Education
Payne, a three-year water polo letterman at Gahr High School in Cerritos, California, gained additional water polo experience as a starter on the 1995 United States. Junior National Team that earned a gold medal at the Pan American Games. Payne earned first-team all-league, team Most Valuable Player, and All-California Interscholastic Federation honors.
Payne was the first woman recruited onto University of California, Los Angeles"s new Title IX women"s water polo team in 1994. In the 1996 season, she recorded 175 saves and a 3.07 goals-against average.
Payne was chosen as the National Player of the Year as a freshman.
Nicolle Payne was hurt early in the 1997 season with a herniated disk and a strained vertebra, but she later returned to accumulate a 4.22 goals-against average in 72 quarters of play. The All-American goalkeeper captained the Bruin team from 1995–1998 and was a member of three national championship teams from 1996 to 1998.
Payne finished her career at University of California, Los Angeles with her third national championship in 1998, with 13 saves in the final game. Her 2.77 goals against average and 225 saves remain University of California, Los Angeles records.
Payne graduated from University of California, Los Angeles in 1998 with a degree in Biology.
On October 9, 2009, Payne was inducted into the University of California, Los Angeles Athletics Hall of Fame.