Now that the WPIAL girls basketball brackets have been set, it’s time to take an in-depth look at the playoffs. Here is a class-by-class breakdown, with analysis and predictions.
CLASS 6A
Leading scorers: Rylee Kalocay, Upper St. Clair (23.8); Cate Gentile, Pine-Richland (18.7); Amelia McMichael, Butler (17.8); Gracie Cato, Seneca Valley (16.1); Payton Collins, Mt. Lebanon (15.6); Kendall Berger, Norwin (14.6)
Top seeds: 1. Norwin. 2. Upper St. Clair. 3. Seneca Valley. 4. Canon-McMillan.
Winner will be: Norwin. Norwin is the defending champion and has to be considered the favorite to win it all again. The Knights have a solid squad behind Berger, the team’s leading scorer. Senior Averi Brozeski is a solid inside player and provides a nice contrast to Berger’s prowess beyond the arc. Senior guard Bella Furno is also a solid third offensive option for a team that has title game experience.
The scoop: Though Norwin may be the top seed, this is about as wide-open a top classification as there has been since the PIAA split into six classes in 2017. But it’s not because everyone is good. This is a middling group. Every team has losses to top Class 4A and Class 5A teams. Seneca Valley won its first section title in nearly half a century but has running-clock losses to South Fayette and Upper St. Clair.
Pine-Richland tied for second in Section 1 despite going 1-10 against non-section foes. Upper St. Clair will go as far as Kalocay takes them, but an off-night by her could mean disaster. Canon-McMillan could be a team to watch after beating Upper St. Clair and losing 32-30 to Norwin down the stretch. ... Canon-McMillan could be a surprise in the playoffs for the first time since 2016-17.
The Big Macs have played everyone tough this season. As a second-place finisher in its section, Butler did get somewhat snubbed out of a home game by the committee.
CLASS 5A
Leading scorers: Natalie Wetzel, Peters Township (20.0); Reese Smetanka, Shaler (18.7); Jaedin Griggs, Moon (18.2); Maggie Spell, Thomas Jefferson (17.0); Natalia Schaffer, Fox Chapel (15.8); Carley Berk, Latrobe (15.8); Sadie Orie, Bethel Park (15.6).
Top seeds: 1. South Fayette. 2. Peters Township. 3. Penn-Trafford. 4. Shaler.
Winner will be: Peters Township. The Indians have not lost to a team from Pennsylvania this year — both of their defeats were at the hands of teams from Ohio — and it shouldn’t happen in the WPIAL playoffs either.
This is a solid team top to bottom with a top-flight Division I recruit in Wetzel, the senior and Miami (Fla.) recruit, leading the charge. But she’s not the only weapon in the Indians' arsenal. Junior guard Brianna Morreale is a solid No. 2 and freshman Taylor McCullough has developed into an outstanding point guard. If teams want to concentrate on Wetzel, senior center Daniela Radulovich has the ability to take over a game.
The scoop: As dominant as Peters Township has been against WPIAL teams, so has South Fayette. The Lions are the three-time WPIAL champions and did so as the favorite and as a challenger. Last year, they did it as a No. 6 seed. South Fayette lost its only game to a team from New York. The Lions have an impressive lineup with juniors Juliette Leroux, Ryan Oldaker and Haylie Lamonde. …
Penn-Trafford wrapped up a perfect regular season with a win against Upper St. Clair. The Warriors have several solid scorers and play a playoff-style defense. Shaler has to be respected, not only for leading scorer Reese Smetanka but also for coach Tony Grenek, who is a top strategist. …
Thomas Jefferson has the potential to be a spoiler with junior Maggie Spell and sophomore Kaylee DeAngelo, but the Jaguars have also lost to Peters Township and Baldwin in their most recent games.
CLASS 4A
Leading scorers: Aubree Hupp, Blackhawk (21.0); Annsley Baker, Beaver (20.8); Tyarah Woody, Highlands (20.5); Michelle Jellison, Elizabeth Forward (17.3)
Top seeds: 1. Blackhawk. 2. Oakland Catholic. 3. North Catholic. 4. Elizabeth Forward.
Winner will be: North Catholic. It’s difficult to pick against the Trojanettes, no matter where they’re seeded. They are the two-time reigning champions, have won seven titles in the last eight seasons and played in 10 consecutive championship games over three classifications.
This year will be no different. North Catholic has a solid lineup with sophomore guard Brady Wehner and freshman Sam Weir. This particular group may be young, but they also have a coach in Molly Rottmann, who has a WPIAL-record 13 titles on her resume.
