Colorado Opens 2026-27 Season Against Morgan State - University of Colorado Athletics

Wednesday, November 4

Boulder, Colo.

6 p.m.

Colorado

Morgan State

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November 02, 2026 | Women's Basketball

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By: Noreen Dougherty, Assistant Director of Athletic Communications

BOULDER – The Colorado women's basketball team opens the 2026-27 with a home matchup against Morgan State at the CU Events Center in Boulder, Colo., on Wednesday, Nov. 4, at 6 p.m.

Colorado hosted Adams State on Oct. 27 for an exhibition contest, defeating the Grizzlies 100-39. The balanced effort from the Buffs saw 12 different players score on the night.

The Buffs finished the 2025-26 season with its fifth-straight 20+ win campaign (22-12, 11-7 Big 12) and finished sixth in the Big 12 Conference standings. CU's season concluded in Nashville with a first-round loss to Illinois in the NCAA Tournament.

Ahead of the 2026-27 season, Colorado was selected to finish eighth in the Big 12 Preseason Poll. Senior guard Zyanna Walker was named to the 2026 All-Big 12 Preseason Team. The Wichita, Kan. native was also selected as one of 50 players named to the Jersey Mike's Naismith Trophy Women's College Player of the Year Watch List.

THIS WEEK
GAME #1 • Wednesday, November 4 • 6 p.m. MT
Colorado (0-0, 0-0 Big 12) vs. Morgan State (1-0, 0-0 MEAC)
SERIES RECORD: 0-0; this will be the first meeting between the two programs
OPPONENT WEBSITE: MorganStateBears.com

THE BUFFS

CU is led by 11th-year head coach JR Payne, who has led the Buffs to a 186-128 (.592) record as CU's eighth head women's basketball coach. Coach Payne has been extended through the 2031 season and has led the Buffs to four NCAA appearances, two WNIT appearances and one WBIT appearance.
The Buffs were picked to finish eighth in the Big 12 Preseason Poll.
Colorado returned seven players from last year's roster: senior guards Zyanna Walker, Kennedy Sanders, Claire O'Connor and Maeve McErlane; sophomore forwards Logyn Greer and Sophie Zadel; and sophomore center Jade Crook.
CU added seven newcomers to the roster, including five transfers and two freshmen. The transfers include graduate center Anete Adler (Boston), junior guard Brooke Walker (Utah), sophomore guard Mecailin Marshall (Tulane), sophomore forward Kira Reynolds (UT-Arlington) and sophomore guard Aniya' Foy (Kansas State). The freshmen include guard Lauren Harris (Yuba City, Calif./Faith Christian H.S.) and forward Cail Jahnke (Minneapolis, Minn./St. Michael-Albertville H.S.).
Zyanna Walker led Colorado last season with 70 steals, averaging 2.0 per game. The guard had 21 games with double-digit points as she averaged 11.3 points per night. She scored a career-best 24 points at Kansas (Feb. 1). Walker was tabbed to the All-Big 12 Defensive Team along with All-Big 12 Honorable Mention at the end of the season.

SCOUTING THE BEARS

Morgan State opened their season on Monday, Nov. 2, with a 103-47 win over Washington Adventist.
Five players scored in double-digits, led by Dru Carlton with 14 points.
The Bears shot 43.4% from the floor, 28.6% from three-point range, and 52.9% from the foul line.
Morgan State is led by head coach Nadine Domond in her second year at the helm of the program. In her first season, the Bears finished with a record of 5-26.
MSU was selected to finish fifth in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) preseason poll.

SERIES HISTORY