Yet another summer of AAU basketball has come to a close.

As the players in the Class of 2023 prepare to enter their final seasons of high school basketball, Just Women’s Sports is here to provide updated recruiting rankings that indicate where the top 25 players stack up against one another. (You can check out the previous rankings here.)

1 | Mikaylah Williams, Parkway (La.)
6-foot-1 guard
Committed to LSU

Williams remains at the top of the mountain, and for good reason. Since committing to LSU at the end of June, she’s picked up two more gold medals — one with Team USA’s U17 squad and another at the FIBA 3×3 U18 World Cup. But what sets her apart? Her stifling defense.

2 | Juju Watkins, Sierra Canyon (Calif.)
6-2 guard
Uncommitted

To label Juju Watkins “elite” would be an understatement. She’s the total package — she’s confident and competitive, and she can generate success beneath the rim and beyond the arc, regardless of who has possession of the ball. Over the summer, Watkins was named the Most Valuable Player at the U17 World Cup.

3 | Jadyn Donovan, Sidwell Friends School (District of Columbia)
6-foot guard
Committed to Duke

The Kara Lawson era of Duke women’s basketball got a whole lot more exciting when Donovan verbally committed at the end of August. The elite guard is the highest-ranked Blue Devils recruit since Lawson took over the program.

2023 5 ⭐️ Jadyn Donovan (@DonovanJadyn) committed to Duke! pic.twitter.com/BQPLeilUBO

— Blue Devils (@BlueDevils) August 23, 2022

4 | Aalyah Del Rosario, Trenton Catholic (N.J.)
6-6 post
Uncommitted

Del Rosario combines towering height and impressive body control, possessing a skill set not often seen at the college level, let alone high school. She’s declared a final four of potential college destinations — LSU, North Carolina, South Carolina and Tennessee.

5 | Hannah Hidalgo, Paul VI (N.J.)
5-7 point guard
Uncommitted

Hidalgo is perhaps the most exceptional guard in a deeply competitive New Jersey basketball scene. Her guard skills and elite speed position her as one of the most exciting prospects in this class.

6 | Breya Cunningham, La Jolla Country Day (Calif.)
6-4 forward
Committed to Arizona

One of the most sought-after players in her class, Cunningham committed to Adia Barnes’ program at the end of June. She’ll fit in nicely with an Arizona squad that seems poised to make another run at a national title in the coming years.

7 | Ciera Toomey, Dunmore (Pa.)
6-4 post
Committed to North Carolina

There’s a reason so many of the country’s top programs offered this dynamic post player — she can transform an offense. Toomey surpassed 1,000 career points by the end of her junior season by being a dynamic shot creator.

8 | KK Arnold, Germantown (Wis.)
5-10 point guard
Committed to UConn

Another midwestern, five-star point guard for UConn, Arnold picked up her second gold medal at the end of August as a member of USA’s 3×3 U18 World Cup squad. In 2021, she claimed gold on the U16 national team.

9 | Ashlynn Shade, La Lumiere (Ind.)
5-10 guard
Committed to UConn

After a dominant year with Class 4A state champion Noblesville, Shade will complete her high school career at La Lumiere Prep. There’s little doubt that her eye-popping stat lines will carry through her senior season.

10 | Courtney Ogden, Westminster School (Ga.)
5-11 wing
Committed to Stanford

This is exactly the type of player Tara VanDerveer can count on to thrive at Stanford. Wherever she takes the court, Ogden continues to demonstrate that she’s one of the fiercest competitors in her class. Ogden possesses a true winner’s mentality and an elite on-court IQ to back it up.

11 | Chloe Kitts, Faith Christian Academy (Fla.)
6-2 forward
Uncommitted

In July, Kitts narrowed down her list to five schools — Arizona, Duke, NC State, Oklahoma and South Carolina. She’s a tough defender with strong footwork and would be a major addition to whichever program she picks due to her versatility.

12 | Cassandre Prosper, Cairine Wilson Secondary School (Ontario, Canada)
6-2 forward
Uncommitted

Prosper did not participate in this summer’s U17 World Cup, but she will be suiting up for Canada’s senior national team during training camp alongside WNBA players Natalie Achonwa (Minnesota Lynx), Bridget Carleton (Lynx) and Kia Nurse (Phoenix Mercury). Prosper is part of the future of Canadian basketball.

Fifteen athletes attending 🇨🇦 Senior Women’s National Team training camp ahead of the FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup 2022.

Canada returns to @CityofEdmonton this week to train ahead of the World Cup.

