“I’m Excited to Face Them All”
Shooting guard for women’s basketball Frida Formann (EnvSt’24) talks about expectations after , growing up playing basketball in Denmark and developing a holistic perspective for her game.
When you think about last season’s success, what comes to mind?
Excitement. Pride. When you’ve worked for something for so long and then see the fruits of all the work you’ve put in. I was super happy about what we achieved last season and am super excited to have this team back with a good core group.
What was it like to beat Duke on their home court last postseason?
It was amazing. We were up and then down, and then we went to overtime. It was a showcase of our resilience, of the whole season, of being able to take a couple hits but still be strong enough to get back on our feet.
Fans see you, Jaylyn Sherrod (Soc’22, MSOL’23) and Quay Miller (Soc’23) returning and have high expectations for this season. How do you stay motivated?
High expectations don’t change the fact that you need to put just as much work in or play with a mentality that anyone can beat you on any given night. But it’s nice to earn that respect of having expectations and pressure.
What was your offseason schedule?
At the end of the spring semester, I went home to Denmark for a month and a half, and I also traveled with the Danish national team. This year [we played] friendly games against Japan — going to Japan was cool. The national team reconnects me to my Danish basketball roots and people I’ve grown up playing with. I came back to Colorado at the end of June, and we’ve been practicing since.
How is Danish basketball different from the NCAA?
Not a lot of people play basketball in Denmark. You only play if your parents did or if you know someone who does. My parents played and met in a basketball gym, and my mom coached me. I dragged all my friends from school with me — that’s how you get a team when you’re young. With Danish basketball, everyone is a volunteer, all the coaches — no one gets paid. People do it because they love it. You have to create a good environment or no one’s going to play.
Is there something you must do when you’re back in Denmark?
See friends and family. And I go swimming because there’s lots of water. Our beach house is my sanctuary.
What was the recruiting process like? Why did you choose CU?
International students usually get recruited through the national team. That’s like our AAU [Amateur Athletic Union]. Some coaches look for Europeans, some don’t. I had a set of schools I liked, but then I asked a coach to send out my stuff one last time going into senior year of high school. Head coach JR Payne texted me that CU was interested. They came to Denmark to see me. I took my visits and loved Boulder. The coaching staff has created a culture of hard work, but also [emphasizes] having fun and being a whole person.
Can you share something you’ve learned from Coach Payne?
I’ve struggled with being a perfectionist. It’s hard to come over here [to the U.S.]. There are a thousand things to do: weight room, conditioning, basketball, school, friendships. Coach Payne has taught me to have confidence that I’ll figure it out along the way. Even when I’ve had games that weren’t very good or periods when I wasn’t shooting well, she helped me understand how I bring value in different aspects. She emphasizes the whole perspective, so I don’t get fixated on mistakes.
What do you love most about basketball?
I love how diverse the sport is. There are many ways to be a good player. Different skill sets and mindsets. I love that magic when you put the right pieces together — that combination of skills, craftsmanship and teamwork. You need that chemistry.
Is there a team you cannot wait to face this season?
I’m excited to face LSU in our first game. It’s the most well-known team — them or Iowa — and I love the growth and engagement in women’s basketball that they’ve helped make. And I wouldn’t mind running into Iowa again. We played some of the best defense on them that anyone did throughout the tournament. With the Pac-12, there are so many good teams. I’m excited to face them all.
What’s one thing Buffs fans would be surprised to learn about you?
I’m a very emotional person. I never think I have it all together. Every time a fan comes up to me and tells me something positive, it means the world to me.
What do you want to do after you graduate?
I want to play professionally and help qualify Denmark for its first EuroBasket tournament. That’s been on our list since we got the Women’s National Team reestablished in 2018. We didn’t have a national team the whole time I was growing up. I know how big of a deal that is for girls in Denmark and Danish basketball.
Photo by Glenn Asakawa