2026 Recruiting: Olivia Vukosa

[HuskyNan]

Please read the post tacked to the top of the board re: individual threads for each recruit

The prefix, e.g 2026 Recruiting is from a pull down menu just to the left of the box where you type the thread title

 

[GenoWept]

@HuskyNan Now that we are unable to have a speculation thread, is it okay to speculate about players just in their individual player threads like this one?

 

[HuskyNan]

@HuskyNan Now that we are unable to have a speculation thread, is it okay to speculate about players just in their individual player threads like this one?

Within reason. The purpose of the “no speculation” rule was to prevent the thread from drifting waaay off topic into projected lineups, Geno’s eventual replacement, complaints about previous players, etc, all of which have been deleted from prior recruiting threads. The threads must be about the recruit.

 

[Zarathustra]

Please read the post tacked to the top of the board re: individual threads for each recruit

The prefix, e.g 2026 Recruiting is from a pull down menu just to the left of the box where you type the thread title

View attachment 102365

And for all of Olivia's great stats... DON'T FORGET HER WONDERFUL
PASSING, and Running the FLOOR, and movement without the BALL!

 

[NycUcWbbFan]

2026: Olivia Vukosa | Offered | 6-4 | Post | 2 #1 | 3 #2 | 2 #3 | WBB Blog | ESPN | maxpreps.com: Bio | fiba.basketball: Bio | usatodayhss.com | youtube.com | News, Images and Videos | The Boneyard | 2023 U16: Stats: Awards | 2024 U17WC: Stats | Highlight3 | Highlight4 | Highlight5 |

Olivia Vukosa (Croatia: 2024 U17 World Cup: 1st Game)

• Minutes: 32.08 (3rd)
• Efficiency: 29.00 (1st)
• Points: 21.00 (1st)
• Rebounds: 23.00 (1st)
• Assists: 4.00 (1st)
• Steals: 2.00 (1st)
• Blocks: 0.00 (Tie 4th)
• Turnovers: 4.00 (Tie 2nd)
• 2 Pt %: 37.5% (Tie 4th)
• 3 Pt %: 100% (Tie 1st)
• FT %: 46.2% (6th)
• FGA: 17 (1st)

 

[Cuango]

Please, please, please…….!

 

[From Canada]

The Big O

 

[ctchamps]

2026: Olivia Vukosa | Offered | 6-4 | Post | 2 #1 | 3 #2 | 2 #3 | WBB Blog | ESPN | maxpreps.com: Bio | fiba.basketball: Bio | usatodayhss.com | youtube.com | News, Images and Videos | The Boneyard | 2023 U16: Stats: Awards | 2024 U17WC: Stats | Highlight3 | Highlight4 | Highlight5 |

Olivia Vukosa (Croatia: 2024 U17 World Cup: 1st Game)

• Minutes: 32.08 (3rd)
• Efficiency: 29.00 (1st)
• Points: 21.00 (1st)
• Rebounds: 23.00 (1st)
• Assists: 4.00 (1st)
• Steals: 2.00 (1st)
• Blocks: 0.00 (Tie 4th)
• Turnovers: 4.00 (Tie 2nd)
• 2 Pt %: 37.5% (Tie 4th)
• 3 Pt %: 100% (Tie 1st)
• FT %: 46.2% (6th)
• FGA: 17 (1st)

This and the other recruits you have posted are impressive assemblies of information about recruits. I have been on the Boneyard longer than is healthy. IMO these are the most organized and comprehensive posts I’ve observed. Thank you.

 

[Charliebball]

The Big O

Her newfound fitness (last 16 months) has turned her into a far quicker player allowing for finesse moves instead of just relying on her size........she's already really good but with UConn's help, she could be great........

 

[RoadMaster]

 

[HopJim]

Big O is my number one priority recruit. In addition to great offensive, defensive, and rebounding skills, from what I have seen on limited videos, she makes her teammates more productive. Surround her with UConn's ultra quick, great shooting guards and wings and you have a top 3 team for all 4 years.

 

[oldhusky]

Big O is my number one priority recruit. In addition to great offensive, defensive, and rebounding skills, from what I have seen on limited videos, she makes her teammates more productive. Surround her with UConn's ultra quick, great shooting guards and wings and you have a top 3 team for all 4 years.

I think both the Big O and Lara Somfai can make teammates better. Both have shown a willingness and ability to pass, handle the ball, and shoot from the perimeter, skills that are more rarer among bigs.

