WPIAL girls basketball Class 2A season preview for 2025-26

By: Jonathan Bombulie
Monday, November 24, 2025 | 6:01 AM

When Aliquippa won its first WPIAL girls basketball championship since 1990 last season, it was, not surprisingly, a joyous occasion.

The girls team got to reach some of the same heights the school’s boys had in recent years on the basketball court and football field, and the celebration reflected that.

But on the other end of the Petersen Events Center court, a Neshannock team that saw its second-half rally come up just short was watching the championship presentation take place.

With all five starters back, the Lancers no doubt thought it could be them wearing the gold medals in 12 months time.

Next year is now for Neshannock.

Led by senior forward Payton Newman, who had a double-double in the championship game with 20 points and 14 rebounds, the Lancers look like favorites in Class 2A heading into the 2025-26 season.

Aliquippa, as well as defending section champs Winchester Thurston, Chartiers-Houston and Fort Cherry, will also have something to say about that, of course.

Here is a rundown of players to watch, top 5 teams and other notables in WPIAL 2A girls basketball this season.

Preseason Player of the Year

Payton Newman, Neshannock

5-7, senior, forward

14.5 ppg last season

Players to watch

DaShae Cochran, Winchester Thurston

5-8, senior, guard/forward

12.4 ppg last season

Brooke Cornali, Fort Cherry

5-10, senior, forward

11.5 ppg last season

Hayley Gibson, California

5-10, junior, forward

12.0 ppg last season

Denim Odom, Aliquippa

5-10, junior, forward

Tia Yellock, Rochester

5-7, senior, guard

16.2 ppg last season

Preseason top 5

1. Neshannock (24-4 last season)

The Lancers are loaded. Leading scorer and constant double-double threat Payton Newman leads the way. Guard Jaidon Nogay is a scrappy athlete going to Kent State to play softball. Nine Medure is a dangerous outside shooter. Ainsley Allison (5-foot-10) is a force in the paint. Sophia Bonner distributes the ball with the best of them. It’s a formidable combination.

2. Aliquippa (22-5 last season)

The Quips snapping a 34-year title drought was one of the top stories in WPIAL basketball last season. They graduated top scorers Aunesty Johnson, Carla Brown and Yaree Carter, but 5-10 forward Denim Odom should be one of Class 2A’s top players. Guard Dai’Onna Washington also started as a freshman for the champs last season.

3. Winchester Thurston (23-5 last season)

The undefeated Section 4 champs lost Skylar Still (Cal Pa.) to graduation, but they’ve got a deep group of athletes ready to build on a run to the WPIAL semifinals. DaShae Cochran is 5-8 senior guard who averaged 12 points per game last season, was named all-section and is on the cusp of 1,000 career points. A strong junior class is led by Jasmine Hollins and Aleah Cooper.

4. Chartiers-Houston (20-7 last season)

The Bucs have been a fixture at the top of the standings in recent years, going 31-3 in Section 3 games over the past three seasons. There’s no reason to think that trend will end this year. Ali Wingard, a 5-10 guard who averaged double-digit points and was named all-section last season, and Amelia Brose, a 5-7 guard with game-changing quickness returning after missing last season with a torn ACL, are senior leaders. Ava Kolovich, a 5-6 guard, opened eyes last year, averaging 11 points as a freshman.

5. Fort Cherry (20-6 last season)

The Rangers entered last season with a young lineup and didn’t skip a beat, tying South Side for the Section 2 crown. This season, Fort Cherry will be led by a pair of accomplished seniors: Brooke Cornali, a 5-10 forward who stars in the high jump in the spring, averaged double digits in points and was named all-section, and Bella Bianchini, who emerged as a top point guard.

Notable

• Looking for a team outside the preseason top 5 that could make a playoff run? Try South Side. The Rams went 20-8 last season, tied Fort Cherry for the District 2 title and reached the WPIAL semifinals. Leading scorer Bailey Strinsa moved on to Geneva College, but Ashtyn Michael turned heads as a 5-9 freshman guard last year.

• Tia Yellock has been a difference maker for Rochester since she was a freshman, and she’s back for her senior year after averaging 16 points per game and being named all-section as a junior.

• Led by junior guard Paige Klodowski, who averaged 14 points per game as an all-section pick last season, Burgettstown is a threat in Section 2.

• Coming off a second-place finish in Section 3, Beth-Center brings back four starters and will be a team to reckon with. Violet Trump, who averaged a double-double with 11 points and 11 rebounds last year, leads the way. The Bulldogs will also count on Kyleigh McDaniel to run the point and Bailey Bernot in the paint and are happy to have guard Alexia Fischer healthy.

• California should be a contender in the Section 3 race. Hayley Gibson is an exciting 5-11 junior all-section pick who can give opponents problems in the paint at both ends of the floor. Lila Mitchell, a 6-foot guard, is a freshman to watch. Interest in the program is high. The roster has doubled in size since last season.

• Carmichaels will need to replace leading scorer Ali Jacobs and leading rebounder Duski Staggers from a playoff team in Section 3 last year, but the Mighty Mikes have returning starters Ke’lani Chun at guard and Joselyn Carter at forward to help bring along a young roster.

• After tying for fourth place in Section 3 last season, Bentworth will have a new look, led by first-year coach Shannon Squire, who starred as a player at United High School and Grove City College. Leading scorer Kayla O’Dell graduated, but Bella Moyer will be back to run the point and guard Jesse Laskey also returns.

• Class 2A’s leading returning scorer is 5-8 senior guard Navarah Smith, who averaged 21 points per game last season.

• The top four teams in each section qualify for the WPIAL playoffs.

Alignment

Section 1: Aliquippa, Freedom, Laurel, Neshannock, Rochester, Shenango

Section 2: Brentwood, Burgettstown, Carlynton, Fort Cherry, Northgate, South Side

Section 3: Bentworth, Beth-Center, California, Carmichaels, Chartiers-Houston, Jefferson-Morgan

Section 4: Apollo-Ridge, Ellis School, Frazier, Jeannette, Riverview, Winchester Thurston

Jonathan Bombulie is the TribLive assistant sports editor. A Greensburg native, he was a hockey reporter for two decades, covering the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins for 17 seasons before joining the Trib in 2015 and covering the Penguins for four seasons, including Stanley Cup championships in 2016-17. He can be reached at jbombulie@triblive.com.

Tags: Aliquippa, Apollo-Ridge, Bentworth, Beth-Center, Brentwood, Burgettstown, California, Carlynton, Carmichaels, Chartiers-Houston, Ellis School, Fort Cherry, Frazier, Freedom, Jeannette, Jefferson-Morgan, Laurel, Neshannock, Northgate, Riverview, Rochester, Shenango, South Side, Winchester Thurston