By: Logan Anderson
SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – University of Sioux Falls Women's Basketball Head Coach Travis Traphagen has announced the addition of two student-athletes to the Cougar family as part of the 2027 recruiting class. Joining the program are Addison Heinje (Wilmot, S.D.) and Ava Litecky (Blaine, Minn.), who will begin their collegiate careers at USF in the fall of 2027.
The incoming class brings a combination of scoring ability, versatility, and championship experience to the Cougars, with both signees earning multiple all-conference honors throughout their high school careers.
"I'm very excited about adding Addison and Ava. These two were exactly the type of kids we were looking for to fill out this recruiting class. Both have tremendous length, and both can really score the basketball. Both young ladies fit our program to a T. I give a lot of credit to my staff for the recruitment of these kids because we feel like their futures are very bright here at USF."
-Head Coach, Travis Traphagen
Addison Heinje – G/F – Wilmot, S.D. – Waubay High School
A 5'11 guard/forward from Wilmot, South Dakota, Heinje joins the Cougars following a standout career at Waubay High School. A two-time All-State selection, Heinje has earned First Team Eastern Coteau All-Conference honors three times and was twice named the Eastern Coteau Conference Most Valuable Player.
Heinje surpassed the 1,000-point milestone during her sophomore season and holds the Wilmot single-game scoring record with 50 points. As a junior, she averaged 20.1 points per game, establishing herself as one of the area's top offensive performers.
A three-sport athlete, Heinje has also earned four First Team Eastern Coteau All-Conference selections in volleyball and qualified for the state track and field meet in both the 100-meter hurdles and javelin. Academically, she is a member of the National Honor Society and has received the President's Award for Educational Excellence. Heinje competes for Team Warwick during the club basketball season and plans to major in Biology at USF.
Ava Litecky – G – Blaine, Minn. – Totino-Grace High School
Litecky, a 5'11 guard from Blaine, Minnesota, joins Sioux Falls following a successful career at Totino-Grace High School, where she has helped lead the Eagles to multiple postseason appearances while earning back-to-back Northwest Suburban All-Conference honors.
As a sophomore during the 2024-25 season, Litecky averaged 11.0 points per game on her way to earning her first All-Conference selection. She followed that performance with an impressive junior campaign in 2025-26, increasing her scoring average to 14.0 points per game while collecting her second consecutive All-Conference honor.
Litecky has also been part of two Section 5AAA Championship teams, helping Totino-Grace advance to the Minnesota Class AAA State Tournament during the 2023-24 and 2025-26 seasons. The Eagles finished sixth at the state tournament during her junior season.
In the classroom, Litecky has earned B Honor Roll recognition in each of the past three academic years. She competes for the Minnesota Stars during the club basketball season and has expressed an interest in pursuing a career in physical therapy.
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