Meet the third annual PUP girls basketball all-star team

Another memorable high school basketball season has finally come to a close — but before we say goodbye, it’s time to hand out some hardware to the area’s brightest stars.

In a nod to the All-NBA teams released at the end of each season, the Pittsburgh Union Progress sports staff decided to compile its own version of the prestigious postseason awards following the 2022-23 campaign. What began as a seemingly one-and-done exercise has since evolved into an annual showcase of the top 15 boys and girls players Western Pennsylvania has to offer, regardless of position.

As always, narrowing down the best players in the area to a first, second and third team was no easy task, and one we did not take lightly. There were several deserving candidates who didn’t quite make the final cut, but the PUP believes each player selected to this year’s team has proven themselves worthy of “PUP All-Star” status.

All players in the WPIAL and City League were considered for the team, which could wind up being the final all-star team of its kind. And although there is no physical award, the bragging rights that come with it will last a lifetime.

First Team

Erica Gribble • Greensburg Central Catholic • 5-10 • Junior • Guard

A sharp-shooting guard with an undeniable will to win, Gribble led the Centurions to their second consecutive WPIAL title after moving up from Class 2A to Class 3A. After scoring 14 of her game-high 28 points in the fourth quarter of last year’s 62-41 WPIAL championship win against Serra Catholic, Gribble poured in 24 of her game-high 31 points in the second half of a 56-51 win against previously unbeaten Shady Side Academy in this year’s title game. The Richmond recruit averaged 22.4 points, 5 rebounds, 3.7 assists and 3.8 steals per game while knocking down 78 3-pointers on the season.

Rylee Kalocay • Upper St. Clair • 5-9 • Senior • Guard

Also a PUP first-team all-star as a sophomore, Kalocay made a triumphant return from a torn ACL that cut her junior season short, leading the Panthers to their first WPIAL title since 2008 with a 45-40 win against defending champion Norwin in the WPIAL Class 6A title game. Not stopping there, she then helped Upper St. Clair reach the state championship game for the first time since 1999 and only the second time in school history. A natural scorer with a never-ending motor, the Kent State recruit averaged 21.7 points, 4.8 rebounds and 2.2 steals per game while finishing her career with 1,708 points.

Karis Thomas • Shady Side Academy • 5-6 • Junior • Guard

Heralded as an elite prospect before she ever stepped onto the court as a freshman, Thomas has lived up to the hype and then some in three seasons with the Bulldogs. After helping Shady Side capture its first WPIAL title in school history as a sophomore, Thomas led the Bulldogs back to the WPIAL Class 3A final along with their first trip to the state championship game. The sensational point guard scored a career-high 46 points in a 69-33 WPIAL semifinal win over Ellwood City, averaging 19.4 points, 4.4 assists and 2.4 steals per game while shooting 45% from 3-point range and 88% from the free-throw line.

Iyanna Wade • Clairton • 5-4 • Senior • Guard

Now a three-time PUP all-star and two-time first-team selection, Wade capped off her remarkable career with another historic season, averaging 38.8 points, 4.5 assists, 6 rebounds and 5 steals per game while leading the Bears to their first WPIAL championship appearance in 20 years. Along with claiming her third consecutive WPIAL scoring title, Wade surpassed Bears legend Kamela Gissendanner to become Clairton’s all-time leading scorer, becoming only the fourth player in WPIAL history to surpass 3,000 points for her career. Wade finished No. 2 on the all-time WPIAL scoring list with 3,119 career points.

Natalie Wetzel • Peters Township • 6-3 • Senior • Forward

Joining Wade as a three-time PUP all-star and two-time first-team pick, Wetzel closed the book on her stellar career by leading the Indians to their second WPIAL title in school history with a 40-36 win against three-time defending Class 5A champion South Fayette. An exceptional post player capable of dominating in the paint on both ends of the floor, Wetzel has also expanded her game to include a reliable mid-range jumper and 3-point shot. As a senior, the Miami recruit averaged 18.7 points, 9.5 rebounds, 2.4 assists and 1.7 blocks per game, finishing her career with 1,692 points and 806 rebounds.

Second Team

Kendall Berger • Norwin • 5-9 • Senior • Guard

A Clarion recruit who played an instrumental role in the Knights’ run to the WPIAL Class 6A title last season, Berger helped Norwin reach back-to-back championship games while averaging 15 points, 4.7 rebounds, 3.4 assists and 2.7 steals per game as a senior. An unselfish player who excels on both ends of the court, Berger finished her career with 1,083 points.

