1. Mitty (30-1)
The Monarchs are the class of Northern California and that doesn’t change with the graduation of a strong senior class. McKenna Woliczko is one of the top players in the country and is joined by returners like Emma Cook and Tee McCarthy. Incoming players to note are Devin Cosgriff, Ze’Ni Patterson and freshman Maliya Hunter. Mitty will take part in the La Jolla Country Day Sweet 16 and the Nike TOC.
2. Folsom (26-6)
The Bulldogs will rely on a trio of college bound seniors with Sophie Mindermann (Pacific), Dixie McLanahan (Air Force) and Ava Rawlins (UC Santa Barbara). Folsom once again will play at one of the top local preseason tournaments at Davis’ Dorothy Speck event. It also has a January game against Pinewood.
3. McClatchy (26-7)
The Lions return one of the top players in the region with Washington bound Nina Cain. She is joined by Norret Lewis (Cal State Northridge) and junior Daisy Throckmorton. They have also added Breyana Kimmons, who transferred in from Folsom. McClatchy will be in the La Jolla Country Day Sweet 16 and has January non-league games against Riordan and Acalanes.
4. St. Mary’s-Stockton (26-6)
The Rams enter the season with more questions than usual after losing the NorCal Player of the Year Jordan Lee to graduation and sophomore guard Kori Rogers to injury. Nyah Buntun and Mia Jamias are guards to watch in addition to power forward Evelini Smith, who is coming back from injury. Games against Clovis and Bishop O’Dowd precede a trip to San Diego for the La Jolla Country Day Sweet 16.
5. Pinewood (21-7)
Pinewood returns four of its top five scorers with Vallory Kuelker (Southern Utah), Katherine Garr (Bowdoin), Jolyn Ding and Caitlyn Kramer. The Panthers play Los Gatos to start the year on December 4 before a trip to Hawaii for the Iolani Classic.
6. Acalanes (26-6)
The class of 2025 for Acalanes has reached their senior season with their sights on the NCS Open Division title. Dulci Vail (Cal Poly), Ariana Hallstrom (Cal State San Bernardino) and Karyss Lacanlale lead the returning group. The Dons will take part in the Marin Catholic tournament and has non-league games against Christian Brothers, St. Mary’s-Stockton, McClatchy and Vanden.
7. Riordan (17-11)
Is this the year Riordan makes a big jump in girls basketball in terms of NorCal? The Crusaders bring back Maxine Sutisna (Cal State Fullerton) and juniors Zion McGuire and Teagan Radcliffe after graduating just two seniors. Riordan will open with San Ramon Valley before going to the Marin Catholic Tournament. It has later games against Los Gatos, Salesian, Bishop O’Dowd and the difficult WCAL schedule.
8. San Ramon Valley (28-3)
The Wolves have won at least 25 games in six straight full seasons in building one of the most consistent winners in the region. Carly Stern and Ella Gunderson are ready for bigger roles and incoming transfer Alyssa Rudd will be one to watch. Their season starts on November 30 against Riordan at the Pinole Valley Tip Off Classic.
9. Bishop O’Dowd (24-7)
Bishop O’Dowd was dealt a tough transfer blow when Devin Cosgriff headed to Mitty, but the roster is far from bare for the Dragons. Madison Gordon (Tulane), Jayla Stokes, Myella Chapman, Lizzy Quinteros and Simdi Chuku are some of the players to watch. The Dragons will play San Domenico and St. Mary’s-Stockton the first two games out before taking on Centennial-Las Vegas at the Jason Kidd Invitational and going to the Nike TOC.
10. Carondelet (28-7)
The Cougars reached the NorCal Division I final last year before falling to Bishop O’Dowd. They are back this season with a dynamic junior duo of Sophia Ross and Layla Dixon and start the season against Colfax and Christian Brothers before traveling to the She Got Game Classic in Texas.
11. Oakland Tech (13-17)
It was an up and down year for the Bulldawgs, which included early struggles against a difficult schedule, forfeit losses and finally a last second loss to Pleasant Valley in the NorCal playoffs. Oakland Tech does return a pair of versatile high end forwards with Jhai Johnson and Terri’A Russell. It starts this season against Pleasant Valley at the Pinole Valley Tip Off Classic and has other key games against Vanden, San Ramon Valley, St. Mary’s-Stockton and Bishop O’Dowd.
12. Cardinal Newman (28-3)
Cardinal Newman lost Taissa Queiroz, who decided to early enroll at North Carolina, but it does bring back Santa Clara bound guard Kate Schat. Macie Flores also will bring a scoring punch to the backcourt. The Cardinals play McClatchy at the Pinole Valley Tip Off Classic and will host their Cardinal Newman Classic. After Christmas, they are heading back to the SoCal Holiday Prep Classic.
