The Biggest Questions as the Season Tips Off

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Land of Enchantment is buzzing – the 2025-26 season is here, and the talent across every classification is ridiculous. Here are the storylines everyone's talking about.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:separator --> <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity" /> <!-- /wp:separator --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">5A Class</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>What will Albuquerque High look like with [player_tooltip player_id='648197' first='Savannah' last='Combs'] finally on the floor?</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>For the last two years, the Bulldogs have been forced to imagine their ceiling. Combs, a legit top-10 talent in the state, missed her sophomore season after transferring from Highland and then sat out all of 2024-25 with a knee injury. Now healthy, the 6'2” center looks explosive again. Her jumper is buttery soft, she's money from 10-12 feet, and good luck blocking her shot at that height.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Last year, Coach Morrison's squad still won District 5 and reached the <em>Round of 16</em> with a 21-6 record. Add Combs to that mix and suddenly Albuquerque High has the missing piece to make a serious run at a blue trophy.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Can Sandia pull off the three-peat?</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The two-time defending champs lost four of their five starters to graduation, but don't sleep on the Matadors. [player_tooltip player_id='1068188' first='Kaiyah' last='Benally'] and [player_tooltip player_id='648210' first='Chloe' last='Brown'] are back.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Benally, a slick, ultra-versatile point-guard with a stack of Division I offers, slides into the lead role and will touch the ball on every big possession. Brown, already a returning starter, brings nonstop energy and a deadly three-point stroke (multiple collegiate offers of her own). Together they've drained 90 threes over the past two seasons, posted a ridiculous 58-4 record when on the court together, and – oh yeah – won back-to-back 5A <em>state championships</em>.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A new-look roster, same sky-high expectations.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:separator --> <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity" /> <!-- /wp:separator --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">4A Class</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>How dominant will [player_tooltip player_id='839425' first='Harper' last='Dunn'] be against 4A competition?</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The state's most talked-about prospect – the 6'6” class-of-2027 phenom [player_tooltip player_id='839425' first='Harper' last='Dunn'] – is set for a new challenge. With Corona/Vaughn unable to field a team this season, the No. 1-ranked player in New Mexico has landed at Albuquerque Academy.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Her stats so far have been eye-popping: 57 double-doubles, 20 triple-doubles, 1,353 points, 1,198 rebounds, and 508 blocks in just 68 games while shooting 52% from the floor. Now the question everyone's asking: can that ridiculous production translate against 4A lineups?</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Chargers were already solid last year (24-5, District 6 champs, <em>Elite Eight</em> run), so Dunn joins a program ready to compete at the top. If she adjusts smoothly, Academy could be a nightmare for the rest of the classification.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:separator --> <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity" /> <!-- /wp:separator --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">3A Class</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Can Navajo Prep make it a three-peat?</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Eagles are hunting their <span style="text-decoration: underline">third straight 3A crown – and fourth title since 2021.</span> Last winter, they ripped off a 21-game winning streak to finish 26-5, claimed the District 1 title, earned the No. 1 seed, and closed it out in style.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Juniors [player_tooltip player_id='1056573' first='Kameron' last='Dale'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1225687' first='Leilani' last='Wood'], two do-it-all scorers who simply refuse to let their team lose, are back as the cornerstone. In last year's championship win over West Las Vegas, the duo combined for 21 points and 16 boards. If they stay healthy, expecting anything less than Navajo Prep hoisting another trophy feels foolish.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Buckle up, New Mexico – this season is going to be electric.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>**Statistics via MaxPreps**</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->