Colorado's Frieda Forman (right) drives around Washington State's Joanna Tedder during a women's basketball game on January 1, 2023 in Pullman, Washington. Forman, who is from Denmark, and Tedder, who is from Estonia, will be teammates with the Buffs during the 2024-25 season. CU will have a program record eight international players in 2024-25. (CU Athletics)
The Colorado women's basketball team will look much different with at least 10 new players on next season's roster.
There will also be a different culture for the Buffaloes. In fact, a program-record eight international players will be on the 2024-25 roster, which will be a blend of many different cultures.
“It's pretty cool,” said Frieda Forman, a fifth-year guard from Denmark.
In addition to Forman, CU has two players from Australia (Tabitha Betson and Sarah Rose Smith), Estonia (Johanna Tedder), Israel (Lior Garsson), Nigella (Jojo Nwory), and Sweden ( One player from each team (Lova Lagerlid) will take part. England (Erin Powell).
CU had four foreign players last season, tying the previous single-year record (also set in 2003-04 and 2004-05).
Head coach J.R. Payne said the staff did not intend to include so many international players on the roster.
“It just happened,” she said.
Forman and Smith returned to the team last year, while Betson and Lagerlid signed as freshmen in November. The CU staff discovered Powell midway through last season and recently added her to her freshman class.
The remaining players were added through the transfer portal in recent weeks: Oklahoma State's Garzon, Texas Tech's Nwolee and Washington State's Tedder.
Although it wasn't intentional, Payne and Forman both expressed excitement about having a team with so many players from all over the world.
“With international players, you usually get very well-rounded, skilled players,” Payne said. “They may not necessarily be as athletic as Jaylin Sherrod, they may not be able to jump like (former Buff) Tayanna Jones, but they will be smart. She has played in a local women's league, usually as a non-professional on a professional team.
“The offenses we run require different skill sets. They're usually good passers. Coaches don't put kids in a box from an early age, but that's very important to a child's development. It will be helpful.”
Countries outside the United States have produced some of the best players in men's and women's basketball in recent years.
In the NBA, the past six MVP awards have gone to overseas players (three of them to Nikola Jokic of the Denver Nuggets). This season, the league has a record 125 international players from 40 countries and territories on its opening day roster.
Last month, five of the 12 first-round picks in the WNBA draft were born outside the United States.
Even if they aren't at that level, the international players on CU's roster bring skill sets that Forman believes will fit well with the Buffs.
“Honestly, we have kind of an offensive framework that fits the varsity players very well,” said Forman, CU's all-time leader in 3-pointers. “Perimeter has 1 to 4, and everyone can promote and everyone can create. It's like reading each other, and that's what international people are really good at. You see it with Luka (Doncic) and Joker (Jokic) in the NBA, they're really good at reading what they have.
“I’m really excited to have other guys play the same way, because when you play for the Danish national team, you realize that it’s just a bunch of moves and you just read as you go. Because I know, I think American basketball is here.'' It's a little more one-on-one, a little more structured. I definitely think we can live up to our skill set, and our skill set is going to be something that we can read and play. ”
Payne agreed with Forman's assessment, adding, “I envision putting a lot of shooters on the floor.” We will get more than ever before. And the only ones who can make a pass, read the defense, and make the cut because it's the right decision, not because Coach J says if you're going to do it this way, make the cut. They can just feel it. ”
Off the floor, Forman said he's excited to play with a squad that represents eight countries.
“Basketball is something I've always loved, and it brings people together, different cultures, everything, and you meet so many cool people who grew up in completely different places,” she said. said. “As a freshman, I was definitely drawn to the international team that we had at the time. … I'm really excited to be able to coach the young kids that are coming in.”
