James Set to Return for a Fifth Season

BOULDER – Colorado forward Shyra James announced that she will return to the Buffaloes for her fifth and final season on Wednesday.

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The La Mesa, Calif., native, was crucial to the Buffs' 2023 NCAA Tournament run last season, helping the team to a 13-5-3 record. James led the Buffs last season in nearly every offensive category.

"We are excited that Shyra will be staying in Boulder next fall," head coach Danny Sanchez expressed. "She has the opportunity to cement her legacy at CU this season. As she prepares for her last season, we look forward to seeing her progress, on and off the field, before she embarks on her professional career next spring."

James was a United Soccer Coaches Third Team All-America selection last season, becoming just the third CU player to earn All-America status alongside Fran Munnelly (2004, 05) and Taylor Kornieck (2018, 19).

She finished the year with career highs in goals (15) and points (32). James scored four game-winning goals, helping the Buffs back to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2020. She led the Pac-12 in goals and finished ninth in the NCAA. James was also second in the conference and 18th in the NCAA in points. She wrapped up the season 11th in the NCAA in goals per game (0.75) and fifth in the nation with 4.65 shots per game.

The 5-8 forward started 17 matches and played in all 20 last season. She had two multi-goal games this season and scored in seven straight matches, setting the program record for a single-season streak. Her 15 goals and 32 points fished as the second most in a single season, trailing Nikki Marshall's 37 points and 17 goals in 2006.

Her 93 shots last fall tied Anne Stuller (2013) for second-most in a single season, while her 40 shots on goal tied for fifth. James fired off 12 shots against Arizona, tying Kornieck who also had 12 against Arizona in 2017 for the most shots in a game.

A 2023 First Team-All-Pac-12 and First Team All-Pacific Region honoree, James has a chance to shatter the CU record books next season.

She enters the fall with 86 points, climbing up to third all-time behind Kornieck (102) and Marshall (93). Her 40 goals are the second-most by a Buff, trailing only Marshall's 42, and ranks 14th among active DI players. James set the CU record for goals per game, registering 0.53 in her 76 career games. Her 10 game-winning goals are tied for fifth in school history and her 3.16 shots per game is good for fourth best by a Buff.

Players Mentioned

Shyra James

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