Olivia Vukosa, also known as Big O, has donned two jerseys the last four years. From the end of fall to end of winter, Vukosa competes for Christ the King High School’s girl’s basketball team. The 6’-foot-4 center is dominant in the paint, but has added a consistent mid-range and three-point shot to her bag of tools. During her junior year, Vukosa averaged 19.4 points, 17.9 rebounds and 5.5 blocks per game. She also helped the Lady Royals to a Catholic High School Athletic Association Tier 1 New York City Tournament title.
Now in her senior year, Vukosa has made her last appearance at the Panini Hoophall Classic. Christ the King took on Mater Dei High School earlier today and were defeated 53-39. In her last game at Blake Arena, Vukosa recorded 14 points and 13 rebounds while also showing off her defensive prowess with four steals and two blocks. Being able to play for Christ the King has been an honor for Vukosa.
“There’s so many people that have come before me and have set that stage and played for the name on the front,” Vukosa said. “That’s what they tell us everyday, that we’re playing for the name on the front and who’s come before you. That in years to come, you’ll be part of that legacy and in practice they’ll be talking about my team.”
Her head coach at Christ the King is Joe DeLuca, who’s known Vukosa since she was in sixth grade. DeLuca is close with Vukosa’s family, enough to where his daughter refers to Vukosa’s parents as Uncle Demir and Aunt Jenny. When Vukosa was a freshman, she was quiet but was able to become a vocal leader, being named a captain each year since her sophomore season.
DeLuca’s favorite memory with Vukosa was having her come over and play with his daughter.
“I’m a new dad, and she came over to my house one day and my daughter played with her all day,” DeLuca said. “To see her grow from sixth grade to being a senior now playing with my daughter and my house. Anything with that day, with her coming to my house and just hanging out with my daughter and my family, that’s my favorite memory.”
The other jersey Vukosa has worn is for the Croatian National team. Both sets of Vukosa’s grandparents are from Croatia, where she first made her international debut at the 2023 FIBA U16 Women’s European Championship. Vukosa was named to the All-Star 5 and averaged 22.6 points and 17.1 rebounds. Over the summer she helped lead Croatia to a third place finish at the 2025 FIBA U20 Women’s Basketball Division B tournament.
“It’s been an honor,” Vukosa said. “Our country is really small and we don’t have a lot of people. Just seeing myself in a Croatian newspaper one day and my family sending it to us in New York, it feels surreal. Putting such a little country on such a big stage is really an honor.”
Vukosa embraces her culture by listening to Croatian music before every game. Being on the national team for Croatia has opened Vukosa’s eyes to the importance of representing her heritage.
“When I was younger I didn’t really understand what it meant, and I thought it was just a vacation for me and my family,” Vukosa said. “Now as I’ve gotten older and I’ve gotten the chance to be on the national team, and see all those girls and what they go through every day, it shows how much work they put in to represent such a small country and how much that means to our people.”
In the fall, Vukosa will be traveling north to Storrs, Conn. to play for the UConn women’s team. She visited the Huskies in mid-October and committed almost immediately after her visit.
12 national titles, a top coaching staff led by Hall of Fame head coach Geno Auriemma and a long list of stars the Huskies have sent to the WNBA all stood out as potential selling points. For Vukosa, already feeling as if she was part of the team sealed the deal.
“I didn’t even know until after the visit that the managers told my dad that I looked like I was already part of the team and it just felt like a team outing,” Vukosa said. “That’s what I’ve been looking for this whole time, just a family and a sisterhood that I could be a part of for the next four years and even after that.”
Auriemma, along with UConn legend Rebecca Lobo, were in attendance to see Vukosa in her game against Mater Dei. In a press conference at UConn, Auriemma spoke on how he’s already looking forward to seeing Vukosa play for the Huskies.
“We think Olivia is one of those players that we’ve had so much success with,” Auriemma said. “She’s a big kid who can move, she has skills, she’s smart. She works really hard at both ends of the floor. She comes from a great program. I think she’s the kind of basketball big kid that the game demands today. She’s a terrific kid and comes from a great family. We’re really lucky, and we’re excited to have her here.”
Photo by Nick Pantages/The Student