Just a year ago, Jade Masogayo was a newcomer to the Colorado women’s basketball team, learning Boulder along with a lot of her teammates.

This year, Masogayo is the veteran teaching a whole new crop of Buffaloes about their new surroundings. For the second year in a row, CU’s roster features 10 new players, and the coaching staff is leaning on Masogayo to be a leader.

“Me and my coaches really want me to be more of a leader this year, being a senior and all, and having a year under my belt playing here at Colorado,” she said this past week as the Buffs opened preseason practices. “Just trying to be more vocal, more of a leader, just trying to pave the way a little bit for all these newbies and stuff like that.”

A transfer from Missouri State a year ago, Masogayo was not only learning Boulder and her new team, but she was learning how to be confident in herself. A 6-foot-3 forward from Fort Worth, Texas, Masogayo proved quickly last year that she belonged.

While CU (21-13) fell just shy of a fourth consecutive NCAA Tournament appearance, it unlocked Masogayo’s potential and confidence. She posted a career-high 12.5 points per game, while pulling down 4.8 rebounds per game and hitting 59.9% of her shots.

“I would say I grew a lot,” Masogayo said of the 2024-25 season. “I struggled a lot with my confidence, being at Missouri State and stuff like that, but coming here, I feel like that definitely grew. I had great coaches to lead and … they trust in me and believe in me.

“I just feel a lot more confident going into this year, and I’m really excited about that.”

The Buffs need Masogayo to lead because she is one of only three returning players and the only returning starter. The Buffs brought in five transfers and five true freshmen.

“Definitely seeing that development happen,” CU head coach JR Payne said. “Most of it has been off the court. She was incredible throughout our spring recruiting process; just took the lead. … Then, throughout the summer off the court, she’s organizing things with the team. They’re all over at her house, like, there was a lot of that.”

CU is excited about the fact that there’s even more potential in Masogayo to get better.

“We still need her to really grow on the court in her vocal presence,” Payne said. “I said to her (Wednesday), you’re the only one out here that knows exactly what we’re doing. We’re introducing a lot of new things, and you have to communicate that for your teammates.”

Masogayo is looking forward to continuing her development and leading a new set of teammates that she has enjoyed getting to know.

“Just having a year under my belt here, that just gains you confidence,” she said. “Being able to see what I could do and just see where I could go, it’s just really exciting to see that.

“We got a new group this year, so a lot of great, new personalities that I get to be with every day. It’s been really good.”