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Grace Grocholski, Tori McKinney returning to Gophers for 2026-27 season

By
Published  April 2, 2026 5:04pm CDT
Minnesota Golden Gophers
FOX 9
Tori McKinney living her dream with hometown Gophers

Tori McKinney living her dream with hometown Gophers

Minnetonka native and Gophers freshman Tori McKinney is living out her dream with the University of Minnesota women's basketball team. FOX 9's Ahmad Hicks caught up with her and her mother, Jennifer McKinney, on this week's Gopher Coaches Show.

The Brief

    • The Gophers women's basketball team will have at least eight players on the 2026-27 roster that were part of the program's NCAA Sweet 16 run this season.
    • Mara Braun announced her return earlier this week. Grace Grocholski and Tori McKinney were among seven players Thursday to make their return official through Dinkytown Athletes.
    • McKinney, Grocholski and Braun were three of the Gophers' top scorers this season.

MINNEAPOLIS (FOX 9) - Earlier this week, Mara Braun made it official that she’s returning to the University of Minnesota women’s basketball team.

On Thursday, several of her teammates, including the top two scorers, announced they’re returning to the Gophers next season through Dinkytown Athletes, Minnesota’s NIL collective.

That’s after Minnesota won 24 games and made its first run to the NCAA Sweet 16 since 2005.

Grace Grocholski, Tori McKinney returning to Gophers

What we know:

Tori McKinney and Grace Grocholski made it official on Thursday they’ll be back in Gophers’ jerseys next season. McKinney led the Gophers in scoring at 12.7 points per game in 29 starts. She’ll be a junior next season.

Grocholski was right behind her at 12.1 points and 5.1 rebounds per game, starting every game this season. She also shot 42.4% from the perimeter. Grocholski will be back for her senior season.

That means the team’s top-three scorers from this season are coming back.

Five other players also announced their return through Dinkytown Athletes on Thursday: Brynn Senden, Kennedy Klick, Taylor Woodson, Zoey Bershers and Makena Christian.

Gophers’ men’s players returning next season

Why you should care:

The Gophers’ men’s basketball team had its season end Wednesday night in a 67-48 loss to Baylor in the Crown Tournament in Las Vegas.

Earlier this week, several key players worked out NIL deals to return next season. They include Jaylen Crocker-Johnson, Isaac Asuma, Grayson Grove and Bobby Durkin.

Yet to announce their futures are Kai Shinholster, Robert Vaihola and Chansey Willis Jr.

Minnesota Golden GophersSports