The Gophers women’s basketball team had their first official practice of the 2025-2026 season on Tuesday at Williams Arena and it’s clear how high the goals are.
“We have high expectations for this group,” redshirt junior guard Mara Braun said. “We want to be atop the Big Ten and go to the (NCAA) tournament but not just that, (we want) to make moves in the tournament.”
Braun, along with seniors Mallory Heyer and Amaya Battle and 3rd-year head coach Dawn Plitzuweit met with KSTP Sports and other reporters.
***Click the video box above to watch Plitzuweit, Bruan, Battle, and Heyer preview the season***
Braun broke a bone in her right foot last November, the same injury that occurred the season prior. But she declared on Tuesday that she’s healthy now and ready to go.
The Gophers finished 8-10 in the Big Ten regular season last year. They haven’t made the NCAA Tournament since 2018. But with Braun, Heyer, and Battle leading the way, it seems a breakthrough season is on the cusp of happening.
Plitzuweit has a 45-27 (.625) record in two seasons at Minnesota, with a WBIT championship in 2025 and a second-place finish in the 2024 WNIT. She received a contract extension through 2031 in June.
Minnesota opens up their season with four home games. The Gophers will host North Dakota, Manhattan, Marquette and NJIT to open play, with the first game Nov. 4. Minnesota’s first road games comes Nov. 19 when Minnesota at the Kansas Jayhawks.
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