Coaches always hope their teams can show improvement as a season goes along. As the Colorado women’s basketball team progresses through its season, coach JR Payne is seeing evidence of that improvement. Colorado Buffaloes’ head coach JR Payne talks to the team during the game against the Oklahom a State Cowgirls at the CU Events Center in Boulder on Sunday, Jan. 25, 2026. (Matthew Jonas/Staff Photographer) Last week, the Buffaloes snapped an eight-game losing streak in conference road games by winning not just once, but twice away from Boulder in the span of four days. That’s increased some confidence as the Buffs prepare to host two top-20 teams this week, beginning Wednesday when No. 20 West Virginia comes to the CU Events Center. No. 14 TCU visits Boulder on Sunday. “I think confidence gained in ourselves and each other, in our abilities down the stretch, and the way that we can execute when we need and want to,” Payne said. “And ultimately all of those things are what gives you a chance to be successful. So I think that’s a really good thing for us.” CU has won four of its last five games, including three in a row, to move up to sixth in the Big 12 standings. The Buffs have also jumped to No. 45 in the NET rankings. About three weeks ago, they were at No. 57. “Even just over the last two, three weeks I can see some of the development happening and of course confidence is everything,” Payne said. “Good and bad, it can lift you up and it can tear you down. So I think having confidence in ourselves and each other is really important moving forward.” The Buffs upset then-No. 19 Iowa State at home on Jan. 14 and then followed that with a disappointing loss at UCF (which is 14th in the Big 12 standings), coughing up a six-point lead in the fourth quarter. Since then, the Buffs are 3-0, including a pair of wins at Kansas State and Kansas. “I just think like a mindset shift in some of us, like, that’s what we needed,” guard Desiree Wooten said. “Now we’re all playing together and we all have that dawg mentality.” They’ll need that dawg mentality against West Virginia, which, like the Buffs, is defensive-minded. CU gives opponents fits with its aggressive defense and West Virginia does the same, and perhaps at an even higher level. “I’m under no illusion that we’re going to play turnover-free basketball,” said Payne, whose team had 30 turnovers at West Virginia last season. “It’s just making sure that (the Buffs) are smart. We’re doing everything that we can control. They are really good at what they do, so that’s why you’re going to turn it over. But, when you go back and watch last year’s film, there were areas that we could have made a different choice. … We have to really do everything we can to maintain composure and make good decisions as best we can.” CU has gained a lot of confidence from its own defense, which has locked down several opponents this season. The Buffs also have confidence in their depth on offense. They don’t have a star scorer, but they’ve got five players – Wooten, Jade Masogayo, Zyanna Walker, Logyn Greer and Anaelle Dutat – who average between 8.6 and 12.1 points and could be the hot hand at any time. “That’s the good thing about it, having good players all around,” Wooten said. “So, I mean, once we put a game together where we all go off, that’s a scary sight.” The Buffs would love for it to be this week, because every game is important as the postseason looms. “It’s playoff time. Everybody’s like, ‘Oh what’s the standings, what’s the standings?’” Wooten said. “Just one game at a time though. We got West Virginia. Gotta take them down, then on to TCU, but we’re worried about West Virginia right now.” CU Buffs women’s basketball vs. No. 20 West Virginia TIPOFF: Wednesday, 7 p.m. MT, CU Events Center in Boulder TV/RADIO: ESPN+/KHOW 630 AM RECORDS: Colorado 15-7, 6-4 Big 12; West Virginia 18-5, 8-3 Big 12 COACHES: Colorado — JR Payne, 10th season (179-123; 280-236 career). West Virginia — Mark Kellogg, 3rd season (68-21; 513-141 career). KEY PLAYERS: Colorado — F Tabitha Betson, 6-2, So. (4.3 ppg, 2.8 rpg); F Anaelle Dutat, 6-0, Sr. (8.6 ppg, 8.5 rpg, 1.9 spg, .517 fg%); F Logyn Greer, 6-4, Fr. (9.3 ppg, 5.1 rpg); F Jade Masogayo, 6-3, Sr. (11.5 ppg, 5.2 rpg, 2.1 apg, .500 fg%); G Zyanna Walker, 5-11, Jr. (11.4 ppg, 4.5 rpg, 2.8 apg, 2.3 spg); G Desiree Wooten, 5-8, Jr. (12.1 ppg, 2.6 rpg, 1.9 apg, 1.5 spg). West Virginia — G Gia Cooke, 5-8, Jr. (14.4 ppg, 2.0 rpg); G Jordan Harrison, 5-6, Sr. (12.9 ppg, 3.1 rpg, 5.1 apg, 2.9 spg); F Carter McCray, 6-1, Jr. (7.5 ppg, 5.2 rpg, .600 fg%); G Sydney Shaw, 5-9, Sr. (11.6 ppg, 4.7 rpg, 2.5 apg, 2.1 spg, .397 3pt%); F Kierra Wheeler, 6-1, Sr. (13.6 ppg, 7.4 rpg, 1.7 spg, .522 fg%); G Sydney Woodley, 5-8, Sr. (5.2 ppg, 2.1 rpg). NOTES: CU is looking for its second top-25 win of the season after knocking off then-No. 19 Iowa State, 68-62, on Jan. 14. … The Buffs are 11-1 at home, while West Virginia is 6-1 on the road (losing at Utah on Jan. 27). … CU and West Virginia met for the first time ever last season and split their two games, with the home team winning both games. … In Big 12 play, West Virginia is third in the conference in scoring (72.8 per game), while CU is ninth (66.5). Both teams are among the top six in scoring defense, with WVU allowing 63.2 points per game (fifth) and CU allowing 63.6 (sixth). … CU has had held its last three opponents – Oklahoma State, Kansas State and Kansas – to a combined 9-of-56 (.161) from 3-point range, with all shooting .200 or less. All three rank among the top seven in the Big 12 in 3-point shooting for the entire season. … WVU ranks 10th in the country and first in the Big 12 in forcing 24.0 turnovers per game. The Buffs are ninth in the Big 12 in committing 16.5 per game. … Kellogg has led WVU to back-to-back 25-8 seasons. … Kellogg’s first head coaching job came at Fort Lewis College in Durango. From 2005-12, he led the Skyhawks  to a 173-46 record with five RMAC championships. ...read more read less