Waubonsie Valley's Danyella Mporokoso breaks scoring record

Illinois State commit sets new program mark in regional championship win

Mar. 2, 2026 at 10:23am

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Danyella Mporokoso, a senior guard at Waubonsie Valley High School in Illinois, broke the school's career scoring record of 2,885 points set by Ashley Luke in 1999. Mporokoso scored a game-high 31 points to lead Waubonsie Valley to a 71-49 victory over Plainfield North in the Class 4A regional championship game. The Illinois State recruit surpassed the previous record with a 3-pointer in the first quarter and also had 8 rebounds, 4 steals, 4 assists and 2 blocks in the win.

Why it matters

Mporokoso's record-breaking performance is a significant accomplishment for the high school basketball program at Waubonsie Valley. The previous record holder, Ashley Luke, went on to have a successful college career at Penn State and DePaul, and is now the head coach at Norcross High School in Georgia. Mporokoso's achievement cements her legacy as one of the greatest players in Waubonsie Valley history.

The details

Mporokoso entered Thursday's regional championship game tied with Luke's previous record of 2,885 points. She wasted no time in breaking the mark, hitting a 3-pointer in the first quarter to take sole possession of the record. Mporokoso finished the game with 31 points, 8 rebounds, 4 steals, 4 assists and 2 blocks to lead Waubonsie Valley to the 71-49 victory over Plainfield North. The win sets up a third matchup this season between Waubonsie Valley and Naperville Central in the sectional semifinals.

  • Mporokoso broke the record with a 3-pointer in the first quarter of Thursday's game.
  • Waubonsie Valley defeated Plainfield North 71-49 in the Class 4A regional championship game on February 20, 2026.

The players

Danyella Mporokoso

A 5-foot-8 senior guard at Waubonsie Valley High School who is committed to play at Illinois State University. She broke the school's career scoring record of 2,885 points that had stood since 1999.

Ashley Luke Clanton

The previous record holder, who scored 2,885 points during her high school career at Waubonsie Valley in 1999. She went on to play college basketball at Penn State and DePaul, and is now the head coach at Norcross High School in Georgia.

Brett Love

The head coach of the Waubonsie Valley girls basketball team, who tracked down the previous record holder Ashley Luke Clanton to have her connect with Mporokoso before the game.

Arie Garcia-Evans

A teammate of Mporokoso's at Waubonsie Valley who was thrilled to witness her close friend break the school's scoring record.

Isabella Koldoff

The leading scorer for Plainfield North with 16 points in the regional championship game.

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What they’re saying

“I always looked at it and I would think to myself, 'How is it possible to score that many points?' I didn't even think it was possible to me.”

— Danyella Mporokoso, Senior guard, Waubonsie Valley

“I already knew she was something special.”

— Brett Love, Head coach, Waubonsie Valley

“It was amazing. Just like her, I looked at that thing and never thought anyone would get it. When senior year came, we knew she was going to get it.”

— Arie Garcia-Evans, Teammate, Waubonsie Valley

What’s next

Waubonsie Valley will face Naperville Central in the sectional semifinals on Tuesday, February 25th. The two teams have met twice already this season, with Naperville Central winning both games.

The takeaway

Danyella Mporokoso's record-breaking performance is a testament to her hard work and dedication over the past four years. Her achievement not only cements her legacy at Waubonsie Valley, but also serves as inspiration for aspiring young basketball players in the community.