University of Minnesota Athletics
Women's Basketball
Ariel Braker
- Title:
- Assistant Coach
- Email:
- brake067@umn.edu
Braker, a native of Grosse Pointe Woods, Mich., joined Plitzuweit’s staff with the Gophers after spending one year at both West Virginia and South Dakota in the same role of Assistant Coach as well as serving as the recruiting coordinator in Vermillion. She officially joined Minnesota's staff on March 27, 2023.
In her third season, Braker assisted bringing the University of Minnesota women’s basketball team to new heights during the 2025-26 season, helping guide the Golden Gophers to their best season in over 20 years with a run to the Sweet Sixteen, where they fell to eventual national champion, UCLA.
Minnesota reached the 20-win mark for the third consecutive season and ended the 2025-26 Big Ten season with a 13-5 record. The 13 league victories matched a program high, previously accomplished in 1982-83 and 1984-85. Minnesota’s strong conference performance earned the team the No. 4 seed and a double-bye in the Big Ten Tournament, marking its highest finish since the 2017-18 season.
The Gophers secured three top wins over AP Top 25 opponents, including two victories over top-10 teams, marking the program’s first season with multiple top-10 wins since 2003-04. Highlights included a win over No. 21 USC and victories over No. 10 Iowa at Carver-Hawkeye Arena and No. 10 Ohio State at The Barn. The win over Iowa marked the program’s first top-10 road victory since 2003. The team’s three ranked wins were its most since the 2017-18 season.
The regular-season success paid off, as Minnesota finished with a No. 18 ranking in the AP Poll, a No. 19 ranking in the USA TODAY/WBCA Coaches Poll, and a No. 9 NET ranking, the third highest in the Big Ten. Minnesota earned the opportunity to host the first and second rounds of the NCAA Tournament as a No. 4 seed, its highest seed since 2005 when Minnesota was a No. 3 seed. It marked the program’s 11th NCAA Tournament appearance and first since 2018, its first time hosting since 2005 and just the fourth time doing so in program history.
During her second season at Minnesota, Braker assisted the Gophers to a 25-11 mark and winning the 2025 WBIT (Women’s Basketball Invitation Tournament). The Maroon & Gold recorded their first 25 win season since 2004-05 (26-8, 12-4 B1G) and back-to-back 20 win seasons since 2017-18 and 2018-19. Braker assisted in coaching Amaya Battle and Grace Grocholski to All-Big Ten Honorable Mention accolades.
In her first season in the Twin Cities, Braker and the Gophers won 20 games, finishing with an overall record of 20-16. The squad reached the WNIT Championship game and finished as the runner-up. In 2023-24, Braker helped coach a pair of All-Big Ten Honorable Mention guards in Mara Braun and Amaya Battle while also coaching Grace Grocholski to a unanimous Big Ten All-Freshman Team selection.
Braker’s coaching career also includes stints at Oakland (2019-21), Lehigh (2017-19), Western Texas (2016-17), Grosse Point North (HS) and Wayne State (Mich.). She has experience with player development of post players, recruiting, scouting, game strategy, scheduling and mentoring student-athletes. Braker was also a two-year starter and three-time captain during her four-year career at Notre Dame (2010-14) under Naismith Hall of Fame coach Muffet McGraw. She was a member of the winningest class in program history, with a 138-15 overall record, four Final Four berths and three National Championship appearances.
In 2021-22, South Dakota finished the season with a 29-6 record and won the Summit League title in the regular season and conference tournament. Following its third consecutive conference tournament title, USD earned the automatic bid for the Summit League in the 2022 NCAA Tournament, earning a No. 10 seed, and defeated No. 7-seeded Ole Miss, 75-61.
South Dakota met up with No. 2-seeded Baylor in the round of 32 and defeated the Bears, 61-47, on their home court in Waco, Texas, to advance to the first Sweet 16 in program history. The Coyotes led from start to finish to snap BU’s streak of 12 consecutive Sweet 16 appearances.
South Dakota concluded the 2021-22 campaign with a 52-49 loss to No. 3-seeded Michigan in the Sweet 16, in which the Coyotes were tied with the Wolverines until 22 seconds remained in the game.
A native of Grosse Pointe Woods, Michigan, Braker graduated from Notre Dame in 2014 with a bachelor of arts in industrial design. She earned her master’s degree in sports administration from Wayne State in 2015.
