Recent content from Kent Youngblood
What's next for the Gophers women's basketball team?
The Gophers didn't make the NCAA tournament but are chasing the WBIT championship.
Gophers women's basketball wins on road again in WBIT, takes down Missouri State
The Gophers will finally get a home game when they play host to Gonzaga on Thursday night.
WBIT takes Gophers to another tough place to win: Missouri State
The Bears are 15-0 at home this season and battle tested, coming from the potent Missouri Valley Conference.
Gophers turn away Toledo on turnovers in first round of the WBIT
Minnesota built a margin by taking advantage of mistakes and advanced to a Sunday second-round game.
Gophers women's basketball hits the road again for postseason play
Dawn Plitzuweit's Gophers open the WBIT on Thursday at Toledo after making a run on the road during last year's postseason.
Paige Bueckers, Gianna Kneepkens, Olivia Olson and other Minnesotans to watch in the NCAA women's basketball tournament
Tessa Johnson, Adalia McKenzie and Lauren Jensen are also among the dozens of Minnesotans who will be playing in the NCAA tournament this week.
Kent Youngblood picks LSU and Southern Cal to reach women's Final Four. Here's why.
Star Tribune basketball writer Kent Youngblood projects Southern Cal to defeat UConn for a trip to the Women's Final Four.
Gophers women's basketball earns No. 2 seed in WBIT but will open on road at Toledo
A scheduling conflict with the boys basketball state tournament means the Gophers will have to visit the Rockets on Thursday.
Gophers women's basketball's Selection Sunday outlook
The Gophers likely have fallen off the NCAA tournament bubble, but if so, they would make the second-tier WBIT.
Gobert returns from injury as Wolves top Spurs for fifth victory in a row
The Wolves got their center back after a 10-game absence and continued their winning streak.
Washington knocks out Gophers in Big Ten women's basketball tournament
The Gophers trailed by only two points at halftime but couldn't stop Washington, much like when the teams met on Feb. 26.
U women enter Big Ten tournament needing victories to pad NCAA résumé
The Big Ten figures to get 13 teams into the NCAA tournament, and the Gophers are seeded 13th entering Washington rematch.
It's official: U women's basketball star Braun won't return this season
Gophers women's basketball coach Dawn Plitzuweit on Monday updated Mara Braun's recovery from her foot injury.
Gophers go cold, fall to No. 23 Spartans in women's basketball
Minnesota gave up a 13-point run in the final eight minutes and blew the chance for a win over a ranked team.
Gophers could use a springboard game at Michigan State before the postseason
The Gophers women's basketball team is reeling as it enters the regular season finale at No. 23 Michigan State.
Gophers succumb to hot-shooting Huskies in Big Ten women's basketball
Minnesota led by 12 in the second quarter but went on to its sixth loss in eight games.
Grocholski arrives with Gophers as a shooter and turns into so much more
"Her basketball IQ is just about as high as anyone's," Gophers women's basketball coach Dawn Plitzuweit said. "Because she can do just about all of it for us."
Gophers regain their footing with women's basketball win at Purdue
Minnesota, which had lost five of its past six, benefitted from big games by Grace Grocholski and Sophie Hart.
Gophers women's basketball heads to Purdue, seeking a turnaround
Minnesota has dropped five of six heading into Wednesday night's game at Purdue.
Turnovers prove costly for Gophers in home loss to Oregon
Sunday was another disappointing game taking care of the ball for the Gophers women's basketball team, which watched as the Ducks had a 23-7 edge in points off turnovers.
Gophers women's basketball vs. Oregon is another NCAA bubble team battle
After defeating Indiana and pushing Ohio State to overtime, the Gophers women's basketball team faces Oregon at home.
Gophers push No. 9 Buckeyes to overtime before losing in Big Ten women's basketball
A 13-1 run at the end of regulation tied it, but Minnesota was unable to end its string of losses to ranked teams, now at 32.
Gophers junior Battle loves basketball but won't be defined by it
Amaya Battle is a floor leader for the Gophers women's basketball team but has many other interests, including photography.
Gophers women's basketball beats Indiana to end two losing streaks, reach one personal milestone
The Gophers had lost their previous three games and their past seven meetings with the Hoosiers. Guard Amaya Battle helped change all that by scoring a game-high 16 points to surpass 1,000 in her career.
Lynx add guard who was a high draft pick in 2023 for Indiana
Grace Berger, drafted No. 7 overall, made 46 percent of her three-point shots over two seasons for the Fever.
Plitzuweit sees more improvement coming for Gophers, despite losing skid
Minnesota, with three straight losses, faces another tough challenge Sunday, when Indiana visits Williams Arena.
