Colorado University Athletics
Newcomer Spotlight Series: Zyanna Walker
March 05, 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 continuing the Newcomer Spotlight Series to highlight the five freshmen and five transfers on our squad.
Last up is junior guard Zyanna Walker.
You left high school the Kansas Gatorade Player of the Year and on the Naismith Watch List. What was it like to get that much recognition before even entering college?
It was great. Winning Gatorade Player was always a goal of mine. Winning that kind of gave me some exposure, because I feel like I didn't always get exposure as a high school basketball player.
Why is Kobe Bryant your sports hero?
His mentality. He's a dog, and I try to take that same mentality and apply it to my game. I'm super competitive. [I] don't like to lose. I take that from him, and just his confidence and mindset.
Why did you choose to come to CU after playing in your home state?
The coaches, especially [JR Payne]. She's like another mom to me. And then all the other coaches, they really care, they invest in us, and I could tell they were genuine. You know, second time around [in] the portal, I knew what to look for – what were red flags and what were green flags. I didn't get [any] red flags.
Now that you're an upperclassmen what responsibilities do you have as a teammate? Have they changed at all or have they mostly stayed the same?
I'll say being a leader, and I'm still trying to grow with that, too. I want to be super vocal and lead by example, so I'm still trying to improve on that. But my role there has grown because this team needs me to be one.
When you played at Kansas State, you beat Iowa at Iowa. Can you talk about that game and what that meant for you to get that win?
Like I said, I'm a competitor. I knew I was playing against Caitlin Clark, and I knew that that was gonna be my matchup. So I was like, I want to make a statement with that, and play defense on her, because if I could play defense on her, then I could play defense on people in the WNBA [and] pro players. So, I did a pretty good job on her, and it felt really good to beat them in front of their home crowd.
Why did you pick sociology as your major?
I was in business originally, but for some reason, I didn't have enough classes to make it into this one. So sociology, I feel like it helps you understand people and just like, why people act the way they act, and how we all have different experiences that shape ourselves.
You were a member of the 2024-25 Big 12 All-Defensive Team. How was that a representation of the work you had put in?
I think it just shows that I'm able to compete with the best of the best, guard the best of the best especially. Coming to college my freshman year, my defense wasn't that good. That was kind of a struggle of mine, just not being as strong and still not having that weight room body [from] lifting every day in college. So I put in the work, and it really improved my defense.
What do you like to do outside of basketball?
I like to play video games. My favorite video games are 2K [and] Fortnite. I like to go to the movies, just chill and hang out with my friends.
What are some of your favorite movies?
My favorite movie of all time is "Coach Carter".
What's been one of your favorite moments with the team so far this year?
Being in Hawaii, for sure. That was super fun. We all were clicking and we were on the bus making different types of songs and beats and stuff. It was just super fun to be with all the team.
Do you have anything else you want people to know about you?
I'm a nice person. I might sometimes look serious or mean when you see me come out the tunnel, but I promise you that after the game, I'll chop it up with the fans, for sure.
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.
Last up is junior guard Zyanna Walker.
You left high school the Kansas Gatorade Player of the Year and on the Naismith Watch List. What was it like to get that much recognition before even entering college?
It was great. Winning Gatorade Player was always a goal of mine. Winning that kind of gave me some exposure, because I feel like I didn't always get exposure as a high school basketball player.
Why is Kobe Bryant your sports hero?
His mentality. He's a dog, and I try to take that same mentality and apply it to my game. I'm super competitive. [I] don't like to lose. I take that from him, and just his confidence and mindset.
Why did you choose to come to CU after playing in your home state?
The coaches, especially [JR Payne]. She's like another mom to me. And then all the other coaches, they really care, they invest in us, and I could tell they were genuine. You know, second time around [in] the portal, I knew what to look for – what were red flags and what were green flags. I didn't get [any] red flags.
Now that you're an upperclassmen what responsibilities do you have as a teammate? Have they changed at all or have they mostly stayed the same?
I'll say being a leader, and I'm still trying to grow with that, too. I want to be super vocal and lead by example, so I'm still trying to improve on that. But my role there has grown because this team needs me to be one.
When you played at Kansas State, you beat Iowa at Iowa. Can you talk about that game and what that meant for you to get that win?
Like I said, I'm a competitor. I knew I was playing against Caitlin Clark, and I knew that that was gonna be my matchup. So I was like, I want to make a statement with that, and play defense on her, because if I could play defense on her, then I could play defense on people in the WNBA [and] pro players. So, I did a pretty good job on her, and it felt really good to beat them in front of their home crowd.
Why did you pick sociology as your major?
I was in business originally, but for some reason, I didn't have enough classes to make it into this one. So sociology, I feel like it helps you understand people and just like, why people act the way they act, and how we all have different experiences that shape ourselves.
You were a member of the 2024-25 Big 12 All-Defensive Team. How was that a representation of the work you had put in?
I think it just shows that I'm able to compete with the best of the best, guard the best of the best especially. Coming to college my freshman year, my defense wasn't that good. That was kind of a struggle of mine, just not being as strong and still not having that weight room body [from] lifting every day in college. So I put in the work, and it really improved my defense.
What do you like to do outside of basketball?
I like to play video games. My favorite video games are 2K [and] Fortnite. I like to go to the movies, just chill and hang out with my friends.
What are some of your favorite movies?
My favorite movie of all time is "Coach Carter".
What's been one of your favorite moments with the team so far this year?
Being in Hawaii, for sure. That was super fun. We all were clicking and we were on the bus making different types of songs and beats and stuff. It was just super fun to be with all the team.
Do you have anything else you want people to know about you?
I'm a nice person. I might sometimes look serious or mean when you see me come out the tunnel, but I promise you that after the game, I'll chop it up with the fans, for sure.
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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