Potential X-Factors This Season

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>After highlighting potential breakout players heading into the 2025-26 season, I'd like to discuss a few players who could be x-factors for their programs. Describing an X-factor can be taken in different directions depending on what a player can do or their team's needs, but let's look at a few players who could play crucial roles for their programs this coming season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1229695' first='Ndey' last='Cham']</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Anytime La Follette takes the floor next season, they'll have the best player on the floor. The Lancers will also have a potential deep playoff run within them if things go their way, and that could be down to Cham. The La Follette forward is a physical player who excels around the basket. Her ability to rebound and finish around the rim could be the difference between her team making a run in the postseason or winning the Big Eight this season. She has potential.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='751236' first='Alexis' last='Shelsta']</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Hartford Orioles experienced some unexpected changes in their program heading into this season. Shelsta has been a part of their core since she started high school, but they'll need her to continue progressing. That will be important, since their starting frontcourt last season left. However, I thought she played her best basketball at the end of the AAU season, and that could be something that helps her hit the ground running this season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='992492' first='Ellie' last='Pudelko']</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Wauwatosa East forward has the potential to earn a significant frontcourt role in her sophomore season. Pudelko played behind some talented kids who helped the Red Raiders win a state title last March. She has built muscle over her first high school season and has the potential to be an impact player in the Tosa East frontcourt. She hasn't earned many minutes at the high school level, but Pudelko has the tools to have a standout sophomore season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='992484' first='Ambria' last='Fischer']</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Team defense starts at the point of attack, and there may not be many better perimeter defenders than Fischer in the FVA. The Appleton East guard is a tenacious defender who wants to pick up her assignment the second they touch the ball. She makes every dribble a struggle for opposing guards and forces mistakes out of them that lead to her team earning opportunities to run in transition. There are minutes available in the Patriots' backcourt, and I'm hopeful that Fischer could earn a portion of those minutes next season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->