Colorado University Athletics
Newcomer Spotlight Series: Desiree Wooten
January 07, 2026 | Women's Basketball
BOULDER - The Colorado Women's Basketball team added 10 new players to the roster ahead of the 2025-26 season. In order to get to know them all a little better, we're introducing the Newcomer Spotlight Series to highlight the five freshmen and five transfers on our squad.
Next up is junior guard Desiree Wooten.
Did you play any other sports growing up?
I was a cheerleader. I also did track, volleyball and soccer.
When did you start playing basketball and what drew you to it out of all the other sports?
I was six. My parents just wanted me to be active, so that's why they put me in cheer at first. I didn't like it. So then I tried basketball and I played co-ed. I was pretty rough as a kid.
You grew up in Texas and then attended your first couple of years of college there. What has the transition been like for you now that you're living in Colorado?
It's been a [big] transition. Texas– unless you're in Lubbock or something, and I'm from Dallas– it's all pretty similar. Rather than up here, a small town, a lot of mountains. It's definitely different for sure.
What made you choose CU?
At the time, I wasn't really looking to go out of state, but Colorado is just elite. I like being here, the coaching is great. [JR Payne] and [Toriano Towns] show a lot of faith in me.
Has being an older sister changed how you are as a teammate?
I don't really know because I spoil my sisters and my sisters just listen to me. I wouldn't say it shaped me into a teammate. I feel like having different teammates each year that I play basketball with has shaped me into the teammate I am now.
Can you talk about coming back from your injury freshman year and the work that went into being able to come back as strong as you have?
Man, that was a piece of work, for real. I had two injuries so I had to sit out for two years, not at the same time. The first one, it was very hard because that was my first major injury and it was a mental game for me, for sure. I wasn't as mentally tough as I thought I was. Like with an injury, no ma'am. On the court, maybe. The work I had to put in, it was a lot of rehab, a lot of weight room. You don't necessarily realize how much you need the weight room until something like that happens. My dad wanted me to get into the gym, but that was more so before college rather than because of the injury. I guess it was a wake up call more than anything for both. The second one, obviously I should have stayed in the weight room. Basically, I was putting more pressure on my leg that wasn't hurting than the one that was hurt. I ended up hurting that one, and coming back from that was a little easier than the first one, given that I knew I was going to redshirt.
Why did you choose anthropology as your major?
My major is anthropology and a minor in business. I didn't necessarily want to change my major to anthropology because I am an entrepreneur. I'm into entrepreneurship. I want to own multiple clothing brands after the ball stops bouncing. The business [major] at my last school had a lot of [prerequisites] I had to take. I'm not good at math like that. Once you get to calculus, you lost me. I ended up dropping because I was like, no ma'am. I said listen, I'm on the verge of starting my clothing brand. I do not need all of this. So I kind of dropped that. I was majoring in marketing, advertising and merchandising in North Texas. But then I came here and credits didn't transfer, didn't really have integrative studies. I just got into anthropology. But a minor in business will help me.
Why do you want to start a clothing brand? Why clothing?
I've only worked two jobs. I've worked under my aunt before. She had her own brand but it was more so selling lashes, lip gloss and stuff like that. So I helped her with that but I just kind of knew I didn't want to work with [anybody] and I like fashion – I like shoes and stuff like that. That kind of drew me to it. I used to always try to put something I said on clothes so I just knew, okay, clothing brand. But whatever I was trying to put on clothes back then was not going to cut it.
For more information on the Colorado women's basketball team, a complete schedule and results, please visit CUBuffs.com. Fans of the Buffs can follow the team on Instagram and on Twitter @CUBuffsWBB.
Next up is junior guard Desiree Wooten.
Did you play any other sports growing up?
I was a cheerleader. I also did track, volleyball and soccer.
When did you start playing basketball and what drew you to it out of all the other sports?
I was six. My parents just wanted me to be active, so that's why they put me in cheer at first. I didn't like it. So then I tried basketball and I played co-ed. I was pretty rough as a kid.
You grew up in Texas and then attended your first couple of years of college there. What has the transition been like for you now that you're living in Colorado?
It's been a [big] transition. Texas– unless you're in Lubbock or something, and I'm from Dallas– it's all pretty similar. Rather than up here, a small town, a lot of mountains. It's definitely different for sure.
What made you choose CU?
At the time, I wasn't really looking to go out of state, but Colorado is just elite. I like being here, the coaching is great. [JR Payne] and [Toriano Towns] show a lot of faith in me.
Has being an older sister changed how you are as a teammate?
I don't really know because I spoil my sisters and my sisters just listen to me. I wouldn't say it shaped me into a teammate. I feel like having different teammates each year that I play basketball with has shaped me into the teammate I am now.
Can you talk about coming back from your injury freshman year and the work that went into being able to come back as strong as you have?
Man, that was a piece of work, for real. I had two injuries so I had to sit out for two years, not at the same time. The first one, it was very hard because that was my first major injury and it was a mental game for me, for sure. I wasn't as mentally tough as I thought I was. Like with an injury, no ma'am. On the court, maybe. The work I had to put in, it was a lot of rehab, a lot of weight room. You don't necessarily realize how much you need the weight room until something like that happens. My dad wanted me to get into the gym, but that was more so before college rather than because of the injury. I guess it was a wake up call more than anything for both. The second one, obviously I should have stayed in the weight room. Basically, I was putting more pressure on my leg that wasn't hurting than the one that was hurt. I ended up hurting that one, and coming back from that was a little easier than the first one, given that I knew I was going to redshirt.
Why did you choose anthropology as your major?
My major is anthropology and a minor in business. I didn't necessarily want to change my major to anthropology because I am an entrepreneur. I'm into entrepreneurship. I want to own multiple clothing brands after the ball stops bouncing. The business [major] at my last school had a lot of [prerequisites] I had to take. I'm not good at math like that. Once you get to calculus, you lost me. I ended up dropping because I was like, no ma'am. I said listen, I'm on the verge of starting my clothing brand. I do not need all of this. So I kind of dropped that. I was majoring in marketing, advertising and merchandising in North Texas. But then I came here and credits didn't transfer, didn't really have integrative studies. I just got into anthropology. But a minor in business will help me.
Why do you want to start a clothing brand? Why clothing?
I've only worked two jobs. I've worked under my aunt before. She had her own brand but it was more so selling lashes, lip gloss and stuff like that. So I helped her with that but I just kind of knew I didn't want to work with [anybody] and I like fashion – I like shoes and stuff like that. That kind of drew me to it. I used to always try to put something I said on clothes so I just knew, okay, clothing brand. But whatever I was trying to put on clothes back then was not going to cut it.
For more information on the Colorado women's basketball team, a complete schedule and results, please visit CUBuffs.com. Fans of the Buffs can follow the team on Instagram and on Twitter @CUBuffsWBB.
Players Mentioned
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