Erikstrup twins revel in reuniting at GCU

Laura and Sydney Erikstrup's lives were intertwined since birth, whether the identical twins were hopping through Irish dancing as girls or hooping their ways to college.

But for most of the past three years, the Erikstrups could not be present in each other's life after parting paths for colleges.

Laura and Sydney Erikstrup

The graduate transfers changed that this year by reuniting at Grand Canyon, where they will make their Lopes debuts against Saint Mary's on Monday, a day after turning 22.

In getting a sister back, each twin gained 12 more GCU teammates who feel like sisters to them. It has recaptured the environment that made them fall in love with basketball during their Portland, Oregon, club years.

"I was thinking, 'If I don't play with her again, I'm probably going to regret it," Sydney said of their summer transfer decision. "How did we get so lucky?"

With Laura at San Diego and Sydney at Arizona State since 2020, the Erikstrups found themselves searching for identities outside of being the other's twin for the first time.

After sharing every class as Beaverton High School seniors, they inevitably needed each other as long-distances sisters. They made multiple FaceTime calls daily for those jokes, thoughts and questions that others do not grasp.

Laura Erikstrup

"How many more chances am I ever going to have to play college basketball with my twin?" said Laura, who wears No. 20. "I'd be dumb to not take this opportunity. Why would I not want to spend it with my family now?"

The Erikstrups' parents, Flemming and Carrie, live in the Phoenix area, where GCU head coach Molly Miller was offering more than a chance to play together in front of them again. Neither sister has reached an NCAA tournament, a projection that the Lopes are receiving as the WAC preseason favorite entering Monday's 4 p.m. season opener at GCU Arena.

They are an athletic rarity for twins, playing roles and positions that complement rather than mirror each other. With Sydney at 6 feet 1 and Laura is 6 feet 2, Sydney is more of wing player with guard skills while Laura works the paint with post skills.

Erikstrups and Miller

"They're also very good at correcting one another," Miller said. "When they're playing on the court together, they'll have a sisterly rivalry and fire. I'll be about to correct them, and the twins already have done it for me. You're not going to get on your teammate as much as your sister."

The Erikstrups' athletic side comes more from their mother, who was an internationally competitive downhill skier and rowed collegiately for Washington crew. But their father made the key move, coming to America as a Danish exchange student for them to meet in high school.

The Erikstrups tried to keep an active schedule for their three children, including younger son Dane, a 6-foot-11 junior forward for Eastern Washington. The sisters tried several sports before sticking to basketball but not because it came to them naturally.

"We were not good," Laura said. "Basketball was not our thing." Erikstrup twins as youths

A shared memory of attending their first basketball skills clinic in fourth grade confirmed as much.

"We were so bad," Sydney said. "Balls were going left and right. I was thinking, 'I don't think I'm ever going anywhere with this."

But they did progress to a high level and were denied a chance at a state high school championship by the COVID shutdown.

That makes for unfinished business to get a title at GCU, where they have shown continual appreciation for their relationships with teammates, the all-around care they receive from the staff and the amenities of the program and campus.

Sydney Erikstrup

"You dream of taking programs to historic heights," said Sydney, who wears No. 32. "We could see what was formulating here with the support and the Havocs and thought, 'I want to be part of that.' Now being here every day, we can see that this can be something really special. It's been nothing but incredible."

The Erikstrups arrived at GCU later in the summer than most teammates because the fluent Danish speakers were playing for Denmark's national basketball team. As summer workouts went along, Miller learned to tell them apart as long as they aren't wearing makeup. Others will never know if they make a mistake because the twins will play along and respond to people as each other.

"There are moments when we're in our own world dying laughing, and it's clearly not funny to anyone else," Laura said. "It happens all the time. (GCU graduate assistant) Ashleigh (Lopez) looks at us sometimes like, 'What is wrong with you guys?' "

Laura and Sydney Erikstrup

For the next two seasons, each Erikstrup has her biggest critic and biggest fan back in her daily life to be pushed and to be celebrated. Each gets back her after-hours shooting teammate and late-night dining partner.

GCU scored a two-for-one recruiting deal that will be double trouble for opponents as the Lopes aim for the program's best season ever.

"I'm sure this will bring their family a lot of joy," Miller said. "These are memories they'll cherish. Being on the court together is a special thing, and sharing in the highs of lows of sports with your twin sister probably is impactful for them."

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