 

[Zarathustra]

Nice Highlights for Olivia , Big "O". I enjoyed the
put back tip in towards the end of the video and
that bounce pass to her with the finish. Olivia had
a good game against Australia despite being double
and tripled teamed at times. Australia also rotated the
defenders against her. This allowed the defenders to
be physical and foul her to stop her moves.... and the
fouls were shared by three Australian players (no player
was in jeopardy of fouling out because of this savvy
strategy by the H.C. of the Aussies. Lena Bilic almost
made up the difference for the Croatians.... but still
the 9 point loss.

 

[rvwsleep]

USA up 24-15 over Croatia after 1 quarter in the U17 World Cup.
Vukosa is keeping Croatia in the game. Without her presence in the middle, the USA would be dominating their offensive boards. The big O plays excellent one on one D and is a very good passer. She doesn't force shots.

 

[Zarathustra]

USA up 24-15 over Croatia after 1 quarter in the U17 World Cup.
Vukosa is keeping Croatia in the game. Without her presence in the middle, the USA would be dominating their offensive boards. The big O plays excellent one on one D and is a very good passer. She doesn't force shots.

Yes, and another DOUBLE DOUBLE FOR "THE BIG O" against the best competition...THE USA U 17 women's team!

 

[Zarathustra]

France 63 - Croatia 59 = FINAL SCORE. Going into the fourth Quarter
it was France 48 Croatia 47. Olivia Vukosa enters the fourth Quarter
with FOUR FOULS. She blocks a shot at 9:37 of the period and the
commentator remarks " NO GUTS... NO GLORY " (playing with the four
fouls!). Moments later a quality rebound for Olivia. Commentator
remarking on should the H.C. of Croatia have Olivia in the game?... Seconds
later a missed hook shot by Olivia (but Croatia is now up 49 - 48.)
Then it happens, 7: 45 minutes remaining. Olivia appears to get all
ball on another block but ... the whistle blows... It must have been contact with the body
and OLIVIA is GONE! STATS: 20 points, 11 rebounds, 5/9 field
goal shooting, 5/8 on two pointers, 10 for 11 on free throws, 2 assists,
5 turn overs, THREE BLOCKS, Efficiency: 29! For the entire
tournament: Olivia is averaging a DOUBLE DOUBLE with16.8 ppg (fourth) and
13.8 rebounds per game (#1 in the tournament). GO OLIVIA, GO CROATIA, GO UCONN! Beat
Argentina!

 

[BobbyJ]

France 63 - Croatia 59 = FINAL SCORE. Going into the fourth Quarter
it was France 48 Croatia 47. Olivia Vukosa enters the fourth Quarter
with FOUR FOULS. She blocks a shot at 9:37 of the period and the
commentator remarks " NO GUTS... NO GLORY " (playing with the four
fouls!). Moments later a quality rebound for Olivia. Commentator
remarking on should the H.C. of Croatia have Olivia in the game?... Seconds
later a missed hook shot by Olivia (but Croatia is now up 49 - 48.)
Then it happens, 7: 45 minutes remaining. Olivia appears to get all
ball on another block but ... the whistle blows... It must have been contact with the body
and OLIVIA is GONE! STATS: 20 points, 11 rebounds, 5/9 field
goal shooting, 5/8 on two pointers, 10 for 11 on free throws, 2 assists,
5 turn overs, THREE BLOCKS, Efficiency: 29! For the entire
tournament: Olivia is averaging a DOUBLE DOUBLE with16.8 ppg (fourth) and
13.8 rebounds per game (#1 in the tournament). GO OLIVIA, GO CROATIA, GO UCONN! Beat
Argentina!

Yes the 5th foul was questionable but shouldn't have been her 5th. She had 2-3 others earlier that were bad decisions. She is usually going to be her team's primary interior defender and needs to learn and understand when to challenge shots and wrestle for position. It's great that she's always in attack mode but she has to learn to make better decisions through experience so she doesn't hurt her teams. But she's smart, understands the game, is progressing well, and is one of the top 2-3 very young bigs in the world. It's just a matter of time and she'll get there and be outstanding.

 

[RoadMaster]

 

[Zarathustra]

Croatia vs Argentina, Friday evening, 5 PM. Both teams have
similar FG %, 2 point % and Free throw %, but somehow Croatia's
PPG is 66 and Argentina's is 45?? There are other stats, but the
result IMHO will rest on the play of Olivia and her teammate, Lena Bilic, # 9.
Go OLIVIA, GO CROATIA, win out these last three games!!

