You know you’re special when you even manage to surprise UConn’s top star, Sarah Strong. Olivia Vukosa, the upcoming 6’4″ freshman from Croatia, is the newest gem for the Huskies and is expected to level up her game further under head coach Geno Auriemma. Even before the start of the college basketball season, ESPN’s No. 2-ranked recruit in the Class of 2026 is making waves, as Sarah Strong gave the Croatian some hefty recognition during an interview with CBS Sports College Basketball.

“Yeah, I mean, from just watching summer workouts, she’s a very smart player. She can pass really well, I didn’t really watch her play until she really got here. So that really caught me off guard. I mean, she’s super smart, very talented. And yeah, she’d definitely be very useful for us.” Strong told Alicia Jay, via CBS Sports College Basketball’s We Need To Talk.

Vukosa already had high expectations following her becoming the 2026 Gatorade National Player of the Year, and Strong’s words solidify her case even more as UConn’s next big gem.

During the summer, the 6’4″ phenomenon prioritized her conditioning and learning to lead while playing overseas for Croatia in the Under-18 EuroBasket tournament. There, Vukosa made history in the game against the Czech Republic, scoring a record-breaking 46 points in 38 minutes. Moreover, two-thirds of Croatia’s point total in its 73-66 loss came from the upcoming UConn freshman.

While Croatia managed to only finish 12th in the tournament with a 1-6 overall record, Vukosa took it upon herself to be the saving grace. In seven games, she finished with a double-double in six of them, announcing herself in fashion even before her anticipated debut with the Storrs.

Talking about UConn, Vukosa begins her collegiate career in November, stronger, fitter, and more experienced than she was back in late May.

“My family members are asking me, ‘When’s your jersey gonna be sold?’ And I’m like, ‘I don’t know yet,’” Vukosa told CT Insider during her HoopHall Hangout at the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in Springfield.

“… It’s really exciting. Especially like, I was hanging out with my family the other day, and one of my aunts was like, ‘We’re just all proud of you. You just getting this far is enough for us. Like, we don’t have to see you play.’” She added.

First coming to UConn, Vukosa revealed a “culture shock” regarding workouts she did not comprehend, as it was a stark difference from how her training was at Christ the King High School.

“Here, it’s a standard, obviously, and you’re supposed to make it, and you’re supposed to be able to run and sprint however many times you need to,” said Vukosa. “And it was a bit of a culture shock at first.”

However, that does not faze Vukosa. In fact, she is ready for the challenges she will face at UConn, while simultaneously having the mindset of growing and learning as she progresses through her life as a Husky.

Olivia Vukosa Knows That Hard Work Awaits Her

During the summer workouts, Olivia Vukosa walked into the Werth Champions Center and took note of the program history displayed in basically all corners of the building.

The lobby has photos of every member of UConn’s 2025 national championship squad. Every Husky taken in the first round of the WNBA Draft hangs in a hallway that runs parallel to the court, most notably Paige Bueckers and Azzi Fudd, who were the last two WNBA No. 1 overall draft picks, a fantastic form of motivation for the Croatian.

Meanwhile, one wall of the gym is covered with the Huskies’ 12 banners, another lists the Olympic gold medalists, and a third showcases all the All-Americans and National Players of the Year who have come through Storrs. So much glitz and glory even before starting the training would certainly become overwhelming, but Vukosa is not the average player when it comes to mentality.

“I get to walk into Werth every day and see all the faces on the walls and the champions,” she said. “I want to be up here one day, and I know I’m going to be up here.”

“I knew it was gonna be tough, so I had that mindset coming in. It’s definitely been hard, but a lot of fun.” Vukosa added, understanding that there is a long way to go to achieve success, even at a prestigious program like UConn.

Speaking of success, UConn went undefeated last season until they finally could not manage to overcome Dawn Staley’s South Carolina Gamecocks in the NCAA Championship semifinals. Alicia Jay asked Sarah Strong what it would take for the Huskies to reach back to the NCAA championship, to which Strong had a reassuring answer.

“I think us showing up every day at practice, knowing what our goals are as a team and knowing what we want to accomplish individually is pretty much all we can do. I mean, everyone’s been working, everyone’s been taking care of their stuff.” Strong said.

“So I think it’s just a team mentality, stepping on the court every day, knowing that coach is going to challenge us, and we have to respond, be able to punch back when we get punched. And I mean, yeah, I just think every day is going to have to kind of be a little piece of that every day.” The UConn star added.

Strong and the Huskies tip off the new season against Cornell, and with the addition of the 6’4″ Olivia Vukosa, the sky is the limit for Auriemma’s side.