espnW 25 Power Rankings: Week 15
| Year: | |
| Week: | |
The coronavirus pandemic has put a stop to the girls' basketball world. Fifteen of the teams in the espnW 25 Power Rankings halted their seasons, and the GEICO national championship, which was set to be held in New York City in April, was canceled.
Many state tournaments were suspended while teams were on the floor, ready to begin play. There won't be a rematch between No. 2 La Jolla Country Day (CA) and No. 15 Archbishop Mitty (CA) in the CIF state finals.
Detroit Edison Academy (MI) finished the year undefeated and riding a 48-game winning streak. With Ruby Whitehorn, Damiya Hagemann and Rakiyah Beal returning, Edison has a bright future ahead.
But it is Hopkins (MN) that claims the title of 2020 national champion. The Paige Bueckers-led Royals went undefeated in the regular season and won their semifinal game in the Minnesota state tournament before it was stopped due to coronavirus. -- Dan Olson
| espnW 25 Power Rankings: Week 15 | |||
| RANK | SCHOOL/REC (CITY, STATE) | TRENDING | COMMENT |
| 1 | Hopkins (30-0) Minnetonka, MN | -- Last Week: 1 | Paige Bueckers recorded 15 points, 10 rebounds, seven assists and six steals in a 66-40 semifinal win over Stillwater (MN). Bueckers, the Gatorade National Girls' Basketball Player of the Year, is headed to UConn in the fall, but the Royals will keep Maya Nnaji, who had 23 points and seven boards in a quarterfinal victory over Cambridge-Asanti. |
| 2 | La Jolla Country Day School (32-1) La Jolla, CA | -- Last Week: 2 | Te-Hina Paopao scored 14 of her 30 points in the fourth quarter as La Jolla Country Day beat Windard (CA) 59-48 to advance to the CIF Open Division State finals, where it would have faced No. 15 Archbishop Mitty (CA). |
| 3 | Mount Notre Dame (28-0) Cincinnati, OH | -- Last Week: 3 | KK Bransford had 20 points, eight rebounds and five assists as Mount Notre Dame beat Kettering-Fairmont (OH) 47-41 in the Ohio state tourney quarterfinals. |
| 4 | Duncanville (40-3) Duncanville, TX | -- Last Week: 4 | North Carolina-bound Deja Kelly scored 23 points and was named tournament MVP, helping Duncanville win the Texas UIL 6A championship, as it defeated No. 21 Cypress Creek 63-47. |
| 5 | Detroit Edison Academy (23-0) Detroit, MI | -- Last Week: 5 | Gabrielle Elliott, the Gatorade Player of the Year in Michigan, scored 22 points while Damiya Hagemann added 18 as Detroit Edison beat Divine Child (MI) 67-42 in regional playoff action. |
| 6 | Hamilton Heights Christian Academy (25-1) Chattanooga, TN | -- Last Week: 6 | Led by Treasure Hunt and Kamilla Cardoso, Hamilton Heights Christian won the NACA National Championship Tournament. |
| 7 | Westlake (30-2) Atlanta, GA | -- Last Week: 7 | Westlake beat an undefeated Collins Hill (GA) 72-53 to capture the Georgia 7A championship. Ta'Niya Latson and Raven Johnson each scored 23 points. |
| 8 | Bishop McNamara (27-5) Forestville, MD | -- Last Week: 8 | Liatu King scored 13 points to help give Bishop McNamara its first WCAC title since 2008 with a 43-40 win over No. 24 Paul VI (VA). |
| 9 | Mater Dei (30-3) Santa Ana, CA | -- Last Week: 9 | Mater Dei lost to unranked Long Beach Poly (CA) 55-50 in the CIF Open Division State Tourney. Brooke Demetre scored 18 points in defeat. |
| 10 | DeSoto (32-3) DeSoto, TX | -- Last Week: 10 | DeSoto lost to No. 6 Duncanville (TX) 47-43 in the regional semifinals. Jiya Perry scored 13 points in the loss for the team that entered Week 1 of the power rankings as the No. 1 team. |
