Neuqua Valley senior Michayla Stone had a lot of emotions going through her head during pregame ceremonies on senior night. The 6-foot-1 center was feted alongside senior guard Nalia Clifford, senior guard Taylor Dobry, senior forward Alexis May and senior center Lorraine Wieshuber before the Wildca ts played visiting Geneva on Tuesday. “It was super bittersweet,” Stone said. “It was crazy that tonight is my senior night and not just a random game on the schedule. “The speeches that both (juniors) Quinn (Sigal) and Nya (Vazifdar) gave to me were both super sweet, and I love that. It’s really incredible to be on this team for four years, and this is my one and only senior night.” This has been a season unlike any other for Stone, a four-year varsity player and three-year starter who is averaging 8.0 points and 7.0 rebounds for the Wildcats (8-14). For the first time, the North Central College commit has been playing pain-free. Stone played her first two seasons as an understudy behind stars Tia Poulakidas and Kylee Norkus. Then she played her entire junior season with a torn labrum in her right shoulder. “In seventh grade, I fully dislocated my shoulder, so I had to do a lot of PT and rehab,” Stone said. “As I grew up, it wasn’t healing, and it kept dislocating. “Sometimes it popped out when I was sleeping. I remember one morning in September (2024), I dislocated it twice in a matter of 10 minutes.” An MRI revealed the tear. Stone was told she needed surgery, but she put it off until April 2025 so she could play with a brace. The surgery was a success, but rehab took more than six months. Stone said that was worth it, though. “It’s 1000% pain-free,” Stone said. “My orthopedic surgeon was incredible. My anesthesiologist is actually my neighbor, and she was really incredible. My PT staff, they were all super supportive.” Neuqua Valley's Michayla Stone (34) takes the court during introductions before a nonconference game against Geneva in Naperville on Tuesday, Jan. 20, 2026. (Sean King / Naperville Sun) Stone didn’t return to the court until shortly before this season began. She was busy trying to get healthy. “It’s a difficult surgery to come back from,” Stone said. “I made sure to do my PT every single day and also get into the gym. “Right when I could start the bike, I did 30 minutes every day. When I could start running again, I would try to run every single day and do interval training so I could be back in shape and ready for the senior season. It’s your last season.” Clifford said Stone’s determination has inspired and excited the Wildcats. “Even if she couldn’t do everything, I would still watch her before and after practice and over our fall league,” Clifford said. “She’d be out there practicing getting her touch down, left hand and right hand and moves by the basket. “Michayla just wants to be on the court. She just loves basketball and loves to compete, so to see her do everything that she can and work that hard for us so she could play, it makes us work just as hard for her.” Neuqua Valley's Michayla Stone (34) attempts a 3-point shot as Geneva’s Emma Peterson (15) defends during a nonconference game in Naperville on Tuesday, Jan. 20, 2026. (Sean King / Naperville Sun) Stone demonstrated that work ethic against Geneva, posting 12 points and seven rebounds during the Wildcats’ 50-42 loss. As the Vikings ran out the clock, Clifford stole the ball, raced down the court and passed the ball to Stone, who sank a 3-pointer from the left corner as time expired. “Michayla never complains, and she always works hard,” Neuqua Valley coach Mike Williams said. “She’s grown into a pretty steady player. She always took her time and learned from the other kids, and now she’s doing a great job.” Stone’s leadership has arguably been even more important as the Wildcats deal with inconsistency. “I’m proud of her on and off the court,” Williams said. “She’s taken a lot of players under her wing and been a great mentor. She was great in the summer camps with the little kids. She’s just an all-around good person.” Williams said Stone will further develop her game in college, where she will add to her family’s athletic history. Stone’s father, Tom, played football at Drake, and her sister, Maya, played soccer and ran track at Carthage. “I had a dream ever since I was a little kid to go play college basketball,” Stone said. “It’s amazing.” Matt Le Cren is a freelance reporter. ...read more read less