2026 Girls’ Sweet 16: A glance at every team and picks for who could win it all
The Clark’s Pump-N-Shop Girls’ Basketball Sweet 16 state tournament begins Wednesday at Rupp Arena in downtown Lexington.
All the bracket slots have been filled. Who made it through? Here’s a glance at all 16 region champions, who they’ve beaten, who’s beaten them, plus my predictions for what will happen this week.
We’ve also included the Herald-Leader preseason poll rankings and the final regular season rankings of the Kentucky Media Elite 16 poll and the KHSAA’s RPI Standings. RPI numbers marked with an * indicate a team that played out-of-state opponents, which can skew the RPI standings. Out-of-state opponents are given a generic and often much lower value in the KHSAA’s formula than in-state teams of the same caliber.
1ST REGION: CALLOWAY COUNTY LAKERS
Record: 33-2.
Head coach: Kirsten Collins.
Leading scorers: Sayler Lowe, Sr., 20.7; Jaidan Koch, Sr., 17.6.
Leading rebounder: Lowe, 8.8.
Notable wins: Cooper, 71-54, Dec. 27; South Laurel, 59-40, Dec. 28; Taylor County, 49-46, Jan. 18.
Notable losses: Henderson County, 46-40, Feb. 19.
Win streak: Five, dating to Feb. 19 loss to Henderson.
Herald-Leader preseason rank: No. 12.
Final Elite 16 media rank: No. 15.
RPI rank: No. 3.
Sweet 16 history: Sixth appearance and first since 2011.
First-round opponent: 7th Region’s Assumption (24-5) at 1:30 p.m. Wednesday.
Prior meeting: None in the KHSAA’s online record era (since 1998).
2ND REGION: HENDERSON COUNTY COLONELS
Record: 24-9.
Head coach: Stephen Haile.
Leading scorers: A’Tylia Green, Sr., 16.7; JaNyla Locher, Jr., 8.
Leading rebounder: Green, 4.2.
Notable wins: Bullitt East, 56-48, Dec. 21; Owensboro Catholic, 63-60, Feb. 17; Calloway County, 46-40, Feb. 19.
Notable losses: Daviess County, 54-40, Jan. 13; Marshall County, 47-41, Jan. 31; Sacred Heart, 59-46, Feb. 7.
Win streak: Nine, dating to Feb. 7 loss to Sacred Heart.
Herald-Leader preseason rank: No. 7.
Final Elite 16 media rank: No. 15.
RPI rank: No. 30.
Sweet 16 history: 22nd appearance and eighth straight. Reached last season’s quarterfinals.
First-round opponent: 11th Region’s Frederick Douglass (24-7) at 11 a.m. Wednesday.
Prior meeting: None.
3RD REGION: OWENSBORO CATHOLIC ACES
Record: 26-9.
Head coach: Michael Robertson.
Leading scorers: Katie Hagan, Jr., 12.9; Taylor Mannahan, Jr. 12.4; Claudia Munsey, Jr., 12.
Leading rebounder: Sophia Newby, So., 7.1.
Notable wins: Daviess County, 65-57, Jan. 30, 55-35, Feb. 13, 51-32, March 8.
Notable losses: Sacred Heart, 80-41, Dec. 9; Holy Cross (Covington), 60-42, Feb. 1; Henderson County, 63-60, Feb. 17; Daviess County, 48-42, Feb. 26.
Win streak: Three, dating to Feb. 26 loss to Daviess County in the 9th District finals.
Herald-Leader preseason rank: Unranked.
Final Elite 16 media rank: Unranked.
RPI rank: No. 32.
Sweet 16 history: Tenth appearance and first since 2023.
First-round opponent: 14th Region’s Letcher County Central (23-10) at 6 p.m. Thursday.
Prior meeting: None in the KHSAA’s online record era (since 1998).
4TH REGION: FRANKLIN-SIMPSON WILDCATS
Record: 24-7.
Head coach: Ashley Taylor.
Leading scorers: Allye Pennington, Jr., 21.1; Tiffany Harrigan, 16.6. Kloie Smith, Sr., 12.
Leading rebounder: Smith, 5.8.
