STARTERS
F. Nyla Brooks, Bishop Ireton–What more is there to say about the career 2,000-point scorer, who added McDonald’s All-American and All-Met POY to her resume in 2024-2025? Though a superstar, Brooks never took shortcuts this year–you could spot her at summer league games playing hard last offseason. The 6’1″ forward will play at North Carolina next year and should make an immediate impact. She’s deadly on the drive and on the jumper, has range, and is a versatile, capable defender.
G. Amirah Anderson, Bishop Ireton–As good as Brooks was/is, she had a lot of help at Ireton. Amirah Anderson has been good for the Cardinals for an awful long time. Anderson is a tall combo guard who earned First Team All-WCAC honors this season. She can approach triple-double territory in a hurry in the box score as she’s a very good passer and fearless rebounder. She averaged around 14 points per game, but gave Ireton far more than that when the Cardinals needed it. She’ll play for Boston College next season.
G. Theresa Hagans, Bishop Ireton–Theresa Hagans was in our view an underrated weapon for the Cardinals in 2024-2025. While the talented guard scored and distributed the ball efficiently, she seemed to us an absolute wrecking ball on defense when we saw her live. Constantly getting steals and creating havoc on that side of the ball, her relentless play set up a lot of offense for the Cardinals. Capable of playing off-ball as well, Hagans has elite ball-handling talent and will play for Pittsburgh next season in college.
G-F. Leah Keyes, Virginia Academy–As much talent as Virginia Academy had this season, it was Keyes that brought it all together. The George Mason signee did everything her team needed her to, in multiple roles. As a tall guard who can play some point, Keyes still rebounded well enough to enable the Patriots to go small if they desired. She defended some top-notch players this season as well. Keyes can score, and is good from three-point range. She often did a good job getting teammates involved early, but took over big games when she had to late.
G-F. Riley Hamburger, Paul VI–Speaking of tall guards, PVI’s Riley Hamburger was a First Team All-WCAC selection in 2024-2025. Almost a “point forward” type, Hamburger has been a valuable part of the Panthers rotation for years. Her length, ball-handling, and defense have always stood out, but this year PVI needed her to do more scoring. When she decided to attack the rim and aggressively look for her outside shot, her team was much better off. She averaged in double-digits, and became a better player overall. Hamburger will play for Providence next season.
RESERVES
G. Daniya Brown, O’Connell–Brown had another strong year, leading the Knights in scoring on the season and receiving Second Team All-WCAC honors in the process. A combo guard, Brown was extremely effective in spurts getting steals and attacking in transition. A good leaper who can attack at different angles, Brown is good, especially in the open court, finishing at the rim. When she was hot from three-point range she could torch teams. Brown will play at Rider next season.
G-F. Catherine LeTendre, Potomac School–LeTendre was an extremely consistent weapon for the Panthers this season, and finished up her high school career with Second Team VISAA Division I all-state honors. With excellent handle for her height, LeTendre was an offensive threat from the perimeter, both shooting and on the drive. She did the dirty work inside, often pushing double-digit rebounds. Steals weren’t a problem either, as LeTendre racked those up to trigger the Panther fast break. An accomplished all-around athlete, she’ll play lacrosse in college.
G-F. Raigan McCalla, Flint Hill–Few, if any, players poured in points like Raigan McCalla did this year for the Huskies. This was hardly a new occurrence for the school’s all-time leading scorer, however. Flint Hill went undefeated in the ISL’s second division this season in no small part to McCalla. In early January she went for 35 points twice. She is best getting steals and going downhill attacking the rim, though she also does a lot of damage halfcourt–sometimes on the offensive glass. McCalla will play at Indiana of Pennsylvania next season.
G-F. Princess Akojenu, Episcopal–If you weren’t prepared for the Maroon’s Princess Akojenu this season she could really hurt you, like when she dropped 23 on O’Connell in an Episcopal playoff win. The wing averaged just under 18 points a game, and really did damage inside and on the boards, where she averaged around nine a game. Athletic and physical first and prone to rack up steals, Akojenu also can get hot from long range, which makes her very difficult to handle. She will play at Elmira (NY) next season.
G. Zaria Gaskins, Christ Chapel–Gaskins has been getting it done seemingly forever at Christ Chapel. The small but talented guard closed out her high school this season averaging around 17 points per game, and was again a VISAA Division IV all-state selection. Gaskins is just endless energy and attack. She’s a very good three-point shooter if teams are foolish enough to give her space at the arc. Gaskins made such an impact at the small school that she had her number retired there.
G. Lucy Pennefather, Seton–Another impact-maker from a small school was Lucy Pennefather of Seton. Pennefather, one of the daughters of long-time Seton Coach Dick Pennefather, ran the show for the Conquistadors. Though a good ball-handler and distributor, Pennefather certainly could score as well, such as when she scored 35 her team’s playoff win over Fredericksburg Christian. Pennefather will play next season at Christendom College, where her sister Mary played.
G. Kayla Washington, Bishop Ireton–Beyond the big senior three of Bishop Ireton (Brooks, Anderson, Hagans) was another talented senior, Kayla Washington. Washington missed her junior year with an ACL tear, but came back solid this season to earn WCAC Honorable Mention kudos. A 5’8″ guard, Washington is another team-oriented Ireton player who plays gritty defense. We liked how she played within the offense this year, content to distribute the rock to her talented teammates. Still, Washington had games where she stood out, racking up steals or providing timely, efficient offense. She’ll play at Longwood next season.
G-F. Zora Burrell, Potomac School–We have our biases at Novahoops, and one of them is for kids who rebound well. Burrell is one of those kids. A 5’7″ guard, Burrell guarded much bigger players in the very talented ISL top division, and was able to rebound with the best of them. Burrell led the Panthers in rebounding, but also led the team in assists this year. She also registered over 200 career steals with the program–her athleticism serving her well defensively both on the perimeter and in the post. She’s someone you just want on your team, and the University of Chicago will get her next year.
HONORABLE MENTION
Jaylen Manning (Bishop Ireton); Anaya Wilson (Bishop Ireton); Riley Miller (Paul VI); Eva Robertson (O’Connell); Lauren Hilliard (Potomac School); Margit Crittenberger (Potomac School); Tatum Carney (Flint Hill); Shai James (Episcopal); Farrah DeVaughn (Saint Stephen’s & St. Agnes); Hazel Grepps (Virginia Academy); Jackie Hugo (Seton); Nina Velandria (John Paul the Great)