The Gophers women’s basketball team came off a postseason run that saw them play in the championship game of the Women’s National Invitation Tournament.

Since then, head coach Dawn Plitzuweit reloaded her team’s depth and experience with eyes set on making the NCAA tournament.

Minnesota is looking to compete for the first time since the 2017-18 NCAA tournament with the addition of transfers Annika Stewart, Taylor Woodson, Jordan Brooks and Alexsia Rose. Plitzuweit also recruited freshmen guards Tori McKinney and McKenna Johnson to bolster the backcourt.

Plitzuweit said the Gophers became an older team in the league, bringing in experienced transfers with more understanding of the game.

“I think the four young ladies that came in as transfers this year are going to be players that help us at a really high level,” Plitzuweit said.

Junior guard Mara Braun said she and teammate Amaya Battle played with new transfers, graduate student Stewart and freshman Woodson, in the past.

“I know Annika Stewart really well, played high school with her, one of my closest friends, she has been for a while,” Braun said. “Amaya knows Taylor, and I just think throughout that chemistry of us being close is going to propel us forward.”

Experience is not the only element of this team, as the Gophers have talent across the board including underclassmen. Last year, Grace Grocholski made an instant impact in her first season leading all Big Ten freshmen in overall scoring (11.4 points per game). This year Minnesota looks to replicate that with McKinney.

The Minnetonka High School alum will be a key player on defense, according to Plitzuweit.

“She’s showing that, but she’s also a young lady that can get to the rim and make a lot of things happen,” Plitzuweit said.

The other half of the Gophers freshmen backcourt duo, Johnson, was part of the team last season as an early enrollee when Minnesota finished second in the Women’s National Invitation Tournament but did not play since she was ineligible. 

Plitzuweit said the find-a-way mentality is one she wants her players to embody, and the players must build that mentality.

“Our philosophy is that we want to develop that toughness … those are the main pillars of who we are,” Plitzuweit said.

Braun said the team is focused on becoming a player-led team this season where upperclassmen can share their experiences with the new players.

Culture is not the only thing Plitzuweit is looking to build in her second season as head coach. She said things that were lacking last year were addressed this offseason.

“We have more depth, which is great, we have more athleticism,” Plitzuweit said. “I really think, kind of across the board, we have more understanding.”

The Gophers will test their team’s depth early on in their non-conference schedule, particularly at the Briann January Classic on Nov. 16 and 17.

“Last year we didn’t play in any tournaments, and we knew that was something we wanted to change about the schedule,” Plitzuweit said.

The two teams the Gophers will play include Oregon State, who made the Elite Eight last season and Southern Methodist University, a new team to the ACC.

The Gophers kick off their season on Nov. 4 against Central Connecticut State at Williams Arena.