ST. PETER, Minn. (March 14, 2025) — With the Gustavus Adolphus College women’s basketball team headed back to the NCAA Division III Sweet 16, the spotlight on women’s sports excellence in Minnesota is once again on full display.
When the Gusties take on McMurry (Texas) on Friday at 4 p.m. CT in Brunswick, Maine, they’ll be doing so as the latest in a stretch of impressive women’s sports achievements and spotlights in our state.
Gustavus, seeking its first trip to the Elite Eight in school history, features 15 Minnesota natives. This week, the state’s top girls high school basketball teams will compete at the state tournament. Last month, Meet Minneapolis declared its 10-year strategic goal to make our state’s largest city the No. 1 destination for women’s sports.
“Our Gusties are having a terrific season and are looking to make school history in Maine, and we couldn’t be more proud of how they are representing our college and our region,” said Rachelle Sherden, Assistant Athletic Director/Senior Woman Administrator of Gustavus. “This is an incredible moment for Gustavus — an opportunity for us to show the nation how Gusties shine.”
March and April have showcased special women’s basketball moments across our region over the past several years. In 2022, Target Center hosted the NCAA Division I women’s basketball Final Four. The past two years, it hosted the Big Ten tournament.
“Minnesota consistently delivers as a leading supporter of women’s athletics, and that passion is exemplified in how our community shows up in the stands for our student athletes of all ages,” said Wendy Blackshaw, President & CEO of Minnesota Sports and Events. “Watching Gustavus thrive this year, you see the commitment and support these student athletes have felt throughout their careers, and we couldn’t be happier to continue to cheer them on and see another Minnesota women’s sports team in the national spotlight.”
Now, Gustavus’ women’s basketball team has captivated the campus and is taking the fanbase on an unforgettable journey — led by Minnesota native and Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (MIAC) Coach of the Year Laurie Kelly.
“This is a special team, and we can’t wait to represent our school and our state on the national stage,” Kelly said. “We don’t take for granted moments like these and what they mean for our community. We are headed to Maine focused and ready to continue making school history.”
Gustavus looks to build on and add to its women’s basketball success. This is the second Sweet 16 appearance for the Gusties and their first since 2017-18. This season was their third consecutive MIAC playoff championship, making them just the third team in conference history to win three straight. It is the Gusties’ 11th NCAA tournament appearance in school history and, at 28-1, the team currently boasts its best record in program history.
Those looking to watch the Gusties take on McMurry on Friday are invited to stream the game at https://www.miacsportsnetwork.com/gustavus/. With a win, Gustavus would face the winner of Bowdoin (Maine) and Smith College (Massachusetts) on Saturday at 6:30 p.m. CT.
Contact:
Leah Wong
(612) 269-7986
lwong@gustavus.edu
AboutGustavus Adolphus College
Gustavus Adolphus College is a private liberal arts college in Saint Peter, Minnesota, that prepares its undergraduates for lives of leadership, service, and lifelong learning. Fully accredited and known for its strong science, writing, music, athletics, study-away, and service-learning programs, Gustavus hosts a chapter of Phi Beta Kappa and is internationally recognized for its annual Nobel Conference. For more information, visit www.gustavus.edu.
