Olivia Vukoša Breaks 36-Year-Old U-18 EuroBasket Record
Olivia Vukoša scored 46 points against Czechia, breaking a 36-year-old record and becoming just the seventh player in U-18 EuroBasket history to score over 40 points in a single game.
Olivia Vukoša scored 46 points against Czechia, breaking a 36-year-old record and becoming just the seventh player in U-18 EuroBasket history to score over 40 points in a single game.
Although the Croatian women's U-18 national team lost to Czechia 66-73 on Saturday at the EuroBasket in Sweden, one detail from that game will resonate far beyond the match itself. Young Croatian center Olivia Vukoša put on a memorable performance, scoring 46 of her team's total 66 points, making her the new record holder of the competition.
Vukoša dominated the court on all levels. Alongside her incredible offensive output, she also grabbed 18 rebounds and recorded three blocks. She shot 14-of-29 from the field and was nearly flawless from the free-throw line, hitting 15 of 18 attempts. Those 46 points erased the previous record that had stood for a full 36 years.
The previous record holder was Bulgarian Albena Dimitrova, who scored 45 points in a game against Poland back in 1990. With this feat, Vukoša joined an exclusive club as just the seventh player in women's U-18 EuroBasket history to surpass the 40-point mark in a single game.
The name Olivia Vukoša is not unfamiliar to those who follow the development of young basketball prospects. She has already debuted for the Croatian senior national team, and this summer marks a major step forward in her career. She will move to the United States to play for UConn, one of the most prestigious women's college basketball programs, where she is listed on the official roster as a freshman center.
Her talent has been recognized before. Prior to college, she was named the Gatorade National Girls Basketball Player of the Year, which speaks volumes about her potential.
Croatia has one more game left in the tournament. They will face Slovenia in the 11th-place game. Although the outcome of that matchup won't significantly affect the overall impression, one thing is certain: Olivia Vukoša has already left an indelible mark on the tournament and leaves Sweden as a name etched into the history of European basketball.
