Jordan Frericks said she sees a reminder of herself at practice.

The sophomore forward said her teammate, freshman Bri Porter, is quiet, much like Frericks herself was a year ago.

“I really didn’t use my voice often last year,” Frericks said. “But now, having freshman year under my belt, I’ve gained a lot of confidence from my teammates’ help, and my coaches help my confidence on and off the court.”

The same holds for the other sophomores of the Missouri women’s basketball team — forwards Frericks and Kayla McDowell and guards Sierra Michaelis and Lindsey Cunningham. The four sophomores are entering their first returning season with boosts in both skill and confidence.

Mizzou coach Robin Pingeton said Frericks and McDowell are feeling more comfortable now compared to their freshmen seasons. The coach said the forwards are more versatile, faster, stronger and more explosive than they were a year ago.

“They’ve really embraced the opportunity to be where they’re at, and I think they knew their teammates are sort of leaning on them,” Pingeton said. “When you look at some of the footage from last year and where they’re at this year, there’s been some giant strides made, and they’re a big piece of what we’re doing moving forward.”

Pingeton said Michaelis has also grown to be more comfortable with the team. The guard, Pingeton said, has a better understanding of what the team is looking for in its offensive system.

The comfort, perhaps, comes from a greater connection that Michaelis said she has with her teammates this year.

“We have amazing team chemistry, and I’ve never been on a team that has been this close before,” Michaelis said. “That (chemistry) transfers over to when we‘re playing, and it helps my confidence on the court too knowing that they have my back and I have theirs.”

Senior guard Bree Fowler said Michaelis has improved her defense by becoming faster.

The same goes for Cunningham, Fowler said. The sophomore has improved her full-court defense and decision-making ability.

Beyond any individual skill improved, though, Cunningham said there is a teamwide increase in confidence heading into the season, which begins Wednesday with an exhibition against Lindenwood.

“We don’t do a whole lot of fancy stuff, but we take care of the fundamentals and that’s one thing that every single one of us has stepped up,” Cunningham said. “We haven’t completely changed our game. We’re staying within our limits, but what we do do, we have gotten better at. We focused on the little things and made sure not to let them slip through the cracks.”