The 2025–26 Minnesota Golden Gophers women's basketball team currently represent the University of Minnesota during the 2025–26 NCAA Division I women's basketball season. The Golden Gophers, led by third-year head coach Dawn Plitzuweit, and played their home games at Williams Arena as members of the Big Ten Conference. The Gophers were not listed in the Big Ten preseason top five.UCLA, Betts Headline Big Ten Women's Basketball Preseason Honors. Big Ten Conference, October 2, 2025 The Gophers received votes in the preseason AP top 25, but were not listed.Liebert, Tony - Gophers women's basketball snubbed from preseason AP Top 25. Sports Illustrated, October 14, 2025 By February 18, 2026, the Gophers had won nine straight games, including their second win against a top ten ranked team, to move into number 23 in the AP poll and tied for 4th place in the Big Ten standings.Newly ranked No. 23 Minnesota muscles past No. 10 Ohio State women's basketball 74-61 for 9th straight win. WKYC Studios (AP), February 18, 2026Scoggins, Chip - Scoggins: Gophers women’s basketball sends message with win over No. 10 Ohio State. Star Tribune, February 19, 2026 The Gophers finished the regular season 13-5 and tied for 4th place. They gained the number four seed in the 2026 Big Ten women's basketball tournament with the tiebreaker over Ohio State. They lost to Ohio State in the Big Ten tournament.Black, Jenna - Gophers women’s basketball falls 60-55 to Ohio State in Big Ten quarterfinals. Star Tribune, March 6, 2026 The Gophers were invited to host as a number four seed in the 2026 NCAA Division I women's basketball tournament.Scoggins, Chip - Scoggins: Gophers are playing host to NCAA tournament games because of trust. Star Tribune, March 15, 2026Scoggins, Chip - Gophers women’s basketball earns No. 4 seed in NCAA tournament. Star Tribune, March 15, 2026 The Gophers advanced to the Sweet Sixteen, where they lost a re-match to the UCLA Bruins.Scoggins, Chip, Cassidy Hettesheimer, and Grace Praxmarer - Recap: Gophers' NCAA tournament run ends with 80-56 loss to UCLA in Sweet 16. Star Tribune, March 27, 2026
Previous season The Golden Gophers finished the 2024–25 season 25–11, 8–10 in Big Ten play to finish in thirteenth place. As the No. 13 seed in the Big Ten tournament, they lost in the first round to Washington. They received an at-large bid to the WBIT as the No. 2 seed in the Colorado bracket. They advanced to the championship game where they defeated Belmont.Youngblood, Kent - Gophers women’s basketball team rolls against Belmont for WBIT title. Star Tribune, April 2, 2025 Minnesota was the sole Big Ten team invited to the 2025 WBIT.Minnesota Selected for 2025 WBIT Field. Big Ten Conference, March 16, 2025
Offseason Minnesota gained a top recruit in Makena Christian, the number one player in Wisconsin.Nelson, Joe - One of the top recruits in the country commits to Minnesota. Sports Illustrated, February 22, 2024
Departures Name Number Pos. Height Year Hometown Reason for departure Alexsia Rose 0 G 5'7" Graduate Student Bloomfield, CT Graduated Maggie Czinano 5 G 6'0" Senior Watertown, MN Graduated McKenna Johnson 7 G 5'9" Freshman Wilmot, WI Transferred to Butler Annika Stewart 21 F/C 6'3" Graduate Student Plymouth, MN Graduated Mallory Heyer 24 F 6'1" Senior Chaska, MN Transferred to Oregon Jordan Brooks 34 C 6'3" Senior Apple Valley, CA Transferred to North Florida
Incoming transfers Name Number Pos. Height Year Hometown Previous School Tracey Bershers 1 F 6'2" Senior Fort Smith, AR UAB Brylee Glenn 12 G 5'11" Graduate Student Kansas City, MO Kansas State Finau Tonga 31 F/C 6'2" Graduate Student Taylorsville, UT San Jose State
2025 Recruiting class
Recruiting class of 2026
Roster
Schedule and results
! colspan=9 style=""| Regular season
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Source:
Rankings
*AP did not release a week 8 poll.
References