Dorka Juhasz Bio
Dorka Kata Juhász is a Hungarian professional basketball player who plays as a forward for the Minnesota Lynx of the Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA) and for Galatasaray of the Turkish Women’s Basketball Super League. Born on December 18, 1999, in Pécs, Hungary, she was selected 16th overall by the Lynx in the 2023 WNBA draft after a standout college career at Ohio State and UConn. Standing 6 feet 5 inches tall, Juhász has built a reputation for her athleticism, rebounding, and versatility on both ends of the floor. She has competed in top leagues across Europe and North America, earning recognition as both an All-Rookie selection in the WNBA and an Italian Cup champion.
Early Life and Background
Dorka Kata Juhász was born on December 18, 1999, in Pécs, Hungary. She grew up in a family with deep ties to basketball, as her mother, Hajnalka Balázs, was a former professional player and a 125-time member of the Hungarian national team. Balázs won a bronze medal at the 1991 European Championship and was a three-time Hungarian Championship and three-time Hungarian Cup winner with PVSK. This early environment, surrounded by the sport, helped shape Juhász’s path toward a career in basketball.
Juhász attended PTE Babits high school in Hungary, where she developed her game and gained attention as a top international prospect. In March 2018, she was rated as the 12th-best international player in her class and the 5th-best forward, drawing interest from several major United States college programs. After considering schools such as Missouri and Louisville, she committed to Ohio State, beginning her transition from European youth basketball to the highest level of American college competition.
Path to Basketball
Juhász committed to Ohio State in March 2018 and quickly became a contributor for the Buckeyes. During her three seasons in Columbus, she earned multiple Big Ten honors, including Big Ten All-Freshman team recognition in 2019, Second-team All-Big Ten in 2019, and First-team All-Big Ten selections in both 2020 and 2021. Her strong post play, rebounding, and improving perimeter skills made her one of the most consistent forwards in the conference.
After her third season with the Buckeyes, Juhász entered the transfer portal, citing her desire to continue improving as a player and her aspirations of reaching the professional level. Within a week, she announced her decision to transfer to the UConn Huskies, one of the most storied programs in women’s college basketball. At UConn, she continued to refine her game and was named Second-team All-Big East in 2023, reinforcing her status as an elite forward prospect heading into the WNBA draft.
Dorka Juhasz Career
Early Career (2023–2023)
Following her senior season at UConn, Dorka Kata Juhász was selected 16th overall by the Minnesota Lynx in the 2023 WNBA draft. She made her WNBA debut on May 19, 2023, against the Chicago Sky, recording 5 points and 3 rebounds in 15 minutes of action. Her transition to the professional level was immediate, and she quickly became a regular contributor in the Lynx rotation as a rookie forward.
During her rookie season, Juhász delivered several standout performances, including a game on July 20, 2023, in which she became the only rookie in the WNBA regular season to post 15 or more points, 10 or more rebounds, 3 or more assists, and 2 or more steals while shooting 70 percent or better from the field. She was later named to the 2023 WNBA All-Rookie Team alongside her Lynx teammate Diamond Miller, capping a successful first year in the league.
WNBA Breakthrough (2023–2024)
Juhász arrived late for the start of her second WNBA season in 2024 after finishing her commitment with Famila Basket Schio in Italy. She made her season debut on May 25 and played primarily from the bench, starting in only seven games, mostly during July when Napheesa Collier was absent. In 34 appearances, she averaged 4.8 points and 3.8 rebounds in 16.1 minutes per game, providing dependable depth for a competitive Lynx squad.
That season, Juhász was part of the Lynx team that won the 2024 WNBA Commissioner’s Cup, adding a team championship to her growing résumé. Her ability to contribute in a reserve role while adjusting to a condensed schedule reflected her professionalism and her willingness to embrace a team-first approach during a demanding year.
European Career (2023–Present)
In June 2023, Juhász signed with Famila Basket Schio of the Lega Basket Femminile and EuroLeague Women for the 2023–2024 season. On February 18, 2024, Schio won the Italian Cup, defeating Umana Reyer Venezia 81–68 in the final. Juhász contributed 4 points and 9 rebounds in the championship game, helping secure one of Italy’s most prestigious club trophies.
Juhász returned to Schio for the 2024–2025 season, continuing her development in one of Europe’s top leagues. On June 16, 2025, she signed with Galatasaray of the Turkish Women’s Basketball Super League, taking the next step in her European career. Her move to Galatasaray positioned her within one of the most competitive and well-supported women’s basketball programs in the region.
