Okay, so, stop the presses—Iowa just did the unthinkable and straight-up stole one of the top recruits in the country right out from under South Carolina’s nose. I’m talking about McKenna Woliczko, that 6’2” baller from Archbishop Mitty in Cali. She’s ranked No. 6 in the whole 2026 class. You seriously can’t overstate how wild this is—South Carolina was all in on her. (Yeah, even ESPN’s talking about it.)
She had her pick of the litter: South Carolina, USC, Ohio State—basically, all the usual suspects. And she goes, “Nah, I’m headed to Iowa.” This is the highest-ranked talent Iowa’s landed since Caitlin Clark, and, well, we all know how that turned out. (Spoiler: pretty darn great.)
The Ultimate Toss-Up
McKenna herself said it came down to a dead heat between Iowa and South Carolina. Like, she was deep in Gamecock country, hanging at Dawn Staley’s block party—South Carolina pulled out all the stops. She even wrote them a handwritten thank-you note. That’s old-school.
Still, she picked Iowa. Why? She just vibed with the coaches, got the right feel from the city, and loved the energy buzzing around the Hawkeyes. Sometimes it’s just a gut thing, you know?
She called it “agonizing.” No losers, really—just two programs loaded with good people, teammates, and coaches. But you gotta pick one.
Comeback Kid Vibes
Here’s the kicker: she’s coming off a nasty knee injury—season-ending, no less. A lot of players would’ve just chilled, but nope, she’s grinding through rehab, working on her shot, staying in shape.
And before the injury? The girl’s got receipts: dominating high school stats, Team USA runs, FIBA tournaments, MVPs—she’s done it all. Iowa’s staff sees her as a Swiss Army knife: bang inside, hit from deep, run the floor, rebound—she’s got tools for days. She’s ready to hit the ground running. Or hobbling. (Kidding.)
Big Ripple Effect
- Iowa just got a massive shot in the arm for their 2026 class. This is the kind of recruit that makes other stars start looking your way—Clark 2.0 energy, honestly.
- South Carolina? Oof. That one’s gotta sting. They’ve got to regroup now, because missing on McKenna leaves a real hole in their recruiting plans.
People are already saying this is Iowa’s biggest recruiting flex since Caitlin Clark. Not exactly a small deal.
So yeah, that’s a wrap on one very dramatic recruiting saga. Ambition, loyalty, emotions running high—the whole package. Iowa just got a new star, and the legend of Hawkeye women’s hoops just got a spicy new chapter.
About the Author
