Northern Sun Preview: Home-grown talent dominates

Like most NCAA Division 2 leagues around the country, the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference in the Upper Midwest is built on a strong foundation of regional talent with a mere smattering of players imported from across the country. As the collegiate season begins, a survey of NSIC rosters shows that there are 55 players from the Dakotas and 117 from Minnesota among the league's 16 programs. That's an extraordinary concentration of regional talent in one of the nation's most competitive circuits. While some of the league's biggest names have moved on, there's no shortage of established stars and promising young players worth paying attention to.

A lot has changed since last March when Minnesota State-Mankato finished on top of the league with a conference record of 29-1. North Division Player of the Year Bergan Kinnebrew from the University of Mary has transferred to D1 Nevada-Las Vegas. South Division POY Natalie Bremer of Mankato has concluded her Hall of Fame-level career. Her teammate Hannah Herzig, the conference's Defensive Player of the Year, has also graduated.

Their departures create opportunities for a new generation of stars, including several players who developed their games in the Dakotas.

A talented young nucleus in Sioux Falls

Perhaps no program in the conference has a more intriguing collection of young talent than the University of Sioux Falls. Coach Travis Traphagen's Cougars were picked third in the NSIC preseason coaches' poll, behind Minnesota State and Concordia-St. Paul, and feature three players who have already earned significant conference recognition.

Krista Langager, the 6'2 sophomore from Sisseton, was named the NSIC Freshman of the Year last season. Langager made an immediate impact, starting all 22 conference games and averaging 18.1 points and 7.3 rebounds while shooting a remarkable 64% from the field. She scored at least 20 points in 11 conference games, including a season-high 30 against Southwest Minnesota State, and recorded five double-doubles. I was at practice at USF last week and she looked terrific. Langager was a two-time First Team All-State selection at Sisseton and a finalist for South Dakota's Miss Basketball award. Her transition to the college game has been virtually seamless.

She's joined by Anna Vaaler, who hails from Andover, MN, and is another of the conference's outstanding young players. Vaaler earned First Team All-NSIC honors last season, establishing herself among the league's elite performers early in her college career. Then there's Alexis Rose, who preceded Langager as the conference's Freshman of the Year. The Becker, MN product averaged 10.4 points and shot better than 41% from three-point range during her freshman season, providing the Cougars with another dangerous offensive weapon. Veteran point guard Ayla Ricker (formerly Brown) knows how to run the show.

With three proven players leading the way, it wouldn't be surprising if Sioux Falls improved greatly on its 10-11 conference record from one year ago when injuries derailed higher hopes.

North Dakota's established stars

Despite Kinnebrew's departure, there remains a strong talent pool in the NSIC hailing from the state of North Dakota including some established stars.

At the top of the list is Allison Undlin, the senior center at the University of Mary who was selected as the NSIC North Division Preseason Player of the Year. A native of Mohall, Undlin has overcome multiple knee surgeries to become one of the conference's most effective interior players. She earned First Team All-NSIC honors last season after averaging 15.4 points, 8.2 rebounds and 2.1 blocked shots per game. She shot better than 60% from the field in 2025-26. She gives the Marauders a proven centerpiece as they enter the season ranked fourth in the preseason poll.

Another player to watch is Ashton Safranski, a junior guard at Minnesota State Moorhead who played her AAU basketball in Minnesota. Pictured in the banner photo above, the standout from Fargo Davies High School earned Second Team All-NSIC recognition last season after averaging 10.6 points, 5 assists and nearly 6 rebounds per game. She also recorded the first triple-double in program history, demonstrating the versatility that makes her one of the NSIC's most complete guards.

The Dragons also feature Terryn Johnson, a senior center from Kindred, ND who brings additional experience and a strong interior presence. The Dragons were picked seventh in the preseason poll, but with established players like Safranski and Johnson, Moorhead has the personnel to make things interesting.

Who'll finish on top?

Minnesota State entered play as the preseason favorite, receiving six first-place votes in the coaches' poll, but the Mavericks are off to a 1-2 start with losses to top-ranked Grand Valley State and Northern Michigan. The Mavs have graduated most of their stellar 2022 recruiting class and may take some time to figure things out.

Concordia-St. Paul was picked second, followed by Sioux Falls, Mary and Minnesota Duluth. The Bulldogs have a new coach this year after Mandy Pearson was hired for the University of St. Thomas job. Legendary former player Brooke Olson took over at UMD. Sioux Falls received five first-place votes, just one fewer than Minnesota State, suggesting the coaches see the Cougars as a legitimate contender. Mary also received a first-place vote, while Southwest Minnesota State and MSU Moorhead round out the top seven.

Dakotas Newcomers of Note

Sadie Mehrman – 5'9 guard from Sioux Falls O'Gorman is at USF

Alyvia Padgett – 5'7 guard from Brandon Valley, SD is at MSU-Mankato

Scotti Beck – 6'0 guard from South Prairie in Minot is at Minot State

Mataya Messer – 5'11 guard from Bismarck St. Mary's is at Southwest Minnesota State

Fallon Passanante – 5'9 guard from Fargo Davies is at Minnesota-Duluth