By Norbert Durst, Co-Chair of WBCA Girls All-State Committee
The 2026 Wisconsin Basketball Coaches Association All-State team for Division 1 is headlined by three-time selections Giselle Janowski of Pewaukee, Natalie Kussow of Arrowhead, and Mikaia Litza of Wauwatosa East.
Janowski led the Pirates to the state tournament and a 24-5 overall record. The Wisconsin signee averaged 15.9 points, 5.4 rebounds, 3.6 assists and 2.1 steals per game for the Woodland West champions. Janowski was a finalist for Ms. Basketball and helped the Pirates reach the state tournament three times, including their first state title in program history in 2024.
Kussow, the Ms. Basketball award-winner, led Arrowhead to the D1 state championship. She tallied 27.1 points, 7.7 rebounds, 3.0 assists, 2.8 steals, and 1.0 blocks per contest for the 28-2 Warhawks, champions of the Classic Eight. The Minnesota signee finishes her career fifth on the state’s all-time scoring list with 2,797 points, along with compiling 935 rebounds, 365 steals and 100 blocks. Kussow led the Warhawks to three state tournament appearances and two state titles.
Litza led Wauwatosa East to a 29-1 record and a state runner-up finish. The DePaul signee averaged 18.3 points, 6.9 assists, 5.0 rebounds, and 2.9 steals per contest for the Greater Metro champions. Litza, a finalist for Ms. Basketball, ends her career with 1,808 points, 638 rebounds, 599 assists and 302 steals. She helped lead Tosa East to a 96-19 record, a 41-game winning streak, and three trips to the state tournament, including the 2025 Division 2 state championship.
Five others are repeat first-team selections: Tessa Bryan of Waunakee, Emma Close of Wauwatosa East, Rowan Klesmit of Neenah, Maya Kovacic of Brookfield East, and Ava Van Vonderen of Kimberly.
Bryan led Waunakee to a 22-4 record. She averaged 21.3 points, 7.3 rebounds, 3.6 assists and 3.0 steals per game for the Warriors, which captured the Badger Large title. Tessa helped lead the Warriors to a sectional final appearance as a sophomore.
Close helped Wauwatosa East to a state runner-up finish and a 29-1 record. The Northern Illinois signee tallied 13.5 points, 2.4 assists, and 2.2 steals per game for the Greater Metro champions. She helped the Red Raiders to a 96-19 record, three state appearances, and the Division 2 state title in 2025.
Klesmit led Neenah to a 19-8 record and a sectional semifinal appearance. The Wright State signee averaged 21.5 points, 4.8 rebounds, 2.8 assists and 2.4 steals per contest for the Rockets. Klesmit helped Neenah go 88-24 in her four years, including a state runner-up finish in 2024.
Kovacic led Brookfield East to a sectional final appearance and a 21-7 record. The St. Thomas signee averaged 19.3 points, 4.9 rebounds, 3.8 assists and 2.9 steals per game. Maya helped lead the Spartans to a 94-19 record and a state runner-up finish in 2023.
Van Vonderen helped lead Kimberly to a sectional semifinal and a 22-5 record. The Wisconsin recruit tallied 14 points, 7.5 rebounds, 2.3 assists, and 1.6 steals per contest for the FVA champions. Van Vonderen helped the Papermakers capture the state championship last season.
Leah Awe of Stevens Point helped the Panthers to a sectional final and a 23-5 record. She averaged 18.8 points, 7.5 rebounds, 2.3 blocks and 1.9 steals per game for the Wisconsin Valley champions.
Haylie Dulas of Kimberly helped lead the Papermakers to the FVA title and a sectional semifinal. The Marquette recruit averaged 13.6 points, 4.7 rebounds and 2.0 assists per contest for the 22-5 Papermakers. Dulas helped Kimberly claim the 2025 Division 1 state championship. She was an honorable mention pick last season.