More details: https://t.co/KJ06mKXVGi#madlove🇨🇦 | #FIBAWWC pic.twitter.com/uonKu5vSCM

— Canada Basketball (@CanBball) August 24, 2022

13 | Jada Williams, La Jolla Country Day (Calif.)
5-8 point guard
Committed to Arizona

Originally committed to UCLA, Williams flipped to Arizona at the beginning of August. Williams is a perfect fit for Adia Barnes’ roster and, as of right now, the only verbal PG commit in the Wildcats’ Class of 2023. Earlier this month, she was featured in Whistle Sports’ “No Days Off” series.

14 | Madison Booker, Germantown (Miss.)
6-1 wing
Uncommitted

Booker started all seven games during the U17 national team’s journey to gold at this summer’s U17 World Cup. She’s reliable all over the floor, including from the free-throw line, where she led the decorated roster with a 91.7 percent free-throw percentage.

15 | Milaysia Fulwiley, W.J. Keenan (S.C.)
5-7 point guard
Uncommitted

It’s no surprise that Fulwiley, the highest-ranked prospect in the state of South Carolina, included the reigning national champion Gamecocks in her final five. What may come as a surprise is that she’s held an offer from the program since she was in seventh grade. The human highlight-reel has amassed more than 2,000 career points at Keenan and is also considering Florida, Louisville, Miami and Ole Miss.

16 | Reniya Kelly, Hoover (Ala.)
5-5 point guard
Committed to North Carolina

Kelly managed to shine on a supremely talented FBC United roster this summer at the Girls Under Armour Association Championships. She isn’t a player opponents want to leave open because she’ll take advantage of the situation every time.

17 | Montaya Dew, Centennial (N.V.)
6-2 forward
Committed to Arizona

Looking for an underrated prospect in this bunch? Look no further than Dew, the first domino in what is shaping up to be an impressive recruiting class for Arizona. Dew thrives in high-pressure situations and is an assist machine.

18 | Kymora Johnson, Saint Annes-Belfield (Va.)
5-7 guard
Uncommitted

The textbook definition of a “floor general,” Johnson made a tremendous difference in the West Virginia Thunder’s GUAA U17 championship run in July. Her leadership is noticeable no matter where she is on the floor, as is her toughness.

19 | Taliah Scott, Saint John’s Country Day (Fla.)
5-9 guard
Committed to Arkansas

Committed to Arkansas since last September, Scott is sure to make an instant impact when she takes the floor as a freshman. Recently, she claimed the 3-point shooting crowns at this summer’s Curry Camp, UA Elite 24 and SLAM Summer Classic, Vol. 4.

20 | Essence Cody, Valdosta (Ga.)
6-3 post
Committed to Alabama

Cody, named the MVP of the UA Elite 24 game, has a high ceiling. Her ability to dominate inside the paint and control the pace of play can change the momentum of any matchup.

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21 | Delaney Thomas, St. John’s (D.C.)
6-2 forward
Uncommitted

Because St. John’s remains a powerhouse in the D.C.-Maryland-Virginia region, Thomas is familiar with going up against high-level competition. Her experience and creativity will serve her well at the next level.

22 | S’mya Nichols, Shawnee Mission West (Kan.)
6-foot wing
Uncommitted

While unfortunately unable to take the floor for Team USA at this year’s U18 World Cup due to COVID-19, Nichols has intangibles that allow her to shine regardless of who she plays alongside. She possesses the rare combination of efficiency and effectiveness.

23 | Amiyah Reynolds, South Bend Washington (Ind.)
6-foot guard
Committed to Maryland

Reynolds is a team player with a real shot at winning Indiana Miss Basketball as a high school senior. Brenda Frese knew exactly what she was doing when she recruited Reynolds to a Maryland program in need of a fresh start.

24 | Chloe Clardy, Conway (Ark.)
5-9 guard
Committed to Stanford

There’s really nothing like a dynamic combo guard, especially one like Clardy, a three-level scorer who’s been named all-state each year of her high school career.

25 | Riley Nelson, Clarksburg (Md.)
6-1 guard
Committed to Maryland

Nelson is extremely difficult to guard and will often score against even the most elite defenders. She was perhaps at her best during her final season of AAU ball with the Fairfax Stars this summer, helping lead the team to a third-place finish at Nike Nationals.

Caroline Makauskas is a contributing writer for Just Women’s Sports. She also writes about college basketball for Blue Ribbon Sports and covers a variety of sports on her TikTok @cmakauskas. Follow her on Twitter @cmakauskas.

