As Iowa women’s basketball gears up for the 2025-26 season, the Hawkeyes landed a program-shaping commitment from 2026 five-star forward McKenna Woliczko — a decision that came at the expense of Dawn Staley’s South Carolina program.
The 6-foot-2 standout from Archbishop Mitty High School in San Jose, California, announced her pledge to Iowa after narrowing her choices to the Hawkeyes, Gamecocks, Ohio State, and USC. Woliczko is ranked as the No. 6 overall player in her class by ESPN, Rivals, and 247Sports, while 247Sports also lists her as the No. 2 power forward nationally and the No. 2 prospect out of California.
Woliczko, who tore her ACL during her junior season but has already posted elite prep numbers — averaging 20.2 points and 10.3 rebounds as a freshman, then 22.0 points, 8.0 rebounds, and 2.0 blocks as a sophomore — said her decision ultimately came down to the environment she experienced at Iowa.
During a podcast appearance on On Target with EJay Arocho, she pointed to the Hawkeyes’ culture as the deciding factor.
“So my top thing for Iowa is their culture. Kind of the same thing, like relationships,” Woliczko said. “Iowa has been the newest to come in recruiting me out of these four, but I’ve been able to gain such great relationships with not only the coaches on staff, but the girls. Because I went on my visit last fall, I got to hang out with them. And it’s just great. I can talk to them. I can have a five-minute call with them one day, or I can have an hour call with the coaches the next day. So being able to talk about also personal things, but then also basketball. Where do you see me playing? So that’s just something that I really enjoy about Iowa.”
Her official visit to Iowa City over Labor Day weekend appeared to seal the deal, as Woliczko attended an Iowa football game, posed in black-and-gold photos, and felt comfortable in the program’s environment.
That “VIP-like” experience, paired with what she described as unmatched connection and communication, gave Iowa the edge over South Carolina, USC, and Ohio State.
With Woliczko now joining a roster that already features rising talents like Addie Deal, Ava Heiden, Layla Hays, and Journey Houston, Iowa has positioned itself not only as a national contender but as a growing recruiting powerhouse. As one analyst described, her commitment could “open the floodgates” for other top prospects to follow.
