Paurová Has Played a Lot of Different Sports
Published 8:00 am Tuesday, August 26, 2025
Dominika Paurová describes herself as a “dynamic player,” a sentiment echoed by Kentucky women’s basketball coach Kenny Brooks when he welcomed her to his roster last season. At just 6-foot-1, this talented Czech Republic native is not new to the competitive arena.
During her tenure at Oregon State in the 2023-24 season, Paurová made her mark by playing in 35 games, averaging 5.5 points, 2.1 rebounds, and 1.4 assists per game for an Elite Eight team. Her impressive shooting stats include 48% from the field and 37% from beyond the arc. However, her journey took a detour when she injured her knee while representing her national team against Iceland in Bulgaria last summer, necessitating surgery and rehabilitation before arriving at Kentucky in mid-August 2024.
With the departure of star guard Georgia Amoore and shooting guard Dazia Lawrence from last year’s team, Paurová is ready to step up, stating, “I like to play hard on defense and offense. I can drive to the basket and had a lot of time last year to work on my footwork and shooting technique.” Her flexibility on the court allows her to play multiple positions, though she admits a preference for the guard role.
Sports have been embedded in her life from a young age, stemming largely from her family’s athletic background. Her father, Marlin Paur, played basketball professionally in a Czech league, while her mother, who enjoyed the sport recreationally, instilled a passion for activities in both Dominika and her sister. “I have been in the gym since I was in diapers,” Paurová recalls fondly. Interestingly, her parents encouraged her to explore various sports—basketball being just one of them—allowing her to develop a comprehensive athletic skill set.
Swimming, skiing, competitive water rescue, volleyball, windsurfing, track and field, and tennis rounded out her early experiences. She was notably a five-time national champion in swimming, beginning at the young age of two. “In first grade, I joined the swimming team after my school coach noticed my skills,” she shares. “I loved swimming, but basketball eventually became my passion.”
Paurova’s journey through sports doesn’t end there. She enjoyed skiing and even placed third in the Czech nationals in 2016. “My parents put me on skis and told me to go,” she recalls with a laugh. She even tried her hand at competitive water rescue, which offered a more engaging challenge than traditional swimming. “It involved rescuing a plastic person and swimming under obstacles—much more entertaining,” she said.
In addition to her athletic prowess, Paurová is also multilingual, fluent in Czech and English, with proficiency in Russian and a keen interest in Spanish. Her language journey started with a two-week solo trip to England in the sixth grade, which further kindled her desire to communicate in different languages. “It helped me lose my fear of speaking English,” she said. Following that, she enjoyed a three-week trip to Malta, living independently and enhancing her linguistic skills.
On the basketball court, she has represented the Czech Republic in various age groups, showcasing her skills at the U14, U15, U18, U19, and U20 levels. Among her numerous achievements, she was a top MVP candidate during the FIBA European Championship in 2022 for the U18 team, averaging 14.7 points and 9.3 rebounds per game during the tournament. After moving to the U.S. for her senior year, she played for DME Academy in Florida, leading her team to a state championship.
Despite her busy schedule, Paurová maintains close family ties. A structured family group chat ensures that she stays connected with her loved ones. She hilariously notes how her mother still wakes her up every morning to combat her fear of oversleeping—an endearing nod to her strong family bond. “I tell my mum what time I want to wake up, and she makes sure I’m up for the day,” she explains.
Visits home during the summer often involve bringing unique gifts, revealing her humorous side regarding her family’s preference for sustainable living: “They appreciate the plastic straws I bring. Back home everything is paper—no plastic cups or straws!”