Olivia Olson (basketball)

File:20240302 Olivia Olson for Benilde-St. Margaret 06.jpg in 2024]]

Olson has trained with her father Chris from a young age, practicing her ball-handling and other skills. She began playing varsity basketball in eighth grade. As an eighth grader for Benilde-St. Margaret's, she tallied 40 points against a talented DeLaSalle High School team. She also played varsity soccer as an eighth grader, returning as a senior goalkeeper.{{cite web|url=https://www.cbsnews.com/minnesota/video/olivia-olson-goes-from-the-basketball-court-to-soccer-field/|title=Olivia Olson goes from the basketball court to soccer field|accessdate=January 25, 2024|date=September 22, 2023|publisher=WCCO-TV}} By January 2021, as a freshman she had 17 athletic scholarship offers and was the No. 9 prospect in the national class of 2024. She averaged 23 points as a freshman. Late in her sophomore season, she was the No. 3 ranked prospect by ESPN in 2024 with over 40 college scholarship offers.{{cite web|url=https://kstp.com/minnesota-sports/benilde-st-margarets-olivia-olson-catching-the-eyes-of-college-coaches/|title=Benilde-St. Margaret's Olivia Olson catching the eyes of college coaches|accessdate=January 25, 2024|date=February 21, 2022|publisher=KSTP-TV}} She averaged 22.8 points as a sophomore.

On September 8, 2022, Olson gave a verbal commitment to Kim Barnes Arico and the Michigan Wolverines after the program reached its first two NCAA Division I women's basketball tournament Sweet Sixteen appearances in 2021 and 2022 and the 2021–22 Wolverines, posted the best season in school history.{{cite web|url=https://michigan.rivals.com/news/five-star-point-guard-olivia-olson-commits-to-michigan|title=Five-star point guard Olivia Olson commits to Michigan|accessdate=January 25, 2024|date=September 8, 2022|publisher=Rivals.com|author=Heilig, Brock}} National class of 2023 top-30 prospect, Taylor Woodson, from Minnesota had also committed to Michigan by September 2022.{{cite web|url=https://kstp.com/minnesota-sports/olivia-olson-interview-benilde-st-margarets-michigan-wolverines-commit/|title=Benilde-St. Margaret's junior Olivia Olson pumped to commit to Michigan basketball program|accessdate=January 25, 2024|date=September 22, 2022|publisher=KSTP-TV}} Olson was the first top-40 player in the national class of 2024 to give a verbal commitment.{{cite web|url=https://news.yahoo.com/girls-basketball-five-issues-raised-191000395.html|title=Girls' basketball: Five issues raised by Olivia Olson's choosing Michigan|accessdate=January 25, 2024|date=September 9, 2022|publisher=Yahoo Sports|author=Bertels, Kevin}} Olson led her school to a 2023 MSHSL Class 3A State Championship averaging 25.6 points, 12.6 rebounds and 3.6 assists per game.{{cite web|url=https://www.aol.com/news/state-top-senior-girls-basketball-145400425.html|title=Top senior in girls basketball splashes back onto the scene|accessdate=January 25, 2024|date=January 5, 2024|publisher=AOL.com|author=Rippel, Joel}}

On November 8, 2023, she signed her national letter of intent (NLI) to play college basketball for the Michigan Wolverines.{{cite web |url=https://www.freep.com/story/sports/college/university-michigan/2023/11/08/michigan-womens-basketball-signs-five-recruits-2024-class-highest-rated-program-history/71503779007/ |title=Michigan women's basketball signs five recruits to 2024 class, highest in program history |newspaper=Detroit Free Press |first=Kevin |last=Skiver |date=November 8, 2023 |access-date=April 21, 2024}} In November, she was the goalkeeper for the MSHSL Class 2A state champion soccer team. Then, on November 25, 2023, she broke a bone in her left hand in the season opener and did not return to action until January 4, 2024, when she posted her 2000th career point. Her father's Twitter explained that Olson's surgery required 2 plates and 12 screws.{{cite web|url=https://twitter.com/ChrisOlson763/status/1729920062872551651|title=@ChrisOlson763 status update|accessdate=January 25, 2024|date=November 29, 2023|via=Twitter|author=Olson, Chris}} Ranked at No. 15 in the national class of 2024, she was the second highest-ranked recruit in program history at the time of her signing (Syla Swords, No. 11).{{cite web |url=https://mgoblue.com/news/2023/11/8/womens-basketball-wolverines-sign-five-to-national-letters-of-intent |title=Wolverines Sign Five to National Letters of Intent |publisher=CBS Interactive |website=MGoBlue.com |first=Sarah |last=VanMetre |date=November 8, 2023 |access-date=January 23, 2024}} The class of 2024 was the highest ranked class in school history (ranked No. 4 on signing day).

