The Minnesota Golden Gophers women's basketball team represents the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Golden Gophers have played in the Big Ten since the conference began sponsoring basketball in 1982. The team plays its home games in The Barn and is currently coached by Dawn Plitzuweit.

The Golden Gophers have made nine appearances in the NCAA Women's Division I Basketball Championship, highlighted by a Final Four appearance in 2004. The Golden Gophers also have three appearances in the AIAW women's basketball tournament.

History The Golden Gophers have had 5 players play professional basketball, as well as eight players named All-Americans. Four players, Lindsay Whalen, Amanda Zahui B., and Janel McCarville, Rachel Banham were selected in the top four of WNBA draft. The Gophers have ranked in the top 20 nationally in attendance for seven seasons, starting with the 2001–2002 season.

Postseason appearances

AIAW Women's Basketball Tournament appearances The Golden Gophers appeared in the AIAW women's basketball tournament (the precursor to the modern NCAA Women's Division I Basketball Championship) three times before it was discontinued in 1982. They compiled a record of 1–3. 1977 First Round Delta State L 42–87 1981 First Round Jackson State L 65–68 1982 First RoundQuarterfinals St. JohnsRutgers W 68–56L 75–83

NCAA Division I Tournament results The Golden Gophers have appeared in eleven NCAA Division I Tournaments. They achieved their highest ranking in 2005 with a #3 seed. Their overall record is 14–11.

1994 #10 First Round Second Round #7 Notre Dame #2 Vanderbilt W 81–76 L 72–98 2002 #5 First Round Second Round #12 UNLV #4 North Carolina W 71–54 L 69–72 2003 #6 First Round Second Round Sweet Sixteen #11 Tulane #3 Stanford #2 Texas W 68–48 W 68–56 L 60–73 2004 #7 First Round Second Round Sweet Sixteen Elite Eight Final Four #10 UCLA #2 Kansas State #3 Boston College #1 Duke #2 Connecticut W 92–81 W 80–61 W 76–63 W 82–75 L 58–67 2005 #3 First Round Second Round Sweet Sixteen #14 St. Francis (PA) #6 Virginia #2 Baylor W 64–33 W 73–58 L 57–64 2006 #8 First Round #9 Washington L 69–73 2008 #9 First Round #8 Texas L 55–72 2009 #10 First Round Second Round #7 Notre Dame #2 Texas A&M W 79–71 L 42–73 2015 #8 First Round #9 DePaul L 72–79 2018 #10 First Round Second Round #7 Green Bay #2 Oregon W 89–77 L 73–101 2026 #4 First RoundSecond RoundSweet Sixteen #13 Green Bay#5 Ole Miss#1 UCLA W 75–58 W 65–63L 56–80

WBIT Results The Golden Gophers have appeared in the Women's Basketball Invitation Tournament (WBIT) one time. Their record is 5–0. 2025 First RoundSecond RoundQuarterfinalsSemifinalsChampionship ToledoMissouri StateGonzagaFloridaBelmont W 65–53W 78-71W 82-77 OTW 66-52W 75-63

Head coaches Joan Stevenson, 1971–1972 (5–3) Deb Wilson, 1972–1973 (8–8) Linda Wells, 1973–1974 (3–10) Jenny Johnson, 1974–1977 (36–37) Ellen Mosher-Hanson, 1977–1987 (172–125) LaRue Fields, 1987–1990 (24–60) Linda Hill-MacDonald, 1990–1997 (66–126) Cheryl Littlejohn, 1997–2001 (29–81) Brenda Oldfield, 2001–2002 (22–8) Pam Borton, 2002–2014 (236–152) Marlene Stollings, 2014–2018 (82–47) Lindsay Whalen, 2018–2023 (71–76) Dawn Plitzuweit, 2023–present

Gophers in the WNBA + Player Draft Seasons Years Lindsay Whalen 2004 – 4th by Connecticut 15 (2004-2018) Last with Minnesota4x WNBA Champion Janel McCarville 2005 – 1st by Charlotte 9 (2005-2010; 2013-2014; 2016) Last with MinnesotaWNBA Champion Emily Fox 2009 – 30th by Minnesota 0 - Amanda Zahui B. 2015 – 2nd by Tulsa 7 (2015-2021; 2023) Last with Indiana Shae Kelley 2015 – 35th by Minnesota 1 (2015) Last with MinnesotaWNBA Champion Rachel Banham 2016 – 4th by Connecticut 7 (2016-present) Currently with Connecticut Carlie Wagner 2018 – 36th by Minnesota 0 - Kenisha Bell 2019 – 30th by Minnesota 1 (2019) Last with Minnesota

Year-by-year results

Conference tournament winners noted with # Source

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References

External links