Saara Wahlgren – on basketball, 3×3 and breakfast??

Saara Wahlgren started her ninth season in Naisten Korisliiga, and her second in HyPo, in Hyvinkaa. Previously Wahlgren has represented PeKa and ToPo – I do notice a tendency to choose teams that have four letters in their name?? And add to that, that she started her playing career at the U-16 level in a team called KaPo … At the international level, she has played for the U16, U18 and Susiladies, a total of 171 times – and is currently with the National team at their training camp, as the team prepares for their last two EuroBasketWomen qualifying games.

She tells that on court she sees herself more as a defensive player, and also likes to play physical. On her merits – there is the Defensive Player Of The Year, award from the 2016-17 season. So she does have a point that maybe others do also see her defensive strengths. Saara is also known for being able to shoot the ball (kind of important for basketball players in general) – in 2015-16 she was 3rd best in percentage of made 3 point shots (39,22) and in 2016-17 she moved a little closer to the basket and was 3rd best in percentage of made 2 point shots (55.56).

With Finland being a small country, at least population wise, and Wahlgren spending her summers playing 3×3 basketball – in which hopefully Finland will have a National Team soon. I had to ask, that wouldn’t it be easier to find 3-4 really good players – rather than finding 12-14 players – as we don’t have that many people over here. And her response was that in theory that should be the way….  Hopefully after last summer first ever Finnish 3×3 Finals – the game will take onto new heights over here during the coming summer, and maybe even having a National Teams (in the Finals this year, there were plenty of Susiladies players taking their first steps onto 3×3).

At HyPo, the Finnish core of the team has been relatively stable for couple of season – and Saara points this as having a good impact, especially at the early part of the season when players perhaps know a little more about how they play – how they move on the court and so on. This has shown in the way HyPo have started the season, with only the opening day defeat to show on the losses column – and six straight wins after that. The team is topping the table at the moment.

Asking about the level of play in Naisten Korisliiga this season, Wahlgren says that this year it really is more even than in many previous seasons. With new teams making a push to the top of the table, and anyone being able to win anyone… and that the teams have to go into each game with the mentality of being 100% prepared and not thinking there is an easy win on the cards.

Why did she choose basketball?? She smiles and says that her brother played football (soccer) at the time, and her choices at the time were tennis or basketball – and her brother said, you really should choose the team sport, as even if you don’t play and just sit on the bench and your team wins a medal… you also get a medal. So, it was basketball for me then…

As for this years question, cooking – Saara studies the food industries, so of course is very knowledgeable about food – but admits that she is a little ‘boring’ when it comes to cooking. And as I ask what she would cook for example Laura Saarinen, if she came to visit … it would be Chicken&Veg wok.. with some quinoa and ‘eastern spices’ … and Laura would naturally provide the drinks (Nocco) for the evening.

With Taru Tuukkanen as her team mate – I had to ask how HyPo is on the away journey, and whether Taru is the one choosing the music, route they drive and even the driver?? But, the youngsters are butting in there and getting their own music.. and in general the away journeys are good fun. And so it seems are their home games – there is always good atmosphere and the team seems to live every second full on 100% – so if/when you visit Hyvinkaa for the game.. you might be swept along the atmosphere in the crown and on the bench… (and for a photographer like me – it gives great pictures!)

At the moment Wahlgren is part of the Susiladies roster – as the team is going through a big shake-up .. with many of the senior players deciding to call it a day with their playing careers, and lots of young players coming through – so it is an exciting time to be seeing where Women’s basketball takes it steps forward in the coming years.

For a little known fact about herself… she had apparently eaten the same breakfast for SEVEN years in a row!! But what that it… remains a mystery, for now! 😉 Perhaps there will be a second article, where we get to know what this mystery breakfast is??