On today's episode of The Late Sub, host Claire Watkins joins the chat from Kansas City, where Orlando Pride and Washington Spirit will kick off the 2024 NWSL Championship on Saturday.

Watkins breaks down the full Championship matchup, from each team's path to the Final to the tactics to expect on Saturday's pitch and everything in between. She also dishes on key players to watch — including Pride star Barbra Banda and Spirit attacker Trinity Rodman — and some of the recent injuries keeping star athletes on the sidelines.

Later, Watkins congratulates UConn head coach Geno Auriemma on Wednesday's record-breaking 1,217th victory — one that made saw him pass retired Stanford boss Tara VanDerveer to become the winningest college basketball coach in NCAA history.

The Late Sub with Claire Watkins brings you the latest news and freshest takes in women’s sports. This is the weekly rundown you’ve been missing, covering the USWNT, NWSL, WNBA, college hoops, and whatever else is popping off in women’s sports each week. Special guest appearances with the biggest names in women’s sports make The Late Sub a must-listen for every fan. Follow Claire on X/Twitter @ScoutRipley and subscribe to the Just Women’s Sports newsletter for more.

Subscribe to The Late Sub to never miss an episode.

The NWSL is continuing to roll out end-of-year awards this week, with the league's top performers taking home honors in the lead-up to the 2024 Championship.

Joining Rookie of the Year (ROTY) Croix Bethune and Golden Boot winner Temwa Chawinga in earning 2024 hardware is Gotham's Ann-Katrin Berger. The German international subsequently became the first European player to win Goalkeeper of the Year on Wednesday, snagging the award in her first NWSL season.

In her 22 matches, Berger logged eight clean sheets. She conceded a league-low 16 goals and posted a save percentage above 80%.

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Hines wins Coach of the Year

Also earning a trophy is Orlando Pride boss Seb Hines, who became the 2024 Coach of the Year​ this week.

A former assistant, Hines was​ elevated to interim coach in June 2022 after Orlando placed former head coach Amanda Cromwell​ on administrative leave. Now in his second full year as manager, Hines is already Orlando's winningest coach with a career record of 31-30-12.

After steering his team to a record 24-match unbeaten streak and first-ever NWSL Shield win, Hines ended the regular season with an overall record of 18-2-6 en route to the club's first playoff berth since 2017. Adding onto that 2024 campaign, Hines led the Pride to their first-ever postseason wins.

Orlando also set NWSL records with the most single-season points (60), victories (18), and the longest win streak (eight matches) under Hines.

The 36-year-old beat out Kansas City's Vlatko Andonovski and Gotham's 2023 winner Juan Carlos Amorós to take this year's honor.

Three more NWSL end-of-season awards await

Lastly, the final trio of 2024 NWSL awards will drop in the upcoming days, including Defender of the Year, Midfielder of the Year, and MVP. As fans await those announcements, more than a few finalists are gearing up to play in Saturday's Championship.

Pride defenders Emily Sams, Kylie Strom, and Spirit center back Tara McKeown are up for Defender of the Year. Meanwhile, Washington's Rookie of the Year Bethune could double-down as Midfielder of the Year.

On top of that, three of the NWSL's MVP candidates — Spirit winger Trinity Rodman and Orlando attackers Marta and Barbra Banda — will feature on the championship pitch.

All eyes are on Kansas City, as the Orlando Pride and the Washington Spirit take the pitch one last time in Saturday's 2024 NWSL Championship.

Both teams led the league in regular-season play after missing the 2023 NWSL Playoffs entirely. Now, the No. 1 Pride are staring down their first-ever title, while the No. 2 Spirit will look to add a second star to their crest to join their 2021 win.

As the only squad to defeat Washington twice this season, Orlando holds the pair's head-to-head advantage. The Pride's second win over the Spirit also served as​ their 2024 Shield coronation — a match that saw Washington captain Andi Sullivan's season end in an ACL tear. 

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MVP candidates lead championship charge

With three of the 2024 NWSL MVP candidates on Saturday's title-defining pitch, both Orlando and Washington will look to their superstars to lead them to glory.

The Pride's strength lies in Brazilian icon Marta and Zambian striker Barbra Banda, who've proven unstoppable in the attack throughout the postseason. Scoring five of Orlando's seven playoff goals between them, Banda has now netted 16 NWSL goals in 2024, with Marta notching 11.

Leading the Spirit's offensive charge is potential MVP Trinity Rodman. With eight league goals on the year, Rodman has yet to find the back of the net in the postseason, though she's been key to Washington's fight by creating scoring opportunities throughout the playoffs.