13. St. Ignatius (18-11)
St. Ignatius returns a slew of all-league honorees led by first-team selection Sophie Sanchez. Others that are back are Hayley McGee, Meaghan Manning, Julia Alcantara and Mary Ennis. The Wildcats open with Colfax at the Marin Catholic tournament.
14. Vanden (25-9)
Vanden has a good inside-outside combo to start the season with Calonni Holloway and La’Miracle Lebon (Pacific). The Vikings have won at least 25 games in four straight full seasons. This year, they will play Oakland Tech on December 3 and Priory on December 14 at the Jason Kidd Invitational.
15. Priory (15-13)
Priory is a team to watch out of the CCS with returners like Jordyn Moss, Ugreat Daniels, Sasha Johnson, Vienn Sheng and Natalie Neumann. They will also have Niani Tuigamala and Kiana Tuigamala on the court this year too. The Panthers have a December stretch against Clovis North, Centennial-Las Vegas, Vanden and Los Gatos.
16. Los Gatos (23-5)
The Wildcats are poised to bring back two of the best players in the section with Ashley Childers (Cornell) and Nicole Steiner, who is also a standout in volleyball and track & field. They only graduated two seniors off last year’s roster. Pinewood, Riordan, St. Ignatius and Priory are on the December schedule.
17. Oak Ridge (26-8)
The Trojans had only one senior on the roster, but were dealt some injury news with Liv Yergensen (Pacific) out. Hailey Harris and Ava Edwards are players to watch for Oak Ridge, which will play in the Nike Central Valley Showdown at Clovis West, its own Trojan Toss Up event and the SoCal Holiday Prep Classic.
18. Pleasant Valley (26-8)
Pleasant Valley will bring back its top three scorers and had just one senior on the roster last season. The top players will be AJ Gambol and Maddux Wilson, who combined to average 33 points per game. The Vikings play at the quality Dorothy Speck Tournament at Davis and will also play at the Oak Ridge Trojan Toss-Up and the SoCal Holiday Prep Classic.
19. Sacred Heart Cathedral (23-5)
Despite graduating a pair of talented senior guards, Sacred Heart Cathedral will now turn to Maddie Eade and Aniyah Versosa. Both players made second-team, All-WCAL. The Fightin’ Irish are the fourth team from the WCAL to be in the preseason Top 20.
20. Colfax (34-3)
Colfax won the NorCal Division II title last season and returns four players who averaged double figures. They are Juliette James (Chico State), Kaia Diederichs, Madalyn Sigrist and Laurlyn Massick. The Falcons lost to Carondelet in their opener and will take on St. Ignatius on December 5.
The Monarchs are the class of Northern California and that doesn’t change with the graduation of a strong senior class. McKenna Woliczko is one of the top players in the country and is joined by returners like Emma Cook and Tee McCarthy. Incoming players to note are Devin Cosgriff, Ze’Ni Patterson and freshman Maliya Hunter. Mitty will take part in the La Jolla Country Day Sweet 16 and the Nike TOC.
2. Folsom (26-6)
The Bulldogs will rely on a trio of college bound seniors with Sophie Mindermann (Pacific), Dixie McLanahan (Air Force) and Ava Rawlins (UC Santa Barbara). Folsom once again will play at one of the top local preseason tournaments at Davis’ Dorothy Speck event. It also has a January game against Pinewood.
3. McClatchy (26-7)
The Lions return one of the top players in the region with Washington bound Nina Cain. She is joined by Norret Lewis (Cal State Northridge) and junior Daisy Throckmorton. They have also added Breyana Kimmons, who transferred in from Folsom. McClatchy will be in the La Jolla Country Day Sweet 16 and has January non-league games against Riordan and Acalanes.
4. St. Mary’s-Stockton (26-6)
The Rams enter the season with more questions than usual after losing the NorCal Player of the Year Jordan Lee to graduation and sophomore guard Kori Rogers to injury. Nyah Buntun and Mia Jamias are guards to watch in addition to power forward Evelini Smith, who is coming back from injury. Games against Clovis and Bishop O’Dowd precede a trip to San Diego for the La Jolla Country Day Sweet 16.
5. Pinewood (21-7)
Pinewood returns four of its top five scorers with Vallory Kuelker (Southern Utah), Katherine Garr (Bowdoin), Jolyn Ding and Caitlyn Kramer. The Panthers play Los Gatos to start the year on December 4 before a trip to Hawaii for the Iolani Classic.
6. Acalanes (26-6)
The class of 2025 for Acalanes has reached their senior season with their sights on the NCS Open Division title. Dulci Vail (Cal Poly), Ariana Hallstrom (Cal State San Bernardino) and Karyss Lacanlale lead the returning group. The Dons will take part in the Marin Catholic tournament and has non-league games against Christian Brothers, St. Mary’s-Stockton, McClatchy and Vanden.