Notable wins: Johnson Central, 57-52, Dec. 20; Barren County, 60-56, March 7.
Notable losses: Barren County, 75-49, Feb. 3; Bowling Green, 54-51, Feb. 16.
Win streak: Seven, dating to Feb. 16 Bowling Green loss.
Herald-Leader preseason rank: No. 22.
Final Elite 16 media rank: Unranked.
RPI rank: No. 42.
Sweet 16 history: Eighth appearance and second straight.
First-round opponent: 6th Region’s Bullitt East (19-12) at 11 a.m. Thursday
Prior meeting: Dec. 27, 2004, a 57-54 Cats loss.
5TH REGION: TAYLOR COUNTY CARDINALS
Record: 27-6.
Head coach: Donnie Swiney.
Leading scorers: Kennedy Deener, Fr., 23.4; Greta Bradstreet, So., 11.2.
Leading rebounder: Avery Raikes, Jr., 5.8.
Notable wins: Cooper, 71-63, Feb. 7; Southwestern, 76-55, Feb. 10; Bethlehem, 52-35, March 7.
Notable losses: Calloway County, 49-46, Jan. 18; Sacred Heart, 75-69, Feb. 14.
Win streak: Five, dating to 49-48 Feb. 19 loss at John Hardin.
Herald-Leader preseason rank: 8.
Final Elite 16 media rank: 9.
RPI rank: 6.
Sweet 16 history: Third appearance and second in a row.
First-round opponent: 12th Region’s West Jessamine (22-12) at 8:30 p.m. Wednesday.
Prior meeting: Last met on Jan. 9, 2021, a 61-36 Cards win.
6TH REGION: BULLITT EAST CHARGERS
Record: 19-12
Head coach: Chris Stallings.
Leading scorers: Mollie Johnston, Sr., 14.3; Anna Tinelli, Sr., 14.
Leading rebounder: Johnston, 7.1.
Notable wins: Pleasure Ridge Park, 57-25, Jan. 13 and 57-55, March 7.
Notable losses: Butler, 62-55, Dec. 16; Henderson County, 56-48, Dec. 21; South Laurel, 57-49, Dec. 22; Mercy, 65-62, Jan. 21.
Win streak: Eight, dating to Feb. 10 loss at Spencer County.
Herald-Leader preseason rank: No. 21.
Final media Elite 16 rank: Unranked.
RPI rank: No. 91.
Sweet 16 history: Sixth appearance, the last in 2022 when they finished runner-up.
First-round opponent: 4th Region’s Franklin-Simpson (24-7) at 11 a.m. Thursday.
Prior meeting: Dec. 27, 2004, a 57-54 Chargers win.
7TH REGION: ASSUMPTION ROCKETS
Record: 24-5.
Head coach: Caryn Kovatch.
Leading scorers: Ashlinn James, Sr., 14.4; Se’Rae Bundrent-Palmer, So., 12.3; Ava Moore, Sr., 10.1.
Leading rebounder: Eulaila Powell, Sr., 7.2.
Notable wins: North Laurel, 51-37, Dec. 4; Frederick Douglass, 67-35, Dec. 9; Notre Dame, 45-27, Dec. 28; West Jessamine, 67-51, Jan. 3; George Rogers Clark, 61-56 (3OT), Jan. 8; Sacred Heart, 69-51, March 7.
Notable losses: Sacred Heart, 68-66, Jan. 18.
Win streak: 13, dating to Jan. 18 loss to Sacred Heart.
Herald-Leader preseason rank: No. 3.
Final Elite 16 media rank: No. 2.
RPI rank: No. 12*.
Sweet 16 history: Ninth appearance and first since 2007; runner-up in 1999.
First-round opponent: 1st Region’s Calloway County (33-2) at 1:30 p.m. Wednesday.
Prior meeting: None in the KHSAA’s online record era (since 1998).
8TH REGION: SIMON KENTON PIONEERS
Record: 31-2.
Head coach: Jeff Stowers.
Leading scorers: Brynli Pernell, Jr., 17.7; Haylie Webb, Sr., 13.
