A season after the WIAA state champions in the top three divisions of girls soccer all came from the Milwaukee area, local teams will be looking to uphold the area’s sterling reputation on the pitch again this spring.
Muskego is looking for a fifth straight state title, while Brookfield Central and Catholic Memorial are also defending titles in Division 2 and D3, respectively. The Journal Sentinel will be ranking area teams on a weekly basis leading up to WIAA postseason play later this spring. Our preliminary rankings have some expected contenders on top, along with other rising programs off to strong starts to the 2026 campaign.
AREA RANKINGS
Team (W-L-T)
*Records are as posted to MaxPreps through April 12
Others considered: Cedarburg (0-1-1), Franklin (2-1-0), Grafton (3-0-0), Lake Country Lutheran (0-2-1), Milwaukee Riverside/Golda Meir (3-0-0), Nicolet (2-0-0), Shorewood (0-1-0), Slinger (2-0-0), Waukesha West (3-0-0), Wauwatosa East (1-0-0).
TEAM OF THE WEEK
Grafton
Grafton starts the 2026 season just off our area rankings, but will be a strong consideration to move up into the top 10 if its red-hot start to the season continues. The 3-0 Black Hawks won 3-0 over Kettle Moraine Lutheran on April 7, 6-0 over Heritage Christian on April 8 and 5-2 over last year’s state runner-up in D4, Ozaukee/Random Lake, on April 11.
Junior Katelyn Valenta and senior Brayleigh Sumner led the win over KML with a goal and an assist each, while freshman Mila Dotson scored in her high school debut as well. The following day in the win over the Patriots, Valenta, Sumner and Dotson each scored two goals, with Valenta adding an assist. Senior Olivia Ruff and junior Ava Dotson added two assists each in the 6-0 victory. Finally in the win over Ozaukee/Random Lake, Valenta had a hat trick to lead scorers, while Ava Dotson and Sumner scored the other two goals. Sumner added two assists as Grafton’s second-leading scorer.
COMING UP
Germantown at Brookfield East, 7 p.m. April 15: Greater Metro Conference rivals that played to a 1-0 East win last year will rematch to highlight several early conference matchups this week.
Franklin at Whitefish Bay, 7 p.m. April 16: A pair of programs that reached WIAA sectional play a season ago look to test their mettle as they hope to get back to state this year.
Catholic Memorial at Brookfield Central, 7 p.m. April 17: The reigning WIAA D2 state champion hosts the reigning WIAA D3 state champion.
This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: State title contenders lead first Milwaukee-area girls soccer rankings
Reporting by Zac Bellman, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
