A long way from home, Isa Hämäläinen right where she belongs at CU

Colorado Buffaloes guard Isa Hämäläinen came from humble beginnings in Luxembourg to Boulder under coach JR Payne. (Photo by Remi Krupinski/Sko Buffs Sports)

Thousands of miles from home, freshman guard Isa Hämäläinen walks onto the Colorado Buffaloes practice court with a calm confidence that belies her age. Hämäläinen is from Luxembourg, where basketball has a different sense of play style and pace.

She was one of two players not in Colorado this summer, the other being center Jojo Nworie from Lagos, Nigeria.

Due to Luxembourg’s extended school schedule, Hämäläinen missed workouts in mid-June and arrived in Boulder in mid-July, missing some early groundwork such as baseline movement and footwork drills. Despite missing that month, she caught up quickly thanks to her high basketball IQ and natural ability, according to coach JR Payne.

Coach Payne mentioned that international players follow the trend Hämäläinen set. Forward Tabitha Betson from Melbourne, Australia, a member of last year’s Buffs, also possessed a high IQ and was able to adapt to college Division I Big 12 Basketball.

“Isa is long, athletic, and has a great frame for CU’s system, a phenomenal cutter and an excellent catch-and-shoot 3-point shooter,” said Payne, instilling hope in her potential impact.

Hämäläinen’s transition from playing overseas in Luxembourg to competing in the Big 12 has been a learning curve built on speed, strength, and detail. Once the primary scoring option for her national team, she is now adjusting to a faster, more physical game while finding her role among a deep group of Colorado guards.

“The biggest adjustment has been the pace and physicality of the game in the U.S.,” Hämäläinen said. “Here, every little thing, the passing, the shooting arc, and timing matters so much more.”

Back in Luxembourg, she played with professionals, but she admitted that America’s competitive level feels faster and more intense. She still believes that this new challenge for her will improve her skills and make her a better player.

As an international player, the recruitment process is very different, but Hämäläinen made one thing clear: she wanted to be somewhere that felt like home, and CU was that place. Colorado’s playing style reminded her of what she was familiar with in Luxembourg. 

As a tall guard, Isa Hämäläinen gives the Colorado Buffaloes a unique arsenal. (Remi Krupinski/Sko Buffs Sports)

When she visited CU, she instantly clicked with the coaches, players, and environment. It was a second home.

On the court, Hämäläinen’s connection with teammates has been just as important as learning the system. Hämäläinen said her roommate, freshman center Sophie Zadel, has made the transition easier, as the two have quickly bonded and discovered plenty of similarities. 

Coming in a few weeks behind the rest of the roster, Hämäläinen wasn’t sure how easily she’d fit in. With 10 newcomers, Colorado could have felt unfamiliar, but she quickly realized this group was different. The connection came naturally and carried from practice to life off the court.

Before arriving in Boulder, Hämäläinen had already made history back home. She helped lead Luxembourg’s U18 national team to its first-ever silver medal at the 2023 European Championship. 

She also earned a spot on the tournament’s All-Star Five after averaging 18 points and nearly six rebounds a game. That experience shaped the player she is becoming, one grounded in humility but driven by a clear sense of purpose. 

Now, as she adjusts to her first season with Colorado, Hämäläinen is focused on growth above all else. She approaches each practice as an opportunity to refine her game and learn from the veterans around her, striving to become the best version of herself both on and off the court.

Rather than looking up to professional athletes, Hämäläinen draws inspiration from people closest to her.

“My dad has always been one of my biggest influences,” Hämäläinen said. “He grew up around basketball, so he’s the reason I fell in love with the game. He’s supported me through everything and still motivates me to keep pushing myself every day.”

Representing her home country as the heart of everything Hämäläinen does, a reminder of where her journey began and for whom she plays.

“It means a lot to represent Luxembourg,” Hämäläinen said. “Coming from a small country, I want to show that if you put in the effort, anything is possible. If a kid back home sees me and things, ‘If she can do it, maybe I can do it too,’ that means everything to me.”