What's Next 26-27 Roster

[Lynx]

I would go for two posts and a point guard. I like Lana’s stats and it looks like those numbers were while averaging a bit under 20 minutes per game. If we get a second post with similar stats they can each play near 20 minutes like we did with Hart and Tonga with whoever gets the starting nod playing a bit more. Add in a point guard and get ready for a fun next season! If Lana was close Rashunda Jones while at Purdue she can recruit her along, or would be thrilled with Ode.

Wild to me that McGill is seeking the amount mentioned above if true. I don’t see it, but great for her if she can get it.

I’m grateful our team is close and mostly returning. I get attached to watching our ladies, and I feel for fans whose entire teams are entering the portal. Brutal. I hope some collective bargaining type deal gets worked out, bc I want our players getting paid while having some continuity of teams to keep fan interest building in the game.

 

[TruthSeeker]

Nice

I'd take her as a backup. If she's your starter, then your PG better be all conference caliber, otherwise, it would be an unimpressive haul and a step backward.

 

[Gopher_In_NYC]

I'd take her as a backup. If she's your starter, then your PG better be all conference caliber, otherwise, it would be an unimpressive haul and a step backward.

I don’t know personally enough about the various prospects, but I do know that I’m comfy just chilling and watching Coach P cook

 

[DietCokeFan]

I don’t know personally enough about the various prospects, but I do know that I’m comfy just chilling and watching Coach P cook

Exactly. Lana was on a poor team and was one of the main players. Put her on a team with scoring and I think you're going to see a big improvement. She is tough.

 

[AllEars]

Exactly. Lana was on a poor team and was one of the main players. Put her on a team with scoring and I think you're going to see a big improvement. She is tough.

I also like 2 years of eligibility allowing Kuot to develop. Zoey getting minutes similar to Tonga.

 

[Gophermangeek]

I also like 2 years of eligibility allowing Kuot to develop. Zoey getting minutes similar to Tonga.

100%. Obviously there will be transfers but theoretically I love what they are trying to do at the center position.

You have your traditional back to the basket post in McCarthy
Your Stretch Big in Bershers
Your small ball big in Woodson
Your athletic, upside project in Kuot

All having multiple years left so they can build chemistry and have defined roles on the team. Then when our traditional big McCarthy graduates were have potential of Logan Miller taking that spot. Just a solid machine that is being made (or at least I can see the vision)

 

[AllEars]

100%. Obviously there will be transfers but theoretically I love what they are trying to do at the center position.

You have your traditional back to the basket post in McCarthy
Your Stretch Big in Bershers
Your small ball big in Woodson
Your athletic, upside project in Kuot

All having multiple years left so they can build chemistry and have defined roles on the team. Then when our traditional big McCarthy graduates were have potential of Logan Miller taking that spot. Just a solid machine that is being made (or at least I can see the vision)

Nice plan!!!

 

[MustbeMarchguy]

Who said Miss Crump would never leave Texas ? Have ya been ??

 

[Gopher_In_NYC]

Who said Miss Crump would never leave Texas ? Have ya been ??

That of course isn’t what I posted; I said she wouldn’t come to MN (your hope/wish), never said she wouldn’t leave Texas.

I’m happy to hear that coming in to a free anonymous chat board to post your big “win” is how you spend your leisure time kiddo

Post 101 in this thread is my post -

Transfer Portal 2026

One reason I mentioned Crump is man is Texas loaded ! A star at home in front of family or off to another state and new adventure. Did Coach P have time to recruit her? I could see her as next Mara ! I wonder where NIL plays into all this? Fun to still chat about this as there are only 15 other...

gopherhole.com

 

[MustbeMarchguy]

That of course isn’t what I posted; I said she wouldn’t come to MN (your hope/wish), never said she wouldn’t leave Texas.

