Girls basketball coaches across DODEA-Europe have expressed optimism that the 2025-2026 season could be their years.

Yet when the season tips off Friday, everybody is facing the same question: How do they stop the defending champions?

Stuttgart in Division I and American Overseas School of Rome in Division II bring back large contingents of their title-winning sides, while AFNORTH is ready to reload for another crown.

The answer ultimately will come during the European championships held Feb. 11-14 in Wiesbaden, Germany.

Here’s a team-by-team look based off coaches’ responses:

Division I

Kaiserslautern

The Raiders were seconds away from making last year’s final, only to fall short.

Coach Aaron Scalise’s squad will be looking to put that disappointment behind it as Kaiserslautern takes on the gauntlet that is the big-school league.

To do so, the Raiders have a good mix of experience and newcomers. Five players are back – senior guard Kaziyah Boone, junior forward Hassatou Diallo, junior guard LaMya Fleeton and sophomore forwards Olivia Ilkka and Holly Whitaker.

Moving up from the JV squad are Luisa Garavito and Zoe Stewart. Others joining the team are Omarah Butler, Ayumi Ruben and Leilany Ware.

Lakenheath

First-year coach Nikki Sevey has emphasized the Lancers must outwork their opponents, especially on defense, to put the program on the right track.

Lakenheath is banking on the experience of senior center Luciana Hill, sophomore guard Sydney DuPont and junior guard Anabella Potenzone to lead the way.

Standouts among the newcomers are Natalia Ramos Colon and Miguelle Lamigo.

Ramstein

After a disappointing 2024-2025 campaign, the Royals are ready to bounce back and fight for the top spot in Division I.

Coach Christina Hewitt said her players have put in the work over the offseason and have entered the winter with a renewed sense of confidence.

Ramstein boasts 10 returners, starting with second-team All-European senior Feliciana Davis.

She is joined by junior guard Jaivionne Jones; senior guards Aaryanna Guishard, Breanna Olivas and Ella Field; senior forward Sanai Schneider; junior forward McKenzie McLauren; sophomore forward Amari Keyes; and Aurora Lewis.

New to the squad are Hadley Keeton and Emelie Edwards.

Stuttgart

The Panthers successfully defended their title in February, and this year, they have their sights set on a three-peat.

Coach Nathan Garrett’s team has the players to accomplish it. Six senior Panthers return for their last seasons.

Stars and Stripes 2024-2025 girls basketball Athlete of the Year Hannah Holmes picked up her play midway through last season to lead the squad to the title. The senior center earned tournament MVP and first-team All-Europe honors.

Guard Alicia Wiggins and Bella Farias, guard/forward Addison Jennings, forward Serenity Sampson and forward/center Jedidah Quinland round out the veteran experience.

Giselle Portalatin and Leah Jumaquio are stepping up from the JV squad, while freshman Helena Sacoto Paez could see some time on the court.

Vilseck

The Falcons took a gigantic leap forward during the 2024-2025 season with a run into the final.

Coach Darci Neville expressed her hope the team will continue to build a culture in her second year in charge.

A trio from last year’s squad – junior guard/forward Lyla Ingram, senior guard/forward Ana Switala and junior forward Mayela Lokeni – will lead the way.

Neville said she expects former JV players Olivia McGibboney, Katelynn McMillan and Teagan Mullholland to have an impact. Runner Mazie Lorcher is moving onto the hardwood, and Scarlett Boersma and Ann Margaret Gacutan join Vilseck as well.

Division II

AOSR

Good luck to those trying to catch the Falcons this season.

One year after going unbeaten in the mid-school tier, fifth-year coach Lillian Aldred’s bunch brings back plenty of firepower. And somehow, they added more weapons over the offseason.

The Falcons have seven seniors, five of whom have been in the program all four years. Natalia DiMatteo leads the group. A 2023-2024 All-European selection, the senior averaged 12.3 points and 6.4 rebounds per game last year prior to breaking her ankle.

AOSR didn’t miss a beat without one of their key pieces, thanks to players such as Silvia Goldman. Last year’s tournament MVP scored 8.3 points and corralled 3.7 steals per game. Nina Neroni, Evelyn Campbell and Laila Lester are the other three four-year players.

Senior Amit Keinan enters her third season at AOSR, while fellow senior Luce Misciattelli returns after not playing as a junior.

