More Players to Know to Start 2026

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Tonight and tomorrow, I will be in Northwest Wisconsin watching a pair of games between talented programs from large and small schools in the area. Before I make the drive up there, I'd like to highlight a handful of players in my pair of articles this morning. Let's talk about some players who are having impressive seasons to this point as we start the second half of the season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Ashley Lawton</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Flambeau guard has put together an excellent first half of the season in the first of the 2025-26 campaign. Lawton is a skilled guard who can create off the dribble and is comfortable getting to her shot in the mid-range area and punishing defenders. She is also a player who can get after the boards on either end of the floor. Her willingness to dig in and rebound on the defensive end of the court and help get her team running in transition by pushing the ball down the floor.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='881134' first='Emma' last='Trautsch']</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Stoughton wing has undertaken a more prominent role with the Vikings this season and has done an excellent job with the added responsibility. Traustch has been a reliable offensive option and is a player who can use her defensive skillset to generate offense in transition. The multi-sport athlete at Stoughton uses her athleticism to make plays on the ball defensively, and some have led to one-on-zero fast break opportunities.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1232213' first='Peyton' last='Cochenet']</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Sneakily, Mukwonago has become one of the more challenging teams to play against because of its physicality and size. However, Cochenet is the player who makes things much more challenging because few teams will have the resources to defend a D1 6-3 post player and her as a 6-1 wing who can handle the ball. Cochenet is one of the fastest rising sophomores in Wisconsin, and after seeing her play a few weeks ago, it's easy to see why. The Mukwonago native will be a scholarship-level player once more programs learn about her this coming summer.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='890055' first='Jayda' last='King']</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The St. Catherine's forward is a double-double threat whenever she steps on the floor. King can also make plays off the dribble against mismatches, or space the floor and knock down shots from the perimeter. The Southeast Wisconsin native can fill multiple roles on either end of the court, and her ability to be a versatile threat makes her a handful for any one defender to contain for a 36-minute game. There is room for her to grow as a player, but there is plenty to like about where she's at right now.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->