"[Caitlin Clark] really put Iowa on the map" "Never gonna play for Staley": Fans react as 2026 prospect names 4 finalists in recruitment race

Class of 2026 prospect McKenna Woliczko is one of the most recruited players and is ranked No. 6 overall in the country in ESPN's top 100 recruiting list.

Woliczko who plays for Archbishop Mitty High School, San Jose recently narrowed down the list of schools she was considering to the Iowa Hawkeyes, Ohio State Buckeyes, South Carolina Gamecocks and the USC Trojans.

Woliczko averaged 22.1 points on 64% shooting from the floor and 7.3 rebounds for Archbishop Mitty before an ACL injury in January ended her sophomore season.

The 2026 prospect has an official visit slated for June 30 with the Gamecocks and another one with the Iowa Hawkeyes in August after an initial visit in October 2024. She praised Iowa's coaches during an interview with On3.

"I have a really good relationship with all the coaches," Woliczko said. "I talk to them a lot and I just love them as people and I could see them coaching me. When I went on Iowa’s campus in the fall, I really enjoyed the girls. I feel like all of them were very chill, but also they want to get better and play great basketball."

College basketball fans on X had mixed reactions to Woliczko's final choices of schools.

"Don’t know why she has SC on the list she ain’t never gonna play for Staley!!!"

Some fans rooted for the 2026 prospect to join coach Jan Jensen's Iowa.

"CC really put Iowa on the map," one fan tweeted.

"Iowa City is the women’s basketball capital of the world!" Another fan tweeted.

"IOWA!!!" One fan tweeted.

Class of 2026 prospect praises Dawn Staley's Gamecocks

During an interview with On3, McKenna Woliczko shared her admiration for coach Dawn Staley's South Carolina Gamecocks and their ability to prepare her for a career in the WNBA.

“I love Dawn (Staley) and the rest of the coaching staff,” Woliczko said. “I think that South Carolina is, when you’re looking to get to that next level, like the WNBA, South Carolina will help you get there.

"So I think that’s really cool to think about. They’re just recruiting the best of the best, so then you’re able to play with top players in the country, and that’s what it’s going to be like playing in the pros. I think it’d be cool to figure that out at the college level, instead of being pushed right into that at the pro level.”

Dawn Staley hosted 2026 prospect and the No. 1 ranked player in the country, Saniyah Hall, in May and will soon also get a chance to woo the No. 2 power forward in the country, according to 247Sports.