In 2023, Sioux Falls Washington won its second Class AA girls basketball title in the past three seasons. 

The Warriors will again be among the top contenders in the state’s largest class, joining the likes of Sioux Falls O’Gorman and Sioux Falls Jefferson. A pair of Eastern South Dakota Conference teams — Pierre and Mitchell — bring back key players after state tourney berths. 

Storylines to watch

• Will Sioux Falls schools continue their reign?: Sioux Falls metro teams have won the past four state championships, with Aberdeen Central the last non-metro team to win it in 2018. Brandon Valley won in 2019, and after COVID-19 canceled the 2020 state tournaments, Sioux Falls Washington (2021, ‘23) and Sioux Falls O’Gorman (‘22) won state titles. Will the Sioux Falls trend continue this season?
• ESD teams in contention: Pierre emerged from the pack last season, finishing at the Class AA runner-ups to Washington and project to be in the mix in 2023-24. The Governors bring back all-state forward Reese Terwilliger, shooting guard Ryann Barry and point guard Lennix DuPris, among others. Mitchell, which upset Brandon Valley in the SoDak 16, claimed a sixth-place finish at state. The Kernels, who bring back all-stater Sawyer Stoebner, welcome a host of returners as they have designs on another state tourney berth. Brandon Valley will be back in the hunt, with Kennedi Deckert, Ava Kellenberger and Alyvia Padgett leading the way. 

Players to watch

• Mahli Abdouch, Sioux Falls O'Gorman: Abdouch was a first-team all-stater after averaging 16.4 points, 4.5 assists and 3.3 steals per game during her junior season. A 5-foot-8 guard, Abdouch led the Knights to a fifth-place finish at the state tournament. She will play college basketball at South Dakota State University. 

• Sawyer Stoebner, Mitchell: Stoebner guided the Kernels to a sixth-place finish at the state tournament. A 5-foot-9 guard, Stoebner averaged 14.6 points, 11.3 rebounds, 3.7 assists and 3.3 steals per game. Stoebner, who earned first-team all-state honors, will play college basketball at Black Hills State University. 

• Taaliyah Porter, Rapid City Stevens: Porter earned Class AA all-state second-team honors last season. A 5-foot-8 junior guard/forward, Porter averaged 17.1 points and 6.7 rebounds per game last season. 

• Jaidyn Dunn, Sioux Falls Jefferson: Dunn, a future Jackrabbit, logged 10 points, 7.5 rebounds, three steals and three blocks per game last season. She earned Class AA all-state second-team honors and helped the Cavaliers earn a third-place finish at the state tournament. 

• Reese Terwilliger, Pierre: A 5-foot-11 senior forward/center, Terwilliger was a second-team all-stater last season. She averaged 12 points and seven rebounds per game for the Governors, who finished second in Class AA last season. She will play college basketball at South Dakota School of Mines. 

• Grace Peterson, Sioux Falls Washington: A 5-foot-11 junior forward, Peterson earned second-team all-state honors last season. She averaged 11.2 points per game for the Warriors, who won last season’s state championship.