| 11 | Southeast Raleigh (27-1) Raleigh, NC | -- Last Week: 11 | Anya Poole's 15 points helped Southeast Raleigh beat Eugene Ashley (NC) 60-46, and teammate Jamia Hazell keyed an 18-0 second-quarter run in its 43-24 win over Millbrook (NC) in the North Carolina 4A State Tournament. |
| 12 | Ensworth (29-0) Nashville, TN | -- Last Week: 12 | Ensworth beat Brentwood Academy (TN) 73-53 for its 45th straight victory and second TSSAA Division II title in a row. Dontavia Waggoner scored 31 points. |
| 13 | Winston-Salem Prep (25-2) Winston-Salem, NC | -- Last Week: 13 | Winston-Salem Christian won the IE Independent School Championship over Blair Academy (NJ) 53-47. Junior forward Kiandra Browne was a force during the three-day tourney, earning MVP honors. |
| 14 | Princess Anne (26-1) Virginia Beach, VA | -- Last Week: 14 | Aziaha James and Jasha Clinton combined for 48 points and 14 steals as Princess Anne beat Woodgrove (VA) 107-45 in the Class 5 state semifinals. Because the finals were not played, Princess Anne was crowned co-champion for 2020. |
| 15 | Archbishop Mitty (26-3) San Jose, CA | -- Last Week: 15 | Ashley Hiraki scored 18 points in a 69-53 win over St. Joseph-Notre Dame (CA) as Archbishop Mitty advanced to the CIF Open Division State finals. |
| 16 | Riverdale Baptist (27-4) Upper Marlboro, MD | -- Last Week: 16 | Riverdale Baptist lost to unranked New Hope Academy (MD) 60-53 in the NACA National Tourney. |
| 17 | Sierra Canyon (25-7) Chatsworth, CA | -- Last Week: 17 | Ashley Chevalier scored 25 points and Alexis Mark added 11 points but Sierra Canyon lost to Windward (CA) 65-59 in the CIF Open Division State playoffs. |
| 18 | Lake Highland Prep (29-2) Orlando, FL | -- Last Week: 18 | Lake Highland Prep beat Bishop Kenney (FL) 61-46 to win the FHSAA State 4A championship. Nyla Harris impressed, scoring 20 points, blocking three shots and grabbing five boards. |
| 19 | Saint John Vianney (28-1) Holmdel, NJ | -- Last Week: 19 | Madison St. Rose scored 21 points to help St. John Vianney beat St. Rose (NJ) 67-54 in a state playoff game. |
| 20 | Trenton Catholic (29-1) Trenton, NJ | -- Last Week: 20 | Freshman center Aalyah Del Rosario had 19 points and 25 rebounds as Trenton Catholic beat Rutgers Prep (NJ) 53-48 in state playoff action. |
| 21 | Cypress Creek (41-1) Houston, TX | -- Last Week: 21 | Cypress Creek lost to No. 5 Duncanville (TX) 63-47 in the finals of the Texas 6A State Championship. Kyndall Hunter scored 24 points in the loss. |
| 22 | Long Island Lutheran (22-1) Brookville, NY | -- Last Week: 22 | Long Island Lutheran was awaiting the New York state championships. Kaylene Smikle and Paris Clark form a dynamic backcourt. |
| 23 | Centennial (24-6) Las Vegas, NV | -- Last Week: 23 | Centennial won the Nevada State Championship, beating Desert Oasis (NV), 79-51 to win the 4A Title. Jade Thomas, Daejah Phillips and Aisha Brown combined for 45 points and 26 rebounds in the win. |
| 24 | Paul VI (32-4) Fairfax, VA | -- Last Week: 24 | Paul VI won the VISAA State Championship, defeating Bishop O'Connell (VA) 52-43 for its 14th title. Junior guard Lee Volker was selected the WCAC Co-Player of the Year. |
| 25 | Norman (24-1) Norman, OK | -- Last Week: 25 | Norman finished the season on a 22-game winning streak. Kelbie Washington and Chante Embry combined for 33 points in a 61-42 win over Sapulpa (OK) in the area championship. |
| On the bubble: Bentonville (AR), Grandview (CO), Blair Academy (NJ), Long Beach Poly (CA), St. Joseph Central (WV) | |||