Introducing the Des Moines Register's 2024 All-Iowa girls basketball teams
The Iowa girls high school basketball season has come and gone, and just weeks ago, five state champions were crowned.
Several of those teams were led by the best players in the state. Johnston and Clear Creek Amana won their respective state titles with undefeated records.
That is just one example of the level of competition in girls basketball this season, which doesn’t make choosing players for this list any easier.
Some players were selected based on their regular season performances. Others made the cut because of how they played in the state tournament. Team success also factored into the decisions.
And, like with every end-of-season list, some of the top players will be left off.
More: A look at Johnston girls basketball's historic, undefeated run to 2024 state championship
Especially with a list as selective as this. The Des Moines Register’s All-Iowa list features an Elite Team group and first teams for all five classes. There are six players on each team, and athletes chosen for the Elite Team are automatically included in the first team list for their class.
There are 20 honorable mentions selected from all classes.
Here is who made the cut for the 2023-24 season.
Names are listed alphabetically.
Elite Team
Bailey Birmingham, Jr., Norwalk
There is no doubt that Birmingham is a baller, leading the state – all classes – with 27.4 points per game. That’s nearly three points per game more than the next highest scorer. Her scoring – plus 5.7 rebounds, 2.7 steals and 2.4 assists – is a large part of the reason why the Warriors went from 6-16 last year to 18-5 this season.
More: Norwalk girls basketball's terrific turnaround linked to Bailey Birmingham, new coach Josef Sigrist
Callie Levin, Sr., Solon
The Iowa women’s basketball signee propelled Solon to a 24-3 record and a state championship. She averaged 22 points, 6.9 rebounds, 4.8 steals and 4.5 assists in her senior season. Levin’s 27-point, seven-rebound and five-assist performance in the title game was one of the most dominant of the tournament.
More: Solon girls basketball beats Estherville Lincoln Central for Class 3A state championship
Jenica Lewis, Soph., Johnston
One of the top recruits in the country did all the little things well, but she saved her best basketball for the state tournament. Lewis was the leading scorer in all three of Johnston’s state tournament games, helping the Dragons claim the title with a 26-0 record. She averaged 12.7 points, 3.3 rebounds, 3.1 assists and 2.3 steals on the season.
More: Who are the best players in the 2024 Iowa high school girls state basketball tournament?
Averie Lower, Soph., Clear Creek Amana
Led the Clippers to a 26-0 record and a state title as a sophomore, including a 17-point performance in the championship game. She averaged 17.7 points, five rebounds, 2.5 steals and 1.2 assists per game while shooting 58.2% overall and 49.7% from behind the arc – which is the best success rate by any player with over 100 3-point attempts.
More: Clear Creek Amana girls basketball wins Iowa state title with win over Waverly-Shell Rock
Payton Petersen, Sr., Dike-New Hartford
One of the best volleyball players in the state is also one of the best basketball players. Petersen averaged 18.1 points, 10.2 rebounds, 3.9 assists and 3.9 steals en route to the state championship. For those keeping track, that’s four basketball titles and three volleyball titles for Petersen.
More: What we learned from Dike-New Hartford's fourth-straight 2A girls state basketball title
Aili Tanke, Sr., Johnston
The Iowa State women’s basketball signee averaged 15.2 points, 7.5 rebounds, 1.8 assists and 1.3 steals on a Dragons’ roster loaded with college basketball-level talent. Tanke shot 57% from the field, and her 49.6% success rate from 3-point range was among the best in Iowa.
More: Johnston girls basketball is loaded with talent. But 'attitude' is key to Iowa state title hopes
Class 5A First Team
Divine Bourrage, Jr., Davenport North
Grace Knutson, Sr., Cedar Falls
Jenica Lewis, So., Johnston
Emilie Sorensen, Jr., Waukee
Aili Tanke, Sr., Johnston
Ava Zediker, Jr., Dowling
Class 4A First Team
Bailey Birmingham, Jr., Norwalk
Macy Comito, So., Carlisle
Katelyn Eggena, Sr., Waverly-Shell Rock
Libby Fandel, Jr., Xavier
Ava Locklear, Sr., Clear Creek Amana
Averie Lower, So., Clear Creek Amana
Class 3A First Team
Bella Borgos, Jr., West Marshall
Abby Hall, Sr., Des Moines Christian
Jayden Kuper, Jr., Monticello
Callie Levin, Sr., Solon
Chloe Meester, Jr., Mount Vernon
Haylee Stokes, Jr., Estherville Lincoln Central
Class 2A First Team
Lindsey Davis, Sr., Nodaway Valley
Desta Hoogendoorn, Sr., Central Lyon
Morgan Miller, Jr., Regina
Payton Petersen, Sr., Dike-New Hartford
Molly Shafer, Jr., Eddyville-Blakesburg-Fremont
Jaidyn Sellers, Sr., Panorama
Class 1A First Team
Macy Boge, Sr., North Linn
Erica Houge, Sr., Collins-Maxwell
Rowan Jacobi, So., Springville
Kamryn Kurt, Sr., North Linn
Carmindee Ricke, Sr., Remsen-St. Mary’s
McKenna Sievers, Sr., Newell-Fonda
Honorable Mention
Vanessa Bickford, Sr., Dallas Center-Grimes
Mya Crawford, Jr., Ankeny Centennial
Karis Finley, So., Cedar Falls
Alexandra Flattery, Sr., Sioux City East
Kahlie Hill, Sr., Calamus-Wheatland
Journey Houston, Jr., Davenport North
Kierra Jungers, Sr., Newell-Fonda
Bradi Krager, Sr., Sioux Central
Abby Lee, Jr., Bishop Heelan
Matilde Motta, Jr., Roland-Story
Ellie Muller, So., Dowling
Nakia Ollivierre, So., Waterloo West
Reagan Pagniano, Jr., Pleasant Valley
Jadyn Petersen, Sr., Dike-New Hartford
Aaliyah Riley, Sr., Johnston
Melina Snoozy, Fr., Bishop Heelan
Alliyah Thompson, Sr., Ballard
Abby Tuttle, Jr., North Polk
Yazmeen Whitsitt, Sr., Decorah
Jayla Williams, So., Ankeny
Alyssa Hertel is the college sports recruiting reporter for the Des Moines Register. Contact Alyssa at ahertel@dmreg.com or on Twitter @AlyssaHertel.
This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Aili Tanke, Callie Levin highlight 2024 All-Iowa girls basketball team