 

[Zarathustra]

QUARTER 1 : Croatia 21 Argentina 16
Olivia 4 points, 6 rebounds one offensive
three assists, one PERSONAL FOUL one steal
one block and efficiency of 10. Foul
was at 8:02 of the period.. Olivia is being
CAREFUL!!

 

[Zarathustra]

QUARTER 1 : Croatia 21 Argentina 16
Olivia 4 points, 6 rebounds one offensive
three assists, one PERSONAL FOUL one steal
one block and efficiency of 10. Foul
was at 8:02 of the period.. Olivia is being
CAREFUL!!

Half Time Croatia 39 Argentina 35
Refs are calling " touch fouls" (IMHO)
Olivia with THREE PERSONAL FOULS!!
ONE a "MAYBE" in this period and another an OFFENSIVE FOUL
when when bent down to pick up a loose ball!!
So this may be decided on the foul line and
the need for Olivia to be careful or ON THE
BENCH!
Olivia Stats ( and corrections ) seven points
2 /5 shooting 3/4 from foul line 8 rebounds,
two offensive ( in 13 minutes and 35 seconds of
playing time), ONLY ONE Assist ( a correction)
two turn overs, two steals, one block and
efficienty of 13.
Both teams players are surprised at the
foul calling. But it works more against Croatia
not having Olivia on the flood it really changes their
defensive assignments. Alos the change of
playing style for OLIVAI.. her need to be
careful. There was some early FLOPPING FOR
ARGENTINA. Olivia was early diving for loose balls,
not NOW !! To be continued.

 

[Zarathustra]

THE REFS! THE REFS! ONE of the ARGENTINA PLAYERS
CAME DOWN THE BASELINE FOR A PASS... SHE WAS OUT
OF BOUNDS ( IN FRONT OF THE REF ) GOT THE RETURN
PASS INBOUNDS AND SCORED!! ouch!
HALF TIME REBOUNDS CROATIA 28 12 OFFENSIVE
ARGENTINA 17 2 OFFENSIVE. FOULS 11 FOR ARGENTINA
8 FOR CROATIA BUT THREE POINTERS ARGENTINA 5 /12 FOR
41.6 % CROATIA FIVE FOR 24!! 20. 8 % FREE THROWS
CROATIA 8 /12 ARGENTINA 6 / 11. BILIC FOR CROATIA
ALSO HAS THREE FOULS !!

 

[Zarathustra]

THIRD Q Croatia 64 Argentia 53
Olivia 23 minutes 35 seconds
13 points 13 rebounds 5 offensive.
four assists ( quite a few inside - out passes for
points = see the extra assists for Olivia) Three fouls.
three turnovers, one block = more blocks were possible
but OLIVIA is being VERY CAREFUL.. NICE!.
Finally some breathing room.... Will it be
enougt??

 

[Zarathustra]

THIRD Q Croatia 64 Argentia 53
Olivia 23 minutes 35 seconds
13 points 13 rebounds 5 offensive.
four assists ( quite a few inside - out passes for
points = see the extra assists for Olivia) Three fouls.
three turnovers, one block = more blocks were possible
but OLIVIA is being VERY CAREFUL.. NICE!.
Finally some breathing room.... Will it be
enougt??

Fourth Q Argentia is forced to shoot 3 pointers. missing and
OLIVIA VUKOSA is eating them alive with her
offensive rebounds. Plenty of time left and
she has 19 rebounds. Her intimidation in
the paine is powerful. She should have at least
3 blocks, one with her upper arm ( humerus )
which I don't know they will credit her for.
Great passing from inside the paint to ther
outside shooters for Croatia. Olivia also
setting some very nice HIGH SCREENS.

 

[Zarathustra]

FINAL SCORE CROATIA 91 ARGENTIA 73
OLIVAI 20 POINTS 20 REBOUNDS. OLIVIA
EVEN HIT A OPEN THREE POINTER WITH 50
SECONDS LEFT! FIELD GOAL 6/14 OLIVIA WAS
CLEARLY "OFF" HER GAME AFTER THE CRAZY
THIRD FOUL CALL ON HER. BUT SHE NEVER GOT
ANOTHER FOUL! THREE FOULS, FOUR ASSISTS,
FOUR TURNOVERS, THREE RECORED BLOCKS (
( I CLEARLY SAW FOUR, NOTED ABOVE) AND SHE CLEARLY
COULD HAVE HAD MORE. OLIVIA'S EFFICIACY
WAS thirty seven! nice job OLIVIA!! LENA
BILIC CONTINUES TO BE A STEADY, DEPENDABLE
PRESENCE FOR CROATIA WITH 24 POINTS.