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It’s not every day you get surprised by Diana Taurasi after you’ve won an award.
That’s the latest memory for Olivia Vukosa, who was named the 2026 Gatorade National Girls Basketball Player of the Year on Thursday. The award is one of the top honors in high school sports, as it celebrates the nation’s best young athletes for their excellence in sport, academics and community.
Previous recipients include NFL legend Peyton Manning, Dallas Mavericks rising youngster Cooper Flagg and Dallas Wings star Paige Bueckers.
Vukosa, a 6-foot-5 center at Christ the King High School in Middle Village, New York, will hope to be next in line on that list. Averaging 17.8 points, 18.1 rebounds, 5.5 assists and 4.4 blocks this past season, she’s on the right path.
Coming from a Croatian background, Vukosa is viewed as a top-five option in the 2026 recruiting class. She committed to UConn on Oct. 21, 2025, a school well known for its ability to develop and optimize star talents. Vusoka is the first Husky to win the award since Bueckers, who did so in 2020-21.
So it was fitting that it was Taurasi, both a Husky and WNBA legend, that surprised her with the award.
“I’ve heard and seen Olivia for the last four years,” Taurasi said. “Coach has always hit me up, like, you’ve got to see this kid. You got to see this kid. And watching her play here, Christ the King, just an incredible career she’s had here.
“And it’s just not on the court. It’s off the court, too. It’s the way she handles school and her teammates and her family. Just an honor to be here with her…It’s really a launching pad to what’s the future going to be like for Olivia.”
Vukosa, understandably, didn’t believe the moment herself.
“I didn’t even see the trophy yet, and I started crying, so that’s a great way to start my morning,” she said. “But I’m very excited. It doesn’t feel real to me. I feel like someone needs to pinch me right now.”
Taurasi also offered Vukosa advice on what’s to come as she handles the transition from high school hoops to one of the most iconic women’s college basketball schools.
“Buckle up, buckle up, buckle up,” Taurasi started. “You know, the beauty about Connecticut is it challenges you in all the ways that make you a better teammate and a better player. And there’s no better place to go there if basketball is the thing that you love the most and coach [Geno Auriemma] and the coaching staff there, they push you to the limits.
“They’re going to push Olivia to the limits. And that’s why she’s willing to take that challenge, because she’s ready for it.”
Diana Taurasi, the WNBA’s all-time leading scorer, officially announced her retirement after 20 seasons all with the Phoenix Mercury.
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