At the MSHSL Class 3A State Championship tournament, Benilde-St. Margaret's won its three games by margins of 35, 31 and 23 to defend its championship.{{cite web|url=https://www.mshsl.org/tournaments/2024-state-class-aaa-basketball-girls-tournament|title=2024 State Class AAA Basketball, Girls Tournament|accessdate=March 18, 2024|publisher=Minnesota State High School League}}{{cite web|url=https://www.mshsl.org/schools/benilde-st-margarets-school/basketball-girls/2023-2024|title=Benilde-St. Margaret's School|accessdate=March 18, 2024|publisher=Minnesota State High School League}} In the championship game, Benilde-St. Margaret's (seeded first and ranked second) faced DeLaSalle High School (ranked first and seeded second). Olson had 30 points, 15 rebounds and six assists.{{cite web|url=https://www.twincities.com/2024/03/16/state-girls-basketball-benilde-st-margarets-pulls-away-from-delasalle-to-defend-class-3a-crown/|title=State girls basketball: Benilde-St. Margaret's pulls away from DeLaSalle to defend Class 3A crown|accessdate=March 18, 2024|date=March 16, 2024|work=St. Paul Pioneer Press|author=Cook, Mike}}{{cite web|url=https://www.proquest.com/docview/2957848553|url-access=subscription|id={{ProQuest|2957848553}}|title=Benilde-St. Margaret's dominates 2nd half, repeats at 3A titlis|work=Star Tribune|author=Gunther, Joseph|accessdate=March 18, 2024|date=March 17, 2024}}

