BOULDER—The Colorado women’s basketball team will embark on a foreign tour of Spain to mark the start of the 2022-23 season. The Buffaloes’ fall trip will be a 10-day exploration from August 6-16.
“We are extremely excited for the opportunity to travel to Spain this summer,” head coach JR Payne to. “We have a great combination of veterans and impactful new players so the opportunity to travel and grow together will be huge for us this year. Most of us have never been to Spain before so the opportunity to see such a beautiful part of the world will be awesome.”
This will be the second international trip for the Buffs under head coach JR Payne. Colorado traveled to Italy in 2018. The NCAA permits teams to take a foreign tour once every four years to allow student-athletes the opportunity to experience cultures abroad.
The Buffs will have a bit of a new look when the team arrives in Spain. Mya Hollingshed, Lesila Finau and Peanut Tuitele, mainstays for Payne’s Buffs over the last four and five seasons have all graduated after last season’s NCAA Tournament run. Colorado returns eight players from last season’s 22-win team and has also added five newcomers to the 2022-23 roster.
senior Jaylyn Sherrod returns as the only player to have started every game last season. Juniors Frida Formann and Tameyia Sadler were both in and out of the starting lineup throughout last season. The Pac-12’s Sixth Player of the Year, Quay Milleris the team’s top returning scorer (10.6 ppg) from last season, while Tayanna Jones is back for a fifth collegiate season. Sophomore Kindyll Wettaan All-Freshman and All-Defensive team selection last season, returns along with Sophie Gerber. Charlotte Whittakerwho missed all of last season recovering from surgery, will also be back on the court this season for the Buffs.
As part of the trip, the Buffs will get an extra 10-days of practice to prepare for the three exhibition games that will be played while in Spain. The extra practice time allows for transfer Aaronette Vonleh and incoming freshmen Ally Fitzgerald, Lizzie Holder, Jada Wynn and Brianna McLeod to assimilate into the Buffs’ system.
“The extra practice opportunities are fantastic for a team with so many impactful new players,” Payne noted. “We will have an opportunity to learn each other both on and off the court and grow as a ballclub throughout the summer.”
CU’s trip will start in the capital city of Madrid. The team will also make visits to Valencia and Barcelona.