NEPSAC Girls Class AA: Examining the teams for the 2024-25 season

The NEPSAC Class AA championship hunt looks radically different from a year ago.

For starters, eight teams have left. Seven went up to the new Class AAA, while Rivers moved down to Class B. But the field is replenished with four schools eager to prove themselves, including one completely new girls program.

Despite all the change, Class AA remains well-stocked with talent, and with no clear favorite to win it all, expect competitive matchups throughout the season.

Here's a snapshot of each team's season outlook entering the winter.

MORE: Preseason All-New England team | NEPSAC Power Rankings

Austin Prep

Coach: Ushearnda Stroud
Last season: 9-14, missed Class A playoffs
Players to watch: Fope Ayo, C; Tiffany Burns, G; Ruby Thompson, G

Outlook: In its third season as a NEPSAC school, Austin Prep is moving up a class as it aims to contend with the top programs. Ayo, the No. 40 player in ESPN’s 2026 rankings, is a high-potential center who could carry a statement summer into this season. She and Burns, an athletic sophomore point guard, are a dynamic duo on Division 1 college tracks. The team has spoken highly of the sophomore Thompson as a breakout candidate.

A CLOSER LOOK: What to expect from Austin Prep in 2024-25

Darrow

Coach: Abby Streeter
Last season: 15-7, lost in Class D quarterfinals to Vermont Academy
Players to watch: Jayla Hughley, G; Amanda Smith, G; Daniella Harcourt, F

Outlook: Darrow is making one of the largest class leaps in NEPSAC, revamping its girls program under Streeter, a Nashua, N.H., native and former college player at Rutgers. Streeter only has three returners on the roster, led by Hughley, but added a bunch of talented transfers. Smith committed to East Carolina in October. Harcourt, a 6-foot-5 forward, and 6-foot-4 teammate Daniella McLean are both racking up Division 1 offers. There’s a lot for Darrow to iron out as a AA school, but on paper, this team could surprise some.

MacDuffie

Coach: Art Thomas
Last season: 6-14, missed Class AA playoffs
Players to watch: Lauren Cross, G/F; Sofija Dimic, G; Aubrie Jodoin, G

Outlook: It’s a completely clean slate for MacDuffie with zero returning players. Thomas has a young squad to build up. He largely added talent local to the Springfield and Chicopee, Mass., areas, but also recruited Dimic from Serbia. Dimic and Cross, as juniors, should have the most immediate impact. Thomas likes the defense-first mentality he sees in his eight-player roster, and though it will take a development process, he believes he has the right pieces to build for the future.

Marianapolis

Coach: Wes Howard
Last season: 7-17, missed Class AA playoffs
Players to watch: Bella Miele, G; Maeve Early, G; Aryanna Sheehan, G

Outlook: Howard projects a much-improved squad after last season’s transition year that leaned on youth. Marianapolis doesn’t have a senior this year, but with some notable transfers and more experienced underclassmen, there’s room for growth. Miele, a junior transfer guard from Marlboro, Mass., recently picked up her first two Div. 1 offers. Sophomore captain Early has made notable strides, and look for Sheehan to hit her stride once she shakes off some injury rust. Marianapolis plans to play fast and fire away from behind the arc.

Newman

Coach: Sam Doner
Last season: N/A (new program)
Players to watch: Gabby Middleton, F; Shannon Welburn, G; Shea Welburn, G

Outlook: Newman came together suddenly as a new girls program late in the summer, added several transfers from NEPSAC and MIAA schools and immediately jumped to Class AA. It’s unclear how smoothly the first season will go, but the roster is talented. Middleton, one of the top players in the region’s 2027 class, was a key cog at Dexter Southfield, and the Welburn twins both starred previously at Wellesley.

Northfield Mount Hermon

Coach: Grace Rehnquist
Last season: 11-9, missed Class AA playoffs
Players to watch: Olivia Fleming, G; Ava Hoy, C; Grace Minihane, F; Zariah Ottley, G

Outlook: Even after graduating Dani Ceseretti (now at Villanova), NMH looks primed for improvement with a revamped roster that includes eight transfers. Minihane, a postgrad forward from Colorado, leads the newcomers and should be an immediate top contributor along with the sophomore Ottley. Fleming, a quick-twitch point guard, will likely be the team’s scoring leader as a junior captain and boasts a bunch of Division 1 mid-major offers.

A CLOSER LOOK: What to expect from NMH in 2024-25

 Storm King

Coach: Tian Tang
Last season: 12-11, missed Class AA playoffs
Players to watch: Liz Ukejianya, G; Leni Rodriguez, G/F; Mathi Toure, F

Outlook: Coaches have labeled Storm King as a sleeper team to watch in Tang’s second season at the helm. Last year the squad held its own with just eight players on the roster; this winter Storm King has 12. Ukejianya was the team’s third-leading scorer as a sophomore and classmate Rodriguez also started. Both should take on a larger role. Storm King added a 6-foot-2 postgrad forward in Toure, who’s from Sweden but last played in Hong Kong. She’s expected to be a main contributor right away.

Winchendon

Coach: Niya Johnson
Last season: 5-19, missed Class AA playoffs
Players to watch: Angelys Alvarez, G; Ariana Ingram, G; Cali LaLiberte, F

Outlook: Winchendon has a new-look roster in Johnson’s second year as head coach. Alvarez, Ingram and LaLiberte are the only three returners. Johnson believes the senior Ingram has a big year ahead with her taking increasing command as an on-court vocal leader. Among the newcomers are three freshmen and three transfers, including post player Eva Monahan, a senior transfer from Woodstock Academy.

Wilbraham and Monson

Coach: Durelle Brown
Last season: 24-4, won Class C championship
Players to watch: Hannah Grudzien, F; Iyanna Hodge, G; Selah Prignano, G; Caterina Ravosa, F

Outlook: Moving from Class C to Class AA is a huge leap, but the Titans are capable of transitioning quickly. Juniors Prignano and Ravosa are a prolific 1-2 combo who can take over games, and Grudzien is the connecting piece as the lone senior. Keep an eye out for Hodge. She’s only 5-foot-1, but the 2027 point guard has a knack for big plays in big moments.

A CLOSER LOOK: What to expect from Wilbraham and Monson in 2024-25

Worcester Academy

Coach: Dan Sullivan
Last season: 19-6, lost in Class AA quarterfinals to Dexter Southfield
Players to watch: Ella Getz, F; Elyse MacDonough, G; Saige Youngberg, G

Outlook: Worcester Academy is on its third coach in three seasons, and Sullivan takes over after previously working as a boys assistant. He’ll have quality talent to work with, led by MacDonough, a sharpshooting senior guard committed to St. Bonaventure’s. Getz is a potential breakout to watch. The 6-foot-1 junior picked up a handful of Ivy League and mid-major Div. 1 offers during a strong AAU summer and Sullivan wants to use her versatility to attack opposing defenses in creative ways.