ESPN features Iowa's Woliczko among top freshman impact rankings
Story by
ESPN features Iowa's Woliczko among top freshman impact rankings
Scout Springgate, Hawkeyes Wire·Hawkeyes Wire
·
2 min read
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Entering the 2026-27 season as one ofIowawomen's basketball's biggest additions, forward McKenna Woliczko is garnering preseason praise from ESPN. Woliczko was featured prominently amongESPN's freshman impact rankings.
Per ESPN's Shane Laflin, Woliczko's freshman impact ranking is No. 3 nationally.
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Although Woliczko is certainly not the only new member of the Hawkeyes' program with high expectations, the five-star forward from San Bruno, Calif., carries significant hype as she arrives in Iowa City as the highest-ranked incoming freshman since Caitlin Clark in 2020.
With Hannah Stuelke graduating in the spring, Woliczko is viewed by many as the program's next dominant forward and should provide the Hawkeyes with another versatile offensive threat alongside center Ava Heiden in the paint.
Here's what Laflin wrote about Woliczko:
With Hannah Stuelke graduated, Woliczko has a major opportunity to fill a void at forward alongside breakout juniorAva Heiden. The 6-2 freshman forward plays with a relentless motor and does much of her damage on the glass and around the rim. She's also working to expand her 3-point shooting, which could give the Hawkeyes a different offensive dimension without sacrificing the energy and physicality Stuelke provided.
Iowa coach Jan Jansen says:"[McKenna] came in understanding that she was entering a whole new level. She has worked very hard and has embraced increasing her range and expanding her perimeter skills. As she continues to develop ... she has the potential to be an incredible forward with stellar versatility."- Shane Laflin, ESPN
Woliczko averaged 21.3 points and 9.4 rebounds per game during her high school career while shooting 63.7% from the field.
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Fans will get their first public look at Woliczko and the Hawkeyes in action when they host Maryville in an exhibition on Oct. 29 at 7 p.m. CT. That contest will stream on B1G+. Iowa opens its 2026-27 regular season against Towson on Nov. 2 at 7 p.m. CT inside Carver-Hawkeye Arena.
Ava Heiden stands for a photo during Iowa Women’s Basketball media day at Carver Hawkeye Arena, Tuesday, October 13, 2026, in Iowa City.
(Zach Boyden-Holmes/The Register, USA TODAY Network via Reuters Co)
Taylor Stremlow stands for a photo during Iowa Women’s Basketball media day at Carver Hawkeye Arena, Tuesday, October 13, 2026, in Iowa City.
(Zach Boyden-Holmes/The Register, USA TODAY Network via Reuters Co)
Amari Whiting stands for a photo during Iowa Women’s Basketball media day at Carver Hawkeye Arena, Tuesday, October 13, 2026, in Iowa City.
(Zach Boyden-Holmes/The Register, USA TODAY Network via Reuters Co)
Chazadi 'Chit-Chat' Wright stands for a photo during Iowa Women’s Basketball media day at Carver Hawkeye Arena, Tuesday, October 13, 2026, in Iowa City.
(Zach Boyden-Holmes/The Register, USA TODAY Network via Reuters Co)
Ava Heiden stands for a photo during Iowa Women’s Basketball media day at Carver Hawkeye Arena, Tuesday, October 13, 2026, in Iowa City.
(Zach Boyden-Holmes/The Register, USA TODAY Network via Reuters Co)
Taylor Stremlow stands for a photo during Iowa Women’s Basketball media day at Carver Hawkeye Arena, Tuesday, October 13, 2026, in Iowa City.
(Zach Boyden-Holmes/The Register, USA TODAY Network via Reuters Co)
Layla Hays and Journey Houston stand for a photo during Iowa Women’s Basketball media day at Carver Hawkeye Arena, Tuesday, October 13, 2026, in Iowa City.
(Zach Boyden-Holmes/The Register, USA TODAY Network via Reuters Co)
McKenna Woliczko stands for a photo during Iowa Women’s Basketball media day at Carver Hawkeye Arena, Tuesday, October 13, 2026, in Iowa City.
(Zach Boyden-Holmes/The Register, USA TODAY Network via Reuters Co)
Layla Hays and Journey Houston stand for a photo during Iowa Women’s Basketball media day at Carver Hawkeye Arena, Tuesday, October 13, 2026, in Iowa City.
(Zach Boyden-Holmes/The Register, USA TODAY Network via Reuters Co)
Amari Whiting stands for a photo during Iowa Women’s Basketball media day at Carver Hawkeye Arena, Tuesday, October 13, 2026, in Iowa City.
