​The week of July 19-25 saw the 2026 IGHSAU state softball tournament take place at the Rogers Sports Complex in Fort Dodge.Waukee Northwest repeated as 5A state champion, Adel-Desoto-Minburn claimed its first state championship by winning the 4A crown and Wahlert Catholic ended Williamsburg’s three-year state title reign by claiming the 3A crown. Grand View Christian won the 2A state title in its first-ever trip to the state tournament and Clarksville repeated as 1A state champions.There were several phenomenal individual performances from high school softball players from the Des Moines metro area during the state tournaments.Here are the Des Moines Register’s female Athlete of the Week candidates from the Des Moines metro area for the week of July 19-25. DesMoinesRegister.com readers vote to determine the winners, who will be announced at the end of the week.Kinzie Maxwell, ADMMaxwell was named captain of the 3A all-tournament team at the state softball tournament after leading ADM to the 4A state championship.The Tiger shortstop was 2-for-2 with a homer and four RBIs during a 10-1 win over Burlington in the opening round of competition. She finished 2-for-3 with a double and two RBIs during a 6-5 win over Western Dubuque in the second round, she went 2-for-4 in a 7-0 rematch win over the Bobcats. In the state title game, she went 3-for-3 with a double, home run and two RBIs in a 6-0 victory over Carlisle. Sophie Bird, Grand View ChristianBird was named captain of the 2A all-tournament team at the state softball tournament after helping Grand View Christian go 5-1 during the double-elimination tournament to claim a championship in its first trip to the state tournament.Bird belted three home runs during the tournament. None were bigger than the grand slam she hit to tie the game against Wapsie Valley in the state title game, which the Thunder went on to win by a 7-6 score on July 23.Aniston Netten, Van MeterNetten was tremendous for a Van Meter team that finished 2-2 during double elimination competition at the state softball tournament.She was 5-for-10 with three home runs and a double during the tournament, and she finished with six runs and six RBIs.Sophia Schlader, Waukee NorthwestSchlader earned 5A all-tournament captain honors after helping Waukee Northwest repeat as state champions with a 3-1 victory over Ankeny Centennial. She fired a two-hitter in the circle with nine strikeouts and three walks in the championship game. She also tossed a three-hitter with nine strikeouts in a 4-1 win over Pleasant Valley in the opening round, added a five-hitter with 12 strikeouts in a 4-1 win over Dallas Center-Grimes and then tossed a two-hitter with six strikeouts in a 4-0 rematch win over the Mustangs.Mady Ott, Ankeny CentennialOtt made the 5A all-tournament team after helping Centennial place second to Waukee Northwest during the state tournament.Ott went 2-for-2 with a double, run and an RBI during a 12-2 opening win for the Jaguars over Dowling