I’m happy to hear that coming in to a free anonymous chat board to post your big “win” is how you spend your leisure time kiddo

Post 101 in this thread is my post -

Transfer Portal 2026

One reason I mentioned Crump is man is Texas loaded ! A star at home in front of family or off to another state and new adventure. Did Coach P have time to recruit her? I could see her as next Mara ! I wonder where NIL plays into all this? Fun to still chat about this as there are only 15 other...

gopherhole.com

 

[MustbeMarchguy]

No Joy

 

[Gophermangeek]

Just updating the gophers current roster on what I think it will look like at the moment

PG: Leah Harmon (UCF transfer)
SG: Mara Braun
SF: Tori McKinney
PF: Grace Grocholski
C: Tayla Thomas (Northwestern transfer)
6th: Natalie Kussow
7th: Mckenna Christian
8th: Taylor Woodson
9th: Tori Orehlien
10th: Zoey Bersher
11th: Kennedy Klick
12th: Kylee Paben
13th: Adit Kuol
14th: Brynn Senden
15th: empty


If Merkle commits I think she starts at center, Thomas to 6th woman and everyone moves down.

Overall if Merkle commits I think this team has elite 8 upside, possibly final 4, I think the last years one seeds take a step back in Texas, UCLA and UConn, I still think they well be damn good but not as dominate as this year. I do expect South Carolina and USC to be great.


The bench is the X factor but the bench will have a much higher ceiling next year, does not mean they will hit that ceiling but the bench has so much potential.

I think Christian, Klick and Paben fight for those backup wing minutes. I have Woodson down farther just because coming off of 2 ACL tears is tough.

I think Merkle is a better version of Hart (I love what Hart did this year, not a knock on her) and what we lose in Battle we do gain a lot more athleticism what is great.

If Merkle is that last player, I give the team a solid A- for the portal. Adding 3 highly productive power 4 players would be huge.

 

[mkAz]

 

[DietCokeFan]

Just updating the gophers current roster on what I think it will look like at the moment

PG: Leah Harmon (UCF transfer)
SG: Mara Braun
SF: Tori McKinney
PF: Grace Grocholski
C: Tayla Thomas (Northwestern transfer)
6th: Natalie Kussow
7th: Mckenna Christian
8th: Taylor Woodson
9th: Tori Orehlien
10th: Zoey Bersher
11th: Kennedy Klick
12th: Kylee Paben
13th: Adit Kuol
14th: Brynn Senden
15th: empty


If Merkle commits I think she starts at center, Thomas to 6th woman and everyone moves down.

Overall if Merkle commits I think this team has elite 8 upside, possibly final 4, I think the last years one seeds take a step back in Texas, UCLA and UConn, I still think they well be damn good but not as dominate as this year. I do expect South Carolina and USC to be great.


The bench is the X factor but the bench will have a much higher ceiling next year, does not mean they will hit that ceiling but the bench has so much potential.

I think Christian, Klick and Paben fight for those backup wing minutes. I have Woodson down farther just because coming off of 2 ACL tears is tough.

I think Merkle is a better version of Hart (I love what Hart did this year, not a knock on her) and what we lose in Battle we do gain a lot more athleticism what is great.

If Merkle is that last player, I give the team a solid A- for the portal. Adding 3 highly productive power 4 players would be huge.

I agree with your recap. A Merkle signing would be huge; yes, she may be slow, but her touch around the rim is going to open up our shooters.

For some reason I think Paben could be someone to watch. She needs to get stronger I think; but loves to play defense and can shoot the ball. Hopefully Klick can get rid of that heavy leg brace. I think with another offseason she could surprise us too.

 

[60's Guy]

Gophermangeek's roster:
PG: Leah Harmon (UCF transfer)
SG: Mara Braun
SF: Tori McKinney
PF: Grace Grocholski
C: Gracie Merkle 6'6" (Penn State transfer)
6th: Tayla Thomas (Northwestern transfer) 6'3"
7th: Natalie Kussow
8th: Makena Christian
9th: Taylor Woodson
10th: Tori Orehlien
11th: Zoey Bersher
12th: Kennedy Klick
13th: Kylee Paben
14th: Adit Kuol
15th: Brynn Senden
On paper, gotta be the best roster since the Final Four team? or no?

