University of Iowa women's basketball forward McKenna Woliczko has been named to the 2027 Katrina McClain Award preseason watch list, the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame announced Thursday, Oct. 30. The award honors the top power forward in NCAA Division I women's basketball.
The first-year Hawkeye is one of only 20 players nationally to make the preseason list and one of three Big Ten representatives, according to Yahoo Sports. The recognition arrives before she has played a single regular-season minute in an Iowa uniform, a sign of just how high expectations are in Iowa City.
Who is McKenna Woliczko?
Woliczko, a 6-foot-2 forward from San Bruno, California, arrived at Iowa as the No. 6 overall recruit in the 2026 class, according to ESPN. She was a five-star signee and the headliner of coach Jan Jensen's best recruiting class since taking over the program.
The honor puts an early spotlight on a player Hawkeye fans have been waiting to see. Jensen landed Woliczko out of Archbishop Mitty High School, one of the most decorated prep programs on the West Coast, and the freshman now carries the highest rating of any recruit in Jensen's tenure and the second-highest in program history.
High school resume built on winning
Woliczko's prep career was stacked with individual hardware. She earned National Co-Freshman of the Year honors in 2023 and National Sophomore of the Year recognition in 2024 from MaxPreps, which also named her a two-time first-team All-American.
The numbers behind those awards were just as impressive. Woliczko averaged 21.3 points and 9.4 rebounds per game at Archbishop Mitty while shooting 63.7% from the field. She was twice named MVP of the Nike Tournament of Champions, becoming one of only two players in the event's history to win the award multiple times.
She closed her senior season with selections to the 2026 McDonald's All-American Game, the Jordan Brand Classic, and the Nike Hoop Summit, the three biggest showcases in high school basketball.
Record-setting performance at the Nike Hoop Summit
Woliczko saved one of her best performances for the national stage. At the 2026 Nike Hoop Summit, she posted 10 points, a women's event-record 13 rebounds, and a game-high six assists. She also became the first woman in the event's history to record a points-rebounds double-double, as reported by Yahoo Sports.
Her international credentials are just as strong. Woliczko is a two-time USA Basketball gold medalist, helping the United States win the 2023 FIBA Americas U16 Championship and the 2024 FIBA U17 World Cup. She earned All-Star Five honors at both tournaments.
Big Ten competition on the list
Woliczko is joined on the watch list by two other Big Ten players: Nunu Agara of Maryland and Cearah Parchment of Illinois. The full 20-player list also includes Chloe Kitts of South Carolina, Sarah Strong of UConn, ZaKiyah Johnson of LSU, and Me'Arah O'Neal of Kentucky, the daughter of NBA legend Shaquille O'Neal.
The University of Iowa athletics department confirmed the honor Thursday, and BVM Sports noted that the award, now in its 10th year, is named after Katrina McClain, a two-time All-American, the 1987 National Player of the Year, and a member of the Hall of Fame's Class of 2012.
What happens next in the award process
Fan voting for the award opened Friday, Oct. 30, and supporters can participate through hoophallawards.com. The 20-player watch list will be trimmed to 10 candidates in February, and five finalists will be announced in March before the winner is named.
For Iowa, the bigger prize is what Woliczko can do for a program looking to stay near the top of the Big Ten after the Caitlin Clark era. Jensen's roster now features one of the most decorated freshmen in the country, and the early national recognition suggests the Hawkeyes' recruiting momentum under her leadership is paying off.
Hawkeye fans will get their first extended look at Woliczko when Iowa opens its season, with the freshman expected to play a major role in the frontcourt from day one.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Katrina McClain Award?
The Katrina McClain Award, in its 10th year, recognizes the top power forward in NCAA Division I women's college basketball. It is named after two-time All-American and 1987 National Player of the Year Katrina McClain, a 2012 inductee into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame.
When does fan voting for the Katrina McClain Award start?
Fan voting began Friday, Oct. 30. The watch list narrows to 10 candidates in February, and five finalists will be announced in March.
Where did McKenna Woliczko play high school basketball?
Woliczko played at Archbishop Mitty High School in San Bruno, California, where she averaged 21.3 points and 9.4 rebounds per game and won two state titles with the program.