Colorado Women's Basketball Surges Into NCAA Tournament Conversation

Buffs look to build on recent winning streak and secure first tournament bid since 2023-24 season

Feb. 3, 2026 at 4:07pm

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After winning its last three Big 12 Conference games, the Colorado Buffaloes women's basketball team is now firmly in the NCAA Tournament conversation. ESPN bracketologist Charlie Creme has the Buffs as a 'First Four Out' team in his latest projection, putting them on the bubble for their first tournament appearance since 2023-24.

Why it matters

Colorado's recent surge has them knocking on the door of the NCAA Tournament, a significant milestone for a program that has struggled to make the Big Dance in recent years. A tournament berth would be a major accomplishment for head coach JR Payne and her tight-knit squad, and could provide a springboard for the program's future success.

The details

Led by Desiree Wooten, Jade Masogayo and Zyanna Walker, Colorado is 15-7 overall and 6-4 in Big 12 play, sitting sixth in the conference standings. The Buffs will look to make a statement on Wednesday with a home game against the No. 20 West Virginia Mountaineers. Payne has praised the team's cohesiveness and belief in each other as key factors in their recent run of success.

  • Colorado has won its last three Big 12 Conference games.
  • ESPN's latest women's March Madness projection has Colorado as a 'First Four Out' team.
  • The Buffs will face No. 20 West Virginia at home on Wednesday.

The players

JR Payne

Head coach of the Colorado Buffaloes women's basketball team, in her 25th year of coaching.

Desiree Wooten

Leading scorer for the Colorado Buffaloes, averaging 12.1 points per game.

Jade Masogayo

Averages 11.5 points per game for the Colorado Buffaloes.

Zyanna Walker

Contributes 11.4 points per game for the Colorado Buffaloes.

Anaelle Dutat

Transfer from Rhode Island, leads the Buffs with 8.5 rebounds per game.

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What they’re saying

“This is probably one of the closest teams I've ever been a part of in 25 years of coaching. They believe in each other, they believe in us, we believe in them. It's a very, very cohesive group, so there's not really anything that can happen on the court that will throw a wrench into that. We might not play perfect, but certainly, we're going to stay connected and be able to execute down the stretch because of that cohesiveness.”

— JR Payne, Head Coach (CUBuffs.com)

What’s next

The Buffs will look to continue their push for an NCAA Tournament berth with a key home game against No. 20 West Virginia on Wednesday.

The takeaway

Colorado's recent winning streak and placement on the NCAA Tournament bubble showcases the program's progress under coach JR Payne and the team's strong chemistry and belief in one another. A tournament bid would be a significant milestone for the Buffs, who are aiming to return to the Big Dance for the first time since 2023-24.