Chasing 2 rings: Lobos' Joaquim has winning, marriage in her sights

Jul. 15—Hulda Joaquim doesn't mind being patient or putting in extra work — especially when it can bring a handsome payoff.

The principle applies both to her role with the University of New Mexico women's basketball team and to her personal life. In each case, Joaquim ultimately wants a ring.

The first payoff would be basketball-related.

A 6-foot-1 forward who worked her way into a key role for the Lobos last season, Joaquim opted to return to UNM for a fifth and final season of college basketball in 2024-25. She said the decision to stay was "easy," and hopes to cap her three years in Albuquerque with a shiny memento.

"I want us to get a ring, win a championship," Joaquim said. "There's a long way to go of course, but if we can keep the same chemistry, keep building our team the way we've been doing, we have the players. I feel like so much can happen for us this year."

While a championship ring is admittedly speculative at this point, Joaquim has one future ring locked up — a wedding ring.

Opening tip

Joaquim recently returned to Albuquerque after spending a month in her native country of Mozambique. The goal: setting slow-turning engagement wheels in motion.

"It's a process getting married in Mozambique," Joaquim said, "not like here. The families have to receive each other in our homes, and they have to give their blessings to get everything started. That's what we did."

Joaquim said she and her fiancè, Calus Fransisco, and their respective families will officially begin celebrating the couple's engagement next year. That's when an official wedding date will be set.

The 24-year-old Joaquim said she has been dating Fransisco since 2020. Both are from Maputo, the capital city of Mozambique, but Joaquim says she hasn't spent much time there since she came to the United States to play college basketball.

With that in mind, Joaquim is glad for Mozambique's extended traditional marriage process.

"I think the whole process is fun," she said. "Here, my boyfriend could just give me a ring before he even met my family and we're engaged. That's not how it works there. The whole family has to get involved to give the blessing."

Bradbury said he was glad to let Joaquim travel home in June to begin her engagement ceremonies.

"I think the world of Hulda," he said, "and she hadn't been home in a long time. This is a big part of her culture and obviously more important than summer practice. She already knows our system anyway. I'm just glad she was able to go."

Asked how the blessings went, Joaquim smiled.

"It went well, no doubt about that," she said. "I am getting married. Not too soon, but I am, for sure."

Finishing focus

Joaquim conceded that wedding plans will be on her mind occasionally during the upcoming school year. Not when she's on the basketball court, however.

The fifth-year senior showed up ready for practice one day after returning from Mozambique and says, "I'm already locked in."

Joaquim, who spent two seasons at Kansas' Seward County Community College before coming to UNM in 2022-23, hopes to expand her role a bit next season. She came on strong in Mountain West play for UNM last year, coming off the bench primarily to provide post defense and rebounding. She averaged 3.4 points and 5.3 boards in 20-plus minutes over the Lobos' last 14 games.

"I think all her hard work just finally came together," New Mexico coach Mike Bradbury said. "She really came on strong late last year and started playing with a lot of confidence. Hulda just kept getting better and basically forced us to play her."

UNM's roster was vertically challenged and guard-heavy last season, requiring Joaquim to play inside and defend opposing post players. She's hoping to display a bit more versatility this season.

"We had a lot of guards last year, so I had to play the 5," Joaquim said. "Once in a while we ran a play so I could shoot a 3, but that was about it. We have more size now, and the coaches have told me I might play outside a little more and add some offense to my game. I'd like that."

Joaquim's athleticism, defensive prowess and knack for rebounding might easily have landed her elsewhere next season via the NCAA transfer portal. Seven players on UNM's 2023-24 roster transferred to other programs after the season. Not Joaquim.

"I love it here," she said. "I love the coaching staff, and I feel like I grew up here. My first season here was so hard, but things finally clicked for me last year. I want to stay here and keep getting better."

UNM assistant coach Nike McClure, who works with the team's posts, referred to Joaquim as "our locker room glue" and a "senior leader" upon her return from Mozambique. Joaquim smiled when asked about taking a leadership role on a team that has 10 new players on its roster.

"It's kind of crazy how we've got new people coming from all sides," she said, "and so far we've all just clicked. It's great to have more size, too, but I'm really happy to see everyone coming in with great energy. Not everyone is here yet and we still have a lot of work to do, but I'm excited. This year's off to a great start, for sure."