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The Hopkins girls’ basketball team is more than a one-woman show.
Maya Nnaji, the 6-foot-4 forward bound for Arizona, is no doubt the Royals’ crown jewel. But in Hopkins’ 66-43 win over Lakeville North on Wednesday in the Minnesota Class AAAA quarterfinals, Nnaji received plenty of help.
Sophomore guard Liv McGill took over for a stretch late in the first half. Junior forward Taylor Woodson was a menace on the offensive glass. And junior guard Kelly Boyle knocked down a pair of clutch 3-pointers off the bench.
It was a team effort, and the Royals — the alma mater of UConn star Paige Bueckers — will look to bring that same energy into Thursday’s semifinal matchup against either White Bear Lake or Rosemount. Hopkins has sat behind No. 1 Sidwell Friends at No. 2 in our top 25 all season long, including in last week’s rankings.
1. Sidwell Friends (D.C.), 27-0
After winning the D.C. State Athletic Association (DCSAA) championship, the Quakers accepted a bid to the inaugural State Champions Invitational.
2. Hopkins (Minn.), 23-1
The Royals will play either White Bear Lake or Rosemount in the AAAA state semifinal.
3. DeSoto (Texas), 33-2
The Eagles completed their “legacy tour” with a 40-23 win over South Grand Prairie and a second consecutive 6A state championship.
4. Classen SAS (Okla.), 23-1
The Comets won the school’s first ever state championship in any sport with a 55-22 win over Tuttle in the 4A state finals.
This is still crazy to me but way to end it with the best team I can ever ask for🤍! pic.twitter.com/IRkxQVj52E— Micah Gray (@MicahGray2022) March 14, 2022
This is still crazy to me but way to end it with the best team I can ever ask for🤍! pic.twitter.com/IRkxQVj52E
5. St. John Vianney (N.J.), 30-1
The Lancers defeated Immaculate Heart 74-36 to claim the Non-Public A state championship.
6. Sierra Canyon (Calif.), 29-2
The Trailblazers rolled Archbishop Mitty, 85-61, to claim their second straight CIF Open Division state crown.
7. New Hope (Md.), 27-2
The Tigers earned the No. 1 seed and a first-round bye at GEICO Nationals.
8. Cedar Park (Texas), 36-0
Gisella Maul scored 27 points as the Timberwolves earned their second straight 5A state championship with a 45-40 win over Memorial.
9. Incarnate Word (Mo.), 27-0
The undefeated Red Knights play St. Joseph’s on Thursday in the Class 6 state semifinals.
10. Etiwanda (Calif.), 28-1
Despite their loss to Sierra Canyon in the state semifinal, the Eagles put together a season worth remembering.
11. Montverde (Fla.), 18-3
The Tigers earned the No. 3 seed in the GEICO Nationals tournament and will play No. 2 seed DME in the semifinals.
12. Lake Highland Prep (Fla.), 23-4
The Highlanders were one of four teams selected to the State Champions Invitational.
13. La Jolla Country Day (Calif.), 24-3
The Torreys’ season came to a heartbreaking end last weekend in the form a 63-62 defeat to Sierra Canyon in the CIF open division region semifinal.
14. Hazel Green (Ala.), 33-0
The Trojans defeated Oxford 55-38 in the 6A championship game for their fifth straight state title.
15. Johnston (Iowa), 26-0
The Dragons beat Waterloo West 51-31 to claim the 5A state title one year after losing in the championship game.
16. Woodward Academy (Ga.), 28-2
After routing Forest Park, 72-44, in the AAAAA state final, the War Eagles move on to the State Champions Invitational.
17. Lone Peak (Utah), 23-0
The Knights beat Fremont in the 6A state championship to cap a perfect season.
18. DME (Fla.), 21-3
DME was awarded the No. 2 seed at GEICO Nationals.
19. IMG (Fla.), 11-4
After a long hiatus, the No. 4 seed Ascenders will play Bishop McNamara in the GEICO Nationals semifinals.
20. Noblesville (Ind.), 25-4
The Millers beat Franklin Community 76-52 to claim the 4A state title, the program’s second state crown and first since 1987.
21. South Bend Washington (Ind.), 27-3
The Panthers annihilated Silver Creek 93-35 in the 3A state championship game last weekend.
22. Bishop McNamara (Md.), 20-5
Despite falling to St. John’s in the Washington Catholic Athletic Conference (WCAC) finals, the Mustangs earned a GEICO Nationals bid.
23. Centennial (Nev.), 17-3
The Bulldogs were named to the State Champions Invitational.
Row row row your 🚤 • Our bench really stays LIT pic.twitter.com/XXsx9kH5S8— Centennial HS GBB (@centennialgbb) February 28, 2022
Row row row your 🚤 • Our bench really stays LIT pic.twitter.com/XXsx9kH5S8
24. Fremont (Utah), 24-3
The Timberwolves fell to Lone Peak in the 6A state final.
25. Duncanville (Texas), 34-7
The Pantherettes’ season came to an end Feb. 26 with a loss to DeSoto in the 6A Region II final.
Josh Needelman is the High School Sports Editor at Just Women’s Sports. Follow him on Twitter @JoshNeedelman.