Gophers Finally Crack AP Top 25 Amid Eight-Game Tear

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The Minnesota Golden Gophers women's basketball team has finally cracked the AP Top 25 poll, coming in at No. 23. This marks the first time this season the Gophers have been ranked nationally. They have won eight straight games and are now 20-6 overall and 11-4 in Big Ten play, putting them in fifth place in the conference standings.

Why it matters

The Gophers' ranking is a significant milestone, as they have been on the cusp of the Top 25 for much of the season. Their strong play has earned them national respect, and they now have a chance to improve their NCAA Tournament seeding with key upcoming games against ranked Big Ten foes Ohio State and Michigan State.

The details

Minnesota was technically the 26th-ranked team in the country last week, sitting just outside the Top 25. This week, they jumped into the rankings at No. 23, the seventh Big Ten team to be ranked. The Gophers were previously ranked 23rd at points in the 2019-20 and 2020-21 seasons. With their new ranking, they will face a huge week, hosting No. 10 Ohio State and No. 18 Michigan State at home.

• Minnesota was ranked 23rd at one point last season, and 23rd in the 2019-20 season.
• The Gophers have three Quad 1 games remaining on their regular-season schedule.

What they’re saying

What’s next

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