Gophers’ Mara Braun named to Cheryl Miller Award watch list

Mara Braun, who led the Gophers in scoring last season as a freshman, is one of 20 players named to the 2024 Cheryl Miller Small Forward of the Year Award watch list on Wednesday. The award has recognized the nation’s top small forward since its inception in 2016.

The list will be narrowed to 10 players in late January, and to five in late February. Fans can vote in each of three rounds beginning Friday.

Braun, a sophomore combo guard from Wayzata, was named to the preseason all-Big Ten this month by conference coaches after averaging 15.6 points, 2.6 assists and 3.3 rebounds in 29 games last season. She helped the U.S. win two international 3×3 tournaments in July and September.

“This is an incredible honor for Mara and for our entire Minnesota women’s basketball program,” head coach Dawn Plitzuweit said.

The Gophers are scheduled to begin their season Nov. 8 against Long Island at Williams Arena.

COMPLETE WATCH LIST: Aneesah Morrow, Jr., LSU; Rickea Jackson, Gr., Tennessee; Alyssa Ustby, Sr., North Carolina; Cotie McMahon, So., Ohio State; Caroline Ducharme, Jr., UConn; Aijha Blackwell, Gr., Baylor; Azzi Fudd, Jr., UConn; Lior Garzon, Sr., Oklahoma State; Jordyn Merritt, Sr., Texas Tech; Jakia Brown-Turner, Gr., Maryland; Madison Scott, Sr., Ole Miss; Grace VanSlooten, So., Oregon; Skylar Vann, Sr., Oklahoma; Yarden Garzon, So., Indiana; Jordan King, Sr., Marquette; Aicha Coulibaly, Sr., Texas A&M; Kiki Jefferson, Gr., Louisville; McKenzie Forbes, Gr., USC; Kennedy Todd-Williams, Sr., Ole Miss; Mara Braun, So., Minnesota.

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