When Dorka Juhasz first stepped into the Eurocup tournament, she was just a 16-year-old who harbored dreams of making it big one day. Fast forward a decade, and now she is part of an exclusive club, the EuroLeague Women MVPs.

“MVP MVP MVP!. At 26 years old, Dorka Juhasz becomes the youngest #EuroLeagueWomen MVP!” shared EuroLeague Women on their X handle, celebrating Juhasz’s remarkable career growth since her teenage debut.

Juhasz, who signed for the Lynx back in 2023, has averaged 6.0 points, 6.5 rebounds, and 2.6 assists per game in her rookie season, earning WNBA All‑Rookie First Team honors. The forward, who is currently on a three-year rookie deal with Minnesota, was conferred one of Europe’s highest honors, receiving the Most Valuable Player award at the EuroLeague Women’s awards ceremony in Zaragoza.

Winning such an honor at such a young age is nothing short of exceptional. From a young hopeful to a newly crowned box-office name of European women’s hoops, the journey really saw her truly blossom into one of Europe’s finest basketball players.

“Looking back to when I was in Pecs, sometimes we forget. We get so caught up in the world of playing so many games and moving on to the next one. But when I take a break and look at my journey from Hungary to college, through injuries, it has been a long road,” said Juhasz, telling the same.

But what does getting this honor mean for Dorka?

Juhasz still in shock over the massive achievement

For Dorka Juhasz, getting an opportunity to play in the EuroLeague was nothing short of a dream, but now she has not just been able to play in the league but also will go down as one of the best to have played here.

“Playing in EuroLeague Women was always one of my goals. When I was 16 and playing in EuroCup Women, that was what I wanted to accomplish. If I could ask my younger self back then what I wanted to achieve, being here would be one of my wildest dreams.”

“I’m proud of the journey and the growth, including the uncomfortable or unconventional decisions like leaving my country [for College]. I’m proud of how far I’ve come, and I hope I keep growing in the years ahead. This year has been truly remarkable,” says Juhasz.

The 2025–26 EuroLeague Women season saw Dorka Juhász average 13.4 points, 8.1 rebounds, and 1.3 assists per game for Galatasaray, ranking 19th in scoring and 6th in rebounding across the competition. She had standout performances, including a 21‑point, 10‑rebound game against Sopron Basket.

As the league progressed, her game simply got better. Her frontcourt fluidity saw her dominate the glass with a precision that was hard to replicate. She is a reliable scorer in the paint with efficient finishing around the rim, coupled with her ball movement and defensive rotations, making her a hard person to keep in check.

Dorka’s growth has also been founded on the willingness of the Hungarians to embrace the almost unique experience of being encapsulated inside the relentless pressure of playing for one of sport’s great names.

And she has not looked back, making the most of the opportunity that came her way. But now there’s a small snag along the road for Juhasz. The Galatasaray forward has injured herself during Friday’s semi-final against Casademont Zaragoza,  which means that her availability against bitter rivals Fenerbahce hangs in the balance.

But she is hopeful that after the journey she has had, the Galatasaray team will eventually end the season on a high, triumphing against their arch-nemesis.

“I’m very happy with how we’ve performed and that it has led us here. It’s been a fun, exciting journey so far, and I really hope we can finish strong,” concludes Juhasz.

Juhasz’s growth and development are surely getting recognized, and the Minnesota Lynx are keeping a close watch on her every move. Hopefully, when she comes back to the squad for the upcoming season, Cheryl Reeve will make her game plan around her, keeping in mind her accomplishments.