Windmill City Weekend Shootout 2026: Players to Watch

We saw some standout performances at the Windmill City Weekend Shootout this weekend. The shootout is the Midwest's biggest NFHS-approved scholastic event and featured 116 of the top women's varsity programs across Illinois. Let's take a look at some of the players who separated themselves on Day 1.    [player_tooltip player_id='1215054' first='Nayana' last='Harper'] is a 6'0 shooting guard/wing with impressive length and a strong all-around skill set. In her games against Whitney Young and Saint Laurence, she excelled at attacking the basket with sharp cuts, poised body control, and polished moves in the paint. Defensively, Harper stood out with her footwork and ability to slide her feet, allowing her to guard multiple positions and switch on defensive assignments. Harper can excel in an inside-out game and her skills as both as a team leader and willingness to get her teammates involved make her a player to watch.     [player_tooltip player_id='852972' first='Bronwyn' last='How']'s size immediately stood out in games against Evanston and Providence Catholic. Her physical presence dominated the game as a rebounder, rim protector, and scorer. How frequently got to the basket at will and showed strong hands, making multiple one-handed grabs in the paint for easy lay ups. She displayed excellent instincts on the glass and swatted shots away from her opponents in each half of play. How possesses a reliable stroke on free throws and the ability to pop it out to players beyond the arc when her shots aren't there, adding more dimensions to an already impressive game.     [player_tooltip player_id='874516' first='Audrina' last='Chanthaboury'] is the type of player you don't want to overlook. A 5'9 small forward/guard combo, Chanthaboury exhibited a sneaky hustle and motor that helped her pop on the court against both Providence Catholic and Evanston. The first thing I noticed about Chanthaboury was her ability to drive to the hoop and hit short, easy jumpers from just outside the paint. She knew her spots and got there repeatedly. Chanthaboury also moved well without the ball, cutting to the basket and diving on the floor for rebounds. She always made the extra play and showed the kind of heart and hustle that coaches love.     [player_tooltip player_id='846390' first='Khloe' last='Nicholson'] possesses the size and length that immediately project at the next level, looking every bit like an NCAA-caliber guard. A 6'1 guard, her biggest strength is how fluid and comfortable she is with the ball in her hands, bringing it up the court with seamless control. In her games against Saint Viator and Evanston, Nicholson proved herself to be a uniquely smooth ball-handler with strong court vision, consistently finding teammates and making the right reads. Her combination of size, skill, and playmaking ability make her a matchup problem and a prospect wise beyond her years.     In her games against Mahomet-Seymour and Yorkville Christian, Lexie Kahle looked like a strong all-around athlete with a versatility and unselfishness to her game that make her stand out. Kahle is the kind of player who impacts every aspect of the game, bringing energy, toughness, and a “team first” mindset. At one point against Mahomet-Seymour, she dove on the floor to save the ball from going out of bounds one play, made a smooth pass to a teammate in the paint, then went up strong to win a rebound against taller players on back-to-back plays. What stood out about Kahle the most was her “anything to help the team” attitude. Kahle consistently looked to make the right basketball play and even appeared to serve as an extension of the coaching staff on the floor at times with her communication and awareness. Her effort and ability to "be everywhere" on the court would make her a great addition to a collegiate team.     Keeley Miller popped on the court in games against Lake Zurich and Yorkville Christian. A jack-of-all-trades type player, Miller impacted the game in multiple areas. She displayed a strong first step to drive to the basket and consistently crashed the glass, often earning second-chance points and drawing fouls on put-back opportunities. Miller also brought scoring chops and defensive hustle, highlighted by a play when she dove to save a loose ball near the sideline and lobbed it to a teammate down the court. To elevate her game, Miller could increase her effort when the ball isn't in her hands and work on her off-ball skills, including cutting more to the basket.     A 6'0 combo guard, [player_tooltip player_id='728003' first='Lily' last='Fisher'] made an impact on both ends of the floor in her games against Kenwood Academy and Normal West. Offensively, she attacked the basket with confidence, finishing multiple drives to the basket while displaying the ability to create opportunities for her teammates in transition. Defensively, her active hands stood out more than any other part of her game, especially against Kenwood Academy. No pass was safe around her and she routinely snagged the ball directly from opponents' hands on rebounds. Overall, Fisher played like a triple threat - a playmaker, rebounder, and disruptive defender.

We saw some standout performances at the Windmill City Weekend Shootout this weekend. The shootout is the Midwest's biggest NFHS-approved scholastic event and featured 116 of the top women's varsity programs across Illinois. Let's take a look at some of the players who separated themselves on Day 1.