The 2024-25 CIAC girls’ basketball season ended similarly to the two years prior. For the third consecutive year, the Southern Connecticut Conference champion was the team hoisting the Class LL state championship trophy. All three championships came from the town of Hamden, with Hamden High School winning in 2023 and 2024, before Sacred Heart Academy in Hamden broke through in 2025.
Yet, it’s not an SCC team topping our Connecticut high school preseason top 10 for 2025-26. The reigning Class L champions, who have three-peated in three different classes, are listed as our top team in the preseason.
Girls’ basketball in Connecticut will adopt the Division 1 through 5 tournament format for the first time this season, mirroring the boys’ bracket format. This means a whole lot of shuffling from the previous Class LL through Class S system. It should provide added intrigue to each bracket come playoff time, where we should be treated to rarely seen matchups.
By season’s end, the clear contenders will make themselves known. But for now, our top 10 only consists of teams from the SCC, the Central Connecticut Conference, and the Fairfield County Interscholastic Athletic Conference.
Feel free to save this and return to see what we got right and where we went wrong. Now, let’s get to the rankings:
1. Northwest Catholic
Division 1
Central Connecticut Conference
Last regular season: 18-1
Coach: Ali Connors
The Lions have won three state championships in the last three seasons, raising banners for Class S, Class MM, and Class L. With the CIAC now adopting the model of Divisions 1 through 5, as had been done on the boys’ side, Northwest Catholic joins the ranks of some of the best and biggest schools in the state. This is the year to do it, as the Lions return all but one player from last season’s loaded state championship roster.
Senior Abby Casper, a three-time CHSCA All-State wing committed to Holy Cross, headlines the group. Her 1,472 career points are second in program history, and she is just 157 points away from breaking the record. Senior point guard Maeve Staunton, a three-time All-State selection committed to UConn for soccer, holds the program record for career assists with 503. She also ranks ninth all-time in scoring. Senior Zoey Canning was an All-CCC selection last season. Sophomore Samantha Casper tied the record for most 3s made in a single season with 62. Junior Lily Johnson and sophomore Lyla Diaz will be other key contributors to watch out for.
2. Sacred Heart Academy
Division 1
Southern Connecticut Conference
Last regular season: 18-2
Coach: Jason Kirck
The defending Class LL champions slot in at No. 2 in our rankings. Sacred Heart graduated Connecticut Player of the Year Emily Mennillo, now at Franklin Pierce, and Lyla D’Errico, a first-team All-SCC selection. The Sharks still have a great returning group, however, led by a frontcourt of senior Maddy Burke and junior Mila Harmon. Burke, committed to Bentley, averaged 10 points per game last season. Harmon, a post player, received a Division 1 offer from Manhattan this summer. Senior guard Molly Gunning is an elite shooter committed to Wheaton College. The group surrounding Burke, Harmon, and Gunning will be fantastic as well. Sacred Heart certainly has graduated talent, but it also knows how to reload and remain a top contender every season.
3. Greenwich
Division 1
Fairfield County Interscholastic Athletic Conference
Last regular season: 19-1
Coach: Megan Wax
Following a trip to the Class LL semifinals, Greenwich has a great group returning and arguably the best player in the FCIAC: 6-foot sophomore center Zuri Faison. Faison averaged a 15-point, 11-rebound double-double and was the only underclassman selected to the CHSCA Class LL All-State team last season. Senior shooting guard Madi Utzinger, second team All-FCIAC last season, averaged 9.4 points, 5.2 rebounds, and three assists. Sophomore point guard Elsa Xhekaj was third-team All-FCIAC as a freshman. The Cardinals will also have senior captains Juliette Pelham, an incredibly athletic player, and Mikayla Kiernan, a phenomenal rebounder and shooter. Greenwich graduated four seniors, two of whom were starters, but with many familiar faces returning, it should be able to hit the ground running.
4. Amity
Division 2
Southern Connecticut Conference
Last regular season: 16-4
Coach: Nick Dottiri
Amity earned the No. 2 seed in the SCC tournament and the No. 5 seed in the Class L state tournament, but fell at the quarterfinal hurdle in both. The Spartans return five seniors who played significant minutes from last year’s team, most notably All-State selection Nina Nardecchia. Nardecchia, committed to Franklin Pierce, averaged 19 points, nine rebounds, 3.2 assists, and three blocks per game as a junior last season. As one of the best players in the state, her contributions significantly boost Amity’s ranking. Senior forward Reese Caterbone, Amity’s first player off the bench last season, averaged eight points and eight rebounds. Seniors Cash O’Neil, Addy Pivovar, and Mackenzie Smith will be significant contributors.
