5-star McKenna Woliczko breaks down final 4 college basketball choices: South Carolina, Ohio State, Iowa, USC

Coming off torn ACL in January, Mitty 2026 wing tells what she loves about finalists, tribulations of last 5 months, Caitlin Clark's influence, all while cheering on Monarchs at CaliLive '25

Mitty 2026 5-star wing McKenna Woliczko stands and cheers another big play from the Monarchs, who improved to 4-0 at the CaliLive '25 college coaches showcase at Reobbelen Center in Roseville, Calif. on Thursday, June 13th. Woliczko is only five months removed from tearing a ACL in a Jan. 4 game which ended her junior season. / Photo by Dennis Lee

ROSEVILLE, Calif. — Donning a black T-shirt with the message "Nothing Easy," Mitty 5-star basketball star McKenna Woliczko dribbled a ball threw her legs and around her back with utter ease.

The 6-foot-2 wing, five months removed from a torn ACL that ended abruptly a possible National Player of the Year campaign stared blankly out to one of a couple dozen Roebbelen Center courts where her Monarchs were about to dissect another Cali Live '25 opponent.

A 20-point, 10-rebounds, 60% shooter throughout her career, Woliczko made the transition from middle school to high school, playing at the highest level in one of the nation's top programs for one of the country's top coaches (Sue Phillips) look downright seamless, earning High School On SI Freshman and Sophomore National Playerof the Year awards.

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Of course, none of the endless preparation, conditioning or practice has been easy for Woliczko, nor is it to play in a a demanding, detailed program, or the pressures of Team USA, where she's garnered a pair of gold medals playing overseas.

But of course the most uneasy time for Woliczko has been since she sustained the first major injury of her career on Jan. 4 in a national showdown game with Ontario Christian at the Sabrina Ionescu Classic in Concord, Calif.

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Mitty, then the No. 1 team in the country and undefeated, played previous No. 1 Ontario Christian, with the Monarchs winning 10 days earlier in the finals of the Nike TOC by 25 points thanks to the MVP performance of Woliczko.

The daughter of a former college basketball player and a college softball player was on her way to another big performance late in the second quarter when she went down with the devastating non-contact injury. She screamed in pain. A packed crowd went silent. Mitty was ahead by a few points at the time, but lost 61-44.

The leader of a very young team, Woliczko was terribly pained and dissapointed with the injury, but it didn't deter her from showing up for every practice and game, all workouts, while leading the Monarchs from the bench.

Her coaches and teammates gushed over Woliczko's unselfish ways in the final two months of the season, which ended with league, section and regional championships, but for a third straight year in a loss in the state finals.

On Friday, as the Monarchs improved to 3-0 in round-robin play at the educational-based CaliLive showcase, Woliczko once again cheered and supported her girls. Between wins over West Linn, Ore. (50-26) and Piedmont (84-38), she shared with us both the pride and discomfort and general road to recovery from the sidelines.

McKenna Woliczko said she's never been stronger from head to toe with all the extra conditioning she's done during rehab for her torn ACL. / Photo by Dennis Lee

She also revealed (see the full video above) the many ways the time off may eventually benefit her, from less wear and tear on her body, to her overall full body strength from weight training to the unique perspective from the bench.

Finally, Woliczko broke down the reason she narrowed her college choices to four schools — South Carolina, Ohio State, Iowa and USC — and what she covets about each program. She plans to take an official visit to South Carolina at the end of this month and another one to Iowa at the end of August.

Ultimately, she plans to make her final pick before the start of her high school season in November.

Maliya Hunter (23) reaches for a loose ball between two West Linn (Ore.) players at the CaliLive '25 event at Roebbelen Center in Roseville, California June 13, 2025 / Photo by Dennis Lee

"I want to fully focus on my ACL and my senior year without the stress of college recruitment," she said.

She showed no such stress revealing all the positives she sees in each college program. A small sample size is here, but click on video for full detailed answers.

South Carolina

"Anyone can see they're a legendary program. ... If you want to be ready for the next level, that is where you go."

Ohio State

"I had a really good family feel with the coaching staff. I felt very comfortable with the girls which was great." She also mentioned a Jason Kidd club teammate, Bishop O'Dowd 2027 guard Myella Chapman, has already committed to Ohio State, which is a positive.

Iowa

"I love the new coaching staff. There's a definitely family feel with them. I really like the fan base and I feel I can fit in immediately on the offensive and defensive ends." She also weighed in on the influence of Caitlin Clark's career in Iowa City.

USC

"They have girls on their team that I know and played with at camps before. ... They're also on the West Coast, the only close-to-home school and I could have family come visit me more often."

More Dennis Lee photos from Day 2 at CaliLive '05

Mitty's Maliya Hunter (23) and Ze'Ni Patterson (22) play defense in Day 2 game with West Linn (Ore.), a 50-26 Monarchs' win at the Roebbelen Center in Roseville, Calif. / Photo by Dennis Lee

Mitty's Emma Cook (13) goes in for two points in Day 2 win over West Linn (50-26) at the Roebbelen Center in Roseville, California on June 13, 2025 / Photo by Dennis Lee

Mitty's Emma Cook in Day 2 win over West Linn (50-26) at the Roebbelen Center in Roseville, California on June 13, 2025 | Photo by Dennis Lee | Photo by Dennis Lee / Photo by Dennis Lee

Tiera McCarthy in Day 2 win over West Linn (50-26) at the Roebbelen Center in Roseville, California on June 13, 2025 / Photo by Dennis Lee

Tiera McCarthy (24) playing defense for Mitty in 50-26 Day 2 win over West Linn (Ore.) at Roebbelen Center in Roseville, Calif. on June 13, 2025. / Photo by Dennis Lee

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