University of Minnesota Athletics
2025-26 SEASON NOTES
▸ The Golden Gophers finished the 2025-26 season with a 24-9 record and 13-5 mark in the Big Ten.
▸ It marked the third time in program history Minnesota reached 13 wins in conference play, also doing so in 1984-85 (18-10, 13-5 Big Ten) and 1982-83 (20-7, 13-5 Big Ten).
▸ The Golden Gophers entered the national rankings on Feb. 16 at No. 23 in the AP and Coaches polls. Minnesota finished the regular season ranked No. 18 (AP) and No. 19 (Coaches).
▸ Four Minnesota standouts - Mara Braun, Amaya Battle, Tori McKinney and Grace Grocholski - earned All-Big Ten recognition.
▸ Grocholski was a consensus All-Big Ten Second Team honoree, while Battle was named to the All-Big Ten Third Team by both the league's coaches and media. McKinney was placed on the Second Team by the coaches, while the media put her on the Third Team. Braun was tabbed as an Honorable Mention honoree by both the coaches and media.
▸ It marks the most individual honors Minnesota has received since 2020, when four Gophers were selected (Taiye Bello, Jasmine Powell, Gadiva Hubbard, Sara Scalia).
▸ Additionally, Battle and McKinney were named to the league's All-Defensive Team, marking the first time Minnesota has had two on the team in program history.
▸ Sophie Hart was selected as Minnesota's Big Ten Sportsmanship Award honoree.
▸ It marked the third time in program history Minnesota reached 13 wins in conference play, also doing so in 1984-85 (18-10, 13-5 Big Ten) and 1982-83 (20-7, 13-5 Big Ten).
▸ The Golden Gophers entered the national rankings on Feb. 16 at No. 23 in the AP and Coaches polls. Minnesota finished the regular season ranked No. 18 (AP) and No. 19 (Coaches).
▸ Four Minnesota standouts - Mara Braun, Amaya Battle, Tori McKinney and Grace Grocholski - earned All-Big Ten recognition.
▸ Grocholski was a consensus All-Big Ten Second Team honoree, while Battle was named to the All-Big Ten Third Team by both the league's coaches and media. McKinney was placed on the Second Team by the coaches, while the media put her on the Third Team. Braun was tabbed as an Honorable Mention honoree by both the coaches and media.
▸ It marks the most individual honors Minnesota has received since 2020, when four Gophers were selected (Taiye Bello, Jasmine Powell, Gadiva Hubbard, Sara Scalia).
▸ Additionally, Battle and McKinney were named to the league's All-Defensive Team, marking the first time Minnesota has had two on the team in program history.
▸ Sophie Hart was selected as Minnesota's Big Ten Sportsmanship Award honoree.
NCAA TOURNAMENT NOTES
▸ The Golden Gophers reached the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2018 and for the 11th time in program history.
▸ After earning a No. 4 seed, the Golden Gophers hosted NCAA Tournament games for the first time since 2005. Minnesota earned its highest seed since the team was No. 3 in 2005.
▸ With wins against No. 13 Green Bay and No. 5 Ole Miss, Minnesota advanced to the Sweet Sixteen for the first time since 2005 and fourth time in program history.
▸ In a first-round matchup against Green Bay, the Golden Gophers outscored the Phoenix 30-9 in the fourth quarter to earn a 75-58 win.
▸ In the second round, Amaya Battle's baseline jumper with 0.8 seconds sealed a 65-63 come-from-behind win against the Rebels. Minnesota trailed 54-46 entering the fourth quarter.
▸ Minnesota ranked fifth in attendance among the 16 host sites for the first and second rounds of the NCAA Tournament. The Gophers' average of 10,559 ranked ahead of 11 sites including UConn, Texas, UCLA and Oklahoma.
▸ After earning a No. 4 seed, the Golden Gophers hosted NCAA Tournament games for the first time since 2005. Minnesota earned its highest seed since the team was No. 3 in 2005.
▸ With wins against No. 13 Green Bay and No. 5 Ole Miss, Minnesota advanced to the Sweet Sixteen for the first time since 2005 and fourth time in program history.
▸ In a first-round matchup against Green Bay, the Golden Gophers outscored the Phoenix 30-9 in the fourth quarter to earn a 75-58 win.
▸ In the second round, Amaya Battle's baseline jumper with 0.8 seconds sealed a 65-63 come-from-behind win against the Rebels. Minnesota trailed 54-46 entering the fourth quarter.
▸ Minnesota ranked fifth in attendance among the 16 host sites for the first and second rounds of the NCAA Tournament. The Gophers' average of 10,559 ranked ahead of 11 sites including UConn, Texas, UCLA and Oklahoma.
COACH PLITZUWEIT NOTES
▸ Head coach Dawn Plitzuweit led the Golden Gophers to its best season in 21 seasons. Minnesota reached the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2018 and the Sweet Sixteen for the first time since 2005.
▸ The 13 Big Ten wins this season match the combined total for head coach Dawn Plitzuweit in her first two seasons at Minnesota. Plitzuweit's 26 league wins in her first three seasons rank as the third most in program history behind only Pam Borton (33) and Marlene Stollings (27).
▸ She is only the second coach in program history to reach 20 wins in three consecutive seasons. The other to do so was Pam Borton in 2002-03 (25-6), 2003-04 (25-9) and 2004-05 (26-8).
▸ In Plitzuweit’s career, she totaled 17 winning seasons, two 30-win campaigns, and now 12 20-win seasons.
▸ Plitzuweit has reached the NCAA Tournament, WBIT, or WNIT in 18 of 19 seasons as a head coach.
▸ In seven of the last eight seasons Plitzuweit's teams have ranked in the top 20 nationally in turnover margin.
▸ The 13 Big Ten wins this season match the combined total for head coach Dawn Plitzuweit in her first two seasons at Minnesota. Plitzuweit's 26 league wins in her first three seasons rank as the third most in program history behind only Pam Borton (33) and Marlene Stollings (27).
▸ She is only the second coach in program history to reach 20 wins in three consecutive seasons. The other to do so was Pam Borton in 2002-03 (25-6), 2003-04 (25-9) and 2004-05 (26-8).
▸ In Plitzuweit’s career, she totaled 17 winning seasons, two 30-win campaigns, and now 12 20-win seasons.
▸ Plitzuweit has reached the NCAA Tournament, WBIT, or WNIT in 18 of 19 seasons as a head coach.
▸ In seven of the last eight seasons Plitzuweit's teams have ranked in the top 20 nationally in turnover margin.
MISCELLANEOUS
