By 605 Sports Staff

Wagner’s Ashlyn Koupal is the 2024-25 Gatorade South Dakota girls basketball player of the year. 

Koupal is the second Gatorade South Dakota girls basketball player of the year to be chosen from Wagner High School. Gatorade Player of the Year is the top honor in high school sports, celebrating the nation’s best high school athletes for their success on the court, in the classroom and in the community. 

At the time of her selection, the 6-foot-3 junior forward had led the Red Raiders (17-5) to the Class A state tournament quarterfinals, averaging 22.2 points, 10.4 rebounds and 5.0 assists through 22 games. Ranked as the nation’s No. 9 recruit in her class by 247 Sports, Koupal added 2.5 steals and 3.3 blocks per game entering the postseason round of eight. She entered this season as a two-time all-state selection. 

Koupal has volunteered locally on behalf of local businesses in association with the Wagner Athletic Boosters program and by officiating boys and girls youth basketball tournaments. At school, she participates in band, chorus, student council and the activities council in addition to being a member of both the volleyball and track teams. She has also donated her time at a nursing home and serves as part of the Lighthouse Church Youth Group. 

Koupal has maintained a 4.0 GPA in the classroom. She will begin her senior year of high school this fall.