Colorado University Athletics
Buffs Open Practice for the 2024-25 Season
September 23, 2024 | Women's Basketball
Colorado enters the year with 10 newcomers
BOULDER — The new-look Colorado women's basketball team hit the CU Events Center court for its first official practice on Monday.
The Buffaloes, fresh off a second-consecutive Sweet 16 appearance, have 10 new faces on the roster this season.
"Since our run to the Sweet 16 last year, it feels like we've been running ever since and now we are starting official practice already," head coach JR Payne explained. "It's hard to believe it's here, but we are beyond excited to get going. We have many new players, both freshmen and transfers, so it's an interesting mix of experience and youthful enthusiasm. The chemistry and camaraderie on this team is incredibly strong and I believe will have a huge impact on our success."
The Buffs return Frida Formann, Kindyll Wetta, Sara-Rose Smith and Kennedy Sanders from last season.
Formann, a Pac-12 honorable mention selection a year ago, is the team's top offensive contributor, totaling 1,326 points and a school-record 260 career 3-pointers in her first four seasons. Last season, Formann tied the school record with her 82 3-pointers and was third on the team with a career-high 424 total points.
Wetta posted her top offensive numbers last season, averaging 5.9 points and 3.9 assists per game. Defensively, she averaged a career-high 115 rebounds and had 60 defensive swipes.
Smith was a key contributor off the bench last season for the Buffs, averaging 13.8 minutes. She was efficient with her time, hitting 47.5% from the floor while averaging 4.0 rebounds per game.
Colorado's new additions include incoming freshmen Tabitha Betson, Lova Lagerlid, Erin Powell and Grace Oliver. The quartet of rookies combines with transfers Ayianna Johnson (Minnesota), Lior Garzon (Oklahoma State), JoJo Nworie (Texas Tech), Nyamer Diew (Iowa State), Jade Masogayo (Missouri State) and Johanna Teder (Washington State).
Garzon posted 1,257 career points in four years at Oklahoma State and left Stillwater ranked fifth all-time for the Cowgirls with 140 career-made 3-pointers. Teder is closing in on the 1,000 career-point mark, totaling 723 points in three seasons at Washington State. She did not play in 2023-24.
Additionally, Masogayo was the 2023 Missouri Valley Freshman of the Year at Missouri State and finished her two seasons with 8.2 points and 4.9 rebounds per game. Diew comes to CU having totaled 610 points and 352 rebounds in her four years at Iowa State. Johnson started six games and played in 30 as a freshman at Minnesota. Nworie has yet to play a game at the DI level but was a NJCAA honorable mention All-American at Southern Idaho.
The Buffs now boast their largest contingent of international players in program history, with eight of their 14 players originating from abroad. Holdovers Formann (Denmark) and Smith (Australia) are joined by Betson (Australia), Garzon (Israel), Lagerlid (Sweden), Powell (UK). Teder (Estonia) and Nworie (Nigeria).
Colorado returns to the Big 12 this season, hosting games against Arizona, Arizona State, Baylor, Central Florida, Kansas, Kansas State, Houston, Texas Tech and West Virginia.
Full schedule information will be released in the near future.
Season tickets are on sale now at https://cubuffs.evenue.net/events/WBS.
