Trib HSSN Head of the Class: 2025 WPIAL girls basketball players of the year

By: Don Rebel
Tuesday, April 1, 2025 | 11:23 PM

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There were a lot of players who enjoyed incredible success on the court this season in what became another large step forward for district girls basketball this winter.

Monessen great Gina Naccarato’s all-time district career scoring record was in jeopardy, but survived by 245 points as Iyanna Wade of Clairton settled for second place on the all-time scoring list.

While we salute all of those who participated in a memorable 2025 girls high school basketball campaign, we have a special seat in the front of the classroom for those players who were a cut above.

The following six standout performers will fill those seats after being named the Trib HSSN Head of the Class for the 2025 season in each of the six classifications.

Class 6A

Rylee Kalocay, Upper St. Clair

This is the second award for Kalocay, who also was named HSSN Head of the Class in 6A following her sophomore season two years ago. Last season, she tore the ACL in her left knee in early January, making this season her comeback performance. The Kent State commit helped the Panthers win their first WPIAL championship in 17 years when she scored 54 points in three district playoff games, including 13 points and five assists in the title game win over Norwin. In five PIAA postseason contests, the senior guard scored a combined 78 points in leading Upper St. Clair to the state championship game for the second time in program history.

Class 5A

Natalie Wetzel, Peters Township

A year ago, Natalie Wetzel was named the Trib HSSN Head of the Class in 6A after leading Peters Township to a successful campaign with no bling. Realignment dropped the Indians to 5A and Wetzel again was the star performer; however, this time, she and her PT teammates have the gold to show for it. Wetzel led the Indians in scoring as Peters Township finished the regular season at 19-3 and as Section 4-5A winners. The Miami (Fla.) commit sat out the first game of the WPIAL playoffs with an injury but bounced back with 29 combined points in quarter and semifinal wins. In the showdown with South Fayette at The Pete, Wetzel scored 13 points and had seven rebounds, five assists and three blocks in a four-point title game win. She scored 67 points in three more PIAA playoff wins.

Class 4A

Aubree Hupp, Blackhawk

For a third straight season, Blackhawk enjoyed great regular season success and was the top seed in the WPIAL 4A playoffs only to reach the district title game and fall to a Catholic school power. In 2023 and 2024, it was North Catholic raising gold and this season, Oakland Catholic won it all. The common denominator in all three seasons and the silver lining for the Cougars has been the dominant play of junior Aubree Hupp. The forward helped Blackhawk win the Section 2-4A crown again and in the district playoffs, scored a combined 93 points in three wins and the title game loss for Blackhawk. She then scored 64 points in two wins and a season-ending loss in the PIAA postseason.

Class 3A

Karis Thomas, Shady Side Academy

Once part of the dynamic backcourt duo in her first two seasons at Shady Side Academy, Karis Thomas had to shoulder a lot more responsibility in all aspects of the game when Maggie Spell transferred to Thomas Jefferson this past offseason. The junior guard never buckled and really thrived in the role of leading lady as she helped the Bulldogs win the Section 2-3A title by two games. Thomas scored 89 points in three district playoff games, including 46 points in a semifinal win over Ellwood City. Her scoring touch continued on the Road to Hershey as she tallied up a total of 97 points in five state playoff contests as Shady Side Academy finished at 28-2 with losses in both the WPIAL and PIAA finals.

Class 2A

Payton Newman, Neshannock

Payton Newman led Neshannock in scoring this winter, averaging 15.8 points per game, and played a key role for a team that finished the regular season with a 20-2 record, co-champion of Section 1-2A with Aliquippa and the top seed in the WPIAL Class 2A playoffs. In the postseason, Newman picked it up a notch, scoring a total of 91 points in the WPIAL playoffs, including 20 points and 14 rebounds in the 2A title game loss to Aliquippa. Neshannock was 1-1 in the PIAA postseason with a season-ending loss to Kennedy Catholic in the second round. In those two state games, the junior guard/forward dropped 35 points. She will enter her senior season 100 points shy of 1,000 for her career.

Class A

Iyanna Wade, Clairton

It was an epic season for one of the top scorers in WPIAL girls basketball history. Clairton senior Iyanna Wade nearly scored 1,000 points this season alone, finishing with 985 points. In the regular season, she averaged 41.6 points per game and led the league for a third straight year, tying Gina Naccarato of Monessen as the only two girls basketball players to lead the district in scoring three times. Wade is No. 2 all-time with 3,119 points, trailing only Naccarato with 3,364. She helped Clairton reach the WPIAL championship game where she scored a game-high 22 points in the Bears’ loss to Union. In four district and state playoff games, Wade scored 98 points.