UConn freshman Olivia Vukosa is taking Stockholm by storm.
The 17-year-old is in the Swedish capital playing in the FIBA U18 EuroBasket tournament, representing Croatia. Born in New York, Vukosa also has Croatian citizenship and has played on that country’s national team since 2023.
While Croatia is 0-2, Vukosa has proved that she is a force. The 6-foot-5 center, through the first two games, is leading the 16-team tournament with an average of 29.0 points and 17.,5 rebounds per game.
The Croatian team will play in at least two more games in Stockholm. The first is set for Monday afternoon against Serbia in the final game of competition in group play, used for seeding.
How Croatia finishes in Group D will determine the opponent for the final bracket. And that point, the tournament becomes single elimination.
Vukosa signed with UConn last October.
Olivia Vukosa, the No. 3 ranked recruit in 2026, officially becomes UConn women’s basketball’s first commitment in the class! pic.twitter.com/QSbYMTqOWo
Against Latvia on Sunday, a 72-64 loss for Croatia, Vukosa made her biggest impact on the boards, pulling down 20 defensive rebounds and two more on the offensive glass. And she played defense the Geno Auriemma way, making four steals and blocking four shots.
While she scored 24 points, she shot only 32.3% (10-for-31).
Olivia Vukosa vs. Latvia (1/8/26)24 PTS · 22 REB · 2 AST · 4 STL · 4 BLKpic.twitter.com/FhvC4dhwwD
Her game on offense turned around on Sunday in an 85-76 loss to Poland. She finished 10-of-19 shooting and missed just one of her 14 free-throw attempts en route to 34 points. She added 13 rebounds, 12 on the defensive end.
She is accustomed to stellar international performances. Three years ago, at age 14, she debuted with Team Croatia in the 2023 FIBA U16 European Championship. She averaged 22.6 points and 17.1 rebounds.
For her young age, she brings a lot of experience in big games – and a lot of time spent on the court both at home and in Croatia. She played an aggressive spring schedule, got settled in at UConn in the first part of June, and will return to Storrs, Conn., in mid-August with the rest of the team to prepare for practices and classes.
From Christ the King High School in Middle Village, N.Y. -- the same school that produced UConn greats Sue Bird and Tina Charles -- Vukosa led her team to the Catholic High School Athletic Association state championship game as a senior. She was the 2025-26 Gatorade National Girls Basketball Player of the Year, as well as a 2026 McDonald's and Jordan Brand All-American.
Olivia Vukosa is the 2026 Gatorade National Girls Player of the Year! 👏 pic.twitter.com/gn6pAOIMaT
247Sports ranked her as the top center and the No. 4 overall player at the position in the Class of 2026. She averaged 17.8 points, 18.1 rebounds, 5.5 assists and 4.4 blocks in her final high school season.
Senior Serah Williams started at center last season, with Jana El Alfy as her backup. The Huskies also have sophomore Gandy Malou-Mamel, who saw limited playing time last season, on the roster. That gives UConn three 6-5 options at the position, which should allow star Sarah Strong to sneak away from the post for more time on the perimeter.
Strong averaged 40.4% from 3-point range (61-for-151) last season.