 

[DietCokeFan]

Gophermangeek's roster:
PG: Leah Harmon (UCF transfer)
SG: Mara Braun
SF: Tori McKinney
PF: Grace Grocholski
C: Gracie Merkle 6'6" (Penn State transfer)
6th: Tayla Thomas (Northwestern transfer) 6'3"
7th: Natalie Kussow
8th: Mckenna Christian
9th: Taylor Woodson
10th: Tori Orehlien
11th: Zoey Bersher
12th: Kennedy Klick
13th: Kylee Paben
14th: Adit Kuol
15th: Brynn Senden
On paper, gotta be the best roster since the Final Four team? or no?

Agree. Need to get Woodson healthy; but, we also don't need to rush her back now. Looking forward to seeing who has a good off-season.

 

[MaroonMagic]

Agree. Need to get Woodson healthy; but, we also don't need to rush her back now. Looking forward to seeing who has a good off-season.

We are in a very good place as a team because I wouldn't be surprised if any of Christian, Kussow, or Oehrlein did well in the off season and bumped Harmon out of the starting lineup, especially because we don't technically "need" a formal point guard. Not to say that it's that likely, but we do have insane talent coming up!

 

[TruthSeeker]

Gophermangeek's roster:
PG: Leah Harmon (UCF transfer)
SG: Mara Braun
SF: Tori McKinney
PF: Grace Grocholski
C: Gracie Merkle 6'6" (Penn State transfer)
6th: Tayla Thomas (Northwestern transfer) 6'3"
7th: Natalie Kussow
8th: Makena Christian
9th: Taylor Woodson
10th: Tori Orehlien
11th: Zoey Bersher
12th: Kennedy Klick
13th: Kylee Paben
14th: Adit Kuol
15th: Brynn Senden
On paper, gotta be the best roster since the Final Four team? or no?

Sweet 16 aspirations with Elite 8 upside if players develop well and things go their way.

They should compete for the top 4 of the Big Ten with Michigan and USC probably the favorites as long as Juju Watkins is recovered and didn't lose a step.

 

[60's Guy]

We are in a very good place as a team because I wouldn't be surprised if any of Christian, Kussow, or Oehrlein did well in the off season and bumped Harmon out of the starting lineup, especially because we don't technically "need" a formal point guard. Not to say that it's that likely, but we do have insane talent coming up!

We are all speculating and hoping we are going on a magical run. I have a different take...I wouldn't be surprised if Harmon is our best guard. And you are right...we have a bunch of candidates. I think Harmon is the quickest ball handler of the group and probably has the most swagger. McKinney is a different quick and twice as long. They are different.
It'd probably be best for all to at least to see them on a court together before we launch our bold predictions.
I, like you, like the outlook! Should be fun!

 

[Gopher_In_NYC]

Can’t imagine how excited some of the upcoming HS players must feel now with the S16 run and now this haul.

 

[BigTenGuy]

Sweet 16 aspirations with Elite 8 upside if players develop well and things go their way.

They should compete for the top 4 of the Big Ten with Michigan and USC probably the favorites as long as Juju Watkins is recovered and didn't lose a step.

Hoping Michigan (or another traditional BIG school) can compete with USC so we avoid another LA beatdown of the midwest BIG. Agree that Gophers will be in the group of teams that can compete for 3rd. USC then Michigan sure seems like the clear 1 then 2.

 

[Whytetale]

I don't see a loss on the schedule! ... of course, I don't see the schedule either.

 

[samloupete]

The front court with Merkle, Thomas, Woodson and Bershers should be dynamic. Gives Dawn P the ability to keep them all fully fresh during the course of the game.