Minnesota Lynx Era (2023–Present)
Juhász has remained under contract with the Minnesota Lynx since being drafted in 2023, even while spending her offseasons playing in Europe. On May 11, 2025, the Lynx announced that she would miss the 2025 WNBA season in order to rest after playing year-round for two consecutive years. The decision reflected both the team’s long-term planning for her development and her own need for recovery after a demanding stretch of professional basketball.
Despite her absence in 2025, Juhász’s role within the Lynx organization has remained important, and she is expected to be a part of the team’s future plans once she returns to the court. Her combination of international experience, rebounding, and team-first mentality continues to make her a valuable piece of the Lynx’s roster construction.
Driving Style and Strengths
Juhász is recognized for her physicality, length, and ability to play multiple positions in the frontcourt. At 6 feet 5 inches, she uses her size to dominate the glass, protect the rim, and finish around the basket, while also showing comfort stepping away from the basket as a face-up forward. Her basketball IQ, passing vision, and willingness to compete on both ends of the floor have made her a versatile contributor in both the WNBA and European competition.
Notable Events and Milestones
Among the highlights of Juhász’s early professional career, her selection as a 2023 WNBA All-Rookie Team member and her 2024 WNBA Commissioner’s Cup championship with the Lynx stand out. Her performance on July 20, 2023, produced a statistical line unmatched by any other rookie in the league that season, marking her arrival as a unique talent. In February 2024, she was also selected to the All-Star 5 of the Sopron 2024 FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament, where she averaged 11.7 points, 8 rebounds, and 1.3 assists per game, finishing with the third-best efficiency rating in the tournament.
Dorka Juhasz Career Wins
Dorka Kata Juhász has compiled a notable list of team championships and individual honors across the WNBA, European leagues, and international competition. Her victories reflect her ability to contribute meaningfully in multiple basketball cultures and systems, from the United States to Italy to the global stage with the Hungarian national team.
WNBA Highlights
Juhász was a member of the 2024 WNBA Commissioner’s Cup championship team with the Minnesota Lynx, one of the league’s premier in-season tournaments. She was also named to the 2023 WNBA All-Rookie Team, recognizing her as one of the top first-year players in the league that season. Her role in Minnesota has steadily grown, even as she has balanced her WNBA duties with European club commitments.
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. On the international stage, she debuted for the Hungarian national team on November 9, 2023, in a 70–51 victory over Slovenia, and later helped Hungary compete at the 2024 FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament in Sopron. In 2024, she was also named to the Hungarian Forbes 30 under 30 list, recognizing her impact both on and off the court.
Dorka Juhasz Family
Family Background and Basketball Lineage
Juhász comes from a basketball family with deep roots in the Hungarian game. Her mother, Hajnalka Balázs, is a former professional player who earned 125 caps with the Hungarian national team, won a bronze medal at the 1991 European Championship, and captured three Hungarian Championships and three Hungarian Cups with PVSK. This strong family foundation has been a defining influence on Juhász’s development as a player.
Personal Life
Born and raised in Pécs, Hungary, Juhász has continued to represent her home country on the international stage with the Hungarian national team. She maintains an active presence on social media, sharing updates about her professional career in both the WNBA and European leagues. Her inclusion in the 2024 Hungarian Forbes 30 under 30 list highlights her growing influence as a young athlete and public figure.
2025 Season Performance
On May 11, 2025, the Minnesota Lynx announced that Dorka Kata Juhász would miss the entire 2025 WNBA season in order to rest and recover after playing year-round for two consecutive years. The decision came after she had balanced WNBA duties with commitments to Famila Basket Schio in Italy, where she played during the 2023–2024 and 2024–2025 seasons. The planned rest was intended to support her long-term health and career longevity.
While sidelined with the Lynx, Juhász continued her European career by signing with Galatasaray of the Turkish Women’s Basketball Super League on June 16, 2025. The move to one of the strongest women’s basketball clubs in Europe provided her with a fresh competitive environment and an opportunity to refine her game in a new league.
Looking ahead, Juhász is expected to return to the Minnesota Lynx for future seasons, where her combination of size, experience, and team-first approach will remain valuable. Her 2025 season, though split between rest and European competition, reflects the increasingly global nature of her career and her commitment to performing at the highest level in every league she joins.