The “Big O” is heading to the Big East.
Olivia Vukosa, the senior 6-foot, 4-inch center for the Christ the King H.S., Middle Village, girls’ varsity basketball team affectionately known as the “Big O,” has committed to continue her hoops career at the University of Connecticut (UConn).
The highly anticipated decision for ESPN’s No. 3-ranked senior in the country came down to several top NCAA Division I schools, including powerhouse programs like the University of South Carolina, the University of Texas, the Ohio State University, and Louisiana State University.
In the end, UConn rose to the top for this three-time — and likely soon-to-be four-time — Tablet All-Star.
Vukosa grew up in Whitestone, attending St. Luke’s parish and playing Catholic Youth Organization (CYO) basketball for St. Kevin, Flushing. Being from Queens, she knew all about the storied history of Christ the King girls’ basketball program before joining the squad in 2022. In her three-plus years there, she’s developed into a leader both on the court and in the classroom.
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“Playing at Christ the King has definitely made me a better basketball player,” said Vukosa, who plays for the Philadelphia Rise Amateur Athletic Union program. “The coaches believe in me, and they want to see me do well. They’re always encouraging us to go the extra mile and do the extra workouts. Always go extra.”
In Vukosa’s three seasons, the Royals have notched two Brooklyn-Queens diocesan championships, two New York City championships, and a Catholic state title in 2024. As a junior, she averaged 19.1 points, 17.9 rebounds, 5.5 blocks, and 3.8 assists per game while also scoring her 1,000th career point and grabbing her 500th career rebound.
The accolades abound for this two-way superstar. After last season, Vukosa was named Vincent Cannizzaro Girls’ CHSAA Tier 1 Player of the Year, New York MaxPreps High School Girls Basketball Player of the Year, New York Women’s Basketball Gatorade Player of the Year, and New York Miss Basketball. She ended the season as the No. 5-ranked player nationally by ESPN in the Class of 2026.
Given these honors, Vukosa had her pick from the top Division I women’s basketball programs in the country. Though the recruitment process was intense, she relied on the guidance of a handful of close mentors, including her parents, Jenny and Damir; Christ the King’s assistant girls’ varsity coach Joe DeLuca; and her St. Kevin’s CYO basketball coach Jessica Villaplana, who herself played at St. Francis Prep, Fresh Meadows, and later St. Francis College, Brooklyn Heights.
Fresh off winning a national championship, the UConn Huskies have won more NCAA Division I titles (12) than any team in women’s college basketball history. Surely, the winning tradition factored into Vukosa’s decision.
“For me, it came down to where I felt the most comfortable and where I felt the team could be my family for the next four years, and that was why I chose UConn,” said Vukosa, who also has international playing experience for Croatia, where her grandparents were born. “When I watched practice … all the players made me feel so welcome. It felt like I wasn’t even a recruit; it felt like I was already on the team.”
Another reason UConn was her choice was head coach Geno Auriemma, who is skilled at developing front-court players. Both Breanna Stewart of the New York Liberty and Stefanie Dolson of the Washington Mystics played at UConn and are among the top front-court players in the WNBA. Combined, they won six national titles at UConn — with Stewart taking home an unprecedented four-straight championships from 2013- 2016.
Even with all the excitement of the last few weeks, Vukosa said she felt relieved that the decision had now been made and she could get back into the routine of playing high school basketball. The Royals will attempt to add to their 30 diocesan titles, 31 city titles, and 17 state titles.
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“Olivia was very excited to make her decision and very relieved once it was made,” said Bob Mackey, longtime Christ the King girls’ varsity basketball head coach and athletic director. “She will surely make an impact at UConn.”
Some notable names who played at Christ the King and then went on to UConn include Sue Bird and Tina Charles — both of whom are among the best players to ever play in the WNBA. Bird was inducted this year into both the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame and the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, while Charles is still active for the Connecticut Sun and is now the WNBA’s all-time leader in rebounds.
“Getting to be part of that Christ the King to UConn legacy is something I’m looking forward to,” said Vukosa, who intends to study medicine in college.
But, she still has one more season in Middle Village. Her focus now turns to the upcoming Royals season, as she looks to cap off her senior campaign with another set of hardware.
Way to go, “Big O!”