Mara Braun returning to Gophers for 2026-27 season

Gophers women's basketball dancing to Sweet 16

This week on the FOX 9 Gopher Coaches Show, we're talking with the University of Minnesota women's basketball team as they're on a historic run. For the first time in 21 years, Dawn Plitzuweit and the Gophers are headed to the NCAA Sweet 16. Minnesota faces UCLA in Sacramento Friday night. FOX 9's Ahmad Hicks and KFAN's Justin Gaard chat with Coach Plitzuweit to talk about the win over Ole Miss. Amaya Battle and Mara Braun join to talk about the season, and Battle's huge shot to lift the Gophers past Ole Miss.

MINNEAPOLIS (FOX 9) - The University of Minnesota women’s basketball team finished the season with the program’s first run the Sweet 16 in more than two decades.

The Gophers aim to build on that next year, and will do so with one of their best players back.

Mara Braun returning for 2026-27 season

What we know:

Mara Braun, a redshirt junior, is coming back to the Gophers next season. The announcement was made official Wednesday on social media via Dinkytown Athletes, the Gophers collective for players earning name, image and likeness profit.

Why you should care:

Braun started all 33 games this past season for the Gophers, averaging 11.7 points, 4.2 rebounds and 2.5 assists per game. Braun shot nearly 90% from the free-throw line, and 34.7% from the perimeter.

With Braun’s help, the Gophers went 24-9 this season, 13-5 in Big Ten play and earned a top-16 seed in the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2005.

Braun gained an extra year of eligibility after getting a medical redshirt, missing most of the 2024-25 season with a foot injury that required surgery.

In the college era of NIL opportunities and transferring schools without penalty from the NCAA, there are no guarantees for year-to-year roster consistency. Braun's return makes Year 4 of the Dawn Plitzuweit era that much more exciting, building of a Sweet 16 appearance. 

Several Gophers’ men’s players returning

The backstory:

The Gophers’ men’s basketball team is in Las Vegas to face Baylor in the Crown Tournament Wednesday night. This week, several core pieces have announced they’re returning next season. The list includes forward Jaylen Crocker-Johnson, guard Isaac Asuma, guard Bobby Durkin and center Grayson Grove.