University of Minnesota Athletics
Players Mentioned
G
/ Women's Basketball
Braun Named to 2023-24 Preseason All-Big Ten Team
10/4/2023 10:56:00 AM | Women's Basketball
The Wayzata, Minn., native is one of just two sophomores on the 11-player list.
MINNEAPOLIS – University of Minnesota sophomore Mara Braun has been named to the 2023-24 Coaches Preseason All-Big Ten Team, the conference office announced on Wednesday.
Braun is joined on the Coaches Preseason All-Big Ten Team by 10 other individuals. An additional player was included due to a tie in the voting that regularly features just 10 total individuals. Braun is one of just two sophomores to be honored by the conference's coaches, joining Cotie McMahon of Ohio State.
En route to earning All-Big Ten Freshman Team honors by both the coaches and media last season, Braun was first on the team and 12th in the Big Ten conference in scoring at 15.6 points per game. She also ranked third overall in the Big Ten in free throw percentage at 87.5 percent (Min. 2.5 FTM/G) and was second among freshmen in the conference in points per contest.
A native of Wayzata, Minn., Braun was the first true freshman to lead the Maroon and Gold in scoring since Rachel Banham in 2011-12 (16.1). During the summer Braun was a regular on Team USA's 3x3 circuit, earning a gold medal at the FIBA U23 Nations League Final in Mongolia in September. In 22 games of 3x3 action Braun's team was 21-1 with Braun's squad becoming the first U.S. team, men or women, to win the Nations League Final event.
Among Braun's highlights during her freshman campaign in 2022-23 were a career-high 34 points against Lehigh, which included a game-winning buzzer beater, a 26-point outing in her Big Ten debut against Penn State that ended in a 2OT victory and a 25-point performance in her postseason debut in the 2023 Big Ten Tournament at Target Center, the most by a freshman in their postseason debut in Minnesota history.
A full list of the Preseason All-Big Ten Teams, rankings and awards can be found below:
2023-24 Coaches Big Ten Preseason Rankings
1. Iowa
2. Ohio State
3. Indiana
4. Maryland
5. Illinois
2023-24 Coaches Preseason All-Big Ten Team*
Makira Cook, ILL
Mackenzie Holmes, IND (Unanimous)
Caitlin Clark, IOWA (Unanimous)
Shyanne Sellers, MD (Unanimous)
Laila Phelia, MICH (Unanimous)
Mara Braun, MINN
Alexis Markowski, NEB
Jaz Shelley, NEB
Cotie McMahon, OSU (Unanimous)
Jacy Sheldon, OSU
Makenna Marisa, PSU
*Additional player due to tie in voting
2023-24 Coaches Preseason Player of the Year
Caitlin Clark, Iowa
2023-24 Media Big Ten Preseason Rankings
1. Iowa
2. Indiana
3. Ohio State
4. Maryland
5. Michigan
2023-24 Media Big Ten Preseason All-Big Ten Team
Makira Cook, ILL
Mackenzie Holmes, IND
Caitlin Clark, IOWA (Unanimous)
Shyanne Sellers, MD
Laila Phelia, MICH
Alexis Markowski, NEB
Jaz Shelley, NEB
Cotie McMahon, OSU
Jacy Sheldon, OSU
Makenna Marisa, PSU
2023-24 Media Big Ten Preseason Player of the Year
Caitlin Clark, Iowa
Braun is joined on the Coaches Preseason All-Big Ten Team by 10 other individuals. An additional player was included due to a tie in the voting that regularly features just 10 total individuals. Braun is one of just two sophomores to be honored by the conference's coaches, joining Cotie McMahon of Ohio State.
En route to earning All-Big Ten Freshman Team honors by both the coaches and media last season, Braun was first on the team and 12th in the Big Ten conference in scoring at 15.6 points per game. She also ranked third overall in the Big Ten in free throw percentage at 87.5 percent (Min. 2.5 FTM/G) and was second among freshmen in the conference in points per contest.
A native of Wayzata, Minn., Braun was the first true freshman to lead the Maroon and Gold in scoring since Rachel Banham in 2011-12 (16.1). During the summer Braun was a regular on Team USA's 3x3 circuit, earning a gold medal at the FIBA U23 Nations League Final in Mongolia in September. In 22 games of 3x3 action Braun's team was 21-1 with Braun's squad becoming the first U.S. team, men or women, to win the Nations League Final event.
Among Braun's highlights during her freshman campaign in 2022-23 were a career-high 34 points against Lehigh, which included a game-winning buzzer beater, a 26-point outing in her Big Ten debut against Penn State that ended in a 2OT victory and a 25-point performance in her postseason debut in the 2023 Big Ten Tournament at Target Center, the most by a freshman in their postseason debut in Minnesota history.
A full list of the Preseason All-Big Ten Teams, rankings and awards can be found below:
2023-24 Coaches Big Ten Preseason Rankings
1. Iowa
2. Ohio State
3. Indiana
4. Maryland
5. Illinois
2023-24 Coaches Preseason All-Big Ten Team*
Makira Cook, ILL
Mackenzie Holmes, IND (Unanimous)
Caitlin Clark, IOWA (Unanimous)
Shyanne Sellers, MD (Unanimous)
Laila Phelia, MICH (Unanimous)
Mara Braun, MINN
Alexis Markowski, NEB
Jaz Shelley, NEB
Cotie McMahon, OSU (Unanimous)
Jacy Sheldon, OSU
Makenna Marisa, PSU
*Additional player due to tie in voting
2023-24 Coaches Preseason Player of the Year
Caitlin Clark, Iowa
2023-24 Media Big Ten Preseason Rankings
1. Iowa
2. Indiana
3. Ohio State
4. Maryland
5. Michigan
2023-24 Media Big Ten Preseason All-Big Ten Team
Makira Cook, ILL
Mackenzie Holmes, IND
Caitlin Clark, IOWA (Unanimous)
Shyanne Sellers, MD
Laila Phelia, MICH
Alexis Markowski, NEB
Jaz Shelley, NEB
Cotie McMahon, OSU
Jacy Sheldon, OSU
Makenna Marisa, PSU
2023-24 Media Big Ten Preseason Player of the Year
Caitlin Clark, Iowa
Cinematic Recap: Gophers-Illini
Tuesday, March 03
Highlights: Gophers 78, Illinois 73
Sunday, March 01
Coming Home: Carlie Wagner Olstad
Monday, February 23
Highlights: Gophers 61, Michigan State 75
Sunday, February 22