Frida Formann had to first decide if she wanted to take advantage of the extra year of eligibility she had in front of her.

Once she did, she had to figure out where to use that bonus season granted to all players from the 2020-21 season because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“For my last year, I wanted a challenge and I wanted to try something new,” she said. “It’s very convenient that I get to do all that while being still at CU.”

The lone returning starter for the Colorado women’s basketball team and the program’s all-time leader in 3-pointers, Formann will have plenty of familiarity in coming back. But it certainly won’t be the same, as the Buffs have lost 13 of 17 players from this last season’s roster and will leave the Pac-12 this summer to join the Big 12.

“We have a new conference, the team is going to be very different, my role is going to evolve,” said Formann, who graduated with a degree in environmental studies earlier this week. “I think that challenge was just right in front of me. So I didn’t feel the need to go anywhere to kind of pursue that change.”

A full-time starter for most of her four seasons at CU, Formann has been an integral part of three consecutive NCAA Tournament teams, helping the Buffs reach the Sweet 16 the past two years.

Formann, point guard Kindyll Wetta and wing Sara-Rose Smith are the only players back from the main rotation, while freshman guard Kennedy Sanders will also return after redshirting this season.

With 120 career games — including 104 starts — under her belt, Formann will be relied on heavily.

“I think all four of the returners (will be relied on), certainly, but she has more playing experience than anyone,” CU head coach JR Payne said. “She’s played four years and started almost every game for her entire career. I thought Frida really developed a strong voice this year, even amongst a group of strong voices. She’s had a lot of success and I think we’ll rely on her ability to share that knowledge with everybody.”

During her career, Formann has averaged 11.1 points, 2.5 rebounds and 1.9 assists while connecting on 260 3-pointers. She ranks among the top five in CU history in 3-point percentage (.377) and free throw percentage (.848).

This past season, Formann tied the CU single-season record with 82 3-pointers while posting career highs in scoring average (12.5), assists per game (2.1) and her shooting percentages overall (.440), from 3 (.421) and at the line (.901).

The Denmark native knows there’s more she can do, however.

“I always sort of try to be better, but definitely (there are goals to improve) in my ball handling and finishing around the rim, my mid-range game — getting way more confident in those,” said Formann, who is eyeing a pro career after CU. “I know my strengths, but I want my weaknesses to be not weaknesses. I want them to be things that I’m just not as good at, but that I can still do well.”

How exactly her role evolves is to be determined. Payne and her staff have eight incoming players lined up — including four transfers — but could add three more. So, it will take time to figure out what the group can do individually and together.

Formann could have skipped the rebuild but has instead embraced the challenge.

“Last season, there was so much certainty; you knew exactly how our team was going to be and there weren’t a lot of new pieces,” she said. “Definitely way more uncertainty this year but it’s super exciting, honestly. Us returners are capable of leading our newcomers, and I think we’re pretty confident in that.

“I’ve loved playing with all of my teammates for these (four) years, and they’ve taught me so much and I think I’m kind of ready to take on some of the roles that they’ve had and some of the things that they’ve instilled in me.”

As much as she enjoyed the Pac-12, Formann is also excited about the move to the Big 12.

“Playing new teams is gonna be great,” she said. “I’ve played against the same teams for four years and at the end, you’re like, ‘I don’t even need the scouting report. I know what these teams do, you know their system.’ So yeah, it’s gonna be really fun. When you’re thrown into something new, you pay attention a little bit more.”

There will be plenty on Formann’s plate to sharpen her focus next season, and she can’t wait.

“I know it’s going be a challenge,” she said, “but like I said, that’s what I wanted.”