Ashlyn Koupal Season 2026-27

Honors & Awards

• McDonald's All-American (2026)
• Jordan Brand All-American (2026)
• Naismith Trophy Girls National High School Player of the Year Midseason Top 25 (2026)
• No. 10 Player in the Nation (247 Sports, 2026)
• No. 22 Player in the Nation (ESPN, 2026)
• No. 3 Power Forward in the Nation (247 Sports, 2026)
• South Dakota High School Player of the Year (Gatorade, MaxPreps, 2025, 2026)
• South Dakota Player of the Year (Mitchell Republic, 2023, 2025, 2026)
• South Dakota Class A All-State (2023, 2024, 2025, 2026)

Outlook (2026-27)
Nebraska signee Ashlyn Koupal (pronounced KO-pull) earned one 24 roster spots for the McDonald's High School All-American Game ahead of the NCAA Women's Final Four in Phoenix. The 6-3 senior from Wagner, S.D., became the first McDonald's All-American in Husker history, claiming one of 12 spots on the West Team.

One of the highest ranked recruits in Husker history, Koupal was the No. 22 player in the ESPN Top 100 and ranked as a five-star recruit and the No. 10 player in the 247 Sports rankings (No. 13 composite). She was listed as the No. 3 power forward in the nation.

She was also one of 45 high school players from across the country invited to the 2025 USA Basketball Junior National Team minicamp during the NCAA Women's Final Four.

Koupal was a two-time Gatorade South Dakota High School Player of the Year in basketball and a five-time state high jump champion. She also starred in volleyball at Wagner Community High School.

"Ashlyn has great versatility, which makes her a dangerous threat to score both inside and out," Williams said. "She makes those around her better with her ability to pass and defend at a high level. 

High School
The first girls player in the state of South Dakota's history to be selected to play in the McDonald's High School All-American game, Koupal captured her second straight Gatorade South Dakota Girls Basketball Player of the Year honor by averaging 28.0 points, 14.6 rebounds, 4.1 assists, 4.0 blocks and 2.7 steals while shooting 63.8 percent from the field, including 46.4 percent from three-point range.

Koupal, who also was chosen to play in the Jordan Brand Classic (April 17), finished No. 5 on the all-time South Dakota girls career chart with 2,610 points, while also ranking second all time in rebounds (1,210) and seventh in state history in assists (463). She finished as Wagner's all-time leader in points, rebounds and blocked shots (383), while ranking second in school history in assists and steals (253). 

The 6-3 forward led Wagner to a 19-5 record and the program’s fourth Class A state tournament berth in five years, including 32 points in her final game against Lakota Tech (Pine Ridge).

Koupal set the Wagner High School single-game scoring record with a 42-point performance during her senior season and broke the school's career scoring record previously held by her aunt, Mandy Koupal, who was a two-time NCAA Division II Player of the Year (2003, 2004) at South Dakota.

The 2025 Gatorade South Dakota High School Player of the Year as a junior after averaging 22.8 points, 10.2 rebounds, 4.9 assists, 2.3 steals and 3.5 blocks in leading Wagner to the state tournament. It was her third straight season averaging better than 20 points per game. She also produced one quadruple-double, two triple-doubles and 10 double-doubles as a junior. 

A four-time all-state selection, Koupal helped Wagner to a Class A state runner-up finish as a sophomore in 2023. 

Koupal totaled 671 points, 350 rebounds, 99 assists, 96 blocks and 64 steals as a senior, after entering her final high school season with 1,939 points, 860 rebounds, 364 assists, 189 steals and 287 blocks. 

An outstanding all-around athlete, Koupal won her fifth consecutive South Dakota Class A 
state high jump championship as a junior in 2025. She also notched 12 kills to help the Red Raider volleyball team clinch a berth in the 2025 South Dakota Class A state tournament.

Koupal was also an outstanding student in high school with a 4.0 GPA.

She played club basketball for the All Iowa Attack and Coach Dickson Jensen in the summer of 2025.

Personal
The daughter of Mike and Tera Koupal, Ashlyn is the second oldest of six children. Mike was her high school head coach while Tera was an assistant coach.

Ashlyn chose Nebraska over Duke, Kansas, Michigan State and TCU, 

“I’m really looking forward to just being around people who want it just as much as I do and getting pushed every day,” Koupal said. “I know the coaches are going to pour into me, and I’ll have weight trainers and just so many more resources. Thinking about how much better I can still be with some of those things has really opened my eyes, and I'm super excited to get down there.”