  
5. New Britain
Division 1
Central Connecticut Conference
Last regular season: 13-7
Coach: Michael Jones
The word on the street is that New Britain will be one of the best teams in the CCC this season. The Golden Hurricanes didn’t have a season to write home about last season, losing in the opening round of the CCC tournament as the 12th seed and then falling, 70-43, to Southington in the second round of the Class LL state tournament. However, New Britain was an especially young team last season. The Golden Hurricanes’ three leading scorers were two freshmen and a sophomore.
Guards Amelia Faienza, now a sophomore, and Jazinyah Garcia, now a junior, were All-CCC selections. Sophomore Kayla Roberts was also a leading scorer. New Britain also garnered freshman contributions last season from Journee Christee, Kasey Cotto, and Yeriani Soto. Last season’s newcomers helped New Britain win seven more games than in the previous year. Now, with an extra year under their belts, the Golden Hurricanes will be a team to look out for.
6. Fairfield Warde
Division 2
Fairfield County Interscholastic Athletic Conference
Last regular season: 17-3
Coach: Dave Danko
Fairfield Warde certainly graduated talent from last year’s roster, headlined by FCIAC Player of the Year and All-State guard Ryanne Gulbin, who averaged 22 points and 10 rebounds and is now at Union College. But the Mustangs still return a strong group, led by third-team All-FCIAC selection Ava Feay, a 6-foot wing who averaged 11.4 points, 3.2 rebounds, 2.5 assists, 4.1 steals, and 1.2 blocks last season. Sophomore point guard Sophia Hardiman impressed in her freshman season. Senior Chloe McDonald was an All-FCIAC honorable mention last season and will be a key piece for the Mustangs.
7. Hamden
Division 1
Southern Connecticut Conference
Last regular season: 13-7
Coach: Amanda Forcucci
After consecutive Class LL state championships in 2023 and 2024, Hamden took a step back last season. The Green Dragons fell in the SCC title game and the Class LL round of 16, both times to Sacred Heart Academy. Hamden should be a contender in the SCC once again, however. Senior forward Aunee Brookshire was a second-team All-CCC player last season, and she’s joined in the frontcourt by senior Samira Huckaby, a skilled and mobile forward. Junior sharpshooter Saige Sampson, who has deep range, will be another key scorer. And coach Amanda Forcucci is excited about injecting new life into her team with a trio of freshman guards — Tiana Haynes, Kylie Goldson, and Jaya Tavares-Smith — who will supplement the already established post play.
8. Mercy
Division 1
Southern Connecticut Conference
Last regular season: 15-5
Coach: Tim Kohs
If it weren’t for the departure of All-State guard Maddie Benigni, who left Mercy for the NEPSAC’s Hamden Hall, the Tigers would be near the very top of this list. Mercy should still be quite good, but it lost nearly 60 percent of its scoring from last season after the departure of seniors and Benigni, meaning the returners will all have to fill new roles. Senior forward Abi Weidman, an All-SCC second-teamer last season, will be a key piece in the post. Sophomore wing Reagan Beeler will be one of Mercy’s key scoring options. Junior Kaitlin Bertolami, a strong defender and ball-handler, will take over the lead guard role. Sophomore power forward Kasey Clerkin is a strong offensive player with good instincts.
9. Ridgefield
Division 2
Fairfield County Interscholastic Athletic Conference
Last regular season: 16-4
Coach: Rob Coloney
The reigning FCIAC champions should be one of the best teams in the conference once again. Ridgefield lost pieces from last season’s team, including All-State selection Zoe Desmerais.
However, the Tigers were built on balance, not any one player, as no one averaged more than 10 points per game last season. Senior point guard Sophie Desiano and junior forward Cathryn Mills headline Ridgefield’s returning group. Desiano was named the FCIAC tournament MVP. Mills was a third-team All-FCIAC selection. With a talented supporting cast around Desiano and Mills, the Tigers are expected to have another successful season.
10. East Catholic
Division 1
Central Connecticut Conference
Last regular season: 18-2
Coach: Chad Malone
The Eagles entered the SCC and Class MM tournaments as the No. 1 overall seed, but dropped the title game in both. This year, East Catholic returns three of its four All-Conference selections from last season. Senior center Urielle Afoakwa-Abrokwa is a three-time All-CCC selection and has tallied over 1000 career points and rebounds. Sophomores Morgan Bridgeforth and Gia Fisher made immediate impacts as freshmen, earning spots on the All-CCC team. They should see even more success in their second seasons.
