Olivia Olson

An All-American, first-team All-Big Ten selection, and record-setting scorer, Olivia Olson has established herself as one of Michigan Wolverines women's basketball's leading players through scoring consistency, versatility, and composure in high-pressure moments.

Some basketball performances are remembered for their statistics. Others are remembered for the moment that decides the game.

For Olivia Olson, February 25, 2026, delivered both.

Facing Ohio State, Michigan needed a decisive performance in a demanding Big Ten matchup. Olson scored a career-high 31 points, collected nine rebounds, and distributed four assists as the Wolverines secured an 88-86 overtime victory. Her game-winning basket completed a dramatic comeback and became one of the defining moments of her sophomore season.

The performance captured the development of a player who had steadily transformed recruiting potential into college success. After setting Michigan's freshman scoring record in 2024-25, Olson elevated her production during her second season, earning All-American recognition and first-team All-Big Ten honors.

Entering the 2026-27 season, she is an established star with two productive college campaigns behind her and an opportunity to help Michigan build on its recent success.

Full Name: Olivia Olson
Sport: Basketball
Position: Guard
Height: 6 feet 1 inch
Hometown: New Hope, Minnesota
High School: Benilde-St. Margaret's School
College: University of Michigan
Team: Michigan Wolverines Women's Basketball
Jersey Number: 1
Class: Junior, 2026-27
College Career: Began in 2024

Olson developed her basketball foundation at Benilde-St. Margaret's School in Minnesota, where she emerged as one of the country's most highly regarded high school prospects.

During her junior season, she averaged 25.6 points, 12.6 rebounds, and 3.6 assists per game. Her production demonstrated an ability to influence games beyond scoring, particularly through rebounding and playmaking.

Her individual achievements helped her team win consecutive state championships in 2023 and 2024. In the 2024 state championship game, Olson recorded 30 points and 15 rebounds, delivering a dominant performance on one of the biggest stages of her high school career.

She finished high school with more than 2,000 points and 1,000 rebounds. Her accomplishments included the 2024 Gatorade Minnesota Player of the Year award, Minnesota Miss Basketball honors, McDonald's All-American recognition, and selection as a 2024 Naismith Girls High School All-American.

Olson was a five-star recruit ranked as high as No. 3 nationally during her high school career. She also participated in the Jordan Brand Classic.

These achievements made her a significant recruiting addition for Michigan. The challenge was translating that success into production against experienced college players, stronger defenses, and a more demanding schedule.

Olson made an immediate impact after joining Michigan for the 2024-25 season.

She started all 34 games as a freshman, averaging 16.3 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 2.1 assists per game. She scored in double figures 29 times and recorded ten 20-point performances.

Her 553 points established a Michigan freshman scoring record. She earned co-Big Ten Freshman of the Year honors from the conference coaches, second-team All-Big Ten recognition from coaches and media, and selection to the conference's All-Freshman teams.

Her freshman season also included an important NCAA Tournament contribution. Against Iowa State, Olson scored 16 points and collected six rebounds. She made a game-sealing jumper with 20 seconds remaining, helping Michigan secure the victory.

Her sophomore season brought another significant step forward.

During 2025-26, Olson started all 35 games and averaged 18.9 points, 6.1 rebounds, 2.5 assists, and 1.8 steals per game. She scored in double figures in every game, reached 20 points 17 times, and recorded three double-doubles.

Her 663 points represented the fourth-highest single-season total in Michigan women's basketball history. She also reached 1,000 career points, becoming the third-fastest player in program history to achieve the milestone.

Her improvement earned her first-team All-Big Ten honors from both coaches and media. She also received All-American recognition from The Athletic, ESPN, the Associated Press, and Sporting News.

Olson's greatest strength is her scoring ability, but her game extends beyond points.

At 6 feet 1 inch, she possesses useful size for a guard. Her rebounding production allows her to help Michigan finish defensive possessions and create additional opportunities on offense.

During the 2025-26 season, she shot 46.8 percent from the field, 30.5 percent from three-point range, and 81.0 percent from the free-throw line. These figures demonstrate effective overall field-goal shooting while identifying room for further development from beyond the arc.

Her free-throw accuracy is particularly valuable in close games, when converting opportunities can influence the result. Her ability to score consistently also makes her a dependable offensive option throughout a long season.

Olson averaged 6.1 rebounds and 2.5 assists per game as a sophomore. She also recorded 63 steals, averaging 1.8 per contest, giving her a meaningful defensive contribution.

