For a while now, Stier has been referred to as Ava’s younger sister – Ava being the MSU-Mankato standout who helped lead the Mavericks to a D2 national championship. That storyline is officially expiring. After the way Ireland played over the weekend, she’s stepping into her own spotlight in a big way. Steer poured in 41 points, including 21 in a dominant showing against Diamond Elite when we watched, and was one of the most electric players in the gym. She was everywhere, flying around defensively, pushing tempo, finishing in transition and knocking down shots. The burst is real. The confidence is growing. And the skill development since we last watched her live in the winter is obvious. Stier is longer, quicker, and playing with zero fear. With Waconia graduating several key pieces, Ireland looks ready for a breakthrough.

Stier has been on our radar for a handful of seasons now. The Waconia freshman has a long frame, is light on her feet, and possesses plenty of quickness. This winter with the Wildcats, Ireland was a rotational piece who provided consistently active, high-pressure defense on the perimeter. On the other end of the floor the 5’8 wing got downhill to the rim often, finding ways to finish through contact at the rim. She averaged just over 5 points per game in her freshman campaign. Stier will suit up for the Minnesota Rise this summer on the AAU circuit.