The Colorado women’s basketball team will play Illinois in the first round of the 2026 NCAA Women’s Basketball Tournament at Memorial Gymnasium in Nashville, Tenn., on March 21. The game is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. Mountain Time and will be broadcast on ESPN2.
This matchup marks Colorado’s return to the national tournament, where they enter as a 10th seed with a season record of 22-11 overall and an 11-7 mark in Big 12 conference play. Illinois holds the seventh seed with a record of 21-11. The winner will advance to face either Vanderbilt or High Point in the second round on March 23.
Colorado leads the all-time series against Illinois, having won four out of six previous meetings. Their last encounter was in December 2013, when Colorado defeated Illinois by a score of 79-56. This is the first time these teams have met in NCAA Tournament play.
The Buffaloes are led by head coach JR Payne, who is now in her tenth year and has guided the team to four NCAA appearances during her tenure. Key players this season include Desiree Wooten, who received All-Big 12 Honorable Mention and led Colorado in scoring during the Big 12 Tournament; Zyanna Walker, named to both the Big 12 All-Defensive Team and All-Big 12 Honorable Mention; Jade Masogayo, selected for the All-Big 12 Second Team; Logyn Greer, named to the Big 12 All-Freshman Team; and Anaëlle Dutat, who leads the conference in offensive rebounds per game.
Colorado has made its seventeenth appearance in the NCAA tournament and has reached three Elite Eights since its program began. Last season, they advanced to their second consecutive Sweet Sixteen before falling to Iowa. The Buffs have played five times at Memorial Gymnasium over the past twenty-five years and won their most recent game there against Vanderbilt.
Fans can follow live coverage through ESPN2 or listen via KOA radio stations or online platforms listed on CUBuffs.com.