(Zach Boyden-Holmes/The Register, USA TODAY Network via Reuters Co)
Jocelyn Faison stands for a photo during Iowa Women’s Basketball media day at Carver Hawkeye Arena, Tuesday, October 13, 2026, in Iowa City.
(Zach Boyden-Holmes/The Register, USA TODAY Network via Reuters Co)
Chazadi 'Chit-Chat' Wright stands for a photo during Iowa Women’s Basketball media day at Carver Hawkeye Arena, Tuesday, October 13, 2026, in Iowa City.
(Zach Boyden-Holmes/The Register, USA TODAY Network via Reuters Co)
Bria Medina stands for a photo during Iowa Women’s Basketball media day at Carver Hawkeye Arena, Tuesday, October 13, 2026, in Iowa City.
(Zach Boyden-Holmes/The Register, USA TODAY Network via Reuters Co)
Jocelyn Faison, Chazadi 'Chit-Chat' Wright and Dani Carnegie stand for a photo during Iowa Women’s Basketball media day at Carver Hawkeye Arena, Tuesday, October 13, 2026, in Iowa City.
(Zach Boyden-Holmes/The Register, USA TODAY Network via Reuters Co)
Layla Hays and Ava Heiden stand for a photo during Iowa Women’s Basketball media day at Carver Hawkeye Arena, Tuesday, October 13, 2026, in Iowa City.
(Zach Boyden-Holmes/The Register, USA TODAY Network via Reuters Co)
Dani Carnegie stands for a photo during Iowa Women’s Basketball media day at Carver Hawkeye Arena, Tuesday, October 13, 2026, in Iowa City.
(Zach Boyden-Holmes/The Register, USA TODAY Network via Reuters Co)
Journey Houston stands for a photo during Iowa Women’s Basketball media day at Carver Hawkeye Arena, Tuesday, October 13, 2026, in Iowa City.
(Zach Boyden-Holmes/The Register, USA TODAY Network via Reuters Co)
Amari Whiting stands for a photo during Iowa Women’s Basketball media day at Carver Hawkeye Arena, Tuesday, October 13, 2026, in Iowa City.
(Zach Boyden-Holmes/The Register, USA TODAY Network via Reuters Co)
Iowa head coach Jan Jensen speaks to reporters Oct. 13, 2026 during the Iowa women’s basketball media day at Carver-Hawkeye Arena in Iowa City, Iowa.
(Julia Hansen/Iowa City Press-Cit, USA TODAY Network via Reuters Co)
1/19
Iowa women's basketball cracks top 10 in preseason Coaches Poll rankings
Ava Heiden stands for a photo during Iowa Women’s Basketball media day at Carver Hawkeye Arena, Tuesday, October 13, 2026, in Iowa City.
(Zach Boyden-Holmes/The Register, USA TODAY Network via Reuters Co)
1/19
Iowa women's basketball cracks top 10 in preseason Coaches Poll rankings
Ava Heiden stands for a photo during Iowa Women’s Basketball media day at Carver Hawkeye Arena, Tuesday, October 13, 2026, in Iowa City.
(Zach Boyden-Holmes/The Register, USA TODAY Network via Reuters Co)
2/19
Iowa women's basketball 2026-27 media day photos
Taylor Stremlow stands for a photo during Iowa Women’s Basketball media day at Carver Hawkeye Arena, Tuesday, October 13, 2026, in Iowa City.
(Zach Boyden-Holmes/The Register, USA TODAY Network via Reuters Co)
3/19
How to watch Iowa women's basketball vs. Maryville today
Amari Whiting stands for a photo during Iowa Women’s Basketball media day at Carver Hawkeye Arena, Tuesday, October 13, 2026, in Iowa City.
(Zach Boyden-Holmes/The Register, USA TODAY Network via Reuters Co)
4/19
Iowa women's basketball 2026-27 media day photos
Chazadi 'Chit-Chat' Wright stands for a photo during Iowa Women’s Basketball media day at Carver Hawkeye Arena, Tuesday, October 13, 2026, in Iowa City.
(Zach Boyden-Holmes/The Register, USA TODAY Network via Reuters Co)
5/19
Iowa women's basketball's Ava Heiden named to Lisa Leslie Award Watch List
Ava Heiden stands for a photo during Iowa Women’s Basketball media day at Carver Hawkeye Arena, Tuesday, October 13, 2026, in Iowa City.
(Zach Boyden-Holmes/The Register, USA TODAY Network via Reuters Co)
6/19
Iowa women's basketball 2026-27 media day photos
Taylor Stremlow stands for a photo during Iowa Women’s Basketball media day at Carver Hawkeye Arena, Tuesday, October 13, 2026, in Iowa City.
