Olivia Vukosa Commits to Geno Auriemma, UConn, 5-Star Center Is No. 4 Recruit for 2026

Five-star center Olivia Vukosa committed Tuesday to UConn.

She's the No. 4 overall player and top-ranked center in 247Sports' composite rankings for 2026.

The Huskies are the reigning national champions and have sent a number of stars to the WNBA. A New York native, Vukosa also pointed to the distance between her hometown and the UConn campus in Storrs as a reason behind her choice.

"Another big factor was UConn's location; it allows my family to come support me easily, no matter the game or time," she told ESPN's Shane Laflin. "Ultimately, what sealed my decision was how I felt around the team. During my visit, the players welcomed me like I was already part of the family, and that sense of belonging made UConn truly feel like home."

Brandon Clay of 247Sports praised Vukosa's versatility as a scorer:

"Vukosa has a polished skill set for an interior player. Her game and style of play are different from any other interior prospect in high school basketball this upcoming season. Vukosa is not afraid to step out and shoot the jumper with consistent range to the 3-point line given her age. She can turn over either shoulder to post and score. At this stage in her game, she appears to be comfortable both with her back to the basket and facing up."

Beyond her experience at Christ the King, Vukosa has represented Croatia at the youth level. She competed in the 2023 FIBA U16 Women's European Championship, 2024 U17 Women's World Cup and 2025 U20 Women's EuroBasket. Across the three events, she averaged 19.2 points and 13.9 rebounds.

UConn no longer occupies the same place within the women's basketball ecosystem it did a decade ago. Nine years passed between the Huskies' two most recent titles, by far the longest drought of the Geno Auriemma era.

Still, the program remains a magnet for blue-chip recruits. Sarah Strong was the No. 1 overall player in 2024 and excelled as a true freshman. UConn's 2025 class includes a pair of top-100 talents: guard Kelis Fisher and center Gandy Malou-Mamel.

Laflin wrote the Huskies "remain in the mix" for guard Jerzy Robinson and forward Addison Bjorn, both of whom are in 247Sports' composite top 10.

Vukosa's commitment could help UConn land another big fish ahead of the 2026-27 season.