March Madness: Minnesotans in the NCAA Tournament

The 2026 Women's NCAA Tournament kicked off last night, with two of the four play-in matchups taking place. The first round of the Tournament will officially kick off tomorrow, Friday, March 20th. There are 34 Minnesotans participating this year, with 20 of the 68 teams having at least one player on their roster. Among those teams competing are three-time national champs South Carolina, perennial tournament participant South Dakota State, and Minnesota, who are dancing for the first time since the 2017-18 season.    Understandably, the Gophers have more Minnesotans on their squad than any other team in Division 1, with eight members of their roster hailing from the Land of 10,000 Lakes. Now in her third season at Minnesota, head coach Dawn Plitzuweit leads a balanced Gophers' grou- that picked up multiple wins against top-10 ranked opponents this season. For the first time in 21 seasons, they will host the first two rounds of the NCAA Tournament at Williams Arena. Minnesota will take on Green Bay on Friday, and then face off against Gonzaga or Ole Miss on Sunday, should they get the win over the Phoenix.    In preparation for the big event, here is a look at 10 Minnesotans who have a chance to make a major impact for their teams in this year's NCAA Tournament, plus the full list of Minnesota grads participating in the action.    TOP FIVE   Tessa Johnson – South Carolina (St. Michael-Albertville 2023)   Now in her junior season, Johnson has been a core component of South Carolina's rotation all year. The St. Michael-Albertville grad averages just shy of 13 points per game, a significant jump from last season's average of 8.4. As a true three-point specialist, Tessa shoots an impressive 44.1% from beyond the arc. The 6'0 guard first stepped into the March Madness spotlight two seasons ago, when her 19-point performance propelled the Gamecocks past Iowa in the National Championship game. Only time will tell if the 4th-ranked team in the nation will end up back on top in 2026.   Mara Braun – Minnesota (Wayzata, 2022)   Braun is back in action with the Gophers this season after missing most of 2024-25 with a foot injury. Minnesota boasts a remarkably balanced offense, with the redshirt junior guard being one of five players averaging in double figures, contributing 11.5 points per game. Mara leads the team in free throw percentage, shooting 92% from the charity stripe. Earlier this month the Wayzata grad was named as an All-Big Ten honorable mention for the second time in her collegiate career. Braun was also named as a member of the Big Ten All-Freshman Team in the 2022-23 season.   Amaya Battle – Minnesota (Hopkins 2022)   At the helm for coach Dawn Plitzuweit's squad is Battle, a four-year starter for the Gophers. The 5'11 point guard averages 10.9 points per game, as well as a team-high 7.4 boards and 3.6 assists. Though this will be Amaya's first dancing in March Madness since putting on a Gophers uniform, the Hopkins grad is no stranger to big games, having won Class 4A State Championships with the Royals in both 2022 and 2019. Battle and the Gophers are set to take on the Horizon League champs, Green Bay, at Williams Arena on Friday. This is Minnesota's first time hosting an NCAA Tournament since 2005.   Gianna Kneepkens – UCLA (Duluth Marshall 2021)   After spending four seasons at Utah, Kneepkens has been a key piece of UCLA's rotation this year. The 6'0 guard is a major outside scoring threat, averaging 13.4 points per game and shooting 44.2% from long range this season. The Duluth Marshall grad is one of four players averaging in double figures for UCLA. The Bruins have had a historic run this season, winning the Big Ten Tournament and entering the NCAA Tournament as the number one overall seed for the first time in program history. They will face off against California Baptist University in the first round.    Olivia Olson – Michigan (Benilde-St. Margaret's, 2024)   Olson has made plenty of headlines since she entered the college game, earning Co-Big Ten Freshman of the Year last season, and First Team All-Big Ten, ESPN All-America Second Team AP All-American Third Team, and a top 5 finalist for the Cheryl Miller Award as a sophomore. The 6'1 guard leads the Wolverines in both points and rebounds, averaging 19.2 and 6.2 a game. A three-level scorer and high-IQ defender, Olivia is a true two-way threat for Michigan, the 9th-ranked team in the nation. Olson and the Wolverines will host first-round opponent Holy Cross at home on Friday, March 20th.   