Gophers women’s basketball enters top-25 for first time since 2019
Gopher Coaches Show: Dawn Plitzuweit talks 15-1 start
This week on the Gopher Coaches Show, University of Minnesota women's basketball coach Dawn Plitzuweit stops by to talk about the team's 15-1 start, including a 3-1 mark in Big Ten play, with FOX 9's Ahmad Hicks and KFAN's Justin Gaard. Grace Grocholski also joins the show.
MINNEAPOLIS (FOX 9) - Dawn Plitzuweit was hired as the University of Minnesota women’s basketball coach on March 18, 2023.
Less than two years later, the Gophers are ranked. Minnesota entered the Associated Press Top-25 at No. 24 on Monday, marking the first time since 2019 that the Gophers are ranked.
Best 17-game start in program history
What we know: The Gophers are 16-1, including 4-1 in Big Ten play. That’s the best start in a 17-game stretch in the history of the program. Plitzuweit also recently won her 400th career game as a head coach.
The Gophers are 11-0 at home, which is the first time that’s happened since the 2003-04 Final Four team. It’s the first time they’ve started 4-1 in Big Ten play since the 2014-15 season.
Maryland awaits
Why it matters: The Gophers have their toughest test of the season to date Tuesday night, at No. 8-ranked Maryland. Minnesota is on a six-game win streak, but their only loss this season is to a ranked Nebraska team on the road to open Big Ten play.
Withstanding injuries
What we know: The Gophers remain without top player Mara Braun, who had foot surgery for the second straight season but is out of a boot. There is no timetable for her return. They lost Taylor Woodson to a season-ending knee injury in December, and beat Rutgers last week without Tori McKinney.