Sofia Moschen, a redshirt freshman forward from São Paulo, Brazil, is one of three international players on the Bowling Green State University women’s basketball team. She arrived at Bowling Green in the spring semester of 2025 and quickly found support among coaches and teammates.
Moschen described her decision to join Bowling Green after meeting with the coaching staff. “They all seemed so good and so helpful and enjoyed helping me go through and get better in my game and the aspects that I wanted to get better at,” she said. “The physicality, the defense, the speed. So I think Bowling Green was a choice that I had to make.”
Assistant coach Kadie Hempfling shared her initial impression of Moschen: “She has a certain characteristic of genuine kindness about her,” Hempfling said. “She just gives off this warm, good vibe.”
Adjusting to life in Northwest Ohio required sacrifices for Moschen, particularly being away from her family for several months before winter break. “I had been going on maybe five or six months without seeing them,” Moschen said. “Their support is everything to me. It’s one of the reasons I keep doing it… and going through hard times.” Her brother visited her in the United States for the first time in years during this period. “My brother hasn’t traveled to the United States in a long while, so he was so happy to be here,” she added.
Hempfling also met Moschen’s parents over Christmas break and reflected on being part of Moschen’s journey: “Her parents came over Christmas break and visited her. So I was able to meet them and get to know them a little bit too,” said Hempfling. “It’s an amazing opportunity as a coach to have an impact… and help her grow on and off the court.”
Support from teammates such as sophomore forward Lauren Gerken and junior forward Taya Ellis has helped Moschen settle into campus life. According to Moschen: “Lauren [Gerken]… always helps me understand stuff during practice,” she said. “I talk to Taya [Ellis] a lot too… she’s always saying ‘keep your head up and everything will go well with you.'”
Hempfling noted Moschen’s dedication: “She does a great job of realizing and asking for help. Extra shots… watching film… and a genuine love for the game.”
Beyond basketball, Moschen enjoys spending time outdoors, surfing, going to the beach, and connecting with other international students from Mexico, Costa Rica, and Brazil.
Moschen outlined both athletic and academic goals during her time at BGSU: “Grow my game. I’ve seen my game grow since I’ve been here. I’ve talked to people about it, but I want to grow more,” she said. “I want to be a three-way player, and I want my [shooting] distance to get better in any way I can. And of course, get a degree over here in psychology and work with that as well in the future.”
From São Paulo to Ohio, Sofia Moschen continues working toward both personal growth on court as an athlete at BGSU.
