UConn women’s basketball and longtime coach Geno Auriemma picked up their first commitment of the 2026 recruiting cycle on Tuesday, and she's a five-star recruit: Olivia Vukosa of Christ the King in Middle Village, N.Y.

The 247Sports composite ranks the 6-foot-4 Vukosa as the No. 1 center and the No. 4 overall player in the nation.

In the mix for Vukosa were Ohio State and Texas – which had her in for official visits – as well as Kentucky, LSU, North Carolina and South Carolina.

Despite living in New York, Vukosa has tapped into her family’s heritage to play for the Croatian national team, giving her significant international experience over the past three years. In August, she was part of Croatia’s roster at the FIBA U20 Women’s EuroBasket Championships, B Division, and averaged 15.6 points over seven games. She shot 42.1% from the field and 96.2% from the foul line.

It's the proximity of Storrs, Conn., to New York that gave the defending national champion Huskies a checkmark in their favor. So did the connection between the university and Christ the King, where UConn and future NBA greats Tina Charles and Sue Bird both played.

“It allows my family to come support me easily, no matter the game or time,” she told ESPN of UConn’s location. “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."

This is what Brandon Clay, the 247Sports director of scouting for women’s basketball, had to say about Vukosa:

“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,” he said. “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.”

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