In her third season, Braker assisted bringing the University of Minnesota women’s basketball team to new heights during the 2025-26 season, helping guide the Golden Gophers to their best season in over 20 years with a run to the Sweet Sixteen, where they fell to eventual national champion, UCLA.
Minnesota reached the 20-win mark for the third consecutive season and ended the 2025-26 Big Ten season with a 13-5 record. The 13 league victories matched a program high, previously accomplished in 1982-83 and 1984-85. Minnesota’s strong conference performance earned the team the No. 4 seed and a double-bye in the Big Ten Tournament, marking its highest finish since the 2017-18 season.
The Gophers secured three top wins over AP Top 25 opponents, including two victories over top-10 teams, marking the program’s first season with multiple top-10 wins since 2003-04. Highlights included a win over No. 21 USC and victories over No. 10 Iowa at Carver-Hawkeye Arena and No. 10 Ohio State at The Barn. The win over Iowa marked the program’s first top-10 road victory since 2003. The team’s three ranked wins were its most since the 2017-18 season.
The regular-season success paid off, as Minnesota finished with a No. 18 ranking in the AP Poll, a No. 19 ranking in the USA TODAY/WBCA Coaches Poll, and a No. 9 NET ranking, the third highest in the Big Ten. Minnesota earned the opportunity to host the first and second rounds of the NCAA Tournament as a No. 4 seed, its highest seed since 2005 when Minnesota was a No. 3 seed. It marked the program’s 11th NCAA Tournament appearance and first since 2018, its first time hosting since 2005 and just the fourth time doing so in program history.
During her second season at Minnesota, Braker assisted the Gophers to a 25-11 mark and winning the 2025 WBIT (Women’s Basketball Invitation Tournament). The Maroon & Gold recorded their first 25 win season since 2004-05 (26-8, 12-4 B1G) and back-to-back 20 win seasons since 2017-18 and 2018-19. Braker assisted in coaching Amaya Battle and Grace Grocholski to All-Big Ten Honorable Mention accolades.
In her first season in the Twin Cities, Braker and the Gophers won 20 games, finishing with an overall record of 20-16. The squad reached the WNIT Championship game and finished as the runner-up. In 2023-24, Braker helped coach a pair of All-Big Ten Honorable Mention guards in Mara Braun and Amaya Battle while also coaching Grace Grocholski to a unanimous Big Ten All-Freshman Team selection.
Braker’s coaching career also includes stints at Oakland (2019-21), Lehigh (2017-19), Western Texas (2016-17), Grosse Point North (HS) and Wayne State (Mich.). She has experience with player development of post players, recruiting, scouting, game strategy, scheduling and mentoring student-athletes. Braker was also a two-year starter and three-time captain during her four-year career at Notre Dame (2010-14) under Naismith Hall of Fame coach Muffet McGraw. She was a member of the winningest class in program history, with a 138-15 overall record, four Final Four berths and three National Championship appearances.
In 2021-22, South Dakota finished the season with a 29-6 record and won the Summit League title in the regular season and conference tournament. Following its third consecutive conference tournament title, USD earned the automatic bid for the Summit League in the 2022 NCAA Tournament, earning a No. 10 seed, and defeated No. 7-seeded Ole Miss, 75-61.
South Dakota met up with No. 2-seeded Baylor in the round of 32 and defeated the Bears, 61-47, on their home court in Waco, Texas, to advance to the first Sweet 16 in program history. The Coyotes led from start to finish to snap BU’s streak of 12 consecutive Sweet 16 appearances.
South Dakota concluded the 2021-22 campaign with a 52-49 loss to No. 3-seeded Michigan in the Sweet 16, in which the Coyotes were tied with the Wolverines until 22 seconds remained in the game.
A native of Grosse Pointe Woods, Michigan, Braker graduated from Notre Dame in 2014 with a bachelor of arts in industrial design. She earned her master’s degree in sports administration from Wayne State in 2015.
Play in Focus: Amaya Battle
Thursday, April 02
Postgame Reaction: Sweet Sixteen
Saturday, March 28
Press Conference: Sweet Sixteen Preview
Thursday, March 26
Thank You Gopher Fans
Wednesday, March 25
