Dorka Juhasz Bio
Dorka Kata Juhász (born 18 December 1999) is a Hungarian professional basketball player for the Minnesota Lynx of the Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA) and Galatasaray of the Women’s Basketball Super League. A 6 ft 5 in forward listed at 190 lb, she has built a reputation for athleticism, versatility, and consistent production on both American and European rosters. After starring at Ohio State and UConn in college, Juhász was selected 16th overall by the Minnesota Lynx in the 2023 WNBA draft. She has since added an Italian Cup title, a WNBA Commissioner’s Cup championship, and a EuroLeague Most Valuable Player award to her résumé.
By her mid-twenties, Juhász has become one of the most decorated young Hungarian players of her generation, balancing a WNBA role with top-flight European competition. Her combination of size, mobility, and finishing ability has made her a reliable contributor at every stop in her professional career.
Early Life and Background
Dorka Kata Juhász was born on 18 December 1999 in Pécs, Hungary. She grew up in a household shaped by basketball, raised by her mother, Hajnalka Balázs, a former professional player who represented the Hungarian national team 125 times and won a bronze medal at the 1991 European Championship. Balázs also captured three Hungarian Championships and three Hungarian Cup titles with PVSK, giving her daughter an early and deep exposure to elite-level competition.
Juhász attended PTE Babits, where she developed into one of the top international prospects in her class. She was rated the 12th-best international player in the 2018 class and the 5th-best forward, attracting attention from several high-major college programs. Her family background and club training in Pécs laid the foundation for her eventual move to the United States.
Path to Basketball
In March 2018, Juhász committed to play college basketball at Ohio State, also considering Missouri and Louisville before choosing the Buckeyes. She spent three seasons in the Big Ten, earning Big Ten All-Freshman Team honors in 2019, Second-team All-Big Ten in 2019, and First-team All-Big Ten recognition in both 2020 and 2021. Her production in Columbus established her as one of the conference’s most reliable forwards.
Looking to accelerate her development and prepare for a professional career, Juhász entered the transfer portal after the 2020–21 season. Within a week, she announced that she would finish her college career at the UConn Huskies. At UConn, she was named Second-team All-Big East in 2023, further sharpening her perimeter skills and physical conditioning for the next level. Her performance with the Huskies helped position her as a first-round-caliber WNBA prospect.
Dorka Juhasz Career
Early Career (2023)
Juhász was selected 16th overall by the Minnesota Lynx in the second round of the 2023 WNBA draft. She made her WNBA debut on 19 May 2023 against the Chicago Sky, scoring 5 points and grabbing 3 rebounds in 15 minutes off the bench. Less than two months later, on 20 July 2023, she authored one of the most impressive rookie performances of the season, becoming the only rookie to record 15-plus points, 10-plus rebounds, 3-plus assists, and 2-plus steals on 70 percent or better shooting from the field in a regular-season game.
Her strong debut campaign was recognized when she was named to the 2023 WNBA All-Rookie Team alongside teammate Diamond Miller. In June 2023, Juhász also signed with Famila Basket Schio of the Lega Basket Femminile and EuroLeague, giving her the chance to compete in Europe’s top club competition during the WNBA offseason.
WNBA Breakthrough (2023–2024)
During her rookie year, Juhász showed the kind of two-way energy that Minnesota’s frontcourt needed, contributing as a rebounder, finisher, and connective passer. Her production in limited minutes hinted at a larger role going forward, and the All-Rookie selection confirmed the league’s view of her upside. She returned to Schio for the 2024–2025 European season, balancing overseas and WNBA commitments.
Juhász arrived late for the start of her second WNBA season after finishing her Schio campaign, debuting on 25 May 2024. She played primarily off the bench, starting only seven games, with most of those starts coming in July during Napheesa Collier’s absence. In 34 appearances, she averaged 4.8 points and 3.8 rebounds in 16.1 minutes per game. That summer, she was part of the Lynx team that won the 2024 WNBA Commissioner’s Cup, cementing her first major WNBA title.
Galatasaray and EuroLeague Rise (2025–Present)
On 16 June 2025, Juhász signed with Galatasaray of the Turkish Women’s Basketball Super League, moving from Schio to one of Europe’s most prestigious clubs. She quickly became a central figure in Galatasaray’s EuroLeague Women’s campaign, anchoring the frontcourt with her scoring, rebounding, and defensive versatility. Her play in the competition was recognized with selection to the All-EuroLeague Women First Team.
