [player_tooltip player_id='773411' first='Olivia' last='Lanari']. KEY ADDITIONS: Adding #20 [player_tooltip player_id='458302' first='Abbie' last='Pietila'] (Michigan Tech) to the backcourt was huge along with #61 [player_tooltip player_id='773399' first='Annika' last='Dunrud']. Newcomer Violet Otto is the 56th-rated prospect in Wisconsin.   5 MORE PROSPECTS TO SEE   #14 [player_tooltip player_id='515673' first='Brielle' last='Janssen'] – [program_tooltip program_id='712699' first='Minnesota' last='Rise'] Hulke (MSU-Mankato)   #15 [player_tooltip player_id='339175' first='Brooklyn' last='Lewis'] – [program_tooltip program_id='712699' first='Minnesota' last='Rise'] Hulke (MSU-Mankato)   #27 [player_tooltip player_id='515651' first='Addi' last='Schneider'] – [program_tooltip program_id='712687' first='Minnesota' last='Fury'] S40   #34 [player_tooltip player_id='589275' first='Sophia' last='Anderson'] – [program_tooltip program_id='714566' first='Minnesota' last='Stars'] Nilsen   #39 [player_tooltip player_id='502552' first='Sophia' last='Perry'] – [program_tooltip program_id='712665' first='Metro' last='Stars'] 3SSB

It is a rivalry that dates to elementary school in the Class of 2026: North Tartan vs Minnesota Stars 3SSB Hill nee Tayler Hill Elite . Way back in 2019 the two squads met for the 5th grade title at the AAU State Championships and they just might face off for the hardware again in 2025. When the tournament begins Friday night, they'll occupy the #1 and #3 seeds. A half dozen players who competed back then will still be in the lineup now. At the Prelims it was all Tartan when the two teams played as the Stars fell by a score of 62-41. Don't be fooled by the one-sided outcome. That was Prelims; this is State. Here's how the field lines up for the 2026 Division.