The Gopher Women’s basketball team has been on a bumpy road this season but fans are hoping the payoff comes in March. The women’s team started non conference play roaring with a 10-0 start, often beating opponents by 20+ points. However, once Big Ten play started the team has seemed to fall a bit between the cracks. They currently hold an 8-8 record in the Big Ten but 20-8 on the season the team sits just inside the bubble for the NCAA tournament.

Once Big Ten play started the team stumbled at Nebraska but was able to string together a group of Big Ten wins soon after giving the team a 16-1 record, 4-1 in conference play. However, most would argue that this is right where the level of competition changed. The team would play four of its next six games against ranked teams who would have given them a quad one win for March. Unfortunately out of those six games the only two the Gophers won were against the non ranked opponents. 

Part of the problem could be that the team has played notably better at home this year, boosting a 13-3 record there versus a 3-5 record on opposing courts. Add on top of that trips to the west coast to places like USC and UCLA the #4 and #1 Ranked teams in the country respectively and you have some trouble on your hands if you are head coach Dawn Plitzuweit. 

Conference realignment may not have made a huge difference for Big Ten men’s basketball, but it sure is on the women’s side. UCLA and USC are two of the biggest women’s basketball powerhouses in the country. Both teams have only one loss in conference play and UCLA’s loss is to USC themselves. We will see how the Big Ten tournament shakes out, but it feels as if there will be two favorites this year and in many years to follow as NIL gives successful teams successful futures.

However, just because the big wins haven’t come yet for the Gophers there is still a chance the team will get hot at the right time. They certainly have the talent to do it. The team features three scorers who average double figures lead by 12 points a night from guard Grace Grocholski. Amaya Battle the sister of former Gopher men’s player Jameson Battle has also been a leader scoring 12 a game and averaging a team leading 4.1 assists per game.

Another talent that could help the team get back to the NCAA tournament for the first time since 2017-18 is Mara Braun. The junior started the season averaging 13.6 points per game and was a key player on the court for the Gophers. However, in mid November Braun was forced to the sidelines with a foot injury that ended up leading to surgery. The injury marks the second season in a row where Braun has been forced out of the lineup due to injury. Hope is on the horizon though as the guard could be back for a tournament push as she has been working hard to rehab and get back onto the court.

It is a season of a couple of hiccups that may turn deadly if the team is not careful down the stretch. The Gophers play both Washington and Michigan State to round out their season needing at least one win to stay comfortably in the NCAA tournament field. However, winning on the road against the #23 ranked Spartans to end the year could do a lot to bolster a resume for March.