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4A state girls basketball preview: Players to watch, predictions
The Class 4A girls state basketball tournament begins Wednesday at the Tacoma Dome, where 15 games will be played in four days to decide this season’s high school champion.
Here’s what to watch for in the 2026 bracket, which features 12 programs from around the state.
REGIONAL RESULTS
Winner-to-quarterfinals, loser-to-first-round games
No. 1 Davis 73, No. 8 Sumner 48
No. 2 Union 51, No. 7 Bothell 43
No. 6 Lake Washington 59, No. 3 Chiawana 48
No. 5 Gonzaga Prep 64, No. 4 Woodinville 60
Winner-to-first-round, loser-out games
No. 9 Auburn 61, No. 16 Eisenhower 33
No. 10 Lake Stevens 61, No. 15 Bonney Lake 33
No. 11 Kennedy Catholic 61, No. 14 Redmond 50
No. 13 Tahoma 55, No. 12 Mead 41
TACOMA DOME SCHEDULE
Wednesday’s first round and Thursday’s quarterfinals
No. 11 Kennedy Catholic vs. No. 3 Chiawana, 9 a.m. Wednesday
Winner vs. No. 5 Gonzaga Prep, 9 a.m. Thursday
No. 10 Lake Stevens vs. No. 7 Bothell, 10:30 a.m. Wednesday
Winner vs. No. 1 Davis, 10:30 a.m. Thursday
No. 13 Tahoma vs. No. 4 Woodinville, 12:15 p.m. Wednesday
Winner vs. No. 6 Lake Washington, 12:15 p.m. Thursday
No. 9 Auburn vs. No. 8 Sumner, 2 p.m. Wednesday
Winner vs. No. 2 Union, 2 p.m. Thursday
Friday’s semifinals
3:45 and 5:30 p.m.
Saturday’s championship and placing games
4th/6th — 8 a.m.
3rd/5th — 11:15 a.m.
Championship — 5 p.m.
15 PLAYERS TO WATCH
G Julia Benthin, Lake Washington
G Kawehi Borden, Sumner
G Olivia Collins, Sumner
G Aylah Cornwall, Gonzaga Prep
G Jayden Fitzgerald, Kennedy Catholic
G Avery Hansen, Auburn
G Brooklynn Haywood, Union
G Cheyenne Hull, Davis
G Charlotte Lipkin, Bothell
G Baylee Maldonado, Chiawana
G Bailey Nettleton, Tahoma
G Keira Tupua, Lake Stevens
G Noelani Tupua, Lake Stevens
G Ashley Uusitalo, Lake Washington
G Jazlyn Wilkerson, Woodinville
TEAM PREVIEWS
No. 1 Davis (21-2) — Can the Pirates go back-to-back? The defending champions are favored to repeat their title at the Tacoma Dome, powered by two-way star junior Cheyenne Hull and a host of returners. Davis cruised past No. 8 Sumner in the regional round and hasn’t lost in 2026, still riding a 15-game win streak that includes a 54-48 win over No. 6 Lake Washington on Jan. 19. They’ll go as far as the reigning 4A Tournament MVP Hull takes them, considered one of the best recruits out west.
No. 2 Union (25-2) — When Oregon commit Brooklynn Haywood takes over, watch out. The senior guard (33 PPG) can become the state’s all-time leading scorer this week, trailing Hailey Van Lith by 100 points for the all-classification record. The Titans are playing their best basketball at the best time, rolling through Bonney Lake, Tahoma, and Kennedy Catholic by 19+ points each to claim the 4A District 3/4 title in undisputed style. That’s 18 wins in a row for Union, which hasn’t lost to an in-state opponent (23-0) all winter. Freshman guard Aleya Smith averages nearly 15 points per game for the Titans; junior guard Myla Larry adds 13.7 points and a team-high 7.8 rebounds.
No. 3 Chiawana (25-1) — The Riverhawks dropped their first game of the season to No. 6 Lake Washington in last weekend’s regional round, but Chiawana has the firepower to bounce back. The offense runs through sister-backcourt Baylee and Kailee Maldonado, the high-powered duo averaging a combined 34 points and 11 rebounds per game. Watch for freshman guard Chloe Clyde, too, the 4A Mid-Columbia’s Defensive MVP.
No. 4 Woodinville (24-4) — Idaho State signee Jazlyn Wilkerson can pile points in a hurry, a three-point threat (35% 3PM) averaging team-highs of 22 points and seven rebounds per game. The 4A champs in 2022 have finished fourth or better in every Hardwood Classic since 2020, and there’s potential for another deep run despite a regional loss to No. 5 Gonzaga Prep. They’ll meet No. 13 Tahoma in the Round of 12, a Bears squad they beat by 12 points on Jan. 19.
