Millennium girls basketball wins 2nd straight Open title

Millennium defeats O'Connor in overtime to repeat as Arizona high school girls basketball champions

Published on Mar. 8, 2026

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For the first time in Arizona, a school has won back-to-back Open Division state championships for girls basketball. No. 2 Goodyear Millennium clawed its way back to beat No. 4 Phoenix Sandra Day O'Connor, 58-52, in overtime in the Open Division state championship game. Millennium (25-4) won the Open title last year as well, making it the school's sixth title since 2019.

Why it matters

The Open Division was adopted in 2023 to combine the top 32 teams from the 6A through 4A conferences into one playoff bracket, making the championship even more competitive. Millennium's repeat title cements the school as a powerhouse in Arizona high school girls basketball.

The details

The game was tight throughout the first two quarters, with the score tied 10-10 after the first quarter and 25-25 at halftime. O'Connor began to pull away in the third quarter, going up 39-34. But Millennium coach Danny Soliman called a timeout, and freshman center Amaya Ribbens-Brown scored two quick buckets, made a free throw to tie it at 43-43, and then hit a clutch 3-pointer to put Millennium up 48-45 with 1:38 left. O'Connor forced overtime, but Ribbens-Brown scored six of Millennium's 10 points in OT to secure the win. Ribbens-Brown finished with 17 points and 6 rebounds, earning MVP honors.

  • The Open Division state championship game was played on March 7, 2026.
  • Millennium won the Open title last year as well, making this their second straight championship.

The players

Millennium

The Goodyear Millennium girls basketball team, a West Valley powerhouse that has now won six state titles since 2019.

Danny Soliman

The head coach of the Millennium girls basketball team, who has now won two of the school's six state titles.

Amaya Ribbens-Brown

The Millennium freshman center who scored 17 points, including a clutch 3-pointer late in regulation, and 6 rebounds to earn MVP honors.

Sandra Day O'Connor

The Phoenix high school that reached its first ever Open Division state championship game, finishing the season 24-3.

Ava Schooler

The O'Connor junior guard who scored 7 points in the third quarter to help O'Connor build a lead.

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What they’re saying

“It's honestly amazing. Our whole coaching staff is amazing, it's not just me. It's all of us. I trust them with so much. But it's a testament to the kids and their relentless effort.”

— Danny Soliman, Millennium head coach (azcentral.com)

“I just knew we needed to get the energy going. The energy was up and down. After that 3, I put my hand over my face – it was game over from there, genuinely.”

— Amaya Ribbens-Brown, Millennium freshman center (azcentral.com)

“She stepped up in a big moment. That's all it takes. I'm really proud of her. She's had her ups and downs, we all have, I'm just proud she stepped up and was able to take over that role.”

— Dashia Richardson, Millennium junior guard (azcentral.com)

What’s next

The Millennium girls basketball team will look to make it three straight Open Division state championships next season, as they aim to cement their status as an Arizona high school dynasty.

The takeaway

Millennium's repeat Open Division title demonstrates the program's sustained excellence and the school's commitment to building a powerhouse girls basketball team, even as the competition level has increased with the new statewide playoff format.