Top Recruit Woliczko Chooses Iowa Over South Carolina

Iowa City, IA – Megan Woliczko, a five-star recruit and the No. 6 player in the girls’ SportsCenter NEXT 100 class, announced Wednesday that she has committed to play for the Iowa Hawkeyes. The 6-foot-2 forward from Archbishop Mitty High School in California will become coach Jan Jensen‘s highest-rated recruit since the departure of Caitlin Clark.

Woliczko drew comparisons to Clark, the NCAA’s all-time leading scorer, due to her impressive potential both on and off the court. “Obviously Caitlin’s a great player, and she put Iowa on the map,” Woliczko told ESPN. “But I also watched a lot of other Iowa players growing up. Players like Monika Czinano were always inspiring to me.”

While Woliczko has not directly communicated with Clark, she noticed Clark engaging with her on social media during her recruiting visit. Jensen informed Woliczko that Clark had been checking in on her throughout the recruiting process.

Woliczko faced a tough decision between Iowa and South Carolina, sending a handwritten thank-you note to Gamecocks coach Dawn Staley, whom she called an “extraordinary human being.” After her visits to both programs, Woliczko felt positive connections with teams and coaches at each school. “There were no cons to either of them,” she said, expressing her wish to attend both schools.

In the end, Woliczko chose Iowa due to the strong bond she formed with Jensen and the welcoming atmosphere of Iowa City. Prior to her commitment, Woliczko suffered an ACL tear, which sidelined her for most of the junior season and summer club play. Before her injury, she led her high school team to the Nike TOC Championship and played for Team USA at two international competitions, earning All-Star honors at both.

Woliczko is currently rehabilitating and is optimistic about her recovery process. “Some of the best advice I received was that many Hall of Fame players have torn their ACL before, and they came back better than ever,” she said. “I have a great support system from family and coaches.”

Known for her tenacity and energy on the court, Woliczko excels around the rim, contributing on both offensive rebounds and putbacks. She showed improvement in her shooting range and attacking off the dribble before her injury.

She is the first commit for the Iowa Hawkeyes in the 2026 class, as they also pursue several high-profile recruits for upcoming seasons.