This combination makes her difficult to limit to a single role. Opponents must account for her scoring while remaining aware of her rebounding, passing, and defensive activity.

Her performance against Ohio State illustrated how those abilities can translate into decisive moments. She remained productive throughout the contest and delivered the game-winning basket when Michigan needed it most.

Olson's accomplishments span high school, international competition, and college basketball.

Her most significant honors include:

• 2026 All-American: Second-team recognition from The Athletic and ESPN, and third-team honors from the Associated Press and Sporting News.
• 2026 First-Team All-Big Ten: Selected by both conference coaches and media.
• 2025 Big Ten Co-Freshman of the Year: Recognized following her record-setting freshman campaign.
• Michigan freshman scoring record: Recorded 553 points in 2024-25.
• Career 1,000-point milestone: Became the third-fastest Wolverine to reach the mark.
• 2026 Cheryl Miller Award finalist: Named among five finalists for the award recognizing the nation's top small forward.
• 2026 Wooden Award: Advanced to the final ballot.
• 2024 Gatorade Minnesota Player of the Year: Recognized for her high school performance.
• 2024 Minnesota Miss Basketball: Honored as one of the state's leading players.
• International gold medalist: Helped the United States win the 2021 FIBA Americas U16 Championship.
• Two-time state champion: Helped Benilde-St. Margaret's win state titles in 2023 and 2024.

Her international career included the 2021 USA Basketball U16 National Team. Olson averaged 10.2 points, 4.2 rebounds, and 2.3 assists per game as the United States finished with a 6-0 record and won gold at the FIBA Americas U16 Championship in Mexico.

She later participated in the 2024 USA Women's Nike Hoop Summit, where the American team defeated the World Select squad 83-80.

Olson's athletic background extends beyond basketball.

At Benilde-St. Margaret's, she also competed in soccer as the starting goalkeeper. She helped the school win the 2023 Minnesota Class 3A state championship, making a key penalty-kick save during the championship game.

Her academic achievements are another important part of her college experience. Olson is enrolled in the University of Michigan's School of Kinesiology, majoring in sport management. During the 2025-26 season, she earned Big Ten Distinguished Scholar and Academic All-Big Ten recognition.

Her brother, Morgan, plays soccer at Gonzaga. More extensive information about Olson's private family life, personal training routines, charitable work, and interests outside sports is not established in her official biography.

Her documented achievements nevertheless show a student-athlete balancing academic responsibilities with the demands of high-level college basketball.

Olson enters the 2026-27 season as a junior and one of Michigan's leading returning players.

On October 1, 2026, she was named to the Preseason All-Big Ten Team by both conference coaches and media. She was the only player unanimously selected by both groups, further confirming her standing after an All-American sophomore season.

The next challenge is building on her individual accomplishments while helping Michigan pursue further postseason success. Her scoring consistency, rebounding, and experience in close conference games make her an important part of the team's plans.

Her specific personal goals for the upcoming season have not been publicly confirmed. Her established performance, however, provides a strong foundation for continued development and further opportunities to contribute to Michigan's pursuit of conference and national honors.

Olson has already established a significant place in Michigan women's basketball.

She set a freshman scoring record, surpassed 1,000 career points, earned first-team All-Big Ten honors, and became an All-American after her sophomore season.

Her development demonstrates how a highly rated recruit can translate high school success into sustained college production. She has become a leading scorer while continuing to contribute in rebounding, playmaking, and defense.

Her long-term legacy remains unfinished. As a junior, she has opportunities to strengthen her postseason résumé, develop her leadership role, and help Michigan compete for major honors.

What is already clear is that Olson has produced two highly successful college seasons and earned recognition among the nation's leading players.

Olivia Olson's rise from a decorated Minnesota high school athlete to an All-American Michigan guard has been built on consistent production, versatility, and performances in demanding situations.

Her freshman campaign established her as one of the Big Ten's promising young players. Her sophomore season strengthened that reputation through national recognition, first-team All-Big Ten honors, and a career-high performance in Michigan's overtime victory over Ohio State.

Beyond the statistics, Olson brings international experience, academic achievement, and a background in multiple sports. Those accomplishments help explain her importance to Michigan's future.

As she enters her junior season, the next chapter will be defined by how she builds on that foundation. Her first two years have demonstrated her ability to produce at an elite level. Continued development and team success will determine how far she can take that achievement.