WAGNER, S.D. (KELO) — Wagner’s Ashlyn Koupal is our second nominee for Girls Basketball Player of the Year. A life filled with basketball has helped her become one of the top recruits in South Dakota history.
Ashlyn Koupal and her sister Macy have been on a court since they were kids.
“They’re gyms rats. They’ve been in the gym basically since they started kindergarten. They’re coming to practice every day,” Wagner head coach and Ashlyn’s dad Michael Koupal said. “We’ve got some cool videos of them playing and scrimmaging each other on the side of the gym, while practice is going on.”
Ashlyn’s love for the game only continued to strengthen as she got older.
“Growing up, I’d look up to college players. Me and my sister would go to USD games with my aunt Mandy. I’m actually 24 because of Ciara Duffy,” Ashlyn said.
Duffy is a former USD standout, as is Ashlyn’s Aunt. Mandy is considered one of the most accomplished players in USD history, being named Division-II Player of the Year twice, an All-American three times and a USD Hall of Famer.
“Mandy was always talked about. I never got to see her play, but I know she was really good,” Ashlyn said. “That was definitely motivation as I wanted to be like her. She was kind of always a role model growing up.”
Ashlyn began playing varsity as a seventh grader and after four years of success, the window to contact her opened in June of 2024.
“That really picked up and I was taking 2-3 calls a day somedays,” Ashlyn said. “It just got to be a lot, but I’ve narrowed it down to five, so that’s really helped me out.”
Koupal has recieved a total of 34 college offers, including 29 offers from the ACC, Big XII, Big Ten and SEC. However, Koupals final five are Duke, Kansas, Michigan State, Nebraska and TCU.
That national attention, paired with a standout season helped her to be named a Player of the Year Finalist.
Koupal averaged a double-double of 22 points and ten rebounds per game. She also tallied five assists, three blocks and two steals a contest, while shooting 58% from the field.
