https://instagr.am/p/De5sMQwjzpX

5' 10" guard from Australia.

I wonder if Lulu and/or our other Australian players know her and helped recruit her to Cal

Looks like a good player with good size for a PG

Averages over 3 steals a game. Some sites have her at 5'9", others at 5'10". Could still be growing? Idk. Looks like a Fall of 2027 commit? Wasn't sure from the announcement.

Poor editing.

My guess is that it is a website template used for both boys and girls basketball players. They just drop in the names and stats. Someone forgot to edit it.

Her box vs all the FIBA U17 teams against good teams (played this year) :

https://www.proballers.com/basketball/player/314445/olivia-olechnowicz/games/2026

Team USA is loaded and blew out the rest of the field, yet Australia only lost to them by 2

I love that we have developed a strong recruiting connection with Australia. I've been watching a lot of WNBL YouTube games lately (never enough basketball).

Get used to that name. You’ll see her for a long time 🇦🇺🙌

Olivia Olechnowicz is the Best Defensive Player ⚡️ #FIBAU17 pic.twitter.com/kn9cKKvkFq

— NextGen Hoops (@NextGenHoops) July 19, 2026

' Congratulations to Queensland's Olivia Olechnowicz on being named the Best Defensive Player at the 2026 FIBA U17 Women's Basketball World Cup!
The Sapphires guard was recognised for her outstanding defensive efforts throughout Australia's bronze medal-winning campaign, averaging 3.3 steals per game and earning a place in the tournament's All-Second Team.
An incredible achievement on the world stage! Congratulations, Olivia!

It would be a bit on the small side, but pairing her with Ruby could give us some major versatility.

Saw a post that said UConn was following/interested - works for me

Olivia Olechnowicz is the second top level guard added to the class of 2027.! Fellolw Aussie, Ruby Perkins, will be a backcourt sophomore, too. It would appear that the Bears could be in the market for another. Remember that Cal is graduating four senior guards. Olivia does not look like she possesses great foot speed but seems to know how to finish via clever change of direction moves. She does seem to possess a very high basketball IQ plus excellent court vision.

In addition, Charmin has her choice between players in the transfer portal . The HC has averaged three college player additions annually. Cal is re-loading. GO BEARS!.

She has quick hands… there is a defensive technique that I'm trying to figure out where a defender can pick you clean in a non-traditional technique

From her videos it looks like she uses this technique to get a lot of steals

annarborbear said:

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It would be a bit on the small side, but pairing her with Ruby could give us some major versatility.

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She'll grow. I did. Jenny Leander did. (And I'll bet Griner did, too!)

congrats coaches, great news, and tnx y'all for sharing