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Minnesota Golden Gophers women's basketball
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| name | Minnesota Golden Gophers |
| current | 2025–26 Minnesota Golden Gophers women's basketball team |
| logo | Minnesota Golden Gophers logo.svg |
| logo_size | 175 |
| university | University of Minnesota |
| conference | Big Ten |
| location | Minneapolis, Minnesota |
| coach | Dawn Plitzuweit |
| tenure | 3rd |
| arena | Williams Arena |
| capacity | 14,625 |
| nickname | Golden Gophers |
| bestfinish | 4 |
| NCAAfinalfour | 2004 |
| NCAAeliteeight | 2004 |
| NCAAsweetsixteen | 2003, 2004, 2005 |
| NCAAtourneys | 1994, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2008, 2009, 2015, 2018 |
| AIAWsweetsixteen | 1977 |
| AIAWtourneys | 1977, 1981, 1982 |
| h_body | FFCC33 |
| h_pattern_b | _whitesides |
| h_shorts | FFCC33 |
| h_pattern_s | _whitesides |
| a_body | 7A0019 |
| a_pattern_b | _whitesides |
| a_shorts | 7A0019 |
| a_pattern_s | _whitesides |
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 Williams Arena 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.
| 1982 | First Round |
|---|---|
| Quarterfinals | St. Johns |
| Rutgers | W 68–56 |
| L 75–83 |
NCAA Division I Tournament results
The Golden Gophers have appeared in ten NCAA Division I Tournaments. They achieved their highest ranking in 2005 with a #3 seed. Their overall record is 12–10.
| 2018 | #10 | First Round |
|---|---|---|
| Second Round | #7 Green Bay | |
| #2 Oregon | W 89–77 | |
| L 73–101 |
WBIT Results
The Golden Gophers have appeared in the Women's Basketball Invitation Tournament (WBIT) one time. Their record is 5–0.
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 Minnesota |
| 4x WNBA Champion | |||
| Janel McCarville | 2005 – 1st by Charlotte | 9 | (2005-2010; 2013-2014; 2016) Last with Minnesota |
| WNBA 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 Minnesota |
| WNBA 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
|-style="background: #ffffdd;"
References
References
- "Lindsay Whalen Takes Over Women's Basketball".
- "Media Guide". University of Minnesota.
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