From her earliest experiences on the basketball court to representing Sweden internationally, Lovisa Holmgren has discovered how much determination, confidence and the encouragement of those closest to her can mean. At eighteen, the Swedish basketball player is continuing to develop at AIK Basket, where new responsibilities and valuable experiences are helping her take further steps in her career. Her journey has already brought unforgettable moments, exciting challenges and opportunities to discover her own abilities. With a deep appreciation for the sport and the people who have supported her, Lovisa looks towards a future filled with possibilities. Photo: FIBA Basketball

A love for basketball that began at home

Long before Lovisa Holmgren experienced the excitement of representing Sweden, basketball was already an important part of her family life. Growing up surrounded by the sport gave her the opportunity to discover its many different aspects at an early age. What began as a familiar activity gradually became something she wanted to dedicate herself to, laying the foundation for the journey she is enjoying today. Her father has played an important role throughout that journey. His experience as both a player and a coach introduced Lovisa to basketball and continues to provide encouragement as she develops her own qualities. "My dad has played basketball almost his entire life, and he has coached as well. It was therefore very natural for me to start playing when I was very young. I think I was about five or six years old when I first started playing."

Those first years gave Lovisa the opportunity to build a connection with the game that has remained with her ever since. As she grew older, her understanding of basketball developed alongside her skills, while the support she received at home remained a constant presence.

The encouragement that keeps her moving forward

Behind Lovisa's determination to improve stands someone whose influence extends far beyond her earliest basketball experiences. Her father continues to inspire her through his knowledge of the game and his encouragement to keep working on the things that matter. "My dad inspires me every day to keep going, keep shooting and keep practicing to become a better player. He has always been an important inspiration to me. I would describe him as a quick, smart and aggressive player, and those are qualities I really appreciate."

That connection makes her development especially meaningful. The encouragement she receives is something she can carry onto the court, where every training session and every new challenge offers another opportunity to learn.

Finding her own way on the basketball court

Lovisa began her club career at Sollentuna Basket, where she spent much of her childhood and developed her first experiences of competitive basketball. Playing in a familiar environment allowed her to build friendships and gradually discover what she could contribute to a team. During those years, she also experienced moments that strengthened her confidence in her shooting ability. Her development as a guard gave her opportunities to contribute from the perimeter, and certain performances have remained particularly memorable. "I remember a game when I was playing at U15 or U16 level. I made several three-pointers, which was really impressive for me and a lot of fun. In some games, I can shoot a very high percentage from three-point range. I really hope I can continue doing that this season."

Her shooting has become one of the interesting aspects of her game, although Lovisa's contribution extends beyond scoring. Throughout her appearances in youth competitions and international tournaments, she has also shown her willingness to work defensively, compete for rebounds and remain involved in different situations. The combination of those qualities offers her several ways to contribute, even when her shots are not falling. As she continues to gain experience, understanding when to take opportunities and how to help her teammates remains an important part of her development. At fifteen, Lovisa reached a point where an important decision awaited her. The team she had grown up playing for was changing, and several players were choosing different paths. For Lovisa, the situation presented an opportunity to consider where she could best continue her development. She eventually decided to join AIK Basket, a move that would introduce her to a different environment and provide new possibilities for her basketball career. "Our team at Sollentuna kind of split up, and some players decided to join other teams closer to their homes. I decided to go to AIK because I felt it would be a better step for my development. I wanted to keep improving, and I thought AIK would be a good place for me to do that."

The decision brought changes that reached beyond the basketball court. Having spent so many years in the same environment, Lovisa suddenly found herself surrounded by unfamiliar faces and new expectations. She had to find her place within another group while adjusting to a different level of competition. "I was very excited, but I was also nervous because I had never played there before. I had always played for Sollentuna, so I had never really needed to make new friends in a basketball team. Everything was new to me, and that made it a big change. When I started playing in the league, it was another huge step because I had only played youth basketball before. There was so much more to learn and so many more things to think about while playing."

Her experiences illustrate how much can change when a young player enters a new stage of her career. Training alongside experienced teammates and adapting to the demands of senior basketball require patience, concentration and the willingness to keep learning. For Lovisa, the excitement of those new experiences has helped make the transition worthwhile.

Growing into senior basketball

At sixteen, Lovisa was already training with AIK's senior team in Sweden's highest women's basketball league. She subsequently signed with the team before turning seventeen, giving her the opportunity to experience a level of basketball that demanded more from her than she had previously encountered. The speed of decision-making, physical competition and tactical responsibilities presented new challenges. Each experience contributed to her understanding of the game and helped her discover what was required to compete alongside more experienced players. Looking back on the previous season, Lovisa describes a campaign in which AIK reached the playoffs before being eliminated in the quarterfinals. "I think we reached the quarterfinals, but we lost the second game, so we ended up around fifth place in the rankings. It was an okay season, and I learned a lot from playing at that level."

Her development did not go unnoticed. In July 2026, AIK announced that Lovisa would continue with the club, expressing confidence in the progress she had made and the greater responsibilities she could take on during the following season. For a player who had initially been nervous about entering an unfamiliar environment, that confidence represents another encouraging step forward.

