The 2026 McDonald's All American Games are back, as one the most prestigious high school basketball showcases tapped 24 standout teenagers — currently committed across 18 top NCAA programs — to play in the March 31st girls' competition in Arizona.
The Class of 2026's No. 1-ranked recruit Kate Harpring (UNC), and No. 2 Saniyah Hall (USC) will headline Team East, joined by No. 4 Olivia Vukosa (UConn).
No. 3 Jerzy Robinson (South Carolina) will lead Team West alongside No. 5 Oliviyah Edwards (Tennessee) and No. 6 McKenna Woliczko (Iowa).
“Nearly five decades into the McDonald’s All American Games, I continue to be amazed by the talent who raise the bar every year,” McDonald’s USA VP of marketing Elizabeth Campbell said in Tuesday's statement.
“We can’t wait to welcome the Class of 2026 into this storied legacy and cheer them on as they write the next chapter of basketball history.”
No. 4-ranked Texas and No. 16 Kentucky lead collegiate representation, with No. 11 Addison Bjorn, No. 12 Bri Crittendon, and No. 18 Aaliah Spaight bound for the Longhorns while No. 8 Maddyn Greenway, No. 14 Savvy Swords, and No. 36 Emily McDonald join the Wildcats.
No. 17 Duke and unranked Notre Dame are the only other schools with more than one participant, with No. 7 Autumn Fleary and No. 13 Bella Flemings set to become Blue Devils while No. 16 Jacy Abli and No. 27 Jenica Lewis will fight for the Irish in the 2026/27 NCAA basketball season.
How to watch the 2026 McDonald's All American Games
The 2026 McDonald's All American Games will take over Phoenix's Desert Diamond Arena starting with skills competitions on Monday, March 30th before the centerpiece clashes tip off on Tuesday, March 31st.
Tickets to the games are currently available via Ticketmaster, with game coverage starting at 7 PM ET on March 31st, live on ESPN.
College basketball returns in less than two weeks, and the AP is gearing up for tip-off by dropping the 2025/26 preseason All-America First Team on Tuesday.
Reigning NCAA champion and last season's Freshman of the Year Sarah Strong made the preseason All-America Team cut, with the UConn Husky joined by Final Four participants Madison Booker (Texas) and Lauren Betts (UCLA) — the 2024/25 campaign's Naismith Defensive Player of the Year.
Rounding out the elite five-player lineup are Notre Dame guard Hannah Hidalgo and recent South Carolina transfer Ta'Niya Latson, who led Division I in scoring last season.
While the transfer portal produced a few major roster shakeups — including Latson leaving Florida State to join the 2023/24 NCAA champs — many of last season's top programs are picking up right where they left off.
"There isn't a day that goes by that one of the coaches and I don't look at each other and go, 'Man, there's just something about her right now,'" UConn head coach Geno Auriemma said of Strong.
Auriemma's reigning champs had some additional good news this week, with third-ranked 2026 recruit Olivia Vukosa, a 6-foot-4 center currently competing at the same Queens, New York, high school that produced basketball legends Sue Bird and Tina Charles, officially committing to UConn on Tuesday.
Ultimately, continuity could be the difference maker in the upcoming 2025/26 NCAA season, as known talents and newcomers alike look to prove themselves on the collegiate court.