Gophers women's basketball team drops home game to Iowa
Minnesota continues to come up short in Big Ten games after its fast start to the conference season.
NCAA bubble? The Gophers are there, along with their next two opponents
The Gophers women's basketball team faces Iowa (Thursday) and Indiana (Sunday), in key chances to bolster its NCAA tournament résumé.
Gophers women's basketball team hangs in for a half, then sees No. 1 UCLA motor away
Minnesota poured defenders on Bruins star Lauren Betts, so she settled for six points and piled up 11 assists.
Lynx's addition of French Olympian and re-signing of point guard become official
WNBA teams couldn't reveal free-agency deals until Saturday. Coach Cheryl Reeve called Badiane a "great fit," noted Hiedeman's playoff success.
Center finds herself happily in the middle of matters for Gophers women's basketball team
Sophie Hart was granted another year of eligibility and produced the best stats of her season in the past two games. Next she and the U face No. 1 UCLA.
Lynx will sign French Olympic team center in free agency, re-sign guard Natisha Hiedeman
Marième Badiane has been a EuroLeague standout and will provide depth in the middle for a team that made the WNBA Finals.
Gophers women's basketball team sinks against No. 4 USC
The Gophers trailed by 15 in the first quarter and never made up that difference, falling 82-69.
How coach Plitzuweit prepared the Gophers for their daunting trip out west
The Gophers face No. 4 USC on Thursday night, followed by No. 1 UCLA on Sunday in the teeth of their Big Ten schedule.
Gophers center Hart is granted extra year of eligibility by NCAA
The Gophers learned Tuesday that center Sophie Hart, a former Farmington High School standout, will be able to return to Minnesota next season.
No. 23 Gophers women's basketball pulls away from Wisconsin for 71-50 victory
The Gophers started the second half on a 15-2 run and never looked back against the Badgers on Sunday at Williams Arena.
Gophers women learn from loss to Michigan, entering pivotal game vs. Wisconsin
Dawn Plitzuweit's Gophers have NCAA tournament hopes and can't afford to stumble Sunday vs. the struggling Badgers.
Gophers slip in fourth quarter, fall to Wolverines for third Big Ten women's basketball loss
No. 24 Michigan shut down No. 23 Minnesota late, allowing only 11 points in the final period.
Schedule turns tougher for No. 23 Gophers women, starting with No. 24 Michigan
The Gophers women's basketball team's two Big Ten losses came against teams ranked at the time.
Lynx and WNBA head into a free-agency season overshadowed by the change just ahead
A new collective bargaining agreement, still in the making, will be in effect in 2026, so short-term deals will be the norm for 2025.
No. 24 Gophers turn stern, surge past Northwestern in Big Ten women's basketball
Minnesota trailed by double digits after three quarters but outscored the Wildcats by 21 points over the final eight minutes.
Gophers women's basketball team heads to Northwestern aiming to regain footing
Minnesota had won four Big Ten games in a row and landed the No. 24 ranking before Maryland ended the streak.
Gophers women's basketball lands in AP Top 25 for first time since 2019
Dawn Plitzuweit's team is 16-1 and ranked No. 24 heading into Tuesday's game at No. 8 Maryland.
With top freshmen sidelined, Battle steps up to lead Gophers past Rutgers
Minnesota's record climbed to 16-1, and Amaya Battle had 21 points, six rebounds and five assists when two standout first-year players — Minnesota's Tori McKinney and Rutgers' Kiyomi McMiller — weren't available to play.
15-1 Gophers gear up for Rutgers and possible freshmen showdown
Tori McKinney has been a revelation for the Gophers, while Rutgers might counter with freshman Kiyomi McMiller.
After three big games, Gophers guard McKinney named Big Ten freshman of the week
Tori McKinney is the first Gophers player to be named Big Ten freshman of the week since Grace Grocholski last February.
Gophers push back against Illini, grab another Big Ten women's basketball victory
Grace Grocholski stayed in the middle of matters until her late free throws settled it, and Tori McKinney also came up big in the fourth quarter.
McKinney helps fuel Gophers'14-1 start, avoiding 'speeding tickets' from coaches
With Mara Braun injured, the Gophers women's basketball team has received a big contribution from speedy freshman Tori McKinney.
Five reasons Gophers women's basketball is 14-1 after beating Wisconsin
Better defense and fewer turnover are among the keys to Minnesota's hot start.
Gophers women pour it on from the start, then clamp down to smother Wisconsin 59-50
The Gophers women's basketball team bolted to a 23-4 first-quarter lead and did what they needed to do defensively the rest of the way to end a four-game losing streak to the rival Badgers.
