Basketball journey nearing finish line for CU Buffs’ Kindyll Wetta

Real life is coming soon for Kindyll Wetta and shes doing her best to pick up a few new skills.Im aware of the fact that I dont cook myself meals, so Ive been trying to cook meals, Wetta said with a laugh.

Last Sunday, I cooked shrimp scampi.

It went good.

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It is a grind, however, and as this chapter of the Wetta book is closing, shes looking forward to whats next.Im definitely not sad because its going to be over, said Wetta, a senior point guard for the Colorado womens basketball team.

Im just very grateful for what the sport has given me.Following a 69-62 loss to No.

8 TCU in the Big 12 Conference quarterfinals on Friday in Kansas City, Mo., the Buffaloes (20-12) are waiting until next Sunday to find out their postseason fate.

Theyll either sneak into the NCAA Tournament for the fourth straight year or get in the secondary WBIT.Regardless of where the Buffs land, Wettas journey in basketball is just about over.Colorados Kindyll Wetta shoots a 3-pointer against TCU during the Big 12 womens basketball tournament quarterfinals on March 7, 2025, at T-Mobile Center in Kansas City, Mo.

(Denny Medley/Big 12 Conference)Im savoring (the final moments), said Wetta, who has no desire to play professionally.I would never say Ive loved (basketball).

I love competing, I love being active, I love all of those things.

I love everything surrounding basketball and I love basketball for what its given me.

I dont love the sport.

And, thats why I know Im not gonna be too emotionally attached once its gone.Basketball has been a part of her life for a long time.Her mother, Valerie (Johnson) played briefly at CU years ago.

Her father, Robb, was a football player at Idaho State and Fresno State.

With athletic parents and a grandfather who sparked the basketball interest, Wetta and her younger sister, Ali, were going to be active.

Ali played basketball at Utah State last year before transferring and moving away from the sport.Its been a grind, but my dad has been the one thats really leaned in and, on Christmas, taking us to go shoot baskets, Wetta said.

He would get home from a long day of work and say, Lets go.

Were gonna go shoot, because he knew playing in college was gonna be a great experience for both my sister and I.There were lots of fights.

Like, my dad and I butt heads so hard.

All throughout middle school, high school, everything, it was a lot, but it turned out to be a great thing.Wetta was a star at Valor Christian High School, earning Class 5A player of the year honors in 2021 after she led her team to a state title.

She was ranked by ESPN as the No.

82 recruit in the country for the 2021 class and signed with the Buffs.A backup to star Jaylyn Sherrod the past three years, while playing starter-type minutes, Wetta has been an integral part of CUs success.

It is the best four-year run for the program since 2000-04, with three consecutive NCAA Tournaments (and perhaps a fourth), two consecutive Sweet 16s, and a record of 91-40.Always a pass and defense-first point guard, Wetta has averaged just 5.5 points per game in her career, but currently ranks seventh in program history with 470 career assists and 11th with 230 steals.Colorado Buffaloes guard Kindyll Wetta, left, celebrates with teammates Jaylyn Sherrod and Tayanna Jones after hitting the game winning 3-pointer on January 27, 2023, beating UCLA 73-70 in overtime.

(Cliff Grassmick/Staff Photographer)A full-time starter this year, Wetta has posted career highs for points (6.1 per game) and assists (5.2 per game).Numbers or particular games arent what Wetta cherishes, though.Im gonna miss the team setting the most, she said.

Its trauma-bonding is what it is.

Youre all in it together and its hard, and theres days many days that you dont want to be there, but looking back, some of the worst moments have turned into such funny memories.Theres definitely games that Ill remember, moments that Ill remember.

Those will be cool.

But, like, any individual success that Ive had doesnt carry nearly as much weight as the memories of my teammates.Beyond teammates including trying to find the best chai on road trips there are coaches, support staff members, trainers and even donors and fans that Wetta has loved during her time with the Buffs.(Growing up), youre not gonna know the opportunities that this sports gonna give you and it really is so much bigger than basketball, she said.

I could not have asked for better people to surround me.Her support system has always included her family, which is at the CU Events Center every time she plays.I really did enjoy walking out onto my home floor in front of my family, my grandparents, my sister, and getting to do that, she said.

That really was cool that all four of my grandparents got to see me play in every single home game throughout my entire college career.

Thats unbelievable to me.Although Wetta doesnt have a Kobe Bryant-like love for the game, shes given it her all.

Her body is proof of that, from knee injuries in high school, a pair of concussions this year and constant wear and tear on her feet.Along the way, shes also gone all-in academically.I love being on campus, she said.

I love going to my classes.

I love learning.Colorados Kindyll Wetta addresses the media during the NCAA college Big 12 womens basketball media day, Tuesday, Oct.

22, 2024, in Kansas City, Mo.

(AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)In May, shell graduate with a degree in integrated physiology and minors in business, biochemistry and biology.Kindyll epitomizes the ultimate competitor, tremendous work ethic, CU head coach JR Payne said.

Theres not too many people that pour as much effort into everything, whether its on the court, in the classroom, whatever it is.Wettas plan is to take a gap year and travel before going to medical school in 2026.I want to do surgery, she said.

I like to be challenged.

I want an exciting job.

I get bored very easily, and I need something thats going to keep me on my toes.I love to compete.

Thats who I am.She will fill that competitive bucket, she said, through the intense competition of medical school.

She even admitted that perhaps one day shell pick up a ball and maybe join a med school rec league or something and have fun.The high level, competitive basketball portion of her life is nearing the end, though, and Wetta is looking forward to the next chapter.I think Ive had a pretty consistent perspective on basketball since I got here, she said.

I always knew I didnt want to play professionally.

I always knew that basketball was a means to an end of getting my school paid for and getting the amazing opportunities that I got here, even though I didnt know what they were going to be at the time.Im definitely savoring it, grateful for it all, but also ready to start living real life.

I have to cook myself a meal every once in a while..

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