Colorado University Athletics
Photo by: CUBuffs.com
Getting to Know the Buffs: Grace Oliver
December 18, 2024 | Women's Basketball
Getting to know the new players throughout the season
BOULDER – The Colorado Buffaloes women's basketball team closed the non-conference season with a 9-2 record and are gearing up for the start of Big 12 play this weekend.
The Buffs have 10 new faces on the team this season, and CUBuffs.com will feature 'Get to Know' spotlights on all 10 players throughout the season.
Next up is freshman Grace Oliver.
What was it like growing up and playing basketball in Massachusetts?
It was a really good experience for me. Basketball is really competitive up in New England, so traveling for AAU, you're always playing really hard competition. There are a lot of basketball players there, so it's not really hard to find any competition, but it was good.
Why did you pick basketball and what made you stick with it?
I actually was picking between soccer and basketball, and I just had been playing it for so much longer. A lot of people in my family had played it, my brother plays it, my dad had played it before, and I feel like it was just something that I originally had done, and then I picked up soccer, so I kind of just wanted to stick with that original plan.
You earned a lot of awards in high school, like Gatorade Player of the Year and then the Adidas All-American. What was it like to get those awards while still being in school?
It was a really cool experience. It was also just a testament to how much work I put in, and the people around me helped me so much. I think it was a really cool reflection of all that, and just all of the work that I put in, and my teammates and coaches helped me get there. It was really cool experience.
What made you choose to come to CU?
All of the other schools I was looking at were on the East Coast, and CU was the only one out here. I just wanted to switch up. I lived in Massachusetts my whole life, and I thought going somewhere else for four years would be really cool. But also, obviously, the coaching staff here is great, and it's really just the culture that they instill in everyone. It's been a really good experience.
What is one of your favorite experiences with the team so far?
I would just say pregame in the locker rooms. Everyone is always super hype, and we're playing music, dancing and just kind of having fun and letting loose before we have to lock in for the game.
What is your favorite part about being a Buff?
Just the support that you get from the community. You walk around, and people know who the women's basketball team is, and I think that's really cool. And seeing everyone come up for games and just the atmosphere that they bring to the arena, it's been really good.
What do you like to do outside of basketball?
When I have free time, I like to hang out with my friends. I'm also a pretty big reader, so I'll read to relax and get my mind away from basketball because we're always practicing or playing.
Oliver and the Buffs will be back in action on Saturday. They will open conference play against No. 14 West Virginia at 6 p.m. MT.
The Buffs have 10 new faces on the team this season, and CUBuffs.com will feature 'Get to Know' spotlights on all 10 players throughout the season.
Next up is freshman Grace Oliver.
What was it like growing up and playing basketball in Massachusetts?
It was a really good experience for me. Basketball is really competitive up in New England, so traveling for AAU, you're always playing really hard competition. There are a lot of basketball players there, so it's not really hard to find any competition, but it was good.
Why did you pick basketball and what made you stick with it?
I actually was picking between soccer and basketball, and I just had been playing it for so much longer. A lot of people in my family had played it, my brother plays it, my dad had played it before, and I feel like it was just something that I originally had done, and then I picked up soccer, so I kind of just wanted to stick with that original plan.
You earned a lot of awards in high school, like Gatorade Player of the Year and then the Adidas All-American. What was it like to get those awards while still being in school?
It was a really cool experience. It was also just a testament to how much work I put in, and the people around me helped me so much. I think it was a really cool reflection of all that, and just all of the work that I put in, and my teammates and coaches helped me get there. It was really cool experience.
What made you choose to come to CU?
All of the other schools I was looking at were on the East Coast, and CU was the only one out here. I just wanted to switch up. I lived in Massachusetts my whole life, and I thought going somewhere else for four years would be really cool. But also, obviously, the coaching staff here is great, and it's really just the culture that they instill in everyone. It's been a really good experience.
What is one of your favorite experiences with the team so far?
I would just say pregame in the locker rooms. Everyone is always super hype, and we're playing music, dancing and just kind of having fun and letting loose before we have to lock in for the game.
What is your favorite part about being a Buff?
Just the support that you get from the community. You walk around, and people know who the women's basketball team is, and I think that's really cool. And seeing everyone come up for games and just the atmosphere that they bring to the arena, it's been really good.
What do you like to do outside of basketball?
When I have free time, I like to hang out with my friends. I'm also a pretty big reader, so I'll read to relax and get my mind away from basketball because we're always practicing or playing.
Oliver and the Buffs will be back in action on Saturday. They will open conference play against No. 14 West Virginia at 6 p.m. MT.
Players Mentioned
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