The Gophers women’s basketball team ended their season in March with an 11-19 overall record and a loss to Penn State in round one of the Big Ten Tournament.
The team will enter the 2023-24 season with new talent coming in and veteran faces leaving. However, the most prominent addition to the program is a new coaching staff.
Former head coach Lindsay Whalen stepped down from her position shortly after Minnesota’s 2022-23 season concluded. The University’s Director of Athletics Mark Coyle announced on March 18 that Dawn Plitzuweit will serve as the 13th head coach for the women’s basketball team.
“Dawn is a process-driven coach and has coached winning teams at every step of her career,” Coyle said in a press conference. “She has recruited Minnesota and has consistently produced teams that compete for championships.”
Joining Plitzweit on the coaching staff are longtime assistant Jason Jeschke, Aaron Horn and Ariel Braker. Jeschke will serve as the associate head coach under Plitzuweit; they have worked together for six consecutive seasons. Horn and Braker will serve as assistant coaches.
Horn joins Minnesota’s staff after spending the last seven seasons with Plitzuweit at West Virginia and South Dakota. Braker joins Plitzuweit’s staff with the Gophers after spending one year at both West Virginia and South Dakota in the same role of assistant coach. She brings four years of playing experience, during which she shined at Notre Dame.
“I am incredibly excited and thankful to have the opportunity to continue working alongside Jason, Aaron and Ariel,” Plitzuweit said in a press release. “We have great synergy and connectivity as a staff, and we have continued to learn and grow together over the years.”
When it comes to players, returning to the team most notably is leading scorer and freshman guard Mara Braun (15.6 PPG). She returns alongside a talented young core of freshmen: Mallory Heller, Nia Holloway and Amaya Battle.
Veteran guard Katie Borowicz decided to medically retire, and leading rebounder Alanna “Rose” Michaeux (7.9 RPG) entered her name into the transfer portal.
With Plitzuweit’s decision to come to Minnesota also came top-100 recruit Grace Grocholski. The 5-foot-10-inch star from Kettle Moraine High School initially committed to play for Plitzuweit at West Virginia but has decided to follow her coach to Minnesota.
Third times the charm… I’m happy to announce that I will be attending the University of Minnesota to continue my academic and athletic career. Once again I want to thank my family, my high school and AAU coaches, and my teammates. After a long recruiting journey, Go Gophers
pic.twitter.com/7RBe5iY7uZ
— Grace Grocholski (@GrocholskiGrace) March 26, 2023
In addition to the talent Plitzuweit has brought, the Gophers retained Maple Grove native Kennedy Klick, MyKynnlie Dalan and Ajok Madol, who committed to the previous regime in November. Dominika Paurová initially signed a National Letter of Intent (NLI) in November but was recently granted release.
Brynn Senden of Wayzata signed an Acceptance of Admission and will join the team as a preferred walk-on. Senden was teammates with Braun at Wayzata, where she averaged 10 points per game during her 2021-22 prep season and helped Wayzata reach the section final against Hopkins.
Gophers legend Lindsay Whalen provided new head coach Dawn Plitzuweit with plenty of talent. The Gophers’ schedule has yet to be finalized, but there is plenty to be excited for in a new era of Minnesota women’s basketball.