Olivia Vukosa, the third recruit in the Women's SC Next 100 class of 2026, has committed to the University of Connecticut, she announced on Tuesday.
Vukosa is the first 2026 commitment from the defending national champions. She chose the Huskies over LSU, Ohio State, Texas and South Carolina.
The native of White Rock, N.Y., is a senior at Christ the King in Queens, which has sent several players to Stowers, including Hall of Famers Sue Bird and Tina Charles. She sees this access as a key factor in choosing Geno Auriemma's project.
“I see Coach McGee and Coach DeLuca preparing girls for college, and I see Coach Geno preparing these girls for the next level,” Vukosa told ESPN. “Many of these girls have followed the path of Christ the King and UConn, and now I want to follow that legacy.
“Another important factor was UConn's location; it made it easy for my family to support me no matter the game or time. Ultimately, what determined my decision was how I felt about the team. During my visits, the players welcomed me like I was already part of the family, and that sense of belonging made UConn truly feel like home.”
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The 6-foot-4 big man will bring years of international experience to UConn competing in FIBA competitions with Croatia: She participated in the 2023 U16 Women's European Championship, the 2024 Women's World Cup and most recently the 2025 U20 EuroBasket B, averaging 15.6 points and 9.1 rebounds per game.
Vukosa's game is reminiscent of Stefanie Dolson, a two-time national champion at UConn and an 11-year WNBA veteran. Both are talented passers and confident ball handlers. Vukosa has proven to be efficient from beyond the arc but still retains the ability to get tough down low and punish opponents in the paint. Her rebounding ability has improved greatly over the past year as she discovered the value of offensive rebounding. Defensively, her mobility will allow her to employ a variety of schemes and strategies while maintaining the physical presence required of post players.
Currently ranked third in the rankings, she could challenge Saniyah Hall for the No. 1 spot at the end of her senior season. Her commitment now takes the top four recruits from the 2026 class off the board.
The Huskies are still in contention for No. 5 Jesse Robinson and No. 10 Addison Bjorn. As the No. 1 team in the Associated Press' preseason Top 25, UConn will defend its title against No. 4 Louisville on Nov. 4.