She was named to the April 2, 2024 McDonald's All-American Girls Game at the Toyota Center in Houston, Texas. Olson, along with incoming freshman Swords, are the program's first high school signees to earn the honor.{{cite web |url=https://mgoblue.com/news/2024/1/23/womens-basketball-olson-swords-named-mcdonalds-all-americans |title=Olson, Swords Named McDonald's All-Americans |publisher=CBS Interactive |website=MGoBlue.com |first=Sarah |last=VanMetre |date=January 23, 2024 |access-date=January 23, 2024}}{{cite web |url=https://www.freep.com/story/sports/college/university-michigan/2024/01/23/michigan-womens-basketball-commits-mcdonalds-all-american-game-syla-swords-olivia-olson/72329274007/ |title=Michigan basketball commits Olivia Olson, Syla Swords picked for McDonald's All-American Game |newspaper=Detroit Free Press |first=Craig |last=Meyer |date=January 23, 2024 |access-date=January 23, 2024}} Olson and Liv McGill were the eighth and ninth Minnesotans named McDonald's All-Americans.{{cite magazine|url=https://www.si.com/fannation/bringmethesports/mn-high-school-sports/2-minnesota-girls-basketball-stars-named-mcdonalds-all-americans|title=2 Minnesota girls basketball stars named McDonald's All-Americans|accessdate=January 25, 2024|date=January 23, 2024|magazine=Sports Illustrated|author=Nelson, Joe}}{{cite web|url=https://www.fox9.com/sports/minnesotans-alivia-mcgill-olivia-olson-selected-for-mcdonalds-all-american-game|title=Minnesotans Alivia McGill, Olivia Olson selected for McDonald's All-American Game|accessdate=January 25, 2024|date=January 23, 2024|publisher=KMSP-TV|author=Wald, Jeff}} She has also been selected for the April 13 Nike Hoops Summit at the Moda Center in Portland, Oregon.{{cite web|url=https://www.usab.com/news/2024/01/usa-rosters-and-coaching-staffs-announced-for-2024-nike-hoop-summit|title=USA Rosters and Coaching Staffs Announced for 2024 Nike Hoop Summit|accessdate=January 25, 2024|date=January 11, 2024|publisher=USA Basketball}} During her senior year she averaged 24 points, 10 rebounds, 4.4 assists and 3.6 steals through 28 games and was named Minnesota Gatorade Player of the Year.{{cite web|url=https://playeroftheyear.gatorade.com/poy/assets/writable/84707/2024_GK_OOlson.pdf |title=Benilde-St. Margaret's Student-Athlete Named Gatorade Minnesota Girls Basketball Player of the Year |publisher=Gatorade |date=March 14, 2024 |access-date=March 18, 2024}} She was also awarded Minnesota Miss Basketball.{{cite web|url=https://www.proquest.com/docview/3033641679|url-access=subscription|id={{ProQuest|3033641679}}|title=Benilde-St. Margaret's Olivia Olson named Miss Basketball|work=Star Tribune|author=Haggstrom, Ron|accessdate=April 7, 2024|date=April 5, 2024}} Although she was not a big scorer in the McDonald's All-American Game, MaxPreps writer Aaron Williams used the phrase "The highlight reel dish of the night" to describe her pass to her future Michigan teammate Swords.{{cite web|url=https://www.maxpreps.com/news/uNAOepg8JUe2u3rMncQYRg/joyce-edwards-scores-19-to-lead-east-to-victory%2C-five-takeaways-from-mcdonalds-all-american-game.htm|title=Joyce Edwards scores 19 to lead East to victory, five takeaways from McDonald's All American Game|accessdate=April 7, 2024|date=April 2, 2024|publisher=MaxPreps|author=Williams, Aaron}} The play received lots of public praise, with ESPN's color commentator mentioning it as possibly "the prettiest play we've seen all game".{{cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/video/clip/_/id/39863068|title=Michigan commits Olson, Swords link up with flashy no-look dime|accessdate=April 20, 2024|date=April 3, 2024|publisher=ESPN}}{{cite web|url=https://www.mlive.com/wolverines/2024/04/future-wolverines-deliver-play-of-the-night-in-mcdonalds-all-american-game.html|title=Future Wolverines deliver play of the night in McDonald’s All-American game|accessdate=April 20, 2024|date=April 3, 2024|publisher=MLive.com|author=Kahn, Andrew}}