Junior guard Gloria Olivieri played the hero with the last-second layup to win the final. She scored 7.6 points per game en route to a second-team All-European selection.

Julia Gazulis and Leah Rank, who stepped up with DiMatteo injured last season, also are back.

A freshmen trio already has impressed in the leadup to the season. Expect to see Josie Aldred, Elise Bostock and Eva Olivieri get some minutes this season.

Aviano

Coach Moriah Barthold has high hopes for the Saints, saying she believes they can go all the way.

But she said that’s all talk until they show it on the court.

Aviano has six returners, led by junior all-tournament selection Aubrey Cannon. Seniors Clara Young, Arianna Meraz and Ily Zamora bring leadership to the team.

Juniors Gigi Fortuna and Mary Helen Barthold also are back.

Sophomores Lana Seale and Mariyona Morris and freshmen Franchez Pascua and Francesca Hammond are new for the Saints.

Bahrain

The Falcons may be inexperienced, but first-year coach Timothy Kelly said they have potential.

Anya Dinkler enters her fourth year at Bahrain. The senior is the starting point guard and team captain.

The newcomers bring excitement to the club. Freshman Sophie Kelly, the coach’s daughter, stands at 6 foot 1 and will man the center position on the floor. Senior transfer Nyrell Bulls will see if her athleticism and skills from flag football will translate on the basketball court.

Freshman Aailya Niazi slots in at shooting guard.

Marymount

New coach Goran Barbir wants just three things from the Royals this season: consistency, unity and overall improvement from last winter in which they didn’t record a win.

Marymount has five returners that should lead the way: juniors Rewina Haile and Anastasia Napolitano and sophomores Lucia Smith, Zoe Ziskin and Madeline Cucchi.

Freshmen Sofia Kuzmina, Mayar Khalifa, Tatyana Chawota and Ginerva Calaia lead the newcomers. Rounding out the expected varsity rosters are junior Iona Ingholt Kelly and sophomore Christelle Ineza.

Rota

Expect the Admirals to be scrappy once again when coach Edward DeMeritt’s squad steps on the court this winter.

Senior captain Jourdan Timmons paces Rota. The point guard earned all-tournament and second-team All-Europe honors last campaign.

Starting guards Jeanice DeSilva (sophomore) and Danaeyah Zollicofer (senior) will support Timmons and help lead a promising group of underclassmen.

Others returning include senior Meher Sigala; juniors Claire Deisley, Ana Westberg and Lucy Calhoun; and sophomores Rebekah Babauta, Maven Evans and Emily Vollmer.

Reyna Pellatier and Gianna Ralson join Rota this season.

Sigonella

The Jaguars will have their hands full moving up to Division II.

Coach Caleb Pokorny is seeking players to fill the void left by the graduation of last year’s top two scorers. He said he wants the team’s three returning starters – senior guard Madison Hoy, senior forward Victoria Dry and junior forward Alysia Dobbins – to be more aggressive on offense.

Junior guard Vina Dimapilis and junior forward Arabella Jones will see more of the court this winter. Senior Tess and junior Claire Martinsen also return as a forward and guard, respectively.

Freshmen Mozi Okechukwu and Sophia Roman have shown they can support the Jaguars in the low block.

Newcomers Harper Webb, Lillian Liles and London Gibbons will need to find their role quickly to contribute for Sigonella.

Vicenza

The Cougars fell just a couple of points short of taking home the 2024-2025 Division II title, and coach John Kohut brings back many of that team’s core this winter.

Chief among the returners are sophomores Jenina Smith and Yareli Telles. Both were all-tournament selections. Smith, a point guard, made first-team All-Europe, while Telles, a guard/forward, was named to All-Europe’s second team.

The team’s lone senior is Trishauna Lewis. Juniors Natalia Lopez and Emily Vallejo-Rodriguez give Vicenza some upperclassmen leadership.

Sophomores Gracie Perry, Austyn Keienburg, Jazzy Pantaleon, Lexi Pollard and Kelsie Torgesen complete the veterans on the roster.

New to the team are freshmen Rory Fix and Rahma Nefoussi.

Division III

AFNORTH

Coach Matt Wise won’t call this year’s team a rebuild.

