Colorado women鈥檚 basketball coach JR Payne is facing the new challenge of retooling her roster through the transfer portal, a process she finds less appealing than traditional recruiting. Following a solid 22-12 season and NCAA Tournament appearance, Payne is focused on enhancing the team's performance despite losing some players to the portal. With five players, including key starters, set to return, she aims to strategically fill gaps to elevate the team from good to great. The Buffs intend to sign four or five transfers while ensuring cultural fit within the team. Balancing financial constraints with player capabilities remains a key concern as they navigate the transfer landscape.

By the Numbers
  • Colorado finished the season with a 22-12 overall record and 11-7 in the Big 12, placing sixth in the standings.
  • CU has had 10 new players for two consecutive seasons, but next season may see fewer changes with up to seven returning players.
State of Play
  • The transfer portal recently opened, and CU has seen four players enter it while five have confirmed their return.
  • Payne plans to pursue an additional four or five transfers to round out the roster and improve team cohesion.
What's Next

Moving forward, the focus will be on quickly assessing and integrating new talent that aligns with the Buffs' culture and system. Payne is poised to leverage the experience from the past two seasons to foster the team's chemistry as they aim for deeper tournament runs.

Bottom Line

To build on their recent success, the Buffaloes must effectively navigate the transfer portal while maintaining core cultural values, ensuring that new additions enhance both performance and team dynamics.