Benet and Waubonsie Valley are the most experienced teams, but Naperville Central and Naperville North also have multiple starters back.
BENET
The Redwings (24-7) return four starters — senior guards Lindsay Harzich (Brown) and Aria Mazza, junior guard Bridget Rifenburg and junior forward Emma Briggs — after playing in a Class 4A sectional championship game last season. Sophomore guard Ava Mersinger joins them in the starting lineup. Senior forward Audrey Panoushis and junior guard Ava Thomas are expected to be key contributors.
METEA VALLEY
First-year coach Nate Gehrt takes over a program that hasn’t had a winning record in a decade. The Mustangs (5-20) have two solid senior captains, guard Arainna Hammons and forward Sreehi Duggirala. Senior forward Kelly Clish and junior guard Annie Burk also return. Gehrt said freshman guard Payton Giannone will start and be fun to watch.
NAPERVILLE CENTRAL
The Redhawks (12-20) have a proven star, junior guard Erin Hackett, but the rest of the team is pretty green. Two top offensive options — senior guard Callie Tumilty and sophomore guard Emerson Burke — opted not to play in order to focus on soccer. Senior guard Tessa Williams and sophomore center Annabelle Kritzer are returning starters.
NAPERVILLE NORTH
The Huskies (15-16) welcome back three starters: junior guard Natalie Frempong, a unanimous All-DuPage Valley Conference pick last season; senior guard Anna Richards; and sophomore forward Ava Podkasik. Junior guard Sam Kelly, freshman guard Sydney Smith and junior forward Ema Gilvydis are top newcomers for a team long on athleticism but short on height and overall experience.
NEUQUA VALLEY
The Wildcats (19-11) are rebuilding after three four-year standouts graduated. Junior guard Nalia Clifford enters her third season in the starting lineup, while sophomore guard Quinn Sigal is in her second. Junior center Michayla Stone and junior guard Taylor Dobry also return.
WAUBONSIE VALLEY
The Warriors (32-5) return all but one core player from the best season in program history that included their first state trophy, for fourth place in Class 4A. Junior guard Danyella Mporokoso is a major Division I prospect. Senior forward Lily Newton (Wisconsin-Whitewater), junior guard Arie Garcia-Evans and sophomore guard Maya Pereda also are back. Lack of size is the only weakness.
Matt Le Cren is a freelance reporter.
