Dawn Staley, Gamecocks WBB make final cut for top recruit McKenna Woliczko
Dawn Staley and the Gamecocks are a finalist for one of the top players in the class of 2026.
Five-star wing McKenna Woliczko announced Thursday she’s narrowed down where she’ll play college ball to a final list of four teams: South Carolina, Iowa, Southern Cal and Ohio State.
Woliczko is the No. 6 recruit in the class of 2026 according to espnW’s Top 100 recruiting rankings. Listed at 6-foot-2, Woliczko is from California where she plays at Archbishop Mitty in San Jose. Her junior season was cut short when she suffered a torn ACL in Janurary. Woliczko averaged 22.1 points and 7.3 rebounds while shooting 64.0% from the floor during her sophomore season.
Woliczko told On3’s Talia Goodman she has a official visit set with South Carolina for June 30. She has already taken an official visit to Ohio State and has another set with Iowa in August, per On3.
“I love Dawn (Staley) and the rest of the coaching staff,” Woliczko told On3. “I think that South Carolina is, when you’re looking to get to that next level, like the WNBA, South Carolina will help you get there. So I think that’s really cool to think about. They’re just recruiting the best of the best, so then you’re able to play with top players in the country, and that’s what it’s going to be like playing in the pros. I think it’d be cool to figure that out at the college level, instead of being pushed right into that at the pro level.”
Woliczko has international experience playing for Team USA and is a two-time gold medal winner.
247Sports director of women’s baskebtall scouting Brandon Clay describes Woliczko as “one of the best rebounders nationally in her class.”
“Her motor does not stop on either end of the court,” Clay’s scouting report said. “Woliczko is an ideal piece on a roster built to win a championship. She brings elite-level energy every time she steps on the floor.”