Leading rebounder: Webb, 7.4.
Notable wins: West Jessamine, 57-44, Dec. 9; Paul Laurence Dunbar, 58-37, Dec. 13; Notre Dame, 45-36, Jan. 6; North Laurel, 65-51, Jan. 23; Frederick Douglass, 53-47, Feb. 9; Sacred Heart, 56-49, Feb. 13.
Notable losses: No in-state losses.
Win streak: Eight, dating to Feb. 7 loss to Spire Institute (Geneva, Ohio) on Feb. 7.
Herald-Leader preseason rank: No. 6.
Final Elite 16 media rank: No. 3.
RPI rank: No. 1*.
Sweet 16 history: Eighth appearance and the third in four years.
First-round opponent: 16th Region’s Ashland Blazer (26-5) at 1:30 p.m. Thursday.
Prior meeting: Last met on Dec. 17, 2018, a 50-38 Pioneers win.
9TH REGION: NOTRE DAME PANDAS
Record: 24-7.
Head coach: George Stoll.
Leading scorers: Emma Holtzapfel, Sr., 12.4; Joslyn LaBordeaux-Humphrey, Sr., 10; Sarah Young, Jr., 9.9.
Leading rebounder: Young, 9.
Notable wins: Cooper, 57-52, Dec. 17; West Jessamine, 61-51, Jan. 19; Sacred Heart, 65-58, Feb. 20.
Notable losses: Assumption, 45-27, Dec. 28; Simon Kenton, 45-36, Jan. 6; Frederick Douglass, 42-41, Jan. 17; George Rogers Clark, 55-32, Feb. 14.
Win streak: Seven, dating to loss at Clark on Feb. 14.
Herald-Leader preseason rank: No. 10.
Final Elite 16 media rank: No. 11.
RPI rank: No. 13.
Sweet 16 history: Fifth appearance and first since 2013.
First-round opponent: 15th Region’s Pikeville (22-8) at 6 p.m. Wednesday.
Prior meeting: None in the KHSAA’s online record era (since 1998).
10TH REGION: GEORGE ROGERS CLARK CARDINALS
Record: 29-2.
Head coach: Robbie Graham.
Leading scorers: Kennedy Stamper, Jr., 13.4; Teigh Yeast, Sr., 11.9; Kyleigh Chestnut, So., 10.9; Jylin Edmondson, 8th, 10.1.
Leading rebounder: Eliyah Strode, 8th, 5.9.
Notable wins: West Jessamine, 81-31, Dec. 6; Frederick Douglass, 70-67, Dec. 20 and 62-39, Feb. 20; Notre Dame, 55-32, Feb. 14; Sacred Heart, 76-69, Feb. 17.
Notable losses: Assumption, 61-56 (3OT), Jan. 8.
Win streak: 19, dating to the Jan. 8 loss at Assumption.
Herald-Leader preseason rank: No. 2.
Final Elite 16 media rank: No. 1.
RPI rank: No. 2.
Sweet 16 history: 18th appearance, fifth straight and ninth of the past 10; runner-up last season.
First-round opponent: 13th Region’s North Laurel (25-6) at 8:30 p.m. Thursday.
Prior meeting: Clark defeated the Jaguars 50-42 in last season’s Girls’ Sweet 16 quarterfinals.
11TH REGION: FREDERICK DOUGLASS BRONCOS
Record: 24-7.
Head coach: Daryl Moberly.
Leading scorers: Jaelee Knowles, Jr., 13.1; Mikalee “MK” Bennett, Sr., 10.3; Tamia Waide, Fr., 10.1.
Leading rebounder: Knowles, 7.4.
Notable wins: West Jessamine, 66-43, Jan. 14, Notre Dame, 42-41, Jan. 17; Sacred Heart, 83-63, Feb. 6; .
Notable losses: Assumption, 67-35, Dec. 9; George Rogers Clark, 70-67, Dec. 20 and 62-38, Feb. 20; North Laurel, 54-42, Feb. 7; Simon Kenton, 53-47, Feb. 9.
Win streak: Four, dating to Feb. 20 loss to Clark.
Herald-Leader preseason rank: No. 5.
