From the basketball courts of Copenhagen to the youth European Championships, 18-year-old Mollie Bælum Mauria has carried her love for the game with her every step of the way. A lifelong player for BK Amager and a member of Denmark’s youth national teams, Mollie’s journey is built on passion, dedication, and the dream of one day taking her talents abroad.

A family tradition turned lifelong passion

Basketball has always been part of Mollie’s life. “My mom has played since she was around 12 years old. So she’s the one that introduced me to it. And I started when I was, I think, six years old, the first time I was on the court. And I’ve just loved it ever since,” she recalls. Her very first basketball memory came with a twist. “I was really nervous and I think at the first time I confused it with cheerleading. So I thought I was going to a cheerleading practice but it was not cheerleading at all. But I loved it. So it was fun anyway and I quickly enjoyed it.”

Today, Mollie draws inspiration from role models who have shaped women’s sports. “I want to say, kind of basic, but like Caitlin Clark. I think she’s a really good player and I think she has moved women’s sports so much, like in the past years. I would say she’s a great inspiration.”

Loyalty to BK Amager

Unlike many players who move between clubs, Mollie has shown remarkable loyalty. “I started playing in BK Amager in Denmark and I’ve actually always played there. I’ve never switched clubs. So I’ve played there for what makes that 12 years now.”

She explains that BK Amager is not a commercial powerhouse but a community built on passion. “It’s kind of like, it’s not like the same as a high school team like you would say in the U.S. It’s like a club you go to. It’s a kind of small organization. The club is built on that foundation. Passion is like a big part of basketball in Denmark.”

Her years at Amager are filled with cherished memories, especially the annual trips to Sweden. “On the 1st of January, the whole club travels to Sweden to play something called Lund, which is like a week-long tournament. And I’ve been there since I was eight or nine years old, and I’ve been there every year since then. It’s the best part of the year. It’s the best week.”

Another highlight came when she won the Danish U19 Championship at just 16. “It felt amazing also because I was so young, I was playing with some of the older players. It was really new to me and a lot different from what I was used to. So it was a really big experience.”

Growing into the women’s league

Mollie broke into Amager’s women’s league team at just 15 years old. “I think this is my fourth season. At first it was a really huge difference to go from playing youth basketball to playing the women’s league, because there’s a lot different, like the physicality and the speed of the play is so different. But when you develop to it, it is so much fun.”

The team is now one of the youngest in Denmark, and Mollie feels optimistic. “We had a lot of new players and a lot of our older players stopped. So we had to start from the ground. But I feel like we have developed a really nice team. The Danish Women’s league this season is a very young league, so I would say we have a pretty good chance of winning this year. I’m really excited for this season actually.”

Even though the first game of the season ended in a narrow loss, she remains confident. “It went okay. We still have a lot of things to work on and it was our first game so still a lot of nerves. We played against Horsholm and we lost by, I think, two points, so it was very close.”

Wearing Denmark’s colors

One of Mollie’s proudest moments came when she was first selected for Denmark’s national youth teams. “It was so special to me. It’s something you always look at. You always see the national team players in Denmark, and it’s always been a big dream of mine. So when I got on the team, I was just so happy. Even though we didn’t win that much, it was just amazing to go and see what basketball can also be in other countries, and how playing against some of the best players in Europe, it was an amazing experience.”

She has steadily grown into her role. “Last season and this summer I would say I made a lot of progression. I think this was one of my best national league seasons. So that was really nice and I feel like I developed a lot.”

Her rebounding ability has become a trademark, despite not being exceptionally tall by international standards. “It’s something I’ve been working a lot on, because in Denmark we’re not that tall. I’m only 1,80 meters, so I’m one of the tallest players on the team. So I’ve always been forced to be the one that gets the rebounds and plays post, even though I’m not that tall when I go to the Europeans. But yeah, that’s something I’ve been working on.”

A dream abroad

Mollie’s ambitions stretch beyond Denmark. “I’ve been thinking a lot of going abroad, especially to the U.S. I’m graduating this summer, so I’ve been looking into going to college. I’m not sure if it will be the next year or the year after that, but I’m definitely looking at going abroad and seeing what basketball can be in other places than Denmark. Because it’s a very small community here in Denmark, but it’s so much bigger in the States.”

For Mollie, basketball is more than just a game. It is a community, a tradition, and a dream she is determined to chase. Whether in Copenhagen, Sweden, or the U.S., her story continues to unfold, one built on loyalty, resilience, and an unshakable love for the game.