(Zach Boyden-Holmes/The Register, USA TODAY Network via Reuters Co)
7/19
Iowa women's basketball 2026-27 media day photos
Layla Hays and Journey Houston stand for a photo during Iowa Women’s Basketball media day at Carver Hawkeye Arena, Tuesday, October 13, 2026, in Iowa City.
(Zach Boyden-Holmes/The Register, USA TODAY Network via Reuters Co)
8/19
Iowa's McKenna Woliczko named to Katrina McClain Award watch list
McKenna Woliczko stands for a photo during Iowa Women’s Basketball media day at Carver Hawkeye Arena, Tuesday, October 13, 2026, in Iowa City.
(Zach Boyden-Holmes/The Register, USA TODAY Network via Reuters Co)
9/19
Iowa women's basketball 2026-27 media day photos
Layla Hays and Journey Houston stand for a photo during Iowa Women’s Basketball media day at Carver Hawkeye Arena, Tuesday, October 13, 2026, in Iowa City.
(Zach Boyden-Holmes/The Register, USA TODAY Network via Reuters Co)
10/19
Iowa women's basketball 2026-27 media day photos
Amari Whiting stands for a photo during Iowa Women’s Basketball media day at Carver Hawkeye Arena, Tuesday, October 13, 2026, in Iowa City.
(Zach Boyden-Holmes/The Register, USA TODAY Network via Reuters Co)
11/19
Iowa women's basketball 2026-27 media day photos
Jocelyn Faison stands for a photo during Iowa Women’s Basketball media day at Carver Hawkeye Arena, Tuesday, October 13, 2026, in Iowa City.
(Zach Boyden-Holmes/The Register, USA TODAY Network via Reuters Co)
12/19
Iowa women's basketball earns No. 10 ranking in preseason AP Top 25 poll
Chazadi 'Chit-Chat' Wright stands for a photo during Iowa Women’s Basketball media day at Carver Hawkeye Arena, Tuesday, October 13, 2026, in Iowa City.
(Zach Boyden-Holmes/The Register, USA TODAY Network via Reuters Co)
13/19
Iowa women's basketball 2026-27 media day photos
Bria Medina stands for a photo during Iowa Women’s Basketball media day at Carver Hawkeye Arena, Tuesday, October 13, 2026, in Iowa City.
(Zach Boyden-Holmes/The Register, USA TODAY Network via Reuters Co)
14/19
Iowa women's basketball 2026-27 media day photos
Jocelyn Faison, Chazadi 'Chit-Chat' Wright and Dani Carnegie stand for a photo during Iowa Women’s Basketball media day at Carver Hawkeye Arena, Tuesday, October 13, 2026, in Iowa City.
(Zach Boyden-Holmes/The Register, USA TODAY Network via Reuters Co)
15/19
Iowa women's basketball 2026-27 media day photos
Layla Hays and Ava Heiden stand for a photo during Iowa Women’s Basketball media day at Carver Hawkeye Arena, Tuesday, October 13, 2026, in Iowa City.
(Zach Boyden-Holmes/The Register, USA TODAY Network via Reuters Co)
16/19
Iowa women's basketball guard named to Ann Meyers Drysdale watch list
Dani Carnegie stands for a photo during Iowa Women’s Basketball media day at Carver Hawkeye Arena, Tuesday, October 13, 2026, in Iowa City.
(Zach Boyden-Holmes/The Register, USA TODAY Network via Reuters Co)
17/19
Iowa women's basketball 2026-27 media day photos
Journey Houston stands for a photo during Iowa Women’s Basketball media day at Carver Hawkeye Arena, Tuesday, October 13, 2026, in Iowa City.
(Zach Boyden-Holmes/The Register, USA TODAY Network via Reuters Co)
18/19
Iowa women's basketball 2026-27 media day photos
Amari Whiting stands for a photo during Iowa Women’s Basketball media day at Carver Hawkeye Arena, Tuesday, October 13, 2026, in Iowa City.
(Zach Boyden-Holmes/The Register, USA TODAY Network via Reuters Co)
19/19
Iowa women's basketball 2026-27 media day photos
Iowa head coach Jan Jensen speaks to reporters Oct. 13, 2026 during the Iowa women’s basketball media day at Carver-Hawkeye Arena in Iowa City, Iowa.
(Julia Hansen/Iowa City Press-Cit, USA TODAY Network via Reuters Co)
Contact/Follow us @HawkeyesWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Iowa news, notes and opinions.Follow Scout on X: @SpringgateNews