 

[thatjanelpick]

Gophermangeek's roster:
PG: Leah Harmon (UCF transfer)
SG: Mara Braun
SF: Tori McKinney
PF: Grace Grocholski
C: Gracie Merkle 6'6" (Penn State transfer)
6th: Tayla Thomas (Northwestern transfer) 6'3"
7th: Natalie Kussow
8th: Makena Christian
9th: Taylor Woodson
10th: Tori Orehlien
11th: Zoey Bersher
12th: Kennedy Klick
13th: Kylee Paben
14th: Adit Kuol
15th: Brynn Senden
On paper, gotta be the best roster since the Final Four team? or no?

2004-05 is pretty hard to top (although many of them didn't stick around):

2004-05 Women's Basketball Roster - University of Minnesota Athletics

The official 2004-05 Women's Basketball Roster for the University of Minnesota Gophers

gophersports.com

 

[LakeWoebegone]

I don't know or care who will start or beat who out for what spot. I just see lots of great options for Dawn and the coaches to work with. This is the kind of team and talent you can create all sorts of winning combinations with. I just feel happy this team is in this position.

 

[Gopheroll]

Gophermangeek's roster:
PG: Leah Harmon (UCF transfer)
SG: Mara Braun
SF: Tori McKinney
PF: Grace Grocholski
C: Gracie Merkle 6'6" (Penn State transfer)
6th: Tayla Thomas (Northwestern transfer) 6'3"
7th: Natalie Kussow
8th: Makena Christian
9th: Taylor Woodson
10th: Tori Orehlien
11th: Zoey Bersher
12th: Kennedy Klick
13th: Kylee Paben
14th: Adit Kuol
15th: Brynn Senden

Looks deep on paper, which is nice. Of course, so did last year's team in September. Ended up mostly a 7 player rotation in crunch time. Question is, how healthy can they stay?

 

[AllEars]

Looks deep on paper, which is nice. Of course, so did last year's team in September. Ended up mostly a 7 player rotation in crunch time. Question is, how healthy can they stay?

Should I start worrying now... with details to follow?

 

[60's Guy]

2004-05 is pretty hard to top (although many of them didn't stick around):

2004-05 Women's Basketball Roster - University of Minnesota Athletics

The official 2004-05 Women's Basketball Roster for the University of Minnesota Gophers

gophersports.com

So, when I pondered your entry I had to look at the Final Four season. (2003-04) We barely got into the NCAA Tournament. Definitely did not remember we finished in 6th place in the conference. We did win our first game in the conference tournament but lost our second....also underwhelming.

Gracie Merkle, on paper surpasses McCarville's stats. I watched this team practice on many occasions. This incoming roster is better on paper with one big obvious exception...maybe we got a Whalen on the roster who emerges but that's a huge missing difference. Maybe we do it by committee....lots of candidates to be very good. The 2003-04 group did work hard. In addition, Schonrock shot 3 after 3 EVERY day after practice. They were focused and serious about improving.

 

[BigTenGuy]

I don't see a loss on the schedule! ... of course, I don't see the schedule either.

Speaking of schedule. Gophers should already have Kansas (at home), Kansas State (Sioux Falls) and at Marquette on the schedule. Hopefully, the Kansas/Kansas State games will be the 3rd and 4th toughest games on the non-conference schedule, with a couple of marquee games to be added. Perhaps the rising Gophers can snag a marquee television game in the non-conference season on ESPN/ESPN2 or Fox/FS1.

 

[Gophermangeek]

So, when I pondered your entry I had to look at the Final Four season. (2003-04) We barely got into the NCAA Tournament. Definitely did not remember we finished in 6th place in the conference. We did win our first game in the conference tournament but lost our second....also underwhelming. View attachment 43757View attachment 43758

Gracie Merkle, on paper surpasses McCarville's stats. I watched this team practice on many occasions. This incoming roster is better on paper with one big obvious exception...maybe we got a Whalen on the roster who emerges but that's a huge missing difference. Maybe we do it by committee....lots of candidates to be very good. The 2003-04 group did work hard. In addition, Schonrock shot 3 after 3 EVERY day after practice. They were focused and serious about improving.

Whalen missed 7 games to injury where they went 3-4 in those games. Gophers were probably a 2 seed if Whalen didn’t get hurt. Just for some context