Girls Basketball Division 2 Preseason Top 10

The Blue Dukes shared the North Shore Conference title last season, and qualified for the WIAA state tournament for a ninth time. For the first time in school history, they brought home a gold ball as state champs, defeating Beaver Dam 64-63 in an instant classic. Head coach Jon Schneider stepped down in the offseason, as Kevin Lazovik was hired to take over. He’ll inherit a roster with plenty of firepower returning, led by All-State guard Rowan Counsell. Madeline Volpe, Carrington Balthasar, and Leyla Burkemper are returning starters as well this year. Repeating as state champs is hard, especially in a loaded division, but the Blue Dukes have the talent and experience to do it.

Pius had a rough five-game losing stretch around and after the new year, but put together a solid 2025-26 campaign. The Lady Popes finished 19-7 overall, going out to eventual Division 2 state champion Whitefish Bay in a sectional semifinal. Pius was second in the brutally tough Woodland-West, and defeated Wisconsin Lutheran three times a year ago. The top six scorers from a year ago return for head coach Scott Herrick, including Honorable Mention All-State choices Chelinda Spector and Lillee Jackson.

Wisconsin Lutheran played one of the state’s toughest schedules last year, and while they had some nice wins over Hartford, Germantown, and Milton amongst others, the Vikings came up just short against many of those top-level teams, including league foes Pewaukee and Pius XI Catholic. Wisco will look to push those teams this year with the return of the entire roster from last season, including double-digit scorers Kaelyn Nommensen, Elizabeth Langebartels, and Londyn Hollins. Nommensen will head to Western Illinois, Langebartels has D1 and D2 interest, and Hollins has several D1 offers, while incoming freshman Hannah Langebartels also has Division 1 offers already.

Oostburg had one of the most dominating seasons in state history last year, going a perfect 30-0 with wins over the D1 state champ, D2 state champ, and a total of eight teams that made it to the state tournament across four different divisions. Head coach Isaiah Ketterhagen does graduate twin All-State and D1 performers Ady and Riley, but younger sister Kinsley figures to be one of the state’s top players after an impressive sophomore season. Soraya Benton will see her role increase as well, and several others got quality minutes in the large number of the blowouts the team had.

Notre Dame got back to the state tournament after a one-year absence, as the Tritons qualified in Division 1 due to the WIAA’s Tournament Performance Factor. It was the 12th appearance at state for Notre Dame since joining the WIAA in 2000. They’d drop a tough one to Wauwatosa East, but the good news for Notre Dame is they drop back down to Division 2 this season. Head coach Sara Rohde has some work to do, however, as the top three scorers from a year ago graduate. There remains plenty of talent, including senior Brianna Breese, junior Maisie Hinz, and promising sophomore Ava Cumicek.

Rice Lake advanced to the state tournament for the second straight year, but just like 2025, the Warriors would fall in the semifinals. All-world player Adaline Sheplee has graduated and moved on to the University of Wisconsin, but every other player from last season returns. The group will be led by senior Addison Schmidt, who averaged 18 points and 15 rebounds last year, but also includes returning starters Abby Doebereiner, Harper Schommer, and Bri Barahona plus promising sophomore Brielle Balts. It figures to be another outstanding battle in the Big Rivers Conference with Hudson and Eau Claire Memorial.

Edgewood got off to a bit of a slow start in the 2025-26 season, dropping three of the first four games. They’d rebound to win an outright Badger-Small Conference title, and advance into sectional play while elevated to Division 2. The Crusaders would fall to Milton in a sectional semifinal. A pair of returning All-State players are back as the Crusaders try to improve in 2026-27. Anna Miller, a Wisconsin commit, is a three-time All-State choice heading into her senior year, while fellow senior Beanie Thompson is headed to Bradley.

Beaver Dam pushed itself with a quality schedule all season, and it paid off in a big way as the Golden Beavers raced all the way to the Division 2 state championship game. While they’d drop a 64-63 heartbreaker to Whitefish Bay, it was another incredible season in Beaver Dam. The depth of the program will continue to be tested after they lose the top three scorers off last year’s squad, including All-State Milwaukee recruit Nataya Donaldson. Joelee Drzonek and Luciana Gonzalez are returning starters.

Kettle Moraine Lutheran continues to be one of the elite girls basketball programs in the state over the last dozen years. Last year they were dominating champions of the Glacier Trails Conference and went 23-1 in the regular season. The Chargers got to state for the fourth time since 2014, falling to Wisconsin Dells in a hard-fought D3 semifinal. Head coach Jason Walz brings back the top four scorers from a year ago, including double-digit performers Brooklyn Luehring, Mya Mayer, and Hayden Lauer. Luehring was an All-state choice last year. They’ll challenge themselves in non-conference once again, including games against Oostburg, Wisconsin Lutheran, Arrowhead, De Pere, Brookfield East, Pius XI Catholic, Whitefish Bay, Pewaukee, Germantown, and Notre Dame. They’ll need that experience as they move up from Division 3 to Division 2 this season.

The Elks put together a dream season, claiming the Southern Lakes Conference title and winning 14 straight games at the end to advance to the WIAA Division 2 state tournament for the first time in nearly 30 years. While they would fall to Whitefish Bay in the state semifinals, it was an outstanding season. The Elks graduate All-State pick Kyrin Lile, but have a nice group of seniors coming back to remain in a highly competitive spot both in the league and the division. Alya Saunders, Mackenzie Pedersen, and Ava Olson have all played a lot of basketball and will be asked to lead the way.

Travis Wilson serves as the Bound Wisconsin Manager. Wilson was selected as part of the Sports 40 Under 40 list by Coach & AD Magazine and the National High School Athletic Coaches Association for 2019. The Wisconsin Football Coaches Association (WFCA) named Travis the 2015 recipient of the Dave McClain Distinguished Service Award. He currently serves on the WFCA Executive Board as website & communications coordinator. A graduate of Richland Center High School and Mount Mercy College in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, Travis was a three-sport athlete in high school (football, baseball, basketball), inducted to the Richland Center High School Hall of Fame in 2023, and currently resides in Reedsburg. You can follow him on Twitter at @travisBound or reach him at [email protected].