FIVE MORE DIFFERENCE MAKERS   Tori McKinney – Minnesota (Minnetonka 2024)   The Minnetonka grad leads the Gophers in scoring this season, averaging 13.1 points per contest. McKinney, who is well known as a high-level perimeter defender, also leads the team in steals, at 2 per game. After playing a key role in Minnesota's WBIT Championship run last season, there's no doubt that Tori will be just as crucial this March.   Addi Mack – Maryland (Minnehaha Academy 2025)   The Minnehaha Academy grad has had a remarkable freshman season, earning her Big Ten Freshman of the Week back in November, as well as a spot on the Big Ten's All-Freshman Team for 2025-26. Mack averages 10.7 points per game and is the starting point guard for the Terrapins. The 23-8 Maryland squad will take on Missouri Valley Conference champs, Murray State, in the first round of the Tournament.    Aaliyah Crump – Texas (Montverde Academy 2025, formerly Minnetonka)   The 5th-ranked prospect in the nation (according to ESPN) heading into her freshman season, Crump has been a key rotational piece for the Longhorns. The former Minnetonka standout averages 9.2 points per game, with a career-high 18 points back in November. Aaliyah returned to the court in mid January after missing 15 games due to a foot injury sustained earlier in the season.   Madison Mathiowetz – South Dakota State (Sleepy Eye St. Mary's 2022)   Mathiowetz holds down the point guard position for the Jackrabbits, who are making their 4th consecutive NCAA Tournament appearance. Now in her senior season, the Sleepy Eye St. Mary's grad averages 13.6 points per contest, second behind Brooklyn Meyer's 22.4 points per game. Earlier this month, Madison was named a member of  the All-Summit League First Team.    Hadley Thul – South Dakota State (Alexandria 2025)   Thul has had a standout freshman season, averaging just over 6 points and 3 rebounds per game for South Dakota State. The 6'2 guard set a new career high back in February, scoring 14 points against Oral Roberts University. Hadley was recently named to the Summit League All-Freshman Team, one of two Minnesotans to earn the award.    FULL LIST OF MINNESOTANS IN THE NCAA TOURNAMENT (by team)   Clemson   Morgan Miller – Andover, 2024   Colorado   Kennedy Sanders – Chaska, 2023   Colorado State   Olivia Pawlicki – Shakopee, 2024   Bree Bowman – Prior Lake, 2025   Green Bay   Jenna Guyer – Centennial, 2021   Ellie Buzzelle – Rogers, 2022   Sophie Lahti – Pine City, 2023   Maren Westin – Becker, 2023   High Point   Kelsey Miller – Chanhassen, 2025   Maryland    Addi Mack – Minnehaha Academy, 2025   Miami (OH)   Amber Scalia – Stillwater, 2022   Michigan   Olivia Olson – Benilde-St. Margaret's, 2024   Michigan State   Jordan Ode – Maple Grove, 2025   Minnesota   Sophie Hart – Farmington, 2021   Amaya Battle – Hopkins, 2022   Mara Braun – Wayzata, 2022   Niamya Holloway – Eden Prairie, 2022   Brynn Senden – Wayzata, 2023   Kennedy Klick – Eden Prairie, 2023   Taylor Woodson – Hopkins, 2023   Tori McKinney – Minnetonka, 2024   Nebraska   Callin Hake – Chanhassen, 2022   North Carolina   Jordan Zubich – Mountain Iron-Buhl, 2024   Richmond   Aneisha Scott – DeLaSalle, 2025   South Carolina   Tessa Johnson – St. Michael-Albertville, 2023   South Dakota State   Madison Mathiowetz – Sleepy Eye St. Mary's, 2022   Ellie Colbeck – Fergus Falls, 2022   Hadley Thul – Alexandria, 2025   Abby Hoselton – St. Michael-Albertville, 2025   TCU   Natalie Mazurek – Eden Prairie, 2020   Texas   Aaliyah Crump – Montverde Academy (formerly Minnetonka), 2025   Vanderbilt   Trinity Wilson – Lakeville North, 2024   West Virginia   Kierra Wheeler – Cooper, 2021   UCLA   Gianna Kneepkens – Duluth Marshall, 2021

The 2026 Women's NCAA Tournament kicked off last night, with two of the four play-in matchups taking place. The first round of the Tournament will officially kick off tomorrow, Friday, March 20th. There are 34 Minnesotans participating this year, with 20 of the 68 teams having at least one player on their roster. Among those teams competing are three-time national champs South Carolina, perennial tournament participant South Dakota State, and Minnesota, who are dancing for the first time since the 2017-18 season.