Next test for 13-1 Gophers women's basketball team: archrival Wisconsin
The Gophers opened eyes with Saturday's 36-point win vs. Penn State, but Minnesota has a four-game losing streak vs. Wisconsin.
Gold medalist, entrepreneur, All-Star. Napheesa Collier is the 2024 Sportsperson of the Year
The Minnesota Star Tribune Sportsperson of the Year won Olympic gold, led the Lynx to the WNBA Finals and is starting a new women's basketball league.
Return to Big Ten play puts Gophers women's basketball team up against a challenge immediately
Penn State, a winner by 56 against the U last season, is next up in the now-brawnier conference.
Gophers women close nonconference play with 96-57 rout of Prairie View A&M
Two standouts for Minnesota were Tori McKinney (17 points) and Annika Stewart (20), as Prairie View A&M fell to 2-6.
Gophers women enter final nonconference tune-up vs. Prairie View A&M
Back in action for the first time since Dec. 11, the Gophers will face a Prairie View A&M team that is riding a five-game losing streak.
Timberwolves roll against Spurs, defense again accounting for the difference
The Wolves won for the sixth time in seven games, this time despite shooting only 40%.
Gophers guard Woodson suffers season-ending knee injury
Taylor Woodson, who transferred home from Michigan to play for the Gophers, was averaging 8.1 points, 4.4 rebounds and 17 minutes per game.
Gophers women's basketball team bounces back to trounce Jackson State; top sub Woodson injured
Minnesota shot nearly 60% during a 20-8 start to erase a fresh loss to Nebraska, but guard/forward Taylor Woodson suffered a knee injury early in the game.
Gophers women's basketball looks to bounce back after season's first loss
Minnesota returns to action Wednesday at home against Jackson State after falling to 10-1 with a 19-point loss at Nebraska.
Gophers women's basketball team sinks quickly at No. 25 Nebraska, ending run of perfection
Minnesota, unable to stop the Huskers inside or out, trailed by double digits in the first few minutes.
Lynx lose Zandalasini in WNBA expansion draft
Golden State Valkyries pluck veteran forward from Minnesota roster.
Gophers improve to to 10-0 with 90-44 rout of North Florida
Grace Grocholski made five three-pointers in 18 minutes as the Gophers went to their bench early against the overmatched Ospreys.
Gophers women's basketball aims for 10-0 start with North Florida next
The Gophers face the Ospreys in their final tune-up before Big Ten play begins Sunday at Nebraska.
New Lynx assistants Thibault, Whalen should provide seamless transition
The Lynx also released their schedule for the 2025 season; they'll play the New York Liberty four times.
Lindsay Whalen returns: 'I needed time to, like, really miss it'
After watching the Lynx from the sidelines last season, the Hall of Famer is eager to return as an assistant coach.
Gophers get a complete game from Mallory Heyer in win over Louisiana
Minnesota's women's basketball team improved to 9-0 with its second victory in the Big Easy Classic.
Lindsay Whalen returns to Lynx as assistant coach
The Lynx said their Hall of Fame point guard will join the team as an assistant coach along with former Washington Mystics coach Eric Thibault, who will be associate head coach.
Gophers victory reveals spotty offense and all the defense anybody needs
Minnesota's women's basketball team improved to 8-0 despite shooting below 40%, and this might explain it: Houston shot 25.9 percent.
Battle's importance grows along with her statistics
A junior point guard, she is 14 games deep in her emergence as a scoring threat, and Maya Braun's recent injury means those points are needed.
Gophers star Braun to have foot surgery; uncertain if she'll return this season
Gophers coach Dawn Plitzuweit said it's "way too early to tell" whether Mara Braun will return this season or use a medical redshirt.
Lynx can protect six players from Valkyries in WNBA expansion draft
The expansion draft for Golden State is Dec. 6, and league teams have to submit their protected lists on Monday.
Gophers women's basketball improves to 7-0, dominate Montana in second game without Braun
Tori McKinney had another strong performance with 13 points as the Gophers ask for more from the freshman following the foot injury to leading scorer Mara Braun.
Gophers women's basketball plays host to Montana
The Grizzlies have already beaten a Big Ten team this season.
Injured leading scorer watches Gophers women's basketball team win without her
Mara Braun was wearing a walking boot on her right foot before the game against Eastern Illinois. That's the same foot that wrecked last season.
Gophers' depth, defense and turnover ratio have helped fuel their 5-0 start
The Gophers women's basketball team enters Wednesday's game against Eastern Illinois with facets of its game coming together well. It's an experienced team and it shows.
