Pinedale High School senior Elyn Bowers has been named the 2024-25 Gatorade Wyoming Girls Basketball Player of the Year, marking the first time a player from Pinedale has received the honor, WyoPreps reports.
The Gatorade Company, now in its 40th year of recognizing the nation’s top high school athletes, announced the award through a media release.
A 5-foot-8 guard, Bowers played a key role in leading the Pinedale Wranglers to a 22-2 record and a berth in the Class 3A state tournament. She averaged 26.5 points per game, ranking second in the state, while also leading her class in assists (4.3), steals (4.3), and contributing 4.1 rebounds per game. She shot 52% from the field and 78% from the free-throw line, further showcasing her efficiency on the court.
Over her high school career, Bowers has earned three all-state and all-conference selections and was named Class 3A West Region Player of the Year twice. She has accumulated 2,193 career points, the third-highest total in Wyoming high school history, and ranks in the top ten of six statistical categories statewide, including second in three-point field goal percentage and free throw percentage.
Cody High School head coach Chris Wagner praised Bowers’ all-around talent, stating:
“Elyn has a remarkable set of skills and can impact the game in so many ways. She’s lethal if she gets in rhythm from 3, she can pull up off the dribble, and she can get airborne and finish at the basket. I feel her defense can get overlooked because of how much attention she gets on offense, but she is a great defender as well.”
In addition to her success on the court, Bowers has excelled academically and in her community. She has maintained a 4.0 GPA and ranks first in her graduating class. She also signed her National Letter of Intent to play at Eastern Washington University last fall.
Outside of basketball, Bowers is an artist with a passion for ceramics and pottery. She has been actively involved in her community, volunteering with Pinedale’s Soup-er-Bowl fundraiser as an emcee and auctioneer to support the Pinedale Angel Wreath program. She has also contributed as a peer mentor and youth basketball coach.
The Gatorade Player of the Year award recognizes not only athletic excellence but also academic achievement and strong character. Bowers now joins a distinguished list of past Wyoming winners, including Molly Hays (Cody), Jordan Jones (Cheyenne East), and Allyson Fertig (Douglas High School).
As part of Gatorade’s ongoing commitment to social impact, each Player of the Year recipient receives a grant to donate to a social cause of their choice. Since its inception, the program has provided more than $5.6 million in grants to over 2,000 organizations.
With this award, Bowers becomes a finalist for the Gatorade National Girls Basketball Player of the Year, which will be announced later this month.