Final Elite 16 media rank: No. 8.
RPI rank: No. 19.
Sweet 16 history: Third appearance and second straight.
First-round opponent: 2nd Region’s Henderson County (24-9) at 11 a.m. Wednesday.
Prior meeting: None.
12TH REGION: WEST JESSAMINE COLTS
Record: 22-5.
Head coach: Matt Hilkens.
Leading scorers: Claire Marshall, Jr., 13.1; Isabella Lewis, Sr., 11.2; Katie Mastin, Sr., 10.5.
Leading rebounder: Marshall, 10.6.
Notable wins: Madison Southern, 65-51, Jan. 6; Bethlehem, 67-34, Feb. 6; Southwestern, 48-39, March 7.
Notable losses: George Rogers Clark, 81-31, Dec. 6; Simon Kenton, 57-44, Dec. 9; Assumption, 67-51, Jan. 3; Frederick Douglass, 66-43, Jan. 14; Notre Dame, 61-51, Jan. 19; North Laurel, 66-57, Feb. 9.
Win streak: Five, dating to Feb. 20 loss to Anderson County.
Herald-Leader preseason rank: No. 20.
Final Elite 16 media rank: Unranked.
RPI rank: No. 53.
Sweet 16 history: First appearance.
First-round opponent: 5th Region’s Taylor County (27-6) at 8:30 p.m. Wednesday.
Prior meeting: Last met on Jan. 9, 2021, a 61-36 Colts loss.
13TH REGION: NORTH LAUREL JAGUARS
Record: 25-6.
Head coach: Eddie Mahan
Leading scorers: Mariella Claybrook, Jr., 18.3; Laylee Phillips, 8th, 10.9; Haley Combs, Sr., 8.6.
Leading rebounders: Claybrook, 11.
Notable wins: Frederick Douglass, 54-42, Feb. 7; West Jessamine, 66-57, Feb. 9; Ryle, 69-63, Feb. 20.
Notable losses: Assumption, 51-37, Dec. 4; Ashland Blazer, 65-52, Jan. 17; Simon Kenton, 66-37, Jan. 31.
Win streak: 12, dating to the Jan. 31 loss at Simon Kenton.
Herald-Leader preseason rank: No. 9.
Final Elite 16 media rank: No. 7.
RPI rank: No. 10.
Sweet 16 history: Fifth appearance and fourth straight.
First-round opponent: 10th Region’s George Rogers Clark (29-2) at 8:30 p.m. Thursday.
Prior meeting: North Laurel lost to Clark 50-42 in last season’s Girls’ Sweet 16 quarterfinals.
14TH REGION: LETCHER COUNTY CENTRAL COUGARS
Record: 23-10.
Head coach: Keith Baker.
Leading scorers: Alli Bailey, Sr., 11.5, Sadie Johnson, Jr., 10.4; Molly Caudill, Jr., 10,3.
Leading rebounder: Scarlett Stamper, Sr., 6.6.
Notable wins: Pulaski County, 67-66, Jan. 17; Knott County Central, 43-37, March 7.
Notable losses: Pikeville, 57-28, Dec. 1; South Laurel, 77-29, Dec. 13; Knott County Central, 54-37, Jan. 29 and 47-35, Feb. 26.
Win streak: Three, dating to Knott Central loss on Feb. 26 in the 53rd District finals.
Herald-Leader preseason rank: Unranked.
Final Elite 16 media rank: Unranked.
RPI rank: No. 73.
Sweet 16 history: Sixth appearance, the last in 2022.
First-round opponent: 3rd Region’s Owensboro Catholic (26-9) at 6 p.m. Thursday.
Prior meeting: None in the KHSAA’s online record era (since 1998).
15TH REGION: PIKEVILLE PANTHERS
Record: 22-8.
Head coach: Denise Campbell.
Leading scorers: Kylie Alvin, Sr., 18.2; Catharine Walters, Jr., 15.1; Nicole Lin, Sr. 12.2.
Leading rebounders: Alvin, 6; Sophie Woods, Sr., 5.9.
Notable wins: Letcher County Central, 57-28, Dec. 1; Johnson Central, 59-52, March 7.
