Colorado University Athletics
Buffs Set for Portugal Foreign Tour
July 22, 2026 | Women's Basketball
BOULDER – The Colorado women's basketball team will embark on a foreign tour of Portugal to mark the start of the 2026-27 season, head coach JR Payne announced Wednesday, July 22. The Buffaloes' trip will be a 10-day exploration from August 2-11.
"This trip is an incredible opportunity for our team to grow together," head coach JR Payne stated. "Traveling internationally allows our student-athletes to experience a new culture, broaden their perspectives, and continue building the trust and chemistry that make great teams. We can't wait to represent Colorado in Portugal."
This will be the third international trip for the Buffs under head coach JR Payne. Colorado traveled to Italy in 2018 and to Spain in 2022. The NCAA permits teams to take a foreign tour once a year to allow student-athletes the opportunity to experience cultures abroad.
Following the 2025-26 season, the Buffs announced the signings of five incoming transfers, including Anete Adler, Aniya' Foy, Brooke Walker, Mecailin Marshall, and Kira Reynolds. Amidst the transfer portal season, Colorado has also announced seven returning Buffs, including Zyanna Walker, Jade Crook, Kennedy Sanders, Maeve McErlane, Sophie Zadel, Claire O'Connor, and Logyn Greer. The Buffs will also welcome two freshmen in Cail Jahnke and Lauren Harris.
As part of the trip, the Buffs will get an extra 10 days of practice to prepare for the three exhibition games to be played while in Portugal. The extra practice time allows for all five transfers, as well as the two incoming freshmen, to assimilate into the Buffs' system.
CU's trip will start in the capital city of Lisbon. The team will also make visits to Sintra, Cascais, and Porto. The Buffs will look forward to two exhibition games versus local Portuguese competition as well as a youth coaching clinic in Porto. Outside of basketball, the team will explore Lisbon via a Tuk Tuk tour, receive a guided tour of the Estádio da Luz (Benfica Stadium), visit the Boca do Inferno cliffs, check out the Carris Porto Ribeira and boat through six bridges on the Douro River.
Colorado women's basketball wrapped up the 2025-26 season with its 17th NCAA Tournament appearance all-time, falling 66-57 in the First Round to seven-seed Illinois (Mar. 21). CU finished sixth in the Big 12 conference with an 11-7 record, going 22-12 overall and 14-3 at home. The Buffs have won over 20 games in each of the last five seasons and have appeared in the NCAA Tournament in four of the last five years.
For more information on the Colorado women's basketball team, please visit cubuffs.com/wbb. Fans of the Buffs can follow @cubuffswbb on Instagram, X, and Facebook.
"This trip is an incredible opportunity for our team to grow together," head coach JR Payne stated. "Traveling internationally allows our student-athletes to experience a new culture, broaden their perspectives, and continue building the trust and chemistry that make great teams. We can't wait to represent Colorado in Portugal."
This will be the third international trip for the Buffs under head coach JR Payne. Colorado traveled to Italy in 2018 and to Spain in 2022. The NCAA permits teams to take a foreign tour once a year to allow student-athletes the opportunity to experience cultures abroad.
Following the 2025-26 season, the Buffs announced the signings of five incoming transfers, including Anete Adler, Aniya' Foy, Brooke Walker, Mecailin Marshall, and Kira Reynolds. Amidst the transfer portal season, Colorado has also announced seven returning Buffs, including Zyanna Walker, Jade Crook, Kennedy Sanders, Maeve McErlane, Sophie Zadel, Claire O'Connor, and Logyn Greer. The Buffs will also welcome two freshmen in Cail Jahnke and Lauren Harris.
As part of the trip, the Buffs will get an extra 10 days of practice to prepare for the three exhibition games to be played while in Portugal. The extra practice time allows for all five transfers, as well as the two incoming freshmen, to assimilate into the Buffs' system.
CU's trip will start in the capital city of Lisbon. The team will also make visits to Sintra, Cascais, and Porto. The Buffs will look forward to two exhibition games versus local Portuguese competition as well as a youth coaching clinic in Porto. Outside of basketball, the team will explore Lisbon via a Tuk Tuk tour, receive a guided tour of the Estádio da Luz (Benfica Stadium), visit the Boca do Inferno cliffs, check out the Carris Porto Ribeira and boat through six bridges on the Douro River.
Colorado women's basketball wrapped up the 2025-26 season with its 17th NCAA Tournament appearance all-time, falling 66-57 in the First Round to seven-seed Illinois (Mar. 21). CU finished sixth in the Big 12 conference with an 11-7 record, going 22-12 overall and 14-3 at home. The Buffs have won over 20 games in each of the last five seasons and have appeared in the NCAA Tournament in four of the last five years.
For more information on the Colorado women's basketball team, please visit cubuffs.com/wbb. Fans of the Buffs can follow @cubuffswbb on Instagram, X, and Facebook.
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