A week and a half before the first tipoff, most teams have a pretty good sense of their season identity.
For Gopher Women’s Basketball, that shifted unexpectedly last week when Minnesota native and forward Mallory Heyer announced she would not be returning for her final season.
Heyer took to social media to share the news of her departure.
“For personal reasons, I will be closing this chapter of my career in Minnesota and entering the transfer portal to find a new home as a graduate transfer,” Heyer wrote.
The announcement caught many by surprise and left a big gap to fill. Heyer was an important part of Minnesota’s lineup last year after she led the team in rebounds last season with 29 and recorded seven double-doubles.
Head coach Dawn Plitzuweit and Heyer’s teammates said this decision came unexpectedly, but they are all handling it with mutual respect.
“Didn’t expect that. That was certainly a surprise,” Plitzuweit said. “At the same time, Mallory’s done an awful lot for our program over the course of the past few years. She’s done that on the court. She’s done that off the court. When she informed me of her decision, we wished her all the best.”
When staff and teammates said they wished her the best, they truly meant it. It is clear that she was a bright presence in the locker room and made a difference beyond the arena as well.
“I know we all love Mal. She’s a great person and she’s a great player,” Sophie Hart, graduate student and center, said. “She brought a lot to this program.”
Heyer’s departure undeniably changes the rotation but also opens the door for other players to step forward.
Plitzuweit said their depth and new faces have made the transition a little smoother.
“What it means for us as a team means every player has to step up and do a little more,” Plitzuweit said. “We have a couple newcomers that have really given us a boost.”
Some newcomers have already impressed the coaching staff in early scrimmages. Brylee Glenn, guard and graduate transfer from Kansas State, made 93 starts in 102 games.
Finau Tonga, a forward and graduate transfer from San Jose State, has also made an early impression. Last season with San Jose she was one of the most efficient players in the country, with a shooting percentage of 58% and averaging 8.7 points per game.
“Brylee has done a really good job. She’s really disruptive defensively, but she can also score,” Plitzuweit said. “Finau has been really solid as well.”
Even with Heyer gone, the Gophers said they are in a strong position to handle adversity this season. Last year, they went 25-11, and ended the season winning the WBIT Championship.
Building on that momentum, the team said they feel more balanced and ready for whatever will come their way.
Part of that strength comes from players returning from injury.
Junior and forward Taylor Woodson is someone they will be happy to have back in the lineup. She stepped into a bigger role last year before being sidelined with a knee injury.
Meanwhile, redshirt junior and guard Mara Braun’s return is also highly anticipated. Braun has had two seasons cut short by injury, appearing in only five games last season. She will be a key part of their offensive identity.
“We have a lot of depth and I think that’s something that we didn’t have last year,” Hart said.
The loss of a veteran player like Heyer has the potential to shake a locker room, but so far, they have remained steady. Their focus on the season ahead has not changed, even if the lineup will look different.
This does not mean they will not miss her. Many of her teammates remain close with Heyer, but the group knows they cannot dwell on what is out of their control.
“Off the court, we wish her all the best. Her teammates feel the same. They’re still close friends with her,” Plitzuweit said. “On the court, we make adjustments and move forward.”
For a team that showed growth last season, consistency and chemistry will be key themes this fall. The players have spent the offseason building both, and the tone around the program remains confident even without one familiar face.
The Gophers open their season next week on Tuesday against North Dakota State University. Minnesota’s depth and versatility will be tested early on, but adaptability is everything.
Facing this adversity early on will only make them stronger.
“Every player has to step up,” Plitzuweit said. “That’s what this time of year is all about, finding out who’s ready to do just that.”