Notable losses: Ashland Blazer, 76-44, Dec. 6; Danville Christian, 71-62 (2OT), Jan. 21; Johnson Central, 57-44, Feb. 3 and 57-41, Feb. 14.
Win streak: Four, dating to Feb. 20 loss at Paintsville.
Herald-Leader preseason rank: Unranked.
Final Elite 16 media rank: Unranked.
RPI rank: No. 40*.
Sweet 16 history: Eighth appearance and sixth in the past eight years.
First-round opponent: 9th Region’s Notre Dame (24-7) at 6 p.m. Wednesday.
Prior meeting: None in the KHSAA’s online record era (since 1998).
16TH REGION: ASHLAND BLAZER KITTENS
Record: 26-5.
Head coach: Stacy Davis.
Leading scorers: Gabby Karle, Sr., 14.9; Brookelyn Duckwyler, Jr., 13.2; Aryanna Gulley, Sr. 11.9.
Leading rebounder: Gulley, 8.4.
Notable wins: Pikeville, 76-44, Dec. 5; North Laurel, 65-52, Jan. 17; Johnson Central, 69-53, Feb. 20.
Notable losses: South Laurel, 59-52, Feb. 14; Pikeville, 52-51, Feb. 16.
Win streak: Six, dating to Feb. 16 loss at Pikeville.
Herald-Leader preseason rank: No. 11.
Final Elite 16 media rank: No. 14.
RPI rank: No. 7.
Sweet 16 history: 20th appearance and third in four years; five-time state champion (1921-24, 1928-29).
First-round opponent: 8th Region’s Simon Kenton (31-2), 1:30 p.m. Thursday.
Prior meeting: Last met on Dec. 17, 2018, a 50-38 Kittens loss.
@HLPREPS PICKS
High school sports writer Jared Peck (@HLpreps on X.com) picks the bracket. He picked 11 of the 16 region champions correctly.
Elite Eight: Douglass, Assumption, Notre Dame, West Jessamine, Simon Kenton, Owensboro Catholic, Franklin-Simpson, George Rogers Clark.
Final Four: Assumption, Notre Dame, Simon Kenton, Clark.
Title game: Assumption, Clark.
Champion: George Rogers Clark.
2026 Girls’ Sweet 16
What: Sixteen-team tournament to decide Kentucky’s girls high school basketball state champion
When: Wednesday through Saturday
Where: Rupp Arena
Tickets: Tickets available for purchase at KHSAA.org.
Online bracket: Girls’ Sweet 16 schedule at KHSAA.org.
WEDNESDAY’S FIRST-ROUND GAMES
11 a.m.: Henderson County (24-9) vs. Frederick Douglass (24-7)
1:30 p.m.: Calloway County (33-2) vs. Assumption (24-5)
6 p.m.: Pikeville (22-8) vs. Notre Dame (24-7)
8:30 p.m.: West Jessamine (22-12) vs. Taylor County (27-6)
THURSDAY’S FIRST-ROUND GAMES
11 a.m.: Franklin-Simpson (24-7) vs. Bullitt East (19-12)
1:30 p.m.: Simon Kenton (31-2) vs. Ashland Blazer (26-5)
6 p.m.: Letcher County Central (23-10) vs. Owensboro Catholic (26-9)
8:30 p.m.: North Laurel (25-6) vs. George Rogers Clark (29-2)
FRIDAY’S QUARTERFINALS
11 a.m.: Henderson County-Frederick Douglass winner vs. Calloway County-Assumption winner.
1:30 p.m.: Pikeville-Notre Dame winner vs. West Jessamine-Taylor County winner.
6 p.m.: Simon Kenton-Ashland Blazer winner vs. Letcher County Central-Owensboro Catholic winner.
8:30 p.m.: Franklin-Simpson-Bullitt East winner vs. North Laurel-George Rogers Clark winner.
SATURDAY’S GAMES
11 a.m.: Semifinal 1: Winners of Friday’s afternoon session
1:30 p.m.: Semifinal 2: Winners of Friday’s evening session
7:30 p.m.: Championship