The scoop: Blackhawk has played in the WPIAL and PIAA championship games each of the last two years and is the reigning state champion. But the Cougars have not been able to get past North Catholic at The Pete. Junior guard Hupp has replaced Alena Fusetti as the team’s go-to scorer, and senior point guard Andrea Kinger is a veteran hand in the backcourt. …
Oakland Catholic is still hoping senior London Creach can come back from her 2024 knee injury at some point, but the team has done well without the Robert Morris recruit the entire season, including in its win against North Catholic. Senior Alayla Bivins and junior Zephaniah Troxler-Scott have been solid. …
Elizabeth Forward was the No. 3 seed the last two years and lost in the semifinals last year. … Knoch is a tough out and could make life difficult for teams.
CLASS 3A
Leading scorers: Mimi Thiero, Quaker Valley (22.4); Erica Gribble, Greensburg C.C. (22.3); Taylor Pullen, Beaver Falls (21.8); Skyler Gates, Brownsville (20.7); Greta O'Brien, Avonworth (20.2); Laney Wagner, Keystone Oaks (19.8); Dreaven Haskins, Beaver Falls (17.2)
Top seeds: 1. Shady Side Academy. 2. Greensburg Central Catholic. 3. Our Lady of the Sacred Heart. 4. Keystone Oaks.
Winner will be: Shady Side Academy. There have been plenty of times when the Bulldogs could have folded, especially early in the season when they found out 2024 leading scorer Maggie Spell had transferred to Thomas Jefferson. Yet through it all, the team thrived and is one of three unbeaten in the WPIAL field.
Junior guard Karis Thomas and junior forward Cassie Sauer took on larger roles and have become a dangerous combination, combining for 33.6 ppg. Senior Cameron Capel has also proven to be a dominant player in a pinch, both outside and in the paint.
The scoop: This classification is Shady Side Academy and everyone else. But that doesn’t mean there are no challengers. Greensburg Central Catholic took a tie game into the fourth quarter against the Bulldogs in their second meeting and has a top inside-out player in Gribble, who is headed to Richmond.
OLSH has only lost two games — including one by 10 points to Greensburg Central Catholic — and has reeled off a 10-game winning streak heading into the tournament. Keystone Oaks is not to be discounted. After losing to Seton LaSalle in their Section 3 opener, the Golden Eagles reeled off a 15-game winning streak.
CLASS 2A
Leading scorers: Katerina Tsambis, Riverview (17.9); Aunesty Johnson, Aliquippa (17.2); Tia Yellock, Rochester (16.4); Carla Brown, Aliquippa (15.4); Ashtyn Michael, South Side Beaver (15.0).
Top seeds: 1. Neshannock. 2. Aliquippa. 3. Winchester Thurston. 4. South Side Beaver.
Winner will be: Neshannock. There are a lot of reasons why the Lancers should win their third Class 2A title in the last five seasons. This is a young team that made it to the Class 3A semifinals a year ago, but even though there are no seniors on the roster, this group has responded well to Luann Grybowski, who picked up career win No. 771 on Thursday against Shenango.
The scoop: Aliquippa has an overtime win against Neshannock this season and has a solid group that made it into the semifinals in 2024. The Quips have a balanced attack led by senior guard Aunesty Johnson. ... Winchester Thurston had won 15 in a row before losing Friday against undefeated Union. The Bears' only other losses were to West Allegheny and Quaker Valley. …
South Side Beaver was the surprise of the 2024 tournament when it made a run to the semifinals as a No. 12 seed. The Rams cannot hide this year, especially after knocking off Fort Cherry to take a share of the Section 2 title. Chartiers-Houston won its section, but Section 3 also put Carmichaels into the postseason with a 3-18 record.
CLASS 1A
Leading scorers: Iyanna Wade, Clairton (42.1); Emma Larkin, Geibel Catholic (27.6); Bella Dumbroski, Serra Catholic (21.2); Kylie Fruehstorfer, Union (20.1); Abby Genes, Serra Catholic (17.8); Kendra Tharp, West Greene (15.5); Gia Richter, St. Joseph (15.0)
Top seeds: 1. Union. 2. Geibel Catholic. 3. Clairton. 4. Serra Catholic.
Winner will be: Union. The two-time defending champion Scotties went undefeated in the regular season with quality wins against Rochester and Winchester Thurston. Senior guards Addison Nogay and Kylie Fruehstorfer have a ton of experience in championship games, and Fruehstorfer is coming off a 50-point game against Winchester Thurston in the regular season finale.
The scoop: Geibel is a section champion for the first time in 17 years and is looking to add its first WPIAL championship since 1998. The Gators will go as far as Larkin will take them. … Clairton also has its dominant player in 3,000-point scorer Wade, and this could be the year the Bears break their 23-year drought. ...
Serra Catholic has a solid lineup with junior Abby Genes and freshman Bella Dumbroski and could be a spoiler. Don’t sleep on West Greene. The Pioneers beat Serra Catholic in overtime and lost to Clairton in O.T. ... Aquinas Academy can also play spoiler and has been to the finals two of the last three years.
First Published: February 10, 2025, 7:55 p.m.
Updated: February 11, 2025, 2:59 a.m.
