Colorado University Athletics
Newcomer Spotlight Series: Isa Hämäläinen
January 26, 2026 | Women's Basketball
BOULDER - The Colorado Women's Basketball team added 10 new players to the roster ahead of the 2025-26 season. In order to get to know them all a little better, we're introducing the Newcomer Spotlight Series to highlight the five freshmen and five transfers on our squad.
Next up is freshman guard Isa Hämäläinen.
What made you want to play college basketball in the US?
I knew it was the next step that I had to take, just because I really want to play at the highest level possible. And I knew that the US had the best possible choices for me in terms of development on the court [and] off the court.
Why did you choose CU?
It felt like home immediately, whether it was the coaches [or] the whole place. [I] immediately fell in love with the place. The coaches were really, really welcoming. Everyone is really family-oriented, which is really, really important for me. And then basketball-wise, I think it felt like my style of play, so something that I'm used to. So I also thought it might be easier to adapt and learn.
Who on the team has been a role model for you?
Honestly, at this point, I would say almost everyone. I really like meeting new people and having people come from different places. Obviously, we have such a new team this year – [there's] a lot of different people from different places. So I think looking up [to] everyone, like the fellow freshmen, even though we're in the same position, they're still coming from different places, and they know some things I might not know, and I might know some things that they might not know. So, just helping each other out every day.
What was it like playing in the European Championship and winning silver?
Honestly, I still can't believe it. It's been a couple [of] years, but I still can't believe it. Obviously, everyone went into the tournament very optimistic. We knew we had a great team, but just knowing that we're that tiny little country, no one really expects us to do anything exceptional. It was amazing; something that I'll cherish forever and something I'll never forget.
How do you think that your experience playing internationally will help you this season?
I'm used to playing with older players. Back home, I've been part of teams that have professional players that are already extremely experienced, and also playing on the international level with the national team [that] pushes me to work harder. I think, overall, playing against such experienced players will help me out in any way possible. Honestly, having that competition already will transform my playing here, whether that's just learning from others or being able to compete on the court.
Did you play any other sports growing up?
I used to play soccer when I was younger, so I was balancing between basketball and soccer at one point, but I decided to stick with basketball.
Why did you choose basketball?
Honestly, basketball has been running in my family for a while. My dad has played his whole life, my granddad played, and I've been playing basketball since I was five. I really enjoy playing basketball, so I think it was kind of an easy choice.
What's been one of your favorite memories with the team so far?
Just practicing with everyone has been really nice because, obviously, coming into a new team, you never know what to expect. But I've been really enjoying playing, and then, obviously, off the court, we do a lot of things together, whether that's just hanging out, grabbing food with people. It can be anything. I think we have such a great group of girls that it's really easy to hang out with people and just have fun. Nothing specific, but everything we do together as a team is so fun.
What's been one of your favorite places you've traveled to?
Before coming here, I did travel to the US a couple of times for my visits and then a family trip. We were in Florida, and I really, really liked it. I also really loved Thailand. We were there maybe five, six years ago for Christmas, and the culture is so different, but it's such a pretty place.
What's one of your favorite things about Luxembourg?
I think it kind of translates here as well. I think it's a really internationally based place. We have a lot of different cultures there, people from different places. So being able to be around people from different places is so amazing. And school-wise, as well, I was able to get to know people from different countries, which is amazing. And then I just think it's really pretty there. I know it's a small place. There's really nothing exceptional there, but it's such a pretty place. The nature is pretty, the city is gorgeous. And just [being] able to walk around and just admire the places, I love it.
For more information on the Colorado women's basketball team, a complete schedule and results, please visit CUBuffs.com. Fans of the Buffs can follow the team on Instagram and on Twitter @CUBuffsWBB.
Next up is freshman guard Isa Hämäläinen.
What made you want to play college basketball in the US?
I knew it was the next step that I had to take, just because I really want to play at the highest level possible. And I knew that the US had the best possible choices for me in terms of development on the court [and] off the court.
Why did you choose CU?
It felt like home immediately, whether it was the coaches [or] the whole place. [I] immediately fell in love with the place. The coaches were really, really welcoming. Everyone is really family-oriented, which is really, really important for me. And then basketball-wise, I think it felt like my style of play, so something that I'm used to. So I also thought it might be easier to adapt and learn.
Who on the team has been a role model for you?
Honestly, at this point, I would say almost everyone. I really like meeting new people and having people come from different places. Obviously, we have such a new team this year – [there's] a lot of different people from different places. So I think looking up [to] everyone, like the fellow freshmen, even though we're in the same position, they're still coming from different places, and they know some things I might not know, and I might know some things that they might not know. So, just helping each other out every day.
What was it like playing in the European Championship and winning silver?
Honestly, I still can't believe it. It's been a couple [of] years, but I still can't believe it. Obviously, everyone went into the tournament very optimistic. We knew we had a great team, but just knowing that we're that tiny little country, no one really expects us to do anything exceptional. It was amazing; something that I'll cherish forever and something I'll never forget.
How do you think that your experience playing internationally will help you this season?
I'm used to playing with older players. Back home, I've been part of teams that have professional players that are already extremely experienced, and also playing on the international level with the national team [that] pushes me to work harder. I think, overall, playing against such experienced players will help me out in any way possible. Honestly, having that competition already will transform my playing here, whether that's just learning from others or being able to compete on the court.
Did you play any other sports growing up?
I used to play soccer when I was younger, so I was balancing between basketball and soccer at one point, but I decided to stick with basketball.
Why did you choose basketball?
Honestly, basketball has been running in my family for a while. My dad has played his whole life, my granddad played, and I've been playing basketball since I was five. I really enjoy playing basketball, so I think it was kind of an easy choice.
What's been one of your favorite memories with the team so far?
Just practicing with everyone has been really nice because, obviously, coming into a new team, you never know what to expect. But I've been really enjoying playing, and then, obviously, off the court, we do a lot of things together, whether that's just hanging out, grabbing food with people. It can be anything. I think we have such a great group of girls that it's really easy to hang out with people and just have fun. Nothing specific, but everything we do together as a team is so fun.
What's been one of your favorite places you've traveled to?
Before coming here, I did travel to the US a couple of times for my visits and then a family trip. We were in Florida, and I really, really liked it. I also really loved Thailand. We were there maybe five, six years ago for Christmas, and the culture is so different, but it's such a pretty place.
What's one of your favorite things about Luxembourg?
I think it kind of translates here as well. I think it's a really internationally based place. We have a lot of different cultures there, people from different places. So being able to be around people from different places is so amazing. And school-wise, as well, I was able to get to know people from different countries, which is amazing. And then I just think it's really pretty there. I know it's a small place. There's really nothing exceptional there, but it's such a pretty place. The nature is pretty, the city is gorgeous. And just [being] able to walk around and just admire the places, I love it.
For more information on the Colorado women's basketball team, a complete schedule and results, please visit CUBuffs.com. Fans of the Buffs can follow the team on Instagram and on Twitter @CUBuffsWBB.
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