Though the Gophers expressed disappointment after missing the NCAA March Madness, the Women’s Basketball Invitational Tournament win last season meant that there was no need to overhaul the program.
The starting five of junior Grace Grocholski, senior Amaya Battle, sophomore Tori McKinney, graduate student Sophie Hart and senior Mallory Heyer proved they had good chemistry and could win together under head coach Dawn Plitzuweit, despite injury absences from junior Mara Braun.
Plitzuweit was hired by the Gophers in 2023, and under her leadership, the Gophers reached back-to-back invitation tournaments, winning this past year. Though they have yet to make it to the NCAA March Madness under Plitzuweit, they are the closest they have been in years.
Plitzuweit led the team to a 25-win season, the best record since the 2004-2005 season, and her success guaranteed her a new contract extension. Minnesota showed that they have the utmost trust in her and her coaching style by extending her until 2031.
Director of Athletics Mark Coyle said they have high expectations for Plitzuweit and trust her to lead the program.
“Dawn has done a tremendous job leading our women’s basketball program,” said Coyle. “She is a terrific coach and recruiter, and she cares deeply about student-athlete development.”
Coyle added that he looks forward to having Plitzuweit at the helm for years to come.
There is hope the Gophers can make the push into March Madness this year with Braun returning from foot injuries that cut her season short the past two years.
In addition to Braun’s return, the Gophers added two incoming freshmen and three transfer students. The transfer students are all finishing their eligibility and will help build bench depth for the Gophers.
Sisters Tracey and Zoey Bershers will join the team for the 2025-26 season. Tracey Bershers will finish her college career with the Gophers, while Zoey Bershers begins hers.
In a recent press release, Tracey Bershers highlighted how playing with her sister was a big reason why she signed in Minnesota.
“One of the things I’m most excited about is the opportunity to play alongside my little sister in my final year,” Tracey Bershers said. “It’s a chance I couldn’t pass up, and I’m looking forward to what we can accomplish together.”
The only other freshman to join the team next semester will be guard Makena Christian. Christian averaged 25 points a game, along with almost 10 rebounds in high school.
Christian signed in February of 2024, the first of the recruits. Other recruits include graduate students Finau Tonga from San Jose State University and Brylee Glenn from Kansas State University.
In an interview with B1G Today after the WBIT win, Plizuweit said that the ceiling is higher for them now because of their experience as a team.
“I think our young ladies understand now at an even higher level the urgency, the relentlessness, the discipline that it takes to be successful in this now biggest, best conference, I think ever in the history of women’s college basketball,” Plizuweit said. “I truly believe that our players are hungry to get better.”
In the same interview, Plitzuweit said her favorite moment of the season was in June, when their main priority was team bonding and all of the things they do together outside of basketball.