Aubree Hupp • Blackhawk • 5-10 • Junior • Forward

One of the most dynamic post players in the area, Hupp has already started in three WPIAL championship games and a pair of state title games for the Cougars. She took her game to a new level as a junior, averaging 21.5 points, 11.4 rebounds, 2.3 assists, 3.1 steals and 2.1 blocks per game while shooting 83% from the free-throw line. Already over 1,000 points for her career, Hupp’s 332 total rebounds set a new single-season record for Blackhawk.

Juju Leroux • South Fayette • 5-11 • Junior • Guard-Forward

A lengthy, versatile wing capable of playing both inside and outside, Leroux helped the Lions advance to their fourth consecutive WPIAL Class 5A championship game before securing their first state title in school history with a 45-37 win over four-time defending PIAA champion Archbishop Wood. Leroux averaged 12.1 points, 4.5 rebounds and 2.1 steals per game while shooting 46% from 3-point range and 72% from the free-throw line.

Maggie Spell • Thomas Jefferson • 5-10 • Junior • Guard

An elite shooter who joined the Jaguars prior to her junior season after leading Shady Side Academy to its first WPIAL title as a sophomore, Spell continued to shine after making the jump from Class 3A to 5A. As the leading scorer for a Thomas Jefferson team that won 22 games and reached the WPIAL semifinals, Spell averaged 17 points, 5 rebounds, 3 assists and 3 steals per game.

Mimi Thiero • Quaker Valley • 6-4 • Junior • Forward

An unstoppable force with dozens of Division I scholarship offers, the towering Thiero is a four-star recruit rated by ESPN as the No. 57 overall prospect in the 2026 class. Following a spectacular sophomore campaign, Thiero was even better as a junior, averaging 23 points, 16.5 rebounds, 3 assists, 4 steals and 4 blocks per game while surpassing the 1,000-point plateau for her career.

Third Team

Kylie Fruehstorfer • Union • 5-6 • Senior • Guard

The driving force behind the Scotties’ WPIAL Class 1A championship three-peat, Fruehstorfer averaged 18.8 points, 3.5 assists and 3.1 steals per game while burying 86 3-pointers at a 41% clip from beyond the arc. Finishing her career with 1,433 points and 256 3-pointers, Fruehstorfer erupted for a school-record 50 points in a 60-54 win against Winchester Thurston in Union’s regular-season finale on Feb. 7.

Claudia Ierullo • Our Lady of the Sacred Heart • 5-6 • Senior • Guard

A well-rounded point guard whose postseason heroics helped the Chargers to a 25-win season while reaching the state semifinals for the second time in three years. Ierullo finished her senior season with an average of 16.5 points, 3.5 assists and 4.1 steals per game, including a vintage 25-point performance in a 36-34 win against WPIAL Class 3A champion Greensburg Central Catholic in the second round of the PIAA playoffs.

Greta O’Brien • Avonworth • 5-8 • Senior • Guard

After helping Avonworth reach back-to-back WPIAL championship games in 2023-24, O’Brien put together another terrific all-around season as a senior, averaging 20.3 points, 6 rebounds, 3 assists and 3 steals per game. Now a two-time PUP all-star, O’Brien finishes her career as the Antelopes’ all-time leading scorer with 1,616 career points.

Ryan Oldaker • South Fayette • 5-10 • Junior • Guard

The daughter of legendary former Mt. Lebanon coach Dori Oldaker, this standout guard has been a key contributor for the Lions since her freshman year, helping them capture their first state title in school history with a 45-37 win against Philly powerhouse Archbishop Wood in the PIAA Class 5A final. Oldaker averaged 12.4 points, 3.7 rebounds and 2.2 steals per game while shooting 81% from the free-throw line.

Bailey White • Allderdice • 5-4 • Junior • Guard

The first City League player to earn a spot on the PUP all-star team, White propelled the Dragons to their second consecutive City League title with a 52-45 win over Obama Academy, along with their first PIAA playoff appearance since 2013. Finishing the season with an average of 22.5 ppg, White surpassed 1,000 points for her career during a 37-point outburst in a 73-58 win against Clairton on Dec. 9.