Johanna Teder has already been though quite a range of experiences during her college basketball career.
Yet, she is eager for a new challenge as her lone season at Colorado is set to begin.
"Yeah, I feel comfortable," the sixth-year senior said. "Love the team, love the atmosphere, so I'm excited."
Teder, a 5-foot-8 guard from Estonia, began her college career with one season at South Plains (Texas) Community College before spending the last four years at Washington State.
Starting all 86 games in which she played for the Cougars, Teder averaged 8.4 points, 2.4 rebounds and 2.3 assists per game. But, after going through the 2022-23 season with pain from Achilles tendinitis, she sat out the 2023-24 season.
Teder is now back on the court and filling a new role with a new team.
"Just to find confidence," she said of the process to get back, "because I was out for a whole year. Just trust the process and listen to what coaches have to say, and trust your teammates."
Teder said she thinks about her injuries daily, but added, "I feel better than I've been feeling for the past two years, so I feel pretty good.
"Like the athletes' life, push through and do whatever you can off the court to be healthy on the court."
On the court, Teder is a talented shooter who can help the Buffs in a variety of ways, including as a leader as one of the most experienced players on the roster.
"Jo is a great player," CU head coach JR Payne said. "She can play one through three on the perimeter. She's a great shooter. She's one that (when she played at WSU), we always had to worry about where she was on the floor, because she's such a great 3-point threat. Just has a lot of experience, has played internationally. She speaks up, can help coach younger players and is someone that we're going to rely on for the basketball and also leadership."
CU will host Colorado Mines on Sunday at 1 p.m. in an exhibition game and then kick off the 11-game nonconference schedule with a trip to Wyoming on Nov. 4.
Payne said the nonconference slate, which features four games on the road and seven at home, is a good one for her team.
"Whenever we're scheduling our preseason games, you're trying to play as many different styles that you can play, mostly so that you're ready for anything when conference comes around," she said. "Opening right out of the gates at Wyoming is an incredibly tough challenge. ... We're excited to be able to play several true road games. (Scheduling) is definitely one of the hardest things about coaching. A lot of people don't like to come play at the elevation, and so it's difficult to get the home games we want, but yeah, we think it'll be a good challenge and good preparation for the Big 12."
During her first three years at CU, Kindyll Wetta came off the bench, but played start-type minutes (24.3 per game). Mainly a defensive stopper and excellent passer, she has never been a top scoring threat, averaging 5.3 points.
On a team that lost most of its top scorers, though, Wetta is being encouraged to do more. She's certainly capable, as she's made 44.7% of her shots, including a career-best 48.7% last year.
"Definitely Kindyll wants to score more and is looking to score more," Payne said. "We've talked about different ways that she can find herself offensive opportunities. I've shared with everyone on the team that she has the green light to be as aggressive scoring on three levels as she wants to be, and we need her to do that.
"I think she's pretty intent on being the most well-rounded version of herself throughout her senior year."
This season marks the 50 years of CU women's basketball (the first game was on Jan. 17, 1975) and Payne said the Buffs are "going to try to celebrate it all year long" with different types of celebrations and honoring players and coaches from the past. ... Beginning with Sunday's exhibition, Payne said the nonconference slate will allow for coaches to get a better feel for their rotation, as 11 of the 14 players on the roster have never played a game at CU.