No. 5 Gonzaga Prep (22-1) — Junior guard Aylah Cornwall has returned to star form after missing her sophomore season with a knee injury, placing Gonzaga Prep firmly in the mix at the Tacoma Dome. Cornwall is an 87-percent shooter at the free-throw line and paces all Bullpups in points (17.5), rebounds (10.1), assists (5.7), and steals (3.4) per game. G-Prep knocked off No. 4 Woodinville in the regional round, quickly turning the page after No. 3 Chiawana snapped their 21-game win streak on Feb. 20.
No. 6 Lake Washington (19-7) — Make no mistake: Oregon State commit Ashley Uusitalo remains one of the state’s premier sharpshooters. Mix in do-it-all junior guard Julia Benthin (13.5 PPG, 8 RPG, 3.6 APG, 2 BPG) and 4A KingCo Defensive Player of the Year Ileana Olteanu (13.5 PPG, 2 BPG), and Lake Washington poses a true mismatch on the perimeter. Uusitalo became the Kangs’ all-time leading scorer this season (1,600 points and counting), already the record-holder in three-pointers made by over 100. The state-tournament regular rests Wednesday after knocking off undefeated No. 3 Chiawana in the regional round.
No. 7 Bothell (20-7) — Senior guard Charlotte Lipkin stars for the 4A KingCo champions, the two-time division MVP and Defensive Player of the Year averaging nearly 19 points, six rebounds, and four assists per game. The Cougars hold wins over No. 4 Woodinville, No. 6 Lake Washington, No. 14 Redmond, and No. 15 Bonney Lake, perhaps an under-the-radar pick to make noise in Tacoma. Junior guard Sam Brooke adds nine points, three assists, and two rebounds per game.
No. 8 Sumner (24-4) — There’s an unexpected, cross-state rivalry brewing between Sumner and top-seed Davis. The programs met twice in last year’s state tournament and received identical seeds this winter, setting the stage for Round 3 in the regional round. Davis cruised in the rematch, but the Spartans have the pieces for another run in Tacoma. Sumner’s star backcourt of four-star recruit Kawehi Borden and reigning TNT All-Area Player of the Year Olivia Collins added forward Raymiah Jackson into the mix, an interior force and floor-spacer for the defending state runners-up.
No. 9 Auburn (21-3) — Star point guard Avery Hansen orchestrates this fast and physical contender, dropping 24 points in Saturday’s regional win over No. 16 Sunnyside. The all-gas, no-brakes floor general is Auburn’s all-time leading scorer (1,290 PTS) and paced the Trojans in every category this winter (22.4 PPG, 9.1 RPG, 5.6 APG, 4.6 SPG), the key to an Auburn run at the Dome. Senior forward Ari Deloney tore her ACL last June but has worked her way back since, averaging nine points in her last nine games.
No. 10 Lake Stevens (21-3) — There’s another pair of standout sisters in the 4A bracket. Noelani Tupua’s polished handle and Keira Tupua’s downhill moves combine for 35.5 points per game, the leading scorers for a Lake Stevens program that’s won 15 of their last 16. Keira was named the 4A Wesco MVP (16.3 PPG, 2.7 APG) and Noelani averaged a double-double (19.2 PPG, 11.2 RPG, 2.6 APG) entering Saturday’s 61-33 regional win over Bonney Lake. Both sisters have eclipsed the 1,000-point career scoring mark.
No. 11 Kennedy Catholic (18-7) — Sophomore point guard Jayden Fitzgerald paces the Lancers in every per-game category (14.9 PPG, 6.4 RPG, 4.1 APG, 4.4 SPG), the tone-setting engine for Kennedy Catholic entering the Round of 12. The District 3/4 runners-up own wins over No. 8 Sumner, No. 9 Auburn, and No. 13 Tahoma.
No. 13 Tahoma (19-6) — Sharpshooter Bailey Nettleton and strong rebounder Adalynn Busch form a strong one-two punch in Maple Valley. Nettleton set the school’s single-season record for three-pointers made (78 and counting), and Busch should reach the 700 career-rebound mark at the Tacoma Dome this week. Tahoma split their two-game season series with No. 9 Auburn and No. 11 Kennedy Catholic.
TNT CHAMPIONSHIP PICK
No. 1 Davis 62, No. 2 Union 54