Olson enrolled at the University of Michigan in 2024. She began her collegiate career in the starting lineup, wearing the No. 1 jersey in a 68–62 loss to the No. 1 ranked South Carolina Gamecocks on November 4, 2024.{{cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/womens-college-basketball/boxscore/_/gameId/401713576|title=Michigan Wolverines 62: 68 South Carolina Gamecocks|accessdate=December 1, 2024|date=November 4, 2024|publisher=ESPN}}{{cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/womens-college-basketball/recap/_/gameId/401713576|title=No. 1 South Carolina avoids major upset in 68-62 win over Michigan|accessdate=December 1, 2024|date=November 4, 2024|publisher=ESPN|agency=Associated Press}} At the 2024 Fort Myers Tip-Off, Olson earned All-Tournament honors as 7–1 Michigan stretched its win streak to 7 games.{{cite web|url=https://mgoblue.com/news/2024/12/1/womens-basketball-wolverines-blitz-virginia-tech-win-fort-myers-tip-off|title=Wolverines Blitz Virginia Tech, Win Fort Myers Tip-Off|accessdate=December 1, 2024|date=November 30, 2024|publisher=MGoBlue.com}} Her performance in the tournament included her first NCAA career double-double with a 19-point/11-rebound effort in the first game against Belmont on November 29.{{cite web|url=https://www.pressreader.com/usa/detroit-free-press/20241130/282020447858505|title=Michigan 68, Belmont 58:|accessdate=December 1, 2024|date=November 30, 2021|work=Detroit Free Press}} On December 9, Olson earned her first Big Ten Freshman of the Week honor for her 18-point effort against Northwestern the day before.{{cite web|url=https://bigten.org/wbb/article/blt9e14e5845be0585b/|title=USC and Michigan Score Big Ten Weekly Women’s Basketball Awards|accessdate=December 16, 2024|date=December 9, 2024|publisher=Big Ten Conference}}{{cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/womens-college-basketball/recap/_/gameId/401721489|title=Olson scores 18, Hobbs 16 and No. 23 Michigan women edge Northwestern 60-54|accessdate=December 16, 2024|date=December 8, 2024|publisher=ESPN|agency=Associated Press}} On January 29, 2025, Olson posted her a career-high 30 points along with 3 steals and 4 rebounds against Wisconsin.{{cite web|url=https://www.mlive.com/wolverines/2025/01/michigan-stumbles-at-lowly-wisconsin-despite-olivia-olsons-30-points.html|title=Michigan stumbles at lowly Wisconsin despite Olivia Olson’s 30 points|accessdate=January 30, 2025|date=January 29, 2025|publisher=MLive.com|author=Kahn, Andrew}} By following this up with an 18-point/10-rebound double-double on February 2 against Oregon, she earned a second Big Ten Freshman of the week honor.{{cite web|url=https://bigten.org/wbb/article/blt7584e548d94c4fab/|title=Iowa, Illinois and Michigan Net Big Ten Weekly Women’s Basketball Awards|accessdate=February 4, 2025|date=February 3, 2025|publisher=Big Ten Conference}} In the regular season of her freshman year, she averaged 16.0 points, 5.3 rebounds, 2.0 assists and 1.4 steals in 29.9 minutes per game.{{cite web |url=https://mgoblue.com/news/2025/3/4/womens-basketball-olson-named-b1g-freshman-of-the-year-u-m-quartet-honored |title=Olson Named B1G Freshman of the Year, U-M Quartet Honored |publisher=CBS Interactive |website=MGoBlue.com |first=Sarah |last=VanMetre |date=March 4, 2025 |access-date=March 4, 2025}} Following the season she was named Co-Big Ten Freshman of the Year by the coaches, along with Jaloni Cambridge.{{cite web|url=https://bigten.org/wbb/article/bltdb0ab25d1829bd0b/ |title=2024-25 Big Ten Women’s Basketball Postseason Honors Announced |publisher=Big Ten Conference |date=March 4, 2025 |access-date=March 4, 2025}}

Olson represented the United States national team, winning a gold medal at the 2021 FIBA Under-16 Women's Americas Championship.{{cite web|url=https://www.usab.com/players/olivia-olson|title=Olivia Olson|accessdate=January 25, 2024|publisher=USA Basketball}} She was one of only three 15-year-olds selected for the team.{{cite web|url=https://www.startribune.com/olivia-olson-basketball-star-benilde-st-margarets-paige-bueckers-u16/600086960/?refresh=true|title=Benilde-St. Margaret's Olivia Olson is all business in rise to basketball fame|accessdate=January 25, 2024|date=August 12, 2021|work=StarTribune|author=Youngblood, Keith}}

By her high school freshman season, she had about a dozen landscaping customers. Her father and brother, Morgan, kept her business running while she was training with and playing for Team USA in 2021.

{{Reflist}}

• [https://mgoblue.com/sports/womens-basketball/roster/olivia-olson/25580 Michigan Wolverines bio]
• [https://www.fiba.basketball/u16americas/women/2021/player/Olivia-Olson FIBA bio]
• [https://www.usab.com/players/olivia-olson USA basketball bio]
• [https://www.sports-reference.com/cbb/players/olivia-olson-1.html stats] @ Sports Reference

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Category:2005 births

Category:Living people

Category:21st-century American sportswomen

Category:American women's basketball players

Category:American women's soccer players

Category:Guards (basketball)

Category:McDonald's High School All-Americans

Category:Michigan Wolverines women's basketball players

Category:People from New Hope, Minnesota

Category:Soccer players from Minnesota

Category:Basketball players from Hennepin County, Minnesota

Category:Women's association football goalkeepers