When the high school girls basketball season tips off next week, several teams will begin their quest chasing some pretty historic streaks.
Lone Peak looks to tie the state record — and first by a large school — with a fifth straight 6A state championship, while Bountiful and Ridgeline are chasing 4-peats. Including Lone Peak, only five programs in state history have ever won four consecutive state championships.
It’s un underlying theme of the 2025-26 season, which figures to be as exciting as ever.
Lone Peak (6A), Ridgeline (4A) and Rich (1A) are the three defending state champs who will open the season ranked No. 1 in their respective classification in the Deseret News preseason coaches rankings.
The other three No. 1s are West (5A), Emery (3A) and Kanab (2A).
West and Emery were both runner-ups in their respective classification a year ago, while Kanab bowed out in the semifinals last year as its bid for a fourth straight 2A state title came to an end.
In 6A, Lone Peak’s bid for a fifth straight state title will be led by reigning first team all-stater Kennedy Woolston, a BYU commit who has played a role in the previous three Knights’ titles.
Westlake checks in at No. 2 in the 6A rankings with four returning starters from last year’s team that finished the regular season as the RPI No. 3 seed and advanced to quarterfinals.
A pair of elite guards will lead the way in 5A this year. West guard Kylee Falatea, an Oregon commit, is a big reason the Panthers garnered the top spot in the 5A rankings this season. The Panthers were 24-0 last year before losing to Bountiful in the title game.
The Redhawks are led by Ute commit Milika Satuala, and will open the season ranked No. 2 in 5A. Both Satuala and Falatea were 5A first team all-staters last season.
In 4A, despite the graduation of two-time Ms. Basketball recipient Emilee Skinner, the cupboard is not bare for the Ridgeline. First team all-state center Abby Munford returns this season, as does all-state honorable mention guard Brooke Smith.
Last year’s 4A runner-up Snow Canyon, whose only loss came to Ridgeline in the final, opens the year ranked No. 2.
In last year’s 3A state championship, Canyon View beat Emery. They will open the season flip-flopped in the preseason rankings as Emery snagged the No. 1 spot from the coaches. Emery returns three starters, while Canyon View returns two.
In 2A, defending champ South Sevier opens the season outside the top five after graduating all five starters from last year’s team that bounced No. 2 seed Kanab and No. 1 seed North Summit en route to the title.
Led by Ute commit Rylee Little, Kanab opens as the preseason No. 1 in 2A, with Beaver in second and North Summit in third.
In 1A, Rich ended a 13-year drought in winning last year’s state championship, and with three starters back it’s the favorite to repeat. The Rebels are led by reigning 1A Player of the Year Braylyn Pugmire and first team all-stater Molly Weston.
Class 6A
Team (2024-25 record)
- Lone Peak (20-7)
- Westlake (18-7)
- Syracuse (20-4)
- Davis (17-7)
- Bingham (18-8)
Others receiving multiple votes: Cedar Valley, Lehi, Copper Hills, Mountain Ridge, Skyridge.
Class 5A
Team (2024-25 record)
- West (24-1)
- Bountiful (24-2)
- Pleasant Grove (9-16)
- Fremont (21-4)
- Wasatch (21-4)
Others receiving multiple votes: Alta, Maple Mountain, Salem Hills, Springville, Clearfield, Olympus, Woods Cross, Payson, Timpview.
Class 4A
Team (2024-25 record)
- Ridgeline (28-0)
- Snow Canyon (26-1)
- Dixie (16-11)
- Sky View (17-8)
- Mountain Crest (16-10)
Others receiving multiple votes: Provo, Pine View, Cedar, Green Canyon, Desert Hills, Judge Memorial, Tooele.
Class 3A
Team (2024-25 record)
- Emery (16-11)
- Canyon View (22-5)
- Morgan (14-12)
- Grantsville (25-2)
- Layton Christian (13-11)
Others receiving multiple votes: Richfield, Delta, Carbon, Manti.
Class 2A
Team (2024-25 record)
- Kanab (24-3)
- Beaver (19-8)
- North Summit (25-2)
- Enterprise (12-12)
- Duchesne (18-9)
Others receiving multiple votes: Draper APA, South Sevier, North Sevier, Millard, American Heritage.
Class 1A
Team (2024-25 record)
- Rich (25-2)
- Panguitch (20-6)
- Tabiona (21-6)
- Wayne (17-7)
- Valley (16-10)
Others receiving multiple votes: Piute, Whitehorse, Wendover, Milford.