Iowa freshman forward McKenna Woliczko joined Panini at WNBA Live during All-Star weekend in Chicago where she was signing exclusive prints of trading cards. Woliczko took time to meet fans, open packs and sign Panini cards.
It was a quick trip for Woliczko to Chicago for WNBA All-Star Weekend, but one that helps paint the picture of what her future could entail as she enters the next stage of her basketball journey at Iowa.
“I think definitely. Panini just opens up opportunities and chances to see what the future’s going to look like. As a girl, I never thought that I’d be sitting where I am now with Panini. And so now to see that I could have that chance in the future is just awesome.
“I’m sitting and looking at this table of cards with all the WNBA players. Right in front of me, I’ve got Aliyah Boston and so many other players. It’s just so awesome to see all their cards and to think that I am able to have a card with Panini that’s like it, it’s just so cool,” Woliczko said.
Woliczko’s high school card is also among the trading cards in the recently-released 2025-26 Panini Prizm Basketball hobby box.
WNBA legend Sue Bird was among the other players in attendance with Panini in Chicago.
Woliczko also took time to update her transition to the Hawkeyes.
McKenna Woliczko is no stranger to the spotlight and the big stage. As a rising talent, Woliczko’s unique traits earned her opportunities with USA Basketball that should help her as she joins Iowa’s program.
“I think definitely the opportunities I’ve had in the past playing basketball are going to help me into Iowa. This past year, playing at McDonald’s, Nike Hoop Summit, Jordan Brand Classic, those are all awesome opportunities that are going to help at Iowa. And also just help in the future knowing all those girls and coaches,” Woliczko said.
The 6-foot-2 forward from San Bruno, Calif., won Gold Medals during the 2023 FIBA Americas U16 Championship and in the 2024 FIBA U17 World Cup. Plus, Woliczko played for one of the country’s top high school coaches.
“Playing for Archbishop Mitty, one of the best high school programs in the country, being able to play under coach (Sue) Phillips. Little things that she’s taught me I can see are already helping at Iowa,” Woliczko said.
Still, even with all of the tools that Woliczko possesses, the transition to Division I basketball and to college life is a real one for any player.
Woliczko is rooming in an apartment with centers Layla Hays and Ava Heiden. That duo has been instrumental in Woliczko’s transition to Iowa City.
“Oh my gosh, I love Layla and Ava so much. They are not only great roommates, but they’re great teammates. On the court, we’re always talking, always together. And then, off the court, I’m probably with Layla 24/7. We’re always off doing something, whether we’re eating, cleaning the apartment up or doing anything. Layla and Ava have definitely just made this transition to not only college basketball, but college life so much easier,” Woliczko said.
Woliczko said Ava is more quiet and independent, while Layla is more outgoing.
“They’re both complete opposites, but they work so well together because of that. I would say that I’m somewhere in between. I like to have my alone and independent moments, but there’s times where I like to be outgoing and talk to people. I think so far it’s been just a perfect mix being able to live with both of them,” Woliczko said.
Woliczko recently shared the reception that she received upon her Iowa City arrival. After some of her luggage was delayed, Woliczko and her mother went to Walmart to purchase some necessities early in the morning.
Woliczko wasn’t expecting to be recognized so quickly.
“I mean, not at all. Coming in the next day of landing at Iowa and just seeing that people already recognize me is just awesome. There’s days that we’re just walking around campus and sometimes we’re not even anywhere close to campus and people are just like, ‘Oh, thank you for coming to Iowa.’ It’s just such an awesome feeling just to know that this many people support not only Iowa, but women’s basketball. It’s just so awesome to see,” Woliczko said.
Woliczko can’t wait to play in front of those passionate fans.
“I can’t even imagine. I’ve never been in Carver actually on a game day, so it’s going to be something brand new for me. The girls tell me that it’s very nerve-wracking when you walk in, but it’s just the appreciation you feel and all the support you feel is just out of this world and I can’t wait to feel that,” Woliczko said.
As Woliczko noted, the jump from high school to Division I basketball was always going to be a transition.
“There’s obviously going to be a big adjustment to Division I basketball from high school basketball and part of that is just the pure quickness and the strength of all the girls. Playing in practice and then open gym when we’re playing against each other, all these girls are just so quick and so strong. It’s definitely something to get used to and something that I will eventually learn my way up to. Obviously, I’m in the weight room almost every day just trying to get stronger, that way I can compete at the Big Ten level,” Woliczko said.
But, Woliczko is also adjusting to playing more on the perimeter in Iowa’s four-out, one-in offense.
“Trying to kind of level up every aspect of my game on the perimeter, whether that’s defense, shooting the three-ball, passing, rebounding from the perimeter, those are all new concepts to me. So, just starting to get used to that will be really helpful,” Woliczko said.
Just as Woliczko was starting to get more comfortable with her 3-point shot throughout her high school career, she tore her ACL.
“I’m always getting in the gym, just trying to make sure that I’m getting my three-ball shot up, that way I can become more confident with it. That way in the games when there is defense, there is other read-and-react situations, I’m going to feel more comfortable with it. So, that’s something that I’m definitely working on this summer,” Woliczko said.
Even after her decorated prep career, it’s a good reminder for fans that this will indeed be a transition for Woliczko at Iowa. And that’s to be expected for any freshman.
The Hawkeyes return one of the nation’s best players in Heiden, who was an All-Big Ten first-team member and an honorable mention selection on a pair of All-America teams. Iowa also landed guard Dani Carnegie from Georgia after she was named to the All-SEC first team with averages of 17.8 points, 5.2 rebounds and 3.2 assists per game.
But, Woliczko named two other Hawkeyes as Iowa leaders throughout the summer.
“I would say Taylor Stremlow and Chit-Chat Wright… Taylor’s definitely more talkative and Chit-Chat’s more lead by example. Both of them have just been great helps, not only basketball-wise, but just knowing what’s right, what’s wrong, what it’s like to be in college. They’re two people that I can always talk to and I know that I’m going to get a helpful answer out of,” Woliczko said.
That’s in line with some of the offseason chatter surrounding guard Taylor Stremlow, who Woliczko agrees has an urgency about her.
“I can definitely expect that out of Taylor. She’s one of those people, she’s first in the gym and last out of the gym. She’s always putting in the extra work and is always willing to be just working. I really respect that out of her and I’m really excited to see what she’s going to do this season,” Woliczko said.
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This article originally appeared on Hawkeyes Wire: Iowa’s McKenna Woliczko joins Panini for WNBA Live at All-Star weekend
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