Way too Early State Title Predictions for Next Season
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The offseason is here. Champions have a gold ball in their school’s hallway, and we’re preparing for another strenuous run in grassroots basketball. However, before we get to that point when it comes to the content, there are things I…
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Continue ReadingThe offseason is here. Champions have a gold ball in their school’s hallway, and we’re preparing for another strenuous run in grassroots basketball. However, before we get to that point when it comes to the content, there are things I want to do first. Today, we’ll end with my way-too-early state champion predictions for the 2024-25 season.
D5: Lena
After a heartbreaking loss in the D5 State Title game, the best news for Lena is that they’ll get all but two players back. Eva Brooks Eva Brooks 6'0" | PF Lena | 2025 State WI is probably the most challenging player to guard in D5 because of her size and skill, and Madi Thomson Madi Thomson 5'11" | PG Lena | 2026 State WI has proven she can be relied upon on the biggest stages in the state. Their experience at the Resch Center could drive them to finish the job next season, much like Albany did this season before co-oping with Monticello.
Biggest Challenger: Argyle/Pecatonica
D4: Cuba City
The Cubans have been knocking on the door of the state tournament the past two years, and they were a few inches short on an open Olivia Olson Olivia Olson 5'8" | PG Cuba City | 2025 State WI three-pointer from being State Champions this season. They’ll have everyone back next season, and, who knows, maybe a freshman cracks the rotation over there, and they get deeper. Regardless, kids like Ashley Rowe and Dea Crist Dea Crist 6'0" | C Cuba City | 2025 State WI have that experience of getting to state and competing in a state title game that nobody else in D4 will have next season.
Biggest Challenger: The Prairie School
D3: Laconia
After a reign of terror in D4, the WIAA Performance factor will land Laconia in D3. Their only loss in their rotation is Callista Vande Berg, but there’s still an unreal amount of depth in Rosendale. Tierney Madigan Tierney Madigan 5'10" | SG Laconia | 2025 State WI , Payton Morgan Payton Morgan 5'10" | SG Laconia | 2025 State WI , Aubrey Leonard Aubrey Leonard 5'8" | PG Laconia | 2025 State WI , Eva Engel Eva Engel 5'10" | PF Laconia | 2025 WI , and Molly Duel have all played in the Resch Center six times in the past three seasons and have improved. D3 loses a lot of top-end talent across the best teams in the division, so who knows. D3 is usually wild, but I’ll take Laconia taking home their first D3 state title.
Biggest Challenger: Edgewood
D2: Wauwatosa East
D2 will have a title game without Notre Dame or Pewaukee for the first time before COVID-19. There are two things I like to bet on when it comes to predicting state champions. Guard play and experience, and the only team that checks both of those boxes today is Wauwatosa East. Mikaia Litza Mikaia Litza 5'8" | CG Wauwatosa East | 2026 State WI is becoming one of the top creative guards in the state, and she’ll only get better in time. The other kids there are also some talented players in their own right. Emma Close Emma Close 5'7" Wauwatosa East | 2026 State WI , Audrey Sellinger Audrey Sellinger 5'11" | SF Wauwatosa East | 2026 State WI , and Sadie Kubacki Sadie Kubacki 5'4" | SG Wauwatosa East | 2026 State WI are well above-average varsity players, so they’ll be among the top teams in D2 next season.
Biggest Challenger: Wisconsin Lutheran and Whitefish Bay
D1: Pewaukee
I’ve said it a million times, but I’ve thought the best two teams in the state the last two years were Notre Dame and Pewaukee, and the Pirates don’t lose a starter, so they’re still probably the best team in the state, and who knows what newcomer could come in next season and play rotational minutes for the Pirates. The Terrians are still awesome, Kennedy Retherford Kennedy Retherford 5'8" | SG Pewaukee Highschool | 2025 State WI has improved every year, and Giselle Janowski Giselle Janowski 5'9" | SG Pewaukee | 2026 State WI is one of the top players in the 2026 class, and that doesn’t mention other high level kids like Vanessa Johnson Vanessa Johnson 5'7" | PG Pewaukee | 2026 State WI , who’ll be back from injury, and Kylie Pieper Kylie Pieper 5'7" | CG Pewaukee | 2026 State WI who made game-changing plays in high-profile games this season. The Pirates are in D1, but still as scary as ever.
Biggest Challenger: Kimberly and Arrowhead