Guard Zyanna Walker is one of seven key returners for the Buffs this season
Women’s Basketball Opens Practice A Force in Motion
September 23, 2026 | Women's Basketball
Powerhouse Buffs head into 2026-27 with talent on both ends of the floor
BOULDER – The Colorado women's basketball team officially opened practice for the 2026-27 season on Wednesday afternoon resembling a physics experiment, with Head Coach JR Payne looking to fuse a powerful core nucleus with a group of dynamic, electric newcomers.
The Buffs are returning seven players from the team that last year won 22 games and reached the NCAA tournament for the fourth time in five seasons, but the team is also infused with seven newcomers who will give CU a decidedly different appearance this season.
"It won't look the same, but I think we have some different weapons for sure," said Payne. "We shoot the ball significantly better. As a team, we shoot it better than any team we've had here in my time. So trying to figure out how to use that and keep things kind of the same, but also just use what we've got is going to be important for us."
While much will be different, fans can expect the Buffaloes to retain the hallmarks of every Payne-led team, namely physicality, toughness, and a suffocating defense led by senior guard Zyanna Walker, who last year was named to the Big 12's All-Defensive team and is considered one of the conference's premier perimeter defenders.
"It's always all about the defense," said Walker. "We're always going to shake things up, we're always going to be aggressive defensively, but I think offensively we'll be aggressive as well. We'll be able to score the basketball from all three levels of the court."
The offense is bolstered by the arrival of newcomers Mecailin Marshall, a sophomore guard who transferred from Tulane, Aniya' Foy, also a sophomore guard from Kansas State, and freshman guard Lauren Harris, who last year as a high school senior set a California and national record for three pointers with an astonishing 242.
"We recruited kids that can shoot," said Payne. "Mecailin Marshall, Aniya' Foy, Lauren Harris, obviously she's a great high school shooter. I think we've gotten a lot more in terms of shooters than we have had."
"I'm just looking to bring a big impact on and off the court," said Marshall. "Especially off the court, just being a cheerleader for my teammates, just being there for them when they need me, and then on the court, looking to always be a threat."
With six weeks until their season opener on Oct. 27 against Adams State, the Buffs are using this practice time to focus on building the foundation that will set them up for another season that hopefully extends deep into March.
"I feel like we're just focused on all the little things," said Marshall. "Being disciplined, communicating a lot, doing all the little things to make sure that we're ready for the season when it comes up."
That preparation also includes making sure the talented additions are assimilating to the CU standard and creating the cohesive unit that Buffs fans have grown accustomed to watching. That's where the leaders from the nucleus have stepped up.
"I just kind of try to help them out on some of the things that maybe I struggled with when I first got here," said Walker. "Some things that are hard to understand with the plays and things like that. I just try to give them pointers here and there when I can, and just keep them encouraged and keep them positive."
It's a physics experiment that the Buffs are hoping will result in some magnificent chemistry heading into the season.
TICKET INFORMATION: Season tickets for CU women's basketball are on-sale now. Mini-plans will be available on Tuesday, Sept. 29 and single game tickets will go on sale starting Wednesday, Oct. 7. For more information, email cutix@colorado.edu
The Buffs are returning seven players from the team that last year won 22 games and reached the NCAA tournament for the fourth time in five seasons, but the team is also infused with seven newcomers who will give CU a decidedly different appearance this season.
"It won't look the same, but I think we have some different weapons for sure," said Payne. "We shoot the ball significantly better. As a team, we shoot it better than any team we've had here in my time. So trying to figure out how to use that and keep things kind of the same, but also just use what we've got is going to be important for us."
While much will be different, fans can expect the Buffaloes to retain the hallmarks of every Payne-led team, namely physicality, toughness, and a suffocating defense led by senior guard Zyanna Walker, who last year was named to the Big 12's All-Defensive team and is considered one of the conference's premier perimeter defenders.
"It's always all about the defense," said Walker. "We're always going to shake things up, we're always going to be aggressive defensively, but I think offensively we'll be aggressive as well. We'll be able to score the basketball from all three levels of the court."
The offense is bolstered by the arrival of newcomers Mecailin Marshall, a sophomore guard who transferred from Tulane, Aniya' Foy, also a sophomore guard from Kansas State, and freshman guard Lauren Harris, who last year as a high school senior set a California and national record for three pointers with an astonishing 242.
"We recruited kids that can shoot," said Payne. "Mecailin Marshall, Aniya' Foy, Lauren Harris, obviously she's a great high school shooter. I think we've gotten a lot more in terms of shooters than we have had."
"I'm just looking to bring a big impact on and off the court," said Marshall. "Especially off the court, just being a cheerleader for my teammates, just being there for them when they need me, and then on the court, looking to always be a threat."
With six weeks until their season opener on Oct. 27 against Adams State, the Buffs are using this practice time to focus on building the foundation that will set them up for another season that hopefully extends deep into March.
"I feel like we're just focused on all the little things," said Marshall. "Being disciplined, communicating a lot, doing all the little things to make sure that we're ready for the season when it comes up."
That preparation also includes making sure the talented additions are assimilating to the CU standard and creating the cohesive unit that Buffs fans have grown accustomed to watching. That's where the leaders from the nucleus have stepped up.
"I just kind of try to help them out on some of the things that maybe I struggled with when I first got here," said Walker. "Some things that are hard to understand with the plays and things like that. I just try to give them pointers here and there when I can, and just keep them encouraged and keep them positive."
It's a physics experiment that the Buffs are hoping will result in some magnificent chemistry heading into the season.
TICKET INFORMATION: Season tickets for CU women's basketball are on-sale now. Mini-plans will be available on Tuesday, Sept. 29 and single game tickets will go on sale starting Wednesday, Oct. 7. For more information, email cutix@colorado.edu
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