ALBANY, N.Y. - University at Albany forward, Helene Haegerstrand, will return to compete for the Great Danes for a fifth and final season.
 
"If it was not for the people here at UAlbany, this return would not have happened," said Haegerstrand. "I am so grateful for Coach Mullen and the staff giving me the opportunity to be a part of this season and for the team to welcome me back! I will do my best to contribute in any way I can!"
 
Haegerstrand, a Stockholm, Sweden native, returned to UAlbany to pursue an MBA after graduating with her bachelor's in the spring. Before making the decision to return to the team as an athlete, she had continued to help out the athletics department as a member of the facilities team and as a student manager of the women's basketball team.
 
"We are thrilled to welcome Helene back to the team," said head coach Colleen Mullen. "Over the last four years, she has excelled both on the court and in the classroom. She is a tremendous role model in the community and an exceptional young woman. Her winning mentality, leadership ability, and championship experience will make an immediate impact. It's a great day to be a Great Dane!"
 
A three-time America East All-Conference honoree, Haegerstrand was named First Team in each of the last two seasons after being named to the All-Rookie Team as a freshman. A consistent team and conference leader, she was an America East Woman of the Year finalist following the conclusion of the 2022-23 academic year. The 2023 AE Women's Basketball Scholar-Athlete of the Year was named to the All-Academic Team in 2023.
 
A staple of the Great Dane offense in each of the last four seasons, Haegerstrand is ranked sixth in program history, fifth in Division I history, with 1269 career points. The returning graduate student adds two top-10 placements in the record with 137 career three-pointers (eighth) and an 11.4 career scoring average (ninth).
 
As a team, UAlbany went 14-2 in conference play to share the 2022-23 America East Regular Season Champion title. Making their way to the AE Championship for the second year in a row, the Great Danes fell to Vermont by just two points before heading to UMass to close the season at the WNIT.
 
For more information on the University at Albany women's basketball team, follow the squad's official social media accounts shown below.
Twitter - @ualbanywbb
Instagram & Threads - @ualbanywbb
Facebook – facebook.com/UAlbanyWBB