Finland natives Saga Ukkonen, Elina Arike reunite with Texas Tech women's basketball

Of all the things Elina Arike and Saga Ukkonen can relate about, nothing compares to the struggle of airfare home.

It's quite the trek, after all — one the Helsinki, Finland, natives make only once a year.

Perhaps now they can take the same flight.

The Texas Tech basketball players, teammates growing up in Europe, reunited when Arike transferred from UTEP in the offseason. The move came as no surprise to Ukkonen, who hosted Arike on her visit and advised her friend to join the Lady Raiders.

"I already kind of had an idea that she would come here," Ukkonen said, "because in my mind we were the best option. … I told her that she should commit while she's here. That would make our coaches' day, week, month."

That was all the support Arike needed. Initially the 6-foot-2 forward wondered if Ukkonen would object to another Finnish player on the team.

"Some people want to have their own experience, in a way, and do their own thing," Arike said. "That's why I wanted to make sure with Saga that it was OK for me to develop this relationship with (Tech) coaches."

The decision put Arike and Ukkonen in the same uniform for the first time since their days at Mäkelänrinne Upper Secondary School, which specializes in sports development. The two also played together on Finland's youth national teams.

They followed a route similar to most Finnish players with aspirations of college ball in the U.S. But the initial part of their American experience began at different schools.

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Each dealt with recruitment during various points of the COVID-19 pandemic. That complicated things, but Tech's fan support, facilities and family environment were enough to convince Ukkonen. The junior is one of two Lady Raiders who have been in the program since the 2021-22 season.

A year earlier, Arike was less sure. She took a "leap of faith" and chose UTEP after international recruiting waned at the start of the pandemic.

Arike made 75 starts with the Miners, culminating with Conference USA defensive player of the year honors last season. She averaged 11.9 points and 5.6 rebounds.

Still, Arike was ready for a new home. She admits she wasn't happy and saw UTEP coach Kevin Baker's resignation as a "sign I need to go."

Tech played a similar style, and the coaches and players felt genuine, Arike said. She, too, felt the family atmosphere Ukkonen described. Arike already knew the crowds to expect from the Miners' loss to Tech in the Women's National Invitation Tournament.

She quickly took to the Lady Raiders and is enjoying herself.

"Usually I'm pretty reserved as a person, more to the quiet side," Arike said. "But I feel like I've found a place where I'm comfortable enough that I've come out of my shell and talking to everybody. I feel like this is a good place for me.

"I'm really just like, me, right now."

Ukkonen called the increased socialization the "American experience coming through." She had to learn "small-talk culture" herself when she came to Lubbock — one of her biggest adjustments from Helsinki.

Arike has provided size and athleticism to help Tech's press defense. Her versatility showed with eight points, five assists, two rebounds and a block Saturday at Oklahoma.

Ukkonen is thankful to have Arike on and off the court. It feels just like the old days.

"I feel like nothing really changed from how it was when we were in Finland," Ukkonen said. "Yeah, we haven't played with each other in three years, or really seen each other that much, but it's still the same."

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This article originally appeared on Lubbock Avalanche-Journal: Finland's Saga Ukkonen, Elina Arike reunite at Texas Tech women's basketball