1 week Ago
Following two consecutive runs to the Sweet 16 in 2023 and 2024, the Colorado women’s basketball team went through a major overhaul last offseason.A year later, the Buffaloes are overhauling again, yet with an evolved approach.Related ArticlesWomen’s basketball: Two more CU Buffs enter transfer portalWomen’s basketball: CU Buffs’ Grace Oliver enters transfer portalWomen’s basketball: CU Buffs, head coach JR Payne found success amid challengesRooney: CU Buffs 3 extra points (March 24, 2025)Women’s basketball: End of the line, as CU Buffs fall to Gonzaga in WBITWith 10 new players (six transfers, four freshmen) this past season, the Buffs saw their three-year run of NCAA Tournament appearances come to a close, but still managed a successful campaign at 21-13 and a bid to the Women’s Basketball Invitation Tournament.
Still, for the second year in a row, only four players are slated to return and the Buffs could have 10 or 11 newcomers again in 2025-26. While yearly rebuilds might be the new normal in college basketball, CU head coach JR Payne goes into this offseason with the long term in mind.“We’re back in the same boat (as last year), having to replace a lot of graduates and key contributors,” Payne said.
“Hopefully if we can target younger players this year out of the portal, then we won’t have to do that as much moving forward.”CU had three top players from the 2024 Sweet 16 team – Frida Formann, Sara-Rose Smith and Kindyll Wetta – who were all seniors, and added three senior transfers last year.It was a veteran team that had talent, and had injuries not plagued the Buffs – particularly Formann missing the second half of the year with a foot injury – they likely would have returned to the NCAA Tournament.
Even with numerous injuries, the Buffs were among the “first four out.”Now those six seniors are gone, as are four others – including three freshmen – that have jumped into the transfer portal. (One of those freshmen, Grace Oliver, committed to Wake Forest on Tuesday).
Jade Masogayo, a transfer from Missouri State last year, is the only senior currently on next year’s roster, which includes five incoming freshmen. As the Buffs rebuild through the transfer portal, they’re hoping to find more players like Masogayo who could be in Boulder for two or three years.Colorado’s Jade Masogayo, left, shoots past Arizona’s Montaya Dew, right, at the CU Events Center in BoulderWednesday, Feb.
5, 2025. (Matthew Jonas/Staff Photographer)“It does feel a little bit different than last year, just in some of the questions that we’re asking, or some of the things that we’re looking for,” Payne said. “So yeah, so I think it will just continue to evolve.
Hopefully you don’t have to sign this many (next year).”Including the incoming freshmen, CU has nine players slated for the 2025-26 roster, which leaves six open scholarship spots. Payne has used all 15 just twice in her nine seasons in Boulder, though.
“We could sign six, and we might,” she said. “It just kind of depends on who we can get.”The Buffs are targeting as many talented, ready-to-contribute players as possible in the portal.
“I don’t think we’re going to get six of those players, but I think you could get maybe four that are really experienced and proven collegiate players,” Payne said. “Then maybe one or two that are more developmental.”CU has several visits with transfers this week and will be very guard-heavy in its approach.
Six of the nine players already on the roster for next year play in the frontcourt.“We’re truly just recruiting backcourt players right now,” Payne said.More important than position, however, is that the Buffs are targeting a certain type of player that will fit the blue collar approach Payne has built at CU.
“Really wanting to make sure that we recruit people that love basketball, that are very competitive, that are unafraid of hard work,” she said. “Really making sure that we’re being true to our values.“That’s what works well at CU, that’s what works well with us, and we need to make sure that we’re super intentional about recruiting those types of players.
”In previous years, CU’s staff was very good at landing one or two key transfers that could complete a roster. With the portal being a bigger part of roster building, Payne said the staff has to continue to learn each year and evolve as portal recruiters.That evolution will include putting more emphasis on finding veteran players with high basketball IQs who can quickly pick up the Buffs’ offense, which is complicated for some.
“That’s another thing that we’re trying to make sure is that people can really (understand) X and O and understand the game and love the game; like, want to pour in and want to spend time learning,” Payne said. “Definitely, everything’s going to be really looked at to see how we continue to evolve and improve.”While plenty of work is to be done for the Buffs to build their roster for next year, Payne said she’s bullish about the future.
“I’m actually very excited,” she said. “I want to figure out who’s on the roster, and then I’m ready to absolutely get to work and make sure that we’re living true to the values and core standards that allowed us to build this program into an elite program and make sure that we’re really sticking true to those things.”.