7. Riordan (17-11)
Is this the year Riordan makes a big jump in girls basketball in terms of NorCal? The Crusaders bring back Maxine Sutisna (Cal State Fullerton) and juniors Zion McGuire and Teagan Radcliffe after graduating just two seniors. Riordan will open with San Ramon Valley before going to the Marin Catholic Tournament. It has later games against Los Gatos, Salesian, Bishop O’Dowd and the difficult WCAL schedule.
8. San Ramon Valley (28-3)
The Wolves have won at least 25 games in six straight full seasons in building one of the most consistent winners in the region. Carly Stern and Ella Gunderson are ready for bigger roles and incoming transfer Alyssa Rudd will be one to watch. Their season starts on November 30 against Riordan at the Pinole Valley Tip Off Classic.
9. Bishop O’Dowd (24-7)
Bishop O’Dowd was dealt a tough transfer blow when Devin Cosgriff headed to Mitty, but the roster is far from bare for the Dragons. Madison Gordon (Tulane), Jayla Stokes, Myella Chapman, Lizzy Quinteros and Simdi Chuku are some of the players to watch. The Dragons will play San Domenico and St. Mary’s-Stockton the first two games out before taking on Centennial-Las Vegas at the Jason Kidd Invitational and going to the Nike TOC.
10. Carondelet (28-7)
The Cougars reached the NorCal Division I final last year before falling to Bishop O’Dowd. They are back this season with a dynamic junior duo of Sophia Ross and Layla Dixon and start the season against Colfax and Christian Brothers before traveling to the She Got Game Classic in Texas.
11. Oakland Tech (13-17)
It was an up and down year for the Bulldawgs, which included early struggles against a difficult schedule, forfeit losses and finally a last second loss to Pleasant Valley in the NorCal playoffs. Oakland Tech does return a pair of versatile high end forwards with Jhai Johnson and Terri’A Russell. It starts this season against Pleasant Valley at the Pinole Valley Tip Off Classic and has other key games against Vanden, San Ramon Valley, St. Mary’s-Stockton and Bishop O’Dowd.
12. Cardinal Newman (28-3)
Cardinal Newman lost Taissa Queiroz, who decided to early enroll at North Carolina, but it does bring back Santa Clara bound guard Kate Schat. Macie Flores also will bring a scoring punch to the backcourt. The Cardinals play McClatchy at the Pinole Valley Tip Off Classic and will host their Cardinal Newman Classic. After Christmas, they are heading back to the SoCal Holiday Prep Classic.
13. St. Ignatius (18-11)
St. Ignatius returns a slew of all-league honorees led by first-team selection Sophie Sanchez. Others that are back are Hayley McGee, Meaghan Manning, Julia Alcantara and Mary Ennis. The Wildcats open with Colfax at the Marin Catholic tournament.
14. Vanden (25-9)
Vanden has a good inside-outside combo to start the season with Calonni Holloway and La’Miracle Lebon (Pacific). The Vikings have won at least 25 games in four straight full seasons. This year, they will play Oakland Tech on December 3 and Priory on December 14 at the Jason Kidd Invitational.
15. Priory (15-13)
Priory is a team to watch out of the CCS with returners like Jordyn Moss, Ugreat Daniels, Sasha Johnson, Vienn Sheng and Natalie Neumann. They will also have Niani Tuigamala and Kiana Tuigamala on the court this year too. The Panthers have a December stretch against Clovis North, Centennial-Las Vegas, Vanden and Los Gatos.
16. Los Gatos (23-5)
The Wildcats are poised to bring back two of the best players in the section with Ashley Childers (Cornell) and Nicole Steiner, who is also a standout in volleyball and track & field. They only graduated two seniors off last year’s roster. Pinewood, Riordan, St. Ignatius and Priory are on the December schedule.
17. Oak Ridge (26-8)
The Trojans had only one senior on the roster, but were dealt some injury news with Liv Yergensen (Pacific) out. Hailey Harris and Ava Edwards are players to watch for Oak Ridge, which will play in the Nike Central Valley Showdown at Clovis West, its own Trojan Toss Up event and the SoCal Holiday Prep Classic.
18. Pleasant Valley (26-8)
Pleasant Valley will bring back its top three scorers and had just one senior on the roster last season. The top players will be AJ Gambol and Maddux Wilson, who combined to average 33 points per game. The Vikings play at the quality Dorothy Speck Tournament at Davis and will also play at the Oak Ridge Trojan Toss-Up and the SoCal Holiday Prep Classic.
19. Sacred Heart Cathedral (23-5)
Despite graduating a pair of talented senior guards, Sacred Heart Cathedral will now turn to Maddie Eade and Aniyah Versosa. Both players made second-team, All-WCAL. The Fightin’ Irish are the fourth team from the WCAL to be in the preseason Top 20.
20. Colfax (34-3)
Colfax won the NorCal Division II title last season and returns four players who averaged double figures. They are Juliette James (Chico State), Kaia Diederichs, Madalyn Sigrist and Laurlyn Massick. The Falcons lost to Carondelet in their opener and will take on St. Ignatius on December 5.
