The day after Geno Auriemma guided UConn to a dominant 99-50 rout of Villanova at Gampel Pavilion, he watched high school girls’ basketball at the 2026 Hoophall Classic from the courtside at Springfield College’s Blake Arena.
The 71-year-old was there to take a closer look at Christ the King High School star senior Olivia Vukosa, and the five-star recruit did not disappoint. The 6-foot-4 forward charted a double-double of 14 points and 13 rebounds, alongside four steals and two blocks in a 53-39 loss to Mater Dei.
“When you watch all these games, there’s nobody else like her,” Auriemma told CT Insider after the game. “I think she’s gonna be really good for us.”
Vukosa was overwhelmed by Auriemma’s presence. She shared her feelings about the UConn head coach being there following the loss.
“The whole coaching staff being here, really just made it feel more like a family, and especially with Rebecca Lobo being here,” Vukosa said. “I was actually shocked that she was here. She was sitting right next to my dad in the beginning of the game, and it was surreal.”
Vukosa feels that all her hard work is finally bearing fruit.
“It’s like I’m finally here. I’ve worked so hard for it, and now I’ll be surrounded by this new family in the next year, and I’m just really looking forward to it. I can’t wait to be with them.”
She also opened up about the love she has received from the fans following her commitment to UConn.
“It’s crazy. I didn’t think about it… Now that I’ve committed to Connecticut, it’s a whole different ball game.”
UConn commit Olivia Vukosa has appreciated the love from the #uconnwbb fanbase following her commitment to the Huskies
“It’s crazy. I didn’t think about it… Now that I’ve committed to Connecticut, it’s a whole different ball game.” pic.twitter.com/XoGmaAZCfL
— Storrs Central (@StorrsCentral) January 16, 2026
Olivia Vukosa’s Commitment to UConn
Olivia Vukosa announced her commitment to UConn in October 2025 after a visit to Storrs. The 6-foot-4 post player from Christ the King High School in Whitestone, New York, ranks No. 3 nationally in the Class of 2026 according to ESPN’s SportsCenter NEXT 100 list.
During her junior year, she averaged 19.4 points, 17.9 rebounds, and 5.5 blocks per game while leading Christ the King to a Catholic High School Athletic Association Tier 1 New York City Tournament title.
Vukosa made her international debut for Croatia at the 2023 FIBA U16 Women’s European Championship and earned All-Star 5 honors. At the 2024 FIBA U17 Women’s Basketball World Cup, she earned Best Defensive Player and All-Star Second Team honors while averaging 19.4 points and 15.6 rebounds per game.
Olivia Vukosa’s most recent accolades include the 2024-25 Gatorade New York Girls Basketball Player of the Year and New York MaxPreps High School Girls Basketball Player of the Year.