Wearing Sweden's colors with pride

Representing her country introduced Lovisa to an entirely different experience. In 2024, she became part of Sweden's U16 national team, beginning an international journey that would allow her to compete against talented players from other countries. Her first experiences with the national selection brought a mixture of excitement and nerves. The opportunity meant a great deal to her, and she wanted to make the most of every moment. "I was nervous when I first played in the Nordic Championship because I had never played with the national team before. It was such an amazing opportunity for me. At the same time, I knew things would go well if I just stayed true to myself, kept shooting, took my opportunities and played good defense. I tried to focus on those things instead of worrying too much, and that made the whole experience really exciting."

The Nordic Championship became an occasion she could look back on with pride. Sweden finished second behind Finland, while Lovisa was particularly pleased with her shooting performances throughout the tournament. "We did really well and finished in second place. Finland won the tournament, but I was very happy with how we played. I think I shot around 56 percent from three-point range, so that was something I was really proud of."

The experience offered more than the satisfaction of performing well. Playing alongside other talented young athletes and competing internationally helped Lovisa understand what it meant to represent Sweden. Later that year, she also participated in the FIBA U16 Women's EuroBasket, adding another important chapter to her international development.

Two years later, another opportunity with Sweden

In 2026, Lovisa returned to international competition as part of Sweden's U18 national team. This time, the European Championship brought an additional element that made the experience especially memorable: the opportunity to play on home soil. Family members, friends and supporters were able to watch the Swedish team compete, creating an atmosphere that Lovisa appreciated enormously. Having familiar faces in the stands made representing her country even more special. "It was very exciting to play at home because my family and friends could come and watch us. We had a lot of people in the audience, and everyone was really excited. Of course, we were nervous as well, but it was such a cool experience. Playing in front of that many people and having their support made it very special and a lot of fun."

Having already experienced international basketball at U16 level, Lovisa knew more about what to expect. Nevertheless, representing Sweden remained an occasion filled with anticipation, particularly when competing against strong international opponents. The experience also strengthened her appreciation for the teammates who shared those moments with her. The pressure of international competition became something they could face together. "I remembered what it was like from two years earlier, so I had some idea of what to expect. It can still be very nerve-racking, but everyone is in the same boat. We all know how it feels, and we just have to get through those moments together."

That sense of togetherness is an important part of her international experiences. Sharing the excitement, responsibilities and challenges with teammates gives the tournament an additional meaning beyond the individual performances. Lovisa's contributions during the championship also highlighted her willingness to work hard in different areas of the game. Her activity on defense, involvement in rebounding situations and ability to create opportunities for teammates demonstrated qualities that she can continue developing at club level.

Looking forward to another season with AIK

With her international experiences behind her, Lovisa has turned her attention towards the 2026/2027 season. Continuing at AIK offers her the chance to build on everything she has learned since joining the club and to take greater responsibility within the senior team. Her expectations reflect the confidence she has gained through training, competition and the challenges she has already overcome. She recognizes her own progress and hopes that her development will allow her to make an increasingly important contribution. "I feel like I'm going to have a bigger role in the league this season. I really hope my coach and my teammates expect a lot from me because I feel that I've developed so much. I think it's going to be a very fun season, and I hope we're going to win a lot of games."

Her ambitions are closely connected to the success of the team. She wants to contribute to winning games while continuing to strengthen her own abilities and understanding of basketball. There is also something meaningful about the confidence she now expresses. The player who once felt nervous about joining AIK is looking forward to being trusted with greater responsibilities. Her experiences have given her reasons to believe in what she can achieve, while leaving plenty of room for further improvement. Lovisa's ambitions extend beyond the Swedish basketball league. With one year of upper secondary school remaining, she is already thinking about what could come next. The possibility of playing college basketball in the United States particularly appeals to her. It would provide the opportunity to combine further education with basketball while experiencing life in another country. "I actually have one year left here in high school, and after that I would like to go to college, maybe to play basketball there for four years. I think that would be really cool and exciting. I would love to experience something different, but we'll see where the wind takes me."

Moving abroad would represent another significant step, especially after the experiences she has already gained from changing clubs and entering senior basketball at a young age. For Lovisa, the attraction lies partly in discovering a different environment and seeing how far she can develop through new experiences. The idea of continuing her career in America gives her something exciting to look towards, even though her future destination has yet to be decided. "I think it would be a very different experience from playing in the Swedish league. After spending a couple of years playing here, it would be exciting to discover something new instead of staying in Sweden or elsewhere in Europe. Going to America would be a really great opportunity."

The coming period will therefore be important both on and off the court. Alongside her education, Lovisa will continue working towards her ambitions at AIK, where each season offers new opportunities to gain experience and prepare for whatever comes next. At 18, Lovisa has time to explore her abilities, pursue her ambitions and create new memories through the sport that has accompanied her for most of her life. Whether her future takes her to college basketball in America or presents another opportunity, the determination to keep improving will remain valuable. For now, her attention is to enjoy another season with AIK, contributing to her team's success and making the most of the opportunities she has worked towards. The next chapters of Lovisa Holmgren's basketball journey are still waiting to be written, and she has every reason to look forward to discovering what they may bring.