Five-star 2026 basketball recruit McKenna Woliczko commits to Iowa

In an instant, McKenna Woliczko’s role shifted.

Her college decision no longer a mystery, Woliczko is ready to become the chief women’s basketball recruiter for the remainder of the Iowa Hawkeyes’ Class of 2026.

“I’m definitely going to be heavily recruiting them,” Woliczko said of other potential blue-chippers during a webinar Wednesday afternoon, hours after committing to the Hawkeyes.

A 6-foot-2 forward from San Bruno, Calif., Woliczko is the No. 6 player in the current senior class, according to ESPN.

She is the Hawkeyes’ first 2026 commit, choosing the Hawkeyes over Ohio State, South Carolina and USC.

“After my Iowa visit and it became time to make a decision, it was super hard and stressful,” Woliczko said. “I took time with my parents, going back and forth.

“Finally, I knew it was Iowa and it was a great feeling. Today is the day I’ve been thinking about since eighth grade. I can’t begin to believe the buzz this has created both locally and nationally.”

Woliczko (it’s pronounced Vull-ITCH-ko) missed the majority of her junior season due to a torn ACL suffered Jan. 4. She underwent surgery Jan. 29, and is expected to return to full contact by the end of October.

“She is completing all of her workouts,” said Sue Phillips, her coach at Archbishop Mitty High School in San Jose. “Her linear speed is fantastic. I fully anticipate that she will elevate back to all-American heights.”

At the time of her injury, Wolizcko was averaging 22.2 points and 8.6 rebounds per game. She was a first-team all-American (by MaxPreps) as a sophomore.

She heads into her senior year with 1,457 points and 605 rebounds in her career.

Iowa also remains in the running for 2026 recruits Addison Bjorn (Park Hill, Mo.) and Jenica Lewis (Johnston), among others.

Bjorn is ranked 13th in the country, Lewis 19th.

Woliczko is very familiar with both, and wants them both to join her in Iowa City.

“Those are players that can help lead us to a Final Four,” she said.

The weather and the culture will be an adjustment. Wolizcko is a frequent visitor of the beaches in northern California.

“I hear there are a lot of lakes (in Iowa), though,” she said.

Wolizcko was used primarily as a post both for Archbishop Mitty and for her AAU team. That is likely to change.

“I think I’ll become more of a wing at Iowa,” she said. “Because I couldn’t run a lot due to the injury, I’ve really been working on my shooting and my 3-ball.”

Shortly after Woliczko committed, Iowa announced a third consecutive season-long sellout.

“Iowa and its fans have really shaped women’s basketball,” she said.

Comments: jeff.linder@thegazette.com