Welcome to the Minnesota Daily sport’s newest summer blog series, ‘This week in Gophers’ sports.’ Each week, we will inform you on all the important events regarding Gophers’ athletics.
In our first installment, Gophers fans will have plenty to look forward too including a certain top draft pick returning to town. So, without further ado here is your guide for June 1-7.
Amanda Zahui B. returns to Minneapolis – June 5:
The Gophers double-double machine from a year ago will be making her WNBA debut this Friday against none other then the Minnesota Lynx. Zauhi B. decided to forgo her final two years of eligibility to turn pro and was rewarded by being selected by the Tulsa Shock with the second overall pick.
Zauhi B. has already played in two preseason games for the Shock and has averaged 20.0 minutes per game – only Skylar Diggins has played more. The former Gophers star has averaged 7.0 points, 6.0 rebounds and 1.0 blocks in the preseason.
Her return to Minneapolis will not double as a reunion with her former Gophers teammate Shae Kelley, who was cut from the Lynx’s roster today, Fox Sports reports.
Track Athletes prepare for NCAA Championships – All week:
Last weekend, several members of both the women’s and men’s track and field teams punched their tickets to the NCAA Championships, June 10-13.
On the men’s side, juniors Goaner Deng, Gian Ferretti and Luke Johnson advanced. Deng will compete in the 800-meter run, Ferretti in the hammer throw and Johnson in the shot put.
The trio of qualifiers will join sophomore Luca Wieland, who did not compete last weekend but did previously qualify for the NCAA Championships in the decathlon.
On the women’s side, the Gophers will be competing in four events at the championships. Sophomore Nicolle Murphy earned a spot in the javelin, senior Devin Stanford will give it one last go-around in the hammer throw and junior Jess Herauf will attempt to bring home the title in the heptathlon. The Gophers 4×400-meter relay team also qualified.
Chalk Talk tour finishes up – June 2 & 3:
With every sport except track and field currently in the offseason, Minnesota’s coaches have plenty of time on their hands. A chunk of that time is spent on the Gopher Road Trip: Chalk Talk tour.
The tour will be wrapping up this week with stops in Winona and Rochester on Tuesday and Mankato and Hutchinson on Wednesday.
Some noteworthy coaches that will be in attendance at these stops are football coach Jerry Kill, men’s hockey coach Don Lucia, women’s basketball coach Marlene Stollings and Director of Athletics Norwood Teague.