Wyoming's two iconic Cowgirl basketball stars Tommi Olson and Quinn Weidemann grew up without sisters. 

It wasn't until college when they finally got one.

Each other.

These two remarkable young women have worn Wyoming uniforms together for five seasons, for 263 career games, and 200 career starts! Cowgirl basketball has never seen the likes of Tommi and Quinn before, and probably never will again. 

They've done it with great class, style and leadership, and they've done it together, like sisters. 

They have been instrumental in all the successes the Cowgirls have produced over those five seasons. This current campaign is no different. The Cowgirls are in a three-way tie for second heading into the most exciting and special time of any basketball season.  Just like the other four seasons, Tommi and Quinn have been huge contributors to this one, their last as Cowgirls. 

Wyoming hosts Nevada tonight at 6:30 p.m. at the Arena-Auditorium, and closes out the regular season Saturday against arch-rival, Colorado State, at 7:30 p.m. That one will be Senior Night, and a very emotional time for the two veterans and best friends.  

The two arrived in Laramie the same year, 2018, Quinn from Westside High School in Omaha, and Tommi from Highlands Ranch (Colo.) High School by way of her hometown Worland. Unsure of what to expect, they couldn't have known what a rich life experience upon which they were about to embark.

"We came in together and didn't know each other," says Tommi.  "But the coaches told us we would be rooming together.  We have been roommates ever since.  The fact that we've been together for five years is so unique and special.  We've grown together while going through changes personally , and within the team.  And we've always done it together.

"Quinn is more than a great friend," Tommi continues. "I did not have any siblings in my family growing up, but Quinn has become my sister. I'm so thankful to have her.  She has taught me so much like how to have confidence in who I am, and to be comfortable with who I am. She cooks and even advises me on makeup. She is far more 'street smart' than me.  She's just like a big sister I never had."

Quinn feels the same way about roommate.

"I know it's probably unusual to room with the same person for five years. But we wouldn't have had it any other way. Tommi is everything to me. She is much more than my best friend. We are like sisters. I know I can always go to her and talk when something is bothering me. She's always been there for me.  It's going to be very emotional—I'm getting choked up now—when I leave this spring when I'm done with school.  But I will come back for games, and plan on spending a lot of time with her. Our relationship will always be very special, like sisters. I'm so grateful for her."

Quinn has graduated with a marketing management degree and is finishing up a master's in business administration.  Tommi is working on her master's in health science with an eye towards become a nurse practitioner. That will require four more years of school, and she plans on staying here to realize that dream.

By the way, those career starts and games played numbers by the duo, mentioned earlier, may never be duplicated for many reasons.  Longevity being one, but maybe the biggest factor is that neither one has ever suffered a serious injury, requiring significant missed time.  Tommi has never missed a game, and Quinn missed a couple early this season due to concussion protocol.

Their names appear all over the Cowgirl record books.  Quinn is second all-time in free throw percentage with the remainder of the season on the horizon.  She is third in made three-pointers (242), and fourth in three-point percentage (40.4).  Her 142 games played is most in program history.  Tommi is eighth in career assists (355) and tied for seventh in career steals (169).

With this season on the way, both Cowgirls had the opportunity to come back and play an extra year. But also, they both had the option of not coming back and move on with their lives. That option was not going to happen, according to both.

"I felt lucky to have the extra year," says Quinn. "I am so grateful and appreciative that I could come back.  The season gets long, and your body wears down.  But being a Cowgirl is so much fun that I wouldn't have missed playing another year.  We knew early-on that coaches and players were going to have to make some adjustments.  That didn't matter, I was ready for whatever came along. I think everyone on this team, coaches and players, has done a great job of adapting.

"I can't imagine what my life would have been without the people I've met and the friends I have made in my five years here.  It's been the experience of a lifetime."

Early in the process Tommi gave it some thought as to whether she would come back or not, but says the decision to return wasn't that difficult.  "Being from Worland I always dreamed of being a Cowgirl.  If I could do it for one more year, why not?  I think this is where I was supposed to be," she says. "It was the right decision, and I'm so happy I did it."

Tommi's mother, Elsa, played for the Cowgirls from 1981 through 1984.  She passed her mother in career steals earlier this year. She wears the number 24 on her Cowgirl jersey because that's the number her mother wore.    

"It was my dream to be a Cowgirl and wear the brown and gold," Tommi says.  "My mother taught me the fundamentals of the game, and some X's and O's.  But what she really taught me was to work hard and give full effort.  

"I'm very proud of being able to be a part of the Cowgirl culture, to have this mentality and attitude.  I think Quinn and I have had a part in creating that culture, playing with a standard that is Wyoming tough. As I look back on my career here, I'm able to say that I was there at every practice, at all the games, at all the lifts. I'm very proud of that."

Quinn says here parents, Todd and Christine, have had a tremendous influence on her.  "They have taught me so much, and I can't say enough how much I appreciate their guidance."

She had offers from schools east of Nebraska, but Wyoming was the only school west of her home state.  "There was no doubt it was the best fit for me.  I believe I made a great decision."

While she's proud of her offensive accomplishments, Quinn is most proud of being named to the Mountain West's All-Defensive team.  Which, more than likely, will happen again this season.

The two agree on their greatest memory to date, and that is winning the Mountain West Tournament and going to the NCAA Tournament two seasons ago.

"We'd love to do that again," says Tommi.  "We are very capable," says Quinn.

That would be a great way for the two Cowgirl sisters to go out, for sure.  But one thing is certain, no matter what happens, they have had some kind of a Wyoming ride…together.