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McKenna Woliczko âjust as excitedâ to join Iowa womenâs basketball as before
TL;DR
McKenna Woliczko, a signee for Iowa women's basketball, remains excited about joining the team despite recent roster changes. The 6-foot-2 player from San Bruno, California, expressed her eagerness to start her collegiate career in an interview.
McKenna Woliczko âjust as excitedâ to join Iowa womenâs basketball as before
As Iowa women's basketball signee McKenna Woliczko prepares to transition her game from the high school level to the collegiate ranks, she expressed her excitement for her freshman season in the fall during a recent interview with The Des Moines Register's Chad Leistikow.
Although nearly every program in the nation has been affected in some way by the NCAA transfer portal, some fans had a natural concern that the Hawkeyes' five departures could affect Woliczko's trust in the direction of the program.
Fortunately for Iowa, the 6-foot-2 native of San Bruno, Calif., immediately put those worries to rest by reaffirming her eagerness to begin her Iowa career and to meet whoever the program brings in to fill its vacant roster spots.
âAll the girls are great. Iâm just as excited to come in as I was before,â Woliczko said. âPeople are going to leave, but weâre going to get some people. Iâm really excited to see who we get.â
As Woliczko was authoring a record performance in the 2026 Nike Hoop Summit game, the Hawkeyes were in the midst of pouncing in the transfer portal. Woliczko registered a double-double with 10 points and 13 rebounds as Iowa landed All-SEC first-teamer Dani Carnegie out of the transfer portal to bolster its backcourt.
In a coincidental roommate switch as a result of Addie Deal and Teagan Mallegni entering the transfer portal, Woliczko will spend her first year in Iowa City with junior Ava Heiden and sophomore Layla Hays in an apartment near Carver-Hawkeye Arena.
Mar 31, 2026; Glendale, AZ, USA; McKenna Woliczko (20) during the McDonalds All American Girls Game at Desert Diamond Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
Mar 31, 2026; Glendale, AZ, USA; McKenna Woliczko (20) drives to the basket against Savannah Swords (8) during the McDonalds All American Girls Game at Desert Diamond Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
Mar 31, 2026; Glendale, AZ, USA; McKenna Woliczko (20) during the McDonalds All American Girls Game at Desert Diamond Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
Mar 31, 2026; Glendale, AZ, USA; McKenna Woliczko (20) during the McDonalds All American Girls Game at Desert Diamond Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
Mar 31, 2026; Glendale, AZ, USA; McKenna Woliczko (20) during the McDonalds All American Girls Game at Desert Diamond Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
Mar 31, 2026; Glendale, AZ, USA; McKenna Woliczko (20) during the McDonalds All American Girls Game at Desert Diamond Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
Mar 31, 2026; Glendale, AZ, USA; McKenna Woliczko (20) during the McDonalds All American Girls Game at Desert Diamond Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
Mar 31, 2026; Glendale, AZ, USA; McKenna Woliczko (20) during the McDonalds All American Girls Game at Desert Diamond Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
Mar 31, 2026; Glendale, AZ, USA; Saniyah Hall (2) moves the ball against McKenna Woliczko (20) during the McDonalds All American Girls Game at Desert Diamond Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
Mar 31, 2026; Glendale, AZ, USA; Saniyah Hall (2) shoots the ball against McKenna Woliczko (20) during the McDonalds All American Girls Game at Desert Diamond Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
Mar 31, 2026; Glendale, AZ, USA; McKenna Woliczko (20) during the McDonalds All American Girls Game at Desert Diamond Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
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Best photos: Iowa's McKenna Woliczko in McDonald's All-American Game
Mar 31, 2026; Glendale, AZ, USA; McKenna Woliczko (20) during the McDonalds All American Girls Game at Desert Diamond Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
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Best photos: Iowa's McKenna Woliczko in McDonald's All-American Game
Mar 31, 2026; Glendale, AZ, USA; McKenna Woliczko (20) during the McDonalds All American Girls Game at Desert Diamond Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
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Best photos: Iowa's McKenna Woliczko in McDonald's All-American Game
