The rest of the nation took notice after Iowa women’s basketball fans made a significant impact. According to the final results of Sporting News’ fan-voted poll, which was released on Saturday, December 13, Iowa’s 2026 women’s basketball signee McKenna Woliczko has been named the preseason front-runner for the 2025–26 Naismith Girls’ High School Player of the Year, driven by a tremendous outpouring of support from Hawkeye Nation. Although it is not an official award, the recognition shows how Woliczko is perceived across the country and how strong the Iowa fan base has grown.
Woliczko emerged from a crowded field of elite prospects to take the top spot in the poll after formally signing with the Hawkeyes on November 12, the first day of the early signing period. With 1,344 votes, she emerged victorious from the competition and demonstrated the tremendous enthusiasm for her future in Iowa City. The 6-foot-2 star from San Bruno, California, is starting her senior year at the nation’s top-ranked Archbishop Mitty High School, which is renowned for turning out top basketball players. Woliczko is not an anomaly. She has earned five-star status and is ranked No. 6 nationally by ESPN, Rivals, and 247Sports, making her one of the best players in the nation.
Woliczko’s ranking as the second-best power forward in the country and the second-best player from California, according to 247Sports, further solidifies her status as one of the best in the sport. But she has faced hardship along the way to this point. On January 4, 2025, Woliczko suffered a terrible setback during her junior year when she tore her ACL. What was beginning to look like a dominant campaign was cut short by the injury. She was shooting an incredibly effective 59 percent from the field and averaging 22.2 points and 8.6 rebounds per game prior to the injury that ended her season.
If fate hadn’t intervened, those numbers alone indicated she might have been a strong candidate for national honors last season. Now, almost a year after the injury, Woliczko is making progress in her recuperation with the intention of playing again in the upcoming year. When she does, an Archbishop Mitty team full of talent and championship hopes is expected to use her as one of their main offensive weapons. Her selection for the 2025–2026 Jersey She is still regarded by national evaluators as one of the top players in the high school game, according to Mike’s Naismith Girls’ High School Player of the Year Watch List, which includes 85 players in total.
Even though the Sporting News poll is purely fan-driven and has no official weight with Naismith voters, it nevertheless offers an insightful glimpse into public opinion. And the message was very clear in this instance. Fans from Iowa turned out in large numbers. The outcomes highlighted Woliczko’s rising stature as well as the enthusiasm for Iowa women’s basketball as the team embarks on a new chapter. The Hawkeyes’ capacity to unite behind a future player speaks to a fan base that has spread far beyond the Midwest. Additionally, Woliczko’s commitment represents a significant recruiting achievement for the program.
She is the top-ranked Iowa women’s basketball recruit since Caitlin Clark, who ESPN ranked as the second point guard and fourth overall recruit in the 2020 class. More significantly, Woliczko is the top-ranked recruit to sign with head coach Jan Jensen, indicating that the program will continue to gain momentum on the national recruiting trail. The excitement surrounding Woliczko extends beyond rankings and poll results in Iowa. It’s about what she stands for: tenacity, exceptional skill, and a rising star prepared to lead one of the sport’s most ardent fan bases. Hawkeye Nation is already fully committed, if this fan vote is any indication.
