UConn Commit Olivia Vukosa Wins 2025-26 Gatorade National Girls Basketball Player of the Year Award
Christ the King center Olivia Vukosa was named the Gatorade National Girls Basketball Player of the Year for the 2025-26 season on Thursday.
Vukosa, who's headed to UConn, is the No. 4 overall player in 247Sports' composite rankings for the 2026 class. She's the 12th Huskies signee to be the Gatorade National Player of the Year, with Paige Bueckers the most recent in 2019-20.
The 6'4" senior put up eye-popping numbers for Christ the King this year. She averaged 17.8 points, 18.1 rebounds, 5.5 assists and 4.4 blocks.
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Vukosa also marked a major career achievement this month when she made her senior debut for the Croatia national team. She suited up for three 2027 Women's EuroBasket qualifiers, putting up 11.3 points and 6.7 boards per contest.
Croatia finished at the top of Group F and advanced to the second round of qualifying, which gets underway in November.
Vukosa has also represented her national team at the youth level, competing for the first time at the 2023 FIBA U16 Women's European Championship.
247Sports' Brandon Clay scouted Vukosa and wrote she possesses "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 three-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."
The Huskies are going to lose first-team All-American Azzi Fudd to the WNBA, but five of their six top scorers are set to return for 2026-27. Sarah Strong is the headliner from that group. The sophomore forward is one of the best players in the country and is on a trajectory to be the next great Huskies legend.
Strong's presence might limit Vukosa's impact out of the gate. Over time, she'll have her opportunity to shine in Storrs.
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