2021-22 Player Previews: Payton Muma

Payton Muma rounds out the freshman contingent for Lisa Fortier’s 2021-22 team and is someone to look out for in the future. The 5’8” guard from Highlands Ranch, Colorado was ranked as the No. 2 player in the state of Colorado’s 2021 class, but arrives in Spokane as part of a suddenly crowded Gonzaga backcourt.

Muma earned all-state honors in 2020 while leading her team to three appearances in the state tournament Final Four, before averaging 19.2 ppg, 5.8 apg, and 3.6spg during her senior season. She fits the mold of the competitive and scrappy floor general that battles at both ends of the floor and has been the hallmark of Fortier’s rosters for the entirety of her tenure.

For this season, however, the path to playing time looks to be quite blocked for Muma as the Truong twins will handle the majority of the minutes at the point guard position. The focus for Muma this season will likely need to be gaining comfort playing in Gonzaga’s system and against collegiate competition while learning and adapting on and off the court.

Fortunately, she has the benefit of learning behind strong mentors in the Truong twins and Cierra Walker, and alongside several of her fellow newcomers in a robust recruiting class that features a lot of guards. Her skillset certainly makes her someone to watch, and it will be interesting to see how Muma’s developmental path unfolds over the course of the season.