Minnesota Women’s Basketball 2026 NCAA Tournament Capsule
March 2, 2026 · CSM Staff
Minnesota Golen Gophers
Big Ten (22-8, 13-5)
Big Wins: 2/5 at Iowa (91-85), 2/18 Ohio State (74-61)
Bad Losses: 11/19 at Kansas (57-63), 1/18 at Washington (54-67)
Coach: Dawn Plitzuweit
Probable Starters:
Sophie Hart, Senior, Center, 10.9 ppg, 6.6 rpg, 1.1 apg
Tori McKinney, Sophomore, Guard, 13.1 ppg, 2.6 apg, 3.1 rpg, 2.0 spg
Grace Grocholski, Junior, Guard, 12.7 ppg, 2.9 apg, 5.0 rpg
Mara Braun, Junior, Guard, 11.5 ppg, 2.6 apg, 4.3 rpg
Amaya Battle, Senior, Guard, 10.9 ppg, 3.6 apg, 7.4 rpg
Key Role Players:
Finau Tonga, Senior, Forward, 4.8 ppg, 3.3 rpg
Brylee Glenn, Senior, Guard, 6.4 ppg, 2.0 apg, 2.8 rpg
By the Numbers:
Scoring Offense: 75.6 (38th in nation, 9th in conference)
Scoring Defense: 57.9 (32, 2)
Field-Goal Percentage: 45.0 (37, 12)
Field-Goal Defense: 38.4 (93, 2)
Three-Point Field Goals Per Game: 6.7 (141, 15)
Three-Point Field-Goal Percentage: 35.1 (32, 7)
Free-Throw Percentage: 75.3 (59, 9)
Rebound Margin: 7.5 (29, 5)
Assists Per Game: 16.6 (37, 10)
Turnovers Per Game: 10.6 (3, 1)
Recent Postseason Appearances:
| 2025 | WBI | First Round win over Toledo |
| 2025 | WBI | Second Round win over Missouri State |
| 2025 | WBI | Quarterfinal win over Gonzaga |
| 2025 | WBI | Semifinal win over Florida |
| 2025 | WBI | Final win over Belmont |
| 2024 | NIT | Second Round win over Pacific |
| 2024 | NIT | Third Round win over North Dakota State |
| 2024 | NIT | Quarterfinal win over Wyoming |
| 2024 | NIT | Semifinal win over Troy |
| 2024 | NIT | Final loss to Saint Louis |
| 2022 | NIT | First Round win over Green Bay |
| 2022 | NIT | Second Round loss to South Dakota State |
| 2019 | NIT | First Round win over Northern Iowa |
| 2019 | NIT | Second Round loss to Cincinnati |
| 2018 | NCAA | Round of 64 win over Green Bay |
| 2018 | NCAA | Round of 32 loss to Oregon |
| 2016 | NIT | First Round win over Milwaukee |
| 2016 | NIT | Second Round loss to South Dakota |
| 2015 | NCAA | Round of 64 loss to DePaul |
| 2014 | NIT | First Round win over Green Bay |
| 2014 | NIT | Second Round win over SMU |
| 2014 | NIT | Third Round loss to South Dakota State |
| 2013 | NIT | First Round loss to Ball State |
| 2012 | WBI | First Round win over Charleston Southern |
| 2012 | WBI | Quarterfinal win over Bradley |
| 2012 | WBI | Semifinal win over Manhattan |
| 2012 | WBI | Final win over Northern Iowa |
| 2009 | NCAA | Round of 64 win over Notre Dame |
| 2009 | NCAA | Round of 32 loss to Texas A&M |
| 2008 | NCAA | Round of 64 loss to Texas |
| 2007 | NIT | First Round win over Illinois-Chicago |
| 2007 | NIT | Second Round loss to Western Kentucky |
| 2006 | NCAA | Round of 64 loss to Washington |
*all team stats through 3/5
