GIRLS BASKETBALL | STATE JOURNAL/WISCNEWS PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Madison La Follette phenom named State Journal/WiscNews girls basketball Player of the Year
Olivia Janik
Updated
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La Follette sophomore Nyajuacni Riak shoots over Sun Prairie East defenders on Dec. 13 in Madison. Riak is the the 2025-26 State Journal/WiscNews girls basketball Player of the Year.
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La Follette's Nyajuacni Riak jogs off the court after hitting a 3-pointer to end the first half on Dec. 13 in Madison. The sophomore averaged 26.5 points and 12.3 rebounds this season.
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La Follette sophomore Nyajuacni Riak extends to make a block against Sun Prairie East on Dec. 13 in Madison. Riak surpassed 1,000 career points later in the season, and she also had an in-game dunk near the end of the season.
Nyajuacni Riak had two goals for her sophomore season with the Madison La Follette girls basketball team: win the Big Eight Conference and dunk in a game.
Photos: Madison La Follette hosts Verona in key Big Eight girls basketball showdown
La Follette sophomore Nyajuacni Riak grabs a rebound over Verona defenders on Tuesday, Feb. 10, 2026 at La Follette High School in Madison.
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Verona senior Alli Jirsa (22) dribbles towards the basket against La Follette on Tuesday, Feb. 10, 2026 at La Follette High School in Madison.
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La Follette sophomore Nyajuacni Riak celebrates with her teammates after reaching 1,000 career high school points while playing Verona on Tuesday.
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La Follette sophomore Alex Quanbeck chases for a loose ball against Verona senior Alli Jirsa on Tuesday, Feb. 10, 2026 at La Follette High School in Madison.
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La Follette sophomore Nyajuacni Riak yells in celebration after scoring and drawing a foul against Verona on Tuesday, Feb. 10, 2026 at La Follette High School in Madison.
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Verona sophomore Macy Stremlow (1) shoots against La Follette on Tuesday, Feb. 10, 2026 at La Follette High School in Madison.
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La Follette senior Josie Goodnature reaches over the back of Verona senior Alexa Rupnow (10) for a rebound on Tuesday, Feb. 10, 2026 at La Follette High School in Madison.
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La Follette sophomore Nyajuacni Riak dribbles up the court against Verona on Tuesday, Feb. 10, 2026 at La Follette High School in Madison.
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La Follette junior Elizabeth Duncan (21) floats a shot up against Verona on Tuesday, Feb. 10, 2026 at La Follette High School in Madison.
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La Follette junior N’Dey Cham has her shot blocked by Verona junior Noelle Rauwolf on Tuesday, Feb. 10, 2026 at La Follette High School in Madison.
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La Follette sophomore Nyajuacni Riak shoots a 3-pointer against Verona on Tuesday at La Follette High School. Riak surpassed 1,000 career points in the Lancers' win.
OWEN ZILIAK, STATE JOURNAL
La Follette junior N’Dey Cham (30) goes up for a basket against Verona on Tuesday, Feb. 10, 2026 at La Follette High School in Madison.
Mount Horeb boys basketball's all-time leading scorer overcame a familiar injury during his senior season to cement himself as one of the area…
La Follette sophomore Nyajuacni Riak shoots over Sun Prairie East defenders on Dec. 13 in Madison. Riak is the the 2025-26 State Journal/WiscNews girls basketball Player of the Year.
La Follette's Nyajuacni Riak jogs off the court after hitting a 3-pointer to end the first half on Dec. 13 in Madison. The sophomore averaged 26.5 points and 12.3 rebounds this season.
La Follette sophomore Nyajuacni Riak extends to make a block against Sun Prairie East on Dec. 13 in Madison. Riak surpassed 1,000 career points later in the season, and she also had an in-game dunk near the end of the season.