The News Tribune’s 2023 all-state girls basketball team

Jon Manley, Lauren Smith
·4 min read

Every year, the state of Washington produces exceptional basketball talent at the high school level.

Here is The News Tribune’s 2023 all-state girls basketball team, as selected by our high school sports staff.

PLAYER OF THE YEAR

Garfield guard Katie Fiso (2) celebrates after the Bulldogs beat Lake Washington, 58-49, to win the Class 3A championship game on Saturday, March 4, 2023, in Tacoma, Wash.
Garfield guard Katie Fiso (2) celebrates after the Bulldogs beat Lake Washington, 58-49, to win the Class 3A championship game on Saturday, March 4, 2023, in Tacoma, Wash.

KATIE FISO

Garfield

Guard, 6-0, jr.

TNT state player of the year has one high school season left to play, and a chance to extend the Bulldogs’ state championship streak even further next winter. A centerpiece for Garfield during the last two title runs, Fiso was named the 3A state tournament MVP this season after pacing the program to a third consecutive championship in the Tacoma Dome. 3A Metro League Mountain MVP also led the Bulldogs to a regular season co-championship and league tournament title, and a 3A SeaKing District crown. Four-star recruit is considered the No. 33 player nationally in the 2024 class by ESPN.

COACH OF THE YEAR

Nooksack Valley coach Shane Wichers lifts the Class 1A state trophy on Saturday, March 4, 2023 at the Yakima Valley SunDome in Yakima, Wash.
Nooksack Valley coach Shane Wichers lifts the Class 1A state trophy on Saturday, March 4, 2023 at the Yakima Valley SunDome in Yakima, Wash.

SHANE WICHERS

Nooksack Valley

Longtime coach guided Nooksack Valley to the first state championship in program history this winter to complete his 27th year with the program. The Pioneers ended the season on a 20-game winning streak, besting league rival Lynden Christian in the 1A state final at the Yakima Valley SunDome a season after finishing runner-up to the Lyncs. 3A/2A/1A Northwest Conference coach of the year also led the Pioneers to undefeated league and district championships. Nooksack Valley’s only loss in a 27-1 season was a one-possession defeat against Tahoma — which placed third in the 4A state bracket — in December.

FIRST TEAM

Nooksack Valley guard Devin Coppinger (24) in the Class 1A state championship game against Lynden Christian on Saturday, March 4, 2023 at the Yakima Valley SunDome in Yakima, Wash.
Nooksack Valley guard Devin Coppinger (24) in the Class 1A state championship game against Lynden Christian on Saturday, March 4, 2023 at the Yakima Valley SunDome in Yakima, Wash.

DEVIN COPPINGER

Nooksack Valley

Guard, 5-10, jr.

Led the Pioneers to the first state championship in program history, winning the 1A trophy and earning tournament MVP honors. 3A/2A/1A Northwest Conference player of the year averaged 22.7 points, 6.1 rebounds and 3.9 assists per game and paced Nooksack Valley to undefeated league and district titles. Four-star recruit is considered the No. 24 player nationally in the 2024 class by ESPN.

Mead guard Teryn Gardner (24) puts up a shot in the fourth quarter against Stanwood in the quarterfinals of the Class 3A girls state basketball tournament on Thursday, March 2, 2023 at the Tacoma Dome in Tacoma, Wash.
Mead guard Teryn Gardner (24) puts up a shot in the fourth quarter against Stanwood in the quarterfinals of the Class 3A girls state basketball tournament on Thursday, March 2, 2023 at the Tacoma Dome in Tacoma, Wash.

TERYN GARDNER

Mead

Guard, 5-9, jr.

Banked in a basket in the closing seconds on the final day in the Tacoma Dome this winter to lift Mead to a third-place trophy in the 3A state bracket — the program’s best state finish since 2013. Also led the tournament in scoring average and was named to the all-tournament first team. 4A/3A Greater Spokane League MVP averaged 21 points, 7 rebounds, 5 assists and 4 steals per game, also pacing the Panthers to undefeated league and district titles.

Camas’s forward Addison Harris (33) goes in for a layup during a game at the Puget Sound Holiday Classic Tournament in the Memorial Field-house in Tacoma, Wash. on Jan. 16, 2023.
Camas’s forward Addison Harris (33) goes in for a layup during a game at the Puget Sound Holiday Classic Tournament in the Memorial Field-house in Tacoma, Wash. on Jan. 16, 2023.

ADDISON HARRIS

Camas

Forward, 6-2, jr.

4A Greater St. Helens League co-player of the year, who was also the league’s player of the year last season, averaged a double-double for Camas with 17.2 points and 10.5 rebounds per game, while shooting 53 percent from the floor. Paced the Papermakers to a second-place finish in the 4A state tournament in the Tacoma Dome — the best in program history — and undefeated 4A GSHL and 4A West Central/Southwest district titles.

Eastlake’s Sofia Aluas (2), Kaylia Jackson (22), and Ava Schmidt celebrate as time expires in their 48-41 victory over the Camas Papermakers in the 4A girls state title game at the WIAA state basketball tournament in the Tacoma Dome in Tacoma, Washington, on Saturday, March 4, 2023.
Eastlake’s Sofia Aluas (2), Kaylia Jackson (22), and Ava Schmidt celebrate as time expires in their 48-41 victory over the Camas Papermakers in the 4A girls state title game at the WIAA state basketball tournament in the Tacoma Dome in Tacoma, Washington, on Saturday, March 4, 2023.

AVA SCHMIDT

Eastlake

Forward, 6-2, sr.

4A state tournament MVP provided the tournament’s most discussed moment, sinking a controversial buzzer-beater from nearly half court in the quarterfinals. Eastlake went on to win in the semifinals and title game to lift the 4A state trophy in the Tacoma Dome. 4A KingCo player of the year and WSGBCA 4A player of the year averaged 18 points and 8 rebounds per game. Northern Arizona signee.

Arlington guard Jenna Villa (34) attempts a shot Meadowdale forward Mia Brockmeyer (12) defends during the second quarter of a Class 3A quarterfinal game on Thursday, March 2, 2023, in Tacoma, Wash.
Arlington guard Jenna Villa (34) attempts a shot Meadowdale forward Mia Brockmeyer (12) defends during the second quarter of a Class 3A quarterfinal game on Thursday, March 2, 2023, in Tacoma, Wash.

JENNA VILLA

Arlington

Guard, 6-2, sr.

Washington State signee averaged 23 points and 8 rebounds per game, leading Arlington to a fifth-place finish in the 3A state bracket in the Tacoma Dome and earning all-tournament first team honors. Considered a four-star recruit and the No. 68 player nationally in the 2023 class by ESPN, Villa was this year’s state Gatorade player of the year and named “Miss Basketball” by the WSGBCA. Two-time 3A/2A Wesco player of the year paced the Eagles to a second consecutive 3A/2A Wesco championship and third straight 3A Northwest District title.

SECOND TEAM

F Olivia Anderson, Ellensburg, 6-6, sr.

G Brooke Beresford, Woodinville, 5-10, sr.

F Vivienne Berrett, Stanwood, 6-4, sr.

G Hope Hassmann, Tahoma, 5-8, sr.

G Claire O’Connor, Lakeside of Seattle, 6-1, sr.