Basketball swishing through the hoop celebrating McKenna Woliczko named All-American
The headline “McKenna Woliczko named All-American” swept Iowa City on Monday, marking the completion of a lifelong dream for the five-star Hawkeye recruit. Woliczko, a 6-foot-2 forward from San Jose, California’s Archbishop Mitty High, was chosen to participate in the McDonald’s All-American Game in 2026.
She is only the sixth Iowa women’s player to be named a McDonald’s All-American after high school, joining Addie Deal (2025), Caitlin Clark (2020), Samantha Logic (2011), Johanna Solverson (2002), and Lindsay Richards (2002). “Congrats to McKenna Woliczko for making the McDonald’s All-American team!” was the celebratory tweet from Archbishop Mitty’s athletics account. On March 31st, she will compete for the West Team at Phoenix’s Desert Diamond Arena!.
Woliczko has had an incredible journey to reach this milestone. The University of Iowa’s head coach, Jan Jensen, declared in November 2025 that “the No. 6 national recruit McKenna Woliczko signed a scholarship agreement with the University of Iowa women’s basketball program.” “Culture, community, and relationships are why I chose the University of Iowa,” Woliczko stated at signing.
The native of San Bruno chose to join the Hawkeyes over elite schools like Ohio State, South Carolina, and UCLA. She was the highest-rated recruit Jensen had signed during her brief tenure, according to Iowa, and she was actually the second-highest rated student in school history, only surpassed by Caitlin Clark. Woliczko’s commitment made it evident that the Hawkeyes’ talent pipeline is expanding even before he arrived on campus.
Woliczko returned with a bang this season after missing the majority of 2024 due to a knee injury. She has averaged 20.3 points and 10.8 rebounds per game in ten games as a senior. She hadn’t missed a beat, as evidenced by her first game of her senior year: In her season debut, Woliczko scored 19 points and pulled down 13 rebounds in a commanding 82-44 victory over Clovis North.
On the basis of her performances, Archbishop Mitty (30-1) has dominated. Despite missing a significant portion of her junior year due to an ACL tear, those stats roughly 22 points per game as an underclassman helped earn her McDonald’s All-American consideration. Woliczko’s performance is demonstrated by his injury comeback and those impressive numbers.
Her All-American selection means big things for Iowa. Woliczko is rated the #6 overall player in the country and will be the centerpiece of Iowa’s 2026 class. She brings a 6-foot-2 frame and post presence that Iowa will desperately need after losing seniors like Hannah Stuelke and McKenna Geilyo. Iowa’s official site pointed out Woliczko is the second-highest rated recruit in program history, so expectations are sky-high.
Practically speaking, next season, head coach Jensen will add inside scoring and versatility. She averaged 22.1 points and 8.4 rebounds as a sophomore, and even in her shortened junior year, she scored more than 22 points per game. Hawkeye supporters have already started drawing comparisons between her and former stars. Woliczko might have an instant impact if she can apply that to the Big Ten.
Woliczko will represent the West team at the McDonald’s All-American Game on March 31 in Phoenix. Other elite recruits will join her at Glendale’s Desert Diamond Arena. For instance, Sports Illustrated reports that guard Jerzy Robinson and star Maddyn Greenway are on her West roster, indicating that she is now formally regarded as one of the best in the country.
Before Woliczko moves to Iowa City the following year, she will have even more visibility thanks to the nationally televised game. This choice brings the 18-year-old’s fast-paced high school career to a close. She reportedly dreamed of being an All-American since her early playing days, and now she has achieved that long-held goal.
Woliczko and her family are currently enjoying the success. For a player who “slept on it” before committing and then put in endless effort to heal from an injury, it’s a well-deserved reward. Her inclusion on the McDonald’s All-American roster makes it obvious that she is prepared for the next phase of her career.