Rita Kuepper of Hartford, an honorable mention selection last year, helped lead the Papermakers to a sectional semifinal and a 22-5 overall record. The UW-Milwaukee commit put up 21.2 points, 4.1 rebounds, 3.9 assists and 2.6 steals per contest for the North Shore co-champions. Kuepper also helped Hartford advance to the state tournament two years ago.
Nyajuanci Riak led Madison La Follette to a 20-5 record and a share of the Big Eight title. Riak, one of the top sophomores in the nation, averaged 28.8 points, 11.7 rebounds, 3.8 assists, 3.1 steals and 1.2 blocks per game. She surpassed 1,000 career points in February. Riak earned honorable mention recognition last season.
Jada Seubert of Stevens Point, a two-time honorable mention pick, led the Panthers to the Wisconsin Valley Conference title and a sectional final appearance. The Iowa commit averaged 24.3 points, 6.7 rebounds, 3.7 assists and 4.3 steals per contest for the 23-5 Panthers.
Kaia Waldrop led Notre Dame to the state tournament and a 24-5 overall record. The NCAA Division II Grand Valley State signee averaged 15.3 points, 6.9 rebounds and 1.7 steals per game for the FRCC champions. Waldrop helped Notre Dame reach the state tournament three times, including the Division 2 state championship in 2023.
Sidney Zehner helped Arrowhead capture the 2026 Division 1 state championship. She collected 12 points, 4.9 rebounds, 4.5 assists, and 1.7 steals per contest for the 28-2 Warhawks, champions of the Classic Eight. Sidney also helped Arrowhead reach the state tournament last season. She was an honorable mention pick last season.
WBCA Division 1 All-State
Leah Awe, So., Stevens Point
Tessa Bryan, Jr., Waunakee
Emma Close, Sr., Wauwatosa East
Haylie Dulas, Jr., Kimberly
Giselle Janowski, Sr., Pewaukee
Rowan Klesmit, Sr., Neenah
Maya Kovacic, Sr., Brookfield East
Rita Kuepper, Jr., Hartford
Natalie Kussow, Sr., Arrowhead
Mikaia Litza, Sr., Wauwatosa East
Nyajuanci Riak, So., Madison La Follette
Jada Seubert, Jr., Stevens Point
Ava Van Vonderen, Jr., Kimberly
Kaia Waldrop, Sr., Notre Dame
Sidney Zehner, Jr., Arrowhead
Honorable Mention
Aspen Abel, Sr., Notre Dame
Awut Alic, Jr., Oshkosh North
Rihanna Barker, Jr., Kenosha Bradford
Avery Blue, Sr., Madison Memorial
Ellie Buss, Sr., Neenah
Peyton Cochenet, So., Mukwonago
Ellie Deprey, Sr., Wauwatosa East
Libby Gilmore, Sr., Arrowhead
Kennedi Harden, Jr., Madison Memorial
Alli Jirsa, Sr., Verona
Vanessa Johnson, Sr., Pewaukee
Bella Klages, Sr., Hartford
Norah Kling, So., Eau Claire Memorial
Olivia LeBlanc, Jr., Hudson
Melia Lemorande, Sr., Bay Port
Tay Maass, Sr., Appleton North
Kardyn Peppler, Jr., Hortonville
Graycin Phillips, Sr., Waunakee
Kylie Pieper, Sr., Pewaukee
Presly Samz, Sr., Arrowhead
Teagan Schoenecker, Sr., Oregon
Audrey Sellinger, Sr., Wauwatosa East
Yana-Aaliyah Stevens, So., Janesville Craig
Macy Stremlow, So., Verona
Ella Sweeney, Jr., Appleton East
Abby Tassoul, Sr., De Pere
Destiny Webster, Sr., Notre Dame
Olivia Williams, Jr., Bay Port
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 and is a member of the Executive Board of the Wisconsin Basketball Coaches Association. 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].