Mar 31, 2026; Glendale, AZ, USA; McKenna Woliczko (20) drives to the basket against Savannah Swords (8) during the McDonalds All American Girls Game at Desert Diamond Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
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Best photos: Iowa's McKenna Woliczko in McDonald's All-American Game
Mar 31, 2026; Glendale, AZ, USA; McKenna Woliczko (20) during the McDonalds All American Girls Game at Desert Diamond Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
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Best photos: Iowa's McKenna Woliczko in McDonald's All-American Game
Mar 31, 2026; Glendale, AZ, USA; McKenna Woliczko (20) during the McDonalds All American Girls Game at Desert Diamond Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
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Best photos: Iowa's McKenna Woliczko in McDonald's All-American Game
Mar 31, 2026; Glendale, AZ, USA; McKenna Woliczko (20) during the McDonalds All American Girls Game at Desert Diamond Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
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Best photos: Iowa's McKenna Woliczko in McDonald's All-American Game
Mar 31, 2026; Glendale, AZ, USA; McKenna Woliczko (20) during the McDonalds All American Girls Game at Desert Diamond Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
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Best photos: Iowa's McKenna Woliczko in McDonald's All-American Game
Mar 31, 2026; Glendale, AZ, USA; McKenna Woliczko (20) during the McDonalds All American Girls Game at Desert Diamond Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
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Best photos: Iowa's McKenna Woliczko in McDonald's All-American Game
Mar 31, 2026; Glendale, AZ, USA; McKenna Woliczko (20) during the McDonalds All American Girls Game at Desert Diamond Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
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Best photos: Iowa's McKenna Woliczko in McDonald's All-American Game
Mar 31, 2026; Glendale, AZ, USA; Saniyah Hall (2) moves the ball against McKenna Woliczko (20) during the McDonalds All American Girls Game at Desert Diamond Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
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Best photos: Iowa's McKenna Woliczko in McDonald's All-American Game
Mar 31, 2026; Glendale, AZ, USA; Saniyah Hall (2) shoots the ball against McKenna Woliczko (20) during the McDonalds All American Girls Game at Desert Diamond Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
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Best photos: Iowa's McKenna Woliczko in McDonald's All-American Game
Mar 31, 2026; Glendale, AZ, USA; McKenna Woliczko (20) during the McDonalds All American Girls Game at Desert Diamond Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
While Woliczko mentioned that she has some nerves entering her freshman year at Iowa, she also stated that she's thankful for the program's all-encompassing support and is excited about the experience.
âIâm obviously really nervous. Just taking that next step, not only just living by myself but also the basketball aspect, the social aspect, all of it,â Woliczko said. âIâm just really excited to feel that new support, and having that new (basketball) family will be so awesome. ⊠Iâm so excited to experience that.â
Woliczko arrives as head coach Jan Jensen's highest-ranked signee in her two years in charge and the program's highest-ranked signee since Caitlin Clark in 2020.
In her 21 games played during her senior campaign, Woliczko averaged 20.2 points and 11 rebounds while shooting 69% from the floor, 81% from the free-throw line, and 40% from 3-point range. For her career, she posted averages of 21.3 points and 9.4 rebounds per game on 63% shooting.
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This article originally appeared on Hawkeyes Wire: McKenna Woliczko âjust as excitedâ to join Iowa womenâs basketball as before
Q&A
What did McKenna Woliczko say about joining Iowa women's basketball?
McKenna Woliczko expressed that she is 'just as excited' to join Iowa women's basketball and is looking forward to her freshman season.
How tall is McKenna Woliczko and where is she from?
McKenna Woliczko is 6-foot-2 and hails from San Bruno, California.
What concerns did fans have regarding Iowa women's basketball's roster changes?
Fans were concerned that the departures of five players might affect Woliczko's trust in the program's direction.
How did Woliczko respond to concerns about the Iowa women's basketball program?
Woliczko reassured fans by reaffirming her eagerness to start her career at Iowa and to meet any new players joining the team.