Alongside Rodman, NWSL newcomers have been stepping up for the Spirit all season. Most recently, Hal Hershfelt propelled Washington to the final with a rocket of a header in last weekend's semifinals. The Spirit's young core could be the difference-maker in Saturday's showdown.

Explosive offense to decide 2024 NWSL Champion

The old adage that defense wins championships is likely to be challenged on Saturday as offense takes centerstage.

Subsequently, fans can expect the NWSL Final to come down to whichever team manages to score at-will. With Washington's 51 regular-season goals good for second in the NWSL and Orlando sliding in third with 46, the pair's attacking prowess is set to determine who lifts the league's luxury hardware.

How to watch the 2024 NWSL Championship

Hosted at Kansas City's CPKC Stadium, the 2024 NWSL Championship kicks off at 8 PM ET on Saturday. Live coverage will air on CBS and Paramount+.

UConn head coach Geno Auriemma is on the brink of becoming the all-time winningest coach in NCAA basketball history, with the No. 2 Huskies hosting Fairleigh Dickinson on Wednesday night.

Should UConn win, Auriemma will surpass retired Stanford coach Tara VanDerveer after pulling even with her 1,216 career wins with last Friday's victory over No. 16 UNC. Unlike VanDerveer, who had stints leading Idaho and Ohio State prior to Stanford, Auriemma's entire head coaching career has been his 40 years at UConn.

Forty seasons of UConn excellence for Auriemma

Already a bonafide legend of the game, Auriemma has helmed UConn's women's basketball program since 1985, inheriting a team that had only seen one winning season prior to his arrival.

"We started at ground zero, at nothing — we didn’t have the advantage of location, the advantages of the reputation of the school, we didn’t have the luxury of a big-time league that could elevate us," Auriemma explained. "We started at the absolute ground level and it has evolved into this.”

Of course, Auriemma is referring to the program's stacked resume. That success stems from his high standards, recruiting prowess, and the work ethic and selflessness he demands from his players.

In total, the nine-time AP Coach of the Year boasts a record 11 national championships, including a stranglehold on the NCAA title from 2013 to 2016. His Huskies have completed six undefeated seasons and featured in 23 Final Fours — more than any other NCAA team, men's or women's.

Rightfully sharing in Auriemma's record is his veritable partner-in-crime, associate head coach Chris Dailey, who has served UConn alongside Auriemma all 40 seasons.

UConn's unmatched legacy of world-class athletes

Wednesday's sold-out game will include dozens of Auriemma's former players in attendance. At least 63 — from superstars Sue Bird to Diana Taurasi to Maya Moore — are expected to make the trip to Storrs to celebrate the milestone.

Subsequently, Athletes are Auriemma's true legacy. The 70-year-old is responsible for shaping the players who arguably put not just UConn, but women's basketball on the national map.

The Huskies' first-ever Final Four appearance in 1991 allowed Auriemma to take serious aim at the country's top high school recruits. And it was center Rebecca Lobo who first took a chance on the program.

Despite her parents' protests, Lobo chose the relative unknown over established dynasties specifically to learn from Auriemma.

"He was the selling point. The reason to go there was to play for him. That has stayed consistent, but especially in the early years," Lobo recently told reporters. "He could be the one to usher you into the best version of yourself."

Coach Auriemma's UConn-to-WNBA pipeline

That "best version" has turned many UConn players into stellar pros. Including Lobo, who became UConn's first WNBA player during the league's 1997 formation, a total of 47 Huskies have featured in the WNBA. Last season, 17 former UConn players were on the league's rosters, with at least one on all 12 teams.

Current star Paige Bueckers is expected to be the No. 1 pick in the 2025 WNBA Draft, putting Auriemma on the verge of sending a sixth top pick to the league. Previously, other No. 1 picks include Bird, Taurasi, Moore, Tina Charles, and Breanna Stewart.

The future pro is always quick to sing Auriemma's praises, summing up what so many players echo about the coach. "It means everything to play for UConn, and to play for him," Bueckers recently said.

As for Auriemma, who's currently contracted to continue his Huskies' dominance through 2029, Wednesday's likely milestone snuck up on him.

"I don’t think anybody goes into anything thinking that they're going to spend 40 years of their life at one place doing the exact same thing," Auriemma told reporters earlier this week. "The best way I can describe it, you know, it just caught up to me."

How to watch UConn vs. Fairleigh Dickinson women's college basketball

The star-studded sold-out game honoring UConn head coach Geno Auriemma will tip off in Storrs against Fairleigh Dickinson at 7 PM ET on Wednesday. Live regional coverage will air on SNY.