Who is the greatest girls basketball player from the Eugene-Springfield area?
Let the debate begin.
As the United States approaches its 250th anniversary, USA TODAY Sports will celebrate the 250 greatest American sports figures of all time. Alongside that national recognition, the USA TODAY Network will spotlight the roots of the country’s sports culture: the high school athletes and sports figures who shaped communities and defined their states.
Earlier this spring, The Register-Guard recognized Lane County'sgreatest-ever football stars.
Next up, we're honoring the stars of the hardwood. Here are The Register-Guard's selections for the girls basketball players who defined the Eugene-Springfield area. While accomplishments at the college and professional level undoubtedly influenced which standouts cracked the top-10 list, we are primarily looking to highlight those who starred at the high school level and dominated local headlines.
As part of this effort, we invite our readers to vote in polls that accompany the stories, or submit a name they think should be included if they don't see it on our list. Print readers can find the polls with the stories online at www.registerguard.com/sports/.
Without further ado, here are The Register-Guard's 10 girls basketball players (listed in alphabetical order) who defined the Eugene-Springfield area.
Kristina Andersen, Marist
During Marist's run of dominance in the 1990's, no player racked up more individual accolades for the Spartans than Kristina Andersen.
A three-time Class 3A first-team all-state selection, the star forward led Marist to titles in 1996 and 1997. Following her senior season in '97, Andersen was named the 3A player of the year. In 1996, she was tabbed by both USA Today and Street & Smith's as an All-American.
Anderson went on to have a strong four-year career at the University of Utah. As a senior in 2000-01, she was the second-leading scorer for a Utes squad that went 28-4 and reached the Sweet 16.
Lexi Bando, Willamette
One of the top sharpshooters of the Pac-12 era, Lexi Bando was a four-year starter at the University ofOregonwho ended her career as the Ducks' all-time leader in 3-pointers and 3-point percentage.
Before that, though, she was a superstar at Willamette High who led the Wolverines to state championships in both 2013 and 2014.
Bando was a three-time Class 5A first-team all-state selection and was the 2014 5A player of the year. She averaged 20.5 points per game as a senior.
Only 28 players in state history have scored more points than Bando, who tallied 1,975 points during her time with the Wolverines.
Keani Christianson, North Eugene
One of the more prolific scorers to ever come through the Eugene-Springfield area, Keani Christianson was a three-time all-state forward at North Eugene who earned first-team recognition in the state's highest classification in 1998. She finished her high school career with 1,609 points.
A heralded recruit, she spent two seasons at North Carolina State. Chamberlin played her final two years at Pepperdine, where she averaged 9.4 points and 5.2 rebounds as a senior in 2002-03.
Wendy Gabbe, South Eugene
A leader on one of the greatest basketball teams in the history of Lane County, Wendy Gabbe helped South Eugene reach the pinnacle of Oregon high school basketball in the late 1990's.
Gabbe was the lone first-team all-state selection for South's 1999 Class 4A state championship team, which finished 24-1. That season, she averaged 14.5 points and six rebounds per game.
Gabbe went on to play four years at the University of California, Irvine. During her senior season with the Anteaters, she averaged 13.1 points while shooting 39% from 3-point range.
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Sonja 'Sunny' Greinacher, Willamette
There aren't many local basketball players — or local stars of any sport, for that matter — who have reached the professional heights that "Sunny" Greinacher has.
A Germany native who spent her senior season at Willamette, Greinacher was a three-time all-West Coast Conference forward at Gonzaga who averaged 14.1 points and 6.2 rebounds per game as a senior. After college, her career continued to flourish. Greinacher helped Germany's 3x3 team to a gold medal at the 2024 Paris Olympics.
During her lone year at Willamette, Greinacher was the Class 5A co-player of the year along with teammate A.J. Smith. The star duo led the Wolverines to a perfect 27-0 season and a 5A state title in 2008-09.
Sarah Hedgepeth, Springfield
Springfield standout Sarah Hedgepeth was a three-time Class 4A all-state selection while leading the Millers to a trio of dominant seasons from 1998-2000.
Once her high school career concluded, Hedgepeth was a two-time all-Big-Sky forward for Portland State. As a senior, she averaged 14 points and 10 rebounds per game before going on to enjoy a four-year professional career that included stops in Portugal, Puerto Rico, Hungary and Finland.
Hedgepeth recently concluded her 17th year as an assistant coach at Willamette University,
Elise Niemela, North Eugene
Elise Niemela was a Class 4A first-team all-state standout at North Eugene during her senior season in 1993 who is still making a major impact in the sport more than 30 years later.
She went on to have a stellar career at the University of Washington, averaging 8.3 points and 2.9 assists per game as a senior.
Now Elise Woodward, she is an Emmy-nominated sports broadcasterwho was recently announcedas the voice of the WNBA's Portland Fire.
Mercedes Russell, Springfield
Springfield superstar Mercedes Russell wasn't just one of the best players to come through Lane County. She is one of the more dominant basketball players in the history of the state, full-stop.
The 2013 Gatorade National Player of the Year, Russell was a three-time Class 5A player of the year. She led the Millers to state titles in 2011 and 2012 and a championship game appearance in 2013. During her senior season, Russell averaged 25.1 points, 12.3 rebounds and 5.5 blocks per game. She is the state's all-time leader in rebounds (1,642) and blocked shots (562) and ranks 10th in points (2,273).
The No. 1 recruit in the nation according to multiple publications, Russell went on to enjoy a five-year career at Tennessee and was selected to the all-SEC first team in 2017-18.
The No. 22 overall pick in the 2018 WNBA Draft, Russell has played eight years in the league. That includes stints with the New York Liberty, Seattle Storm and Los Angeles Sparks. In November 2025, shesigned with Athletes Unlimited Pro Basketball.
Brynn Smith, Willamette
By far the most recent player on this list, Willamette 2025 graduate Brynn Smith left a lasting legacy at the prep level and is now in the early stages of a bright college career.
A four-time all-state selection for the Wolverines, Smith earned Class 5A first-team recognition as a freshman. She earned honorable mention honors as a sophomore once Willamette moved up to the 6A level, and she was a second-team pick during both her junior and senior seasons. With 2,029 career points, Smith ranks 21st on the state's list of all-time scorers. Springfield's Mercedes Russell is the only player from a Lane County school who racked up more points than Smith.
As a true freshman at Portland last season, Smith played in all 35 games for a Pilots squad that reached the Women's National Invitational Tournament.
Chelsea Wagner, Springfield
The 2001 Class 4A state player of the year, Springfield standout Chelsea Wagner averaged 21.1 points and 8.2 rebounds per game as a senior while leading the Millers to a third-place finish at the state tournament.
She went on to flourish at the college level. After earning a starting role as a true freshman at Hawaii, Wagner transferred to the University of Oregon and went on to carve out a bright career with the Ducks. As a senior in 2005-06, she shot at a 43% clip from downtown and was the program's second-leading scorer at 9.3 points per game.
Jarrid Denney is a sports reporter for The Register-Guard. He can be reached atjdenney@registerguard.comor on X@jarrid_denney
This article originally appeared on Register-Guard:Who is the Eugene area's best girls basketball player ever? Vote now!