Sure, of the 20 players in the program, just six are juniors and seniors. But the Lions still have plenty of talent to go after a fourth crown in five seasons.

Emery Koger leads the way. The junior guard averaged 12.4 points, five boards, four assists and four steals per game in 2024-2025, and she was named second-team All-Europe and to the all-tournament team.

Senior guard Clara Pacios added 6.7 points per game last year, while sophomore forward Izzy Trosper grabbed 6.2 rebounds. Senior forward player Madelyne Hatfield also adds depth in the frontcourt.

Senior transfer Imary Stacy brings stateside experience with her from her time in Arizona. Juniors Lea Sheink and Ashlyn Garcia and sophomores Alma Horvath, Laura Reis-Ferriera and Celia Chico are expected to add depth after playing JV a year ago.

Ansbach

The Cougars have been banging at the door the past three seasons, finishing no worse than third over that span.

This year, coach Shannon Daniels and Ansbach are hoping to finally step atop the podium.

Four of the team’s five starters are seniors. Center Kennedy Lange is back after averaging a double-double (13.36 points and 13.1 rebounds), and she was named second-team All-Europe.

Her partner in the low block, Elizabeth Agudzi-Addo, gives the Cougars a big advantage over most opponents. Agudzi-Addo made the all-tournament team and scored 9.18 points per game throughout last season.

Seniors Mya Henderson and Victoria Ortiz and sophomore Bailey Eickmeyer add to the Cougars’ veteran experience.

Baumholder

Chris Schoonover didn’t focus on wins and losses last season, instead emphasizing the improvement his small squad made.

The Buccaneers are hoping to grow some more with what will be a difficult schedule. They face top Division II squads Rota and BFA to go along with schools their size.

The coach mentioned defense will lead the team to victory while the offense tries to find its footing.

Big years are anticipated for sophomore forward Leai Vaisagote and sophomore guard Marley Wilson. Senior forward Sara Ross and senior guard Emily Ramirez anchor Baumholder defensively.

New to the team are junior Katelyn Cool and freshmen Louisa Washington, Evangeline Bianes-Delrosario, Danica Ioanis, Ava Chestnut, Aeyln Scott and Kelly Ramirez.

Brussels

Coach Andrew Patterson said he’s seen improvement from his players heading into this season, which has him believing the Brigands will be more competitive.

Brussels has eight returners. Five of them – forwards Kathleen Rullan and Chrysoula Karakonstantis, guards Nino Kapanadze and Emilie Isaacson, and Arianna Owens – are seniors.

Junior guard Sonia Desir, sophomore guard Jayda Diaz-Figueroa and sophomore forward Maddison Powell round out the experienced players.

Newcomers expected to make an impact are junior Taegan Muller and freshmen Brigh Richard, Alice Genecheva and Mariam Buachidze.

Hohenfels

The Tigers used a high-octane, helter-skelter playing style to advance to last year’s final.

Gone are some of the key players who made Hohenfels tick. Still, coach Monique Jones said her team is prepared for the challenge.

Six Tigers return in guards Tayanna Carter, Dillyne Jones and Lena Tocco and post players Jillian Odhiamo, Angelaurie Owens and Makenzie Clark.

The team gets a shot in the arm with the return of guard Brooklyn Clark and post players Evelyn Chernock and Tyleigh Shamoon, who all sat out last season after competing in 2023-2024.

Sophomores Isabella Garcia and Natalia Hefflefinger and freshmen Samantha Kroon, Stacey Nicholas and Gianna’li Dreger are new to Hohenfels.

Spangdahlem

Coach Raymond Siguenza isn’t afraid to show his excitement for the Sentinels this season. He takes over a team that has a strong veteran core of seven returning players who set the tone and seven newcomers who bring versatility and depth.

That combo could deliver a memorable campaign, the coach said.

Five seniors – guards Aniya Robinson, Bella Valenzuela and Rebecca Tremel and forwards/centers Alyssa Farmakis and Kylie McVey – pace Spangdahlem. Junior guards Carrington Proctor and Daliah Malave also bring experience with them.

Seniors Alexis Lauer and Nazeema Stephan are trying basketball for the first time. Junior Summer Mundy and sophomore Aubree Campbell transferred to Spangdahlem, while freshmen Camilla Weyland, Isabella Ashley and Zoe Maassen will hope to make their marks.

K-town Sports

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