Colorado women’s basketball extends season with No. 1 seed in WBIT

Colorado just missed out on a fourth straight March Madness bid but will get a chance to redeem itself in the Little Dance, the Women's Basketball Invitation Tournament. (Photo by Ryan Asaro/Sko Buffs Sports)

The Colorado Buffaloes were snubbed from the NCAA Tournament but selected for the second annual Women’s Basketball Invitational Tournament (WBIT) on Sunday. 

The Buffs (20-12, 9-9 Big 12) are one of four No. 1 seeds and will host the Southeastern Louisiana Lady Lions (26-5, 19-1 SLC) at the CU Events Center on Thursday. For a CU team that is 14-2 at home and 3-9 on the road, the chance to continue its season in a comfortable environment is crucial.

The first three rounds of the tournament will be held at campus locations, with the semi-final and championship games to take place at Hinkle Fieldhouse in Indianapolis. The championship will take place at 4 p.m. MT on Wednesday, April 2. 

The format of this 32-team competition features a talented selection of teams that missed out on the Big Dance. The first four teams to miss the NCAA Women’s Basketball Tournament receive an automatic bid and the first four seeds of the WBIT.  

“It’s actually pretty remarkable what this group has done,” head coach JR Payne said of her newcomer-heavy squad’s near miss of the NCAA Tournament. “[They] put themselves in a position to be maybe just one win away.” 

The Buffs have been ravaged by injuries throughout the season and struggled to get back to full strength down the stretch. While CU felt the absence of leading scorer Frida Formann for much of the season, the sharpshooter is expected to be fully healthy entering postseason play.

The Buffs will still need to lean on the production of other role players to boost their offensive potency and protect their home court. Seniors Kindyll Wetta, Sara-Rose Smith, Lior Garzon, Nyamer Diew and Johanna Teder will also look to finish their careers on a high note at home. 

Payne noted that while her team did have a moment of disappointment when the field of 68 was revealed, the excitement to get the opportunity to host and continue to play in March soon took over.