If you’ve walked past Williams Arena lately, you can feel it. The Barn is different this year. There’s this specific kind of hum in the air that only happens when a team is actually, finally, for real, good.
Honestly, looking at the minnesota women's basketball schedule, you realize the "rebuilding" label has officially expired. Coach Dawn Plitzuweit isn’t just stacking wins; she’s building a resume that the selection committee won’t be able to ignore come March.
But here is the thing.
Most people just look at the dates and the opponents. They see "UCLA" or "Iowa" and think, "Oh, that’ll be a tough one." They don't see the strategic gauntlet the Big Ten has become now that the West Coast schools have crashed the party.
The Remaining 2025-26 Big Ten Gauntlet
We are officially in the deep end of the pool. The non-conference cupcakes are long gone, and the Gophers are staring down a schedule that looks more like a weekly survival test.
Right now, the focus is on a massive road trip. On Sunday, January 18, the Gophers are out in Seattle taking on Washington. If you're looking for it on the dial, it's a 5:00 PM tip-off. Then, they stay out West to play Oregon on Wednesday, January 21.
That’s a lot of flight miles.
But the real date everyone has circled—the one you basically have to be at—is Sunday, January 25. The Wisconsin Badgers come to Minneapolis. It’s a 2:00 PM start at the Barn. There is nothing quite like a border battle to remind you why college sports matter.
After that, the road calls again. They head to Penn State on January 28, then return home for a February 1st clash against Purdue.
Why the February Stretch Is Everything
February is where seasons go to die or get immortalized. For Minnesota, it’s a month of heavyweights.
Check this out:
- February 5: At Iowa. Yes, Carver-Hawkeye Arena is still a house of horrors even in the post-Caitlin Clark era.
- February 12: Home against Nebraska. This is a 7:00 PM tip and will likely have massive seeding implications.
- February 18: Ohio State comes to town.
- February 22: Michigan State at the Barn.
It’s brutal.
But that's the Big Ten. You don't get nights off. You barely get a breath.
The Dawn Plitzuweit Effect
You sort of have to respect what Dawn has done here. Last year, they went 25-11 and snatched the WBIT Championship. That wasn't a fluke. It was a proof of concept.
She's got this team playing a brand of defense that is, quite frankly, exhausting to watch. They held Wyoming to 34 points back in December. Thirty-four! In a college basketball game!
The Gophers are currently sitting at 9-3 overall (as of mid-January), and while that double-overtime loss to Maryland (99-100) stung like a physical wound, it proved they can run with the elite.
Key Players Driving the Bus
If you haven't been paying attention to the roster, you're missing out on some of the best backcourt play in the country.
Amaya Battle is the engine. She’s the one who calms everything down when the opposing press starts getting jumpy. Then you’ve got Grace Grocholski, who is essentially a flamethrower from beyond the arc. When she gets hot, the Barn starts shaking.
Then there's the health factor. Having Mara Braun back and leading is the difference between a "good" team and an "NCAA Tournament" team.
How to Actually Watch the Games
Let’s be real: finding where to watch these games can be a nightmare. The "minnesota women's basketball schedule" is scattered across a dozen different apps.
Most of the home games are on Big Ten Plus (B1G+), which is fine if you have the subscription, but the big-ticket matchups often get bumped to the Big Ten Network or even FOX/FS1.
If you're a radio person, 96.7 KFAN+ is your best friend. Justin Gaard and the crew do an incredible job of making you feel the floor squeaks through the speakers.
Ticket Reality Check
If you're planning on going to the Wisconsin game or the Michigan State game in late February, buy them now.
📖 Related: Troy vs Louisiana Lafayette: Why This Sun Belt Rivalry Still Matters
Seriously.
Lower level tickets for the Wisconsin game are already trending toward $19-$25, and they are selling out fast. The "Not Many Left" tag is starting to appear on the official ticket site for the Purdue and Nebraska games too.
What’s at Stake This Season?
The Gophers haven't danced in the NCAA Tournament since the 2017-18 season. That’s a long time for a program with this much history.
The goal for 2026 isn't just to be "competitive." It's to be a lock.
Winning the WBIT last year gave them the "knowing how to win" gene. Now, they have to prove they can do it against a Big Ten that now includes USC and UCLA. Speaking of which, the Gophers already knocked off #21 USC earlier this month. That was the statement.
The rest of the minnesota women's basketball schedule is just about confirming that statement over and over again.
Actionable Steps for Gopher Fans
If you want to support this team and make sure you don't miss the climax of this season, here is what you need to do:
- Sync your calendar: Go to the official Gopher Sports website and use the "Add to Calendar" feature. The tip-off times change constantly based on TV windows, so don't rely on a printed schedule from November.
- Download the Varsity Network App: This is the easiest way to catch the radio broadcast if you're stuck in traffic or at work during those weird mid-week 5:00 PM starts.
- Target the "Value" Games: If the $25 tickets are too much, look at the Alabama A&M or Samford-style matchups earlier in the year (though those have passed). For the remaining slate, the Rutgers or Penn State road games are often cheaper if you're a displaced fan living out East.
- Watch the NET Rankings: Start checking the NCAA NET rankings every Monday. For Minnesota to make the tournament, they need to keep their NET in the top 45-50 range. Every game on the current schedule is a "Quad 1" or "Quad 2" opportunity.
The era of hoping the Gophers don't get blown out is over. Now, we're just waiting to see how far this group can actually go. Pack the Barn. It makes a difference.
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