At 26 years old, Juhász was named the 2025–26 EuroLeague Most Valuable Player, becoming the youngest winner of the award in the history of the competition. The honor reflected her dominant season in Turkey and established her among the elite forwards in the European game.
Driving Style and Strengths
Juhász is a versatile forward whose game blends inside scoring, mid-range touch, and high-level rebounding. Her 6 ft 5 in frame allows her to defend multiple positions, while her mobility and finishing ability make her effective in transition and in the half court. She complements her post skills with reliable passing out of double teams, a trait that has made her a natural fit in motion-heavy systems at both Minnesota and Galatasaray.
Notable Events and Milestones
Among her signature moments, Juhász’s record-setting rookie performance on 20 July 2023, the 2024 Italian Cup win with Schio over Umana Reyer Venezia, the 2024 WNBA Commissioner’s Cup title with the Lynx, and her 2025–26 EuroLeague MVP award stand out. Each milestone reflects a different stage of her growth, from a promising rookie to a championship-level contributor and a continental Most Valuable Player.
Dorka Juhasz Career Wins
Juhász has collected major team and individual honors at every level of her career. Her verified titles include the 2024 Italian Cup with Famila Basket Schio, the 2024 WNBA Commissioner’s Cup with the Minnesota Lynx, and the 2025–26 EuroLeague Most Valuable Player award. She was also recognized as a 2023 WNBA All-Rookie Team selection, underscoring her immediate impact in the league.
WNBA Highlights
In the WNBA, Juhász’s first win of note came as a member of the 2024 WNBA Commissioner’s Cup champion Minnesota Lynx roster, capping a strong all-around season in which she played a rotational role off the bench. Her earlier rookie highlights included her 20 July 2023 performance against Chicago, a statistically unique line for a first-year player, and her selection to the 2023 WNBA All-Rookie Team. After missing the 2025 season to rest, she returned to the Lynx on 8 May 2026.
Other Wins and Performances
In Europe, Juhász won the 2024 Italian Cup with Famila Basket Schio, defeating Umana Reyer Venezia 81–68 in the final while contributing 4 points and 9 rebounds. Her subsequent move to Galatasaray produced her biggest individual honor, the 2025–26 EuroLeague MVP, along with an All-EuroLeague Women First Team selection. In 2024, she was also named to the Hungarian Forbes 30 under 30 list, recognizing her achievements on and off the court.
Dorka Juhasz Family
Family Background and Basketball Lineage
Juhász comes from a basketball family. Her mother, Hajnalka Balázs, is a former Hungarian national team player with 125 caps, a 1991 European Championship bronze medalist, and a three-time Hungarian Championship and three-time Hungarian Cup winner with PVSK. That pedigree gave Dorka direct access to high-level training and a clear template for what a professional career could look like.
Personal Life
Off the court, Juhász has been recognized for her broader influence, including her selection to the Hungarian Forbes 30 under 30 in 2024. She continues to split her professional life between the WNBA and top European leagues, with her personal and family ties remaining rooted in Hungary.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 season was defined by transition and rest for Juhász. On 11 May 2025, the Minnesota Lynx announced that she would miss the WNBA season to recover after playing year-round for two consecutive campaigns. The decision was framed as a long-term investment in her career, allowing her body to reset before returning to peak form.
Despite sitting out the WNBA summer, Juhász stayed active in Europe. In June 2025, she signed with Galatasaray of the Turkish Women’s Basketball Super League, joining one of the most ambitious programs on the continent. Her production and consistency for Galatasaray throughout the 2025–26 campaign led to All-EuroLeague Women First Team honors and the EuroLeague Most Valuable Player award, the youngest winner in competition history.
Looking ahead, Juhász returned to the Minnesota Lynx on 8 May 2026, ready to rejoin the WNBA fold after her year of rest. With a EuroLeague MVP on her résumé, a Commissioner’s Cup title with the Lynx, and a clear role awaiting her in Minnesota, she enters the next chapter of her career as one of the most accomplished young forwards in the international game.