Transfer Announcement in Women’s Basketball
The women’s basketball season for 2025-26 hasn’t kicked off yet, but there’s already some news making waves. One prominent player has decided to transfer.
Mallory Heyer, who played every game as a starter at the University of Minnesota, announced on Wednesday that she will enter the transfer portal. This comes just 13 days before the Gophers are set to open their season against North Dakota.
In her social media statement, Heyer expressed gratitude: “Thank you to the state of Minnesota for the past three years. I will forever be grateful for the opportunity to represent my home state and wear Minnesota on my heart. Thank you to everyone who has supported me along the way.” She mentioned needing to leave Minnesota for personal reasons and plans on finding a new home as a graduate transfer.
Heyer intends to graduate from Minnesota State in December and hopes to enroll in a new graduate program by January. Although she won’t play this season, she will be eligible to join her new team in the 2026-27 season.
Standing at 6-foot-1, Heyer has put up impressive numbers during her time with the Gophers, averaging nearly a double-double with 9.5 points and 8.1 rebounds per game over three seasons. Last year, she led her team in rebounding with a total of 290 boards and had the most double-doubles on the team, recording seven.
She had originally joined Minnesota under coach Lindsay Whalen and remained with the team after Whalen’s resignation, as Dawn Pritzweit stepped in as head coach. Pritzweit’s leadership has brought some success, with the Gophers achieving back-to-back seasons of over 20 wins, and Heyer contributing as a starter in the frontcourt.
Last season, the Gophers concluded with a record of 25-11, marking their most victories in a single season since 2006, and they claimed the WBIT championship. In the final game against Belmont, Heyer notched a double-double with 18 points and a team-high 16 rebounds, which was among her top performances during her career.
Pritzweit recently secured a contract extension through 2031. The Gophers have also welcomed new players, including Briley Glenn from Kansas State and Tracy Bershears from UAB, as well as Top 100 recruit Makenna Christian this season.
With her proven ability on the boards—ranking in the top 10 in the Big Ten for rebounds over the last three years—Heyer will likely attract interest from multiple teams. Throughout her career, she averaged 1.4 three-pointers and 1.1 assists per game.
