BSM Senior Named McDonald’s All American

Olivia Olson ’24 was named to this year's class of McDonald's All Americans for her outstanding achievements in girls’ basketball. Olson is Benilde-St. Margaret’s first McDonald’s All American and as a member of the girls’ basketball team at BSM, recently became the first female student athlete at BSM to record her 2,000th point scored.

“I'm excited to represent Minnesota and Benilde-St. Margaret’s as a McDonald’s All American and be a part of this historic event, along with so many talented players,” Olson said, adding, “It means a lot to me to be recognized and to also be able to showcase my talent. Thank you to the McDonald’s selection committee and all of my coaches and teammates for their support!”

Olson is one of two high school basketball players from Minnesota named to the national event, along with Alivia McGill from Hopkins. Chosen from a list of 724 nominees, Olson will join 23 other players from high schools across the country for the game which will be played on April 2 in Houston, TX and broadcast on ESPN2 beginning at 5:30 p.m. CT.

“This is a tremendous accomplishment for Olivia and a feather in the cap for BSM. Olivia is an All-American because of her mindset, her competitive drive, and her relentless pursuit of excellence,” said Tim Ellefson, BSM girls’ basketball coach. “The most successful people are never satisfied and are always looking to better themselves, and this rare quality is one she possesses. The way she approaches practice, drills, her strength and conditioning always has the caveat that Olivia is doing this to get better. This makes her the best of the best, her mindset to keep chasing a better version of herself.”

The McDonald’s All American Games has showcased high school’s brightest basketball stars for nearly 50 years, while supporting the Ronald McDonald House Charities’ efforts to improve the health and well-being of children and their families. The inaugural girls’ game was held in New York in 2002. Past participants include Magic Johnson, Michael Jordan, Shaquille O’Neal, Kevin Garnett, LeBron James, Candace Parker, Katie Geralds, Maya Moore, Skylar Diggins, Breanna Stewart, and Paige Bueckers.

Olson is ranked 15th in the nation and is a five-star recruit in ESPN's Hoop Gurlz 2024 rankings. Olson has also been named to USA Basketball's 2024 Nike Hoop Summit team, a group of 19-and-under players playing in an international game on April 13 in Portland, OR. In November 2023, she committed to play Division I basketball in college for the University of Michigan.