For years, Chris Finch has said the same thing every time he’s asked about Minnesota basketball fans. Typically, he starts his response with one of his go-to windups, “you know, listen.” Then, he follows that up with a version of “I’ve always said Minneapolis is a basketball town, you just have to give them something to cheer for.”
The quote likely takes some people by surprise. Minnesota is the State of Hockey, and the Vikings dominate people’s attention.
However, whenever the basketball team gets good in Minnesota, the fans come out in droves. In the early 2000s, they showed up in force for the Kevin Garnett’s Wolves and Lindsay Whalen’s Gophers. In the late 2000s and 2010s, they packed the Target Center again for the Minnesota Lynx dynasty when they hung four banners in the rafters.
Over the past few seasons, the Wolves and Lynx have put on a year-round display of basketball dominance. The Lynx reached the 2024 Finals, held the WNBA’s best regular-season record in 2025, and the Wolves went back-to-back to the Western Conference Finals.
However, the Minnesota fanbase has found another team to cheer for this spring. The University of Minnesota women’s basketball team secured home court advantage in the first two rounds of the NCAA tournament after going 23-8 and finishing the season ranked 18th in the country. The Gophers last hosted tournament games in 2004-05, when Lindsay Whalen was their star guard.
The honors naturally brought out some of the expected attendees; PJ Fleck, head coach of the Gophers football program, was behind the bench with Men’s basketball coach Niko Medvid. Governor Tim Walz sat amongst the fans. Rachel Banham sat up in a suite. The current WNBA guard and Gophers all-time leader in points was joined by former Gophers head coach and Lynx assistant Whalen, who is also a member of the Pro Basketball Hall of Fame.
More surprising, though, were the two most recognizable players on the current Lynx team, who also attended the game. 2024 Defensive Player of the Year and two-time MVP runner-up Napheesa Collier sat near Banham. Collier was a national champion at UConn but opted to watch the Gophers in Minneapolis over the Huskies in Connecticut, who also hosted their first-round matchup.
Former Notre Dame graduate and Lynx guard Kayla McBride also attended the game and was seen signing autographs and taking pictures in the concourse until tipoff. McBride, who met with the Gophers last summer and is friends with the Gophers coaching staff, chose to come out to support them.
Wayzata native and die-hard Lynx fan Mara Braun told me what that support meant after the game.
“It’s so cool, we love watching them, we look up to them,” she said. “When we found out they were going to be here, I was just so excited. I’m hoping I can meet Napheesa… the support means so much to us.”
Mara Braun on winning their first round game with Kayla McBride and Napheesa Collier in attendance
“It’s so cool, we love watching them, we look up to them, when we found out they were going to be here I was just so excited, I’m hoping I can meet Napheesa… the support means so… pic.twitter.com/y8BDNHyS4U
— Andrew Dukowitz (@adukeMN) March 21, 2026
Minnetonka graduate and Gophers starter Tori McKinney echoed the same sentiment.
“It was insane, like you just said, we’re usually the ones going to their games, and like no WNBA players at our games,” she said. “It’s honestly amazing, like having everyone come back and just see the support, like the genuine support that they want for us to win.”
Tori McKinney on Kayla McBride, Napheesa Collier, Lindsay Whalen and Rachel Banham all being in attendance last night
“It was insane, like you just said we’re usually the ones going to their games and like no WNBA players at our games… it’s honestly amazing like having… pic.twitter.com/DjcWYd72ZS
— Andrew Dukowitz (@adukeMN) March 21, 2026
Senior guard and Farmington native Sophie Hart’s parents sit just behind the opponents’ bench as Lynx season ticket members. She spoke about the value of the Lynx players in attendance after figuring out which Phee I was referring to.
“You’re saying Phee, I’m thinking you’re talking about Fi over here (senior Finau Tonga),” Hart said, smiling. “I was like, ‘Oh, the other Phee (Napheesa Collier).’ I mean, getting to watch them play, obviously now, but growing up too… It showed a lot of us Minnesota girls what’s possible.”
Sophie Hart on Napheesa Collier being in attendance of Friday nights game.
It may be the first time I’ve heard Phee being referred to as “the other Phee”
“You're saying Phee, I’m thinking you're talking about Fi over here(senior Finau Tonga)” Hart said smiling “I was like “oh… pic.twitter.com/s3HbFSkQjX
— Andrew Dukowitz (@adukeMN) March 21, 2026
Williams Arena and Minnesota fans ultimately proved Finch right. Minnesota is a basketball town. Just under 10,400 people packed the Barn to watch the Gophers win their first tournament game since 2017-18. A moment that caused Braun to be overcome with emotions as the fans exploded after the final horn
“It honestly just came at once at the end of that game,” she said.
“I was just looking around while everyone was chanting Minnesota and doing the rouser and it and it all came to me like ‘Wow, this is really what we wanted this place to be like and we’ve dreamt of this,’ and we keep saying “people come out come out watch us it’s worth it,’ and finally we were able to put on a show for them.”
Mara Braun on getting emotional at the end of the win over Green Bay
“It honestly just came at once at the end of that game, I was just looking around while everyone was chanting Minnesota and doing the rouser and it and it all came to me like “wow this is really what we wanted… pic.twitter.com/Oo0X4ZpkcY
— Andrew Dukowitz (@adukeMN) March 21, 2026
The Gophers will try to put on another show Sunday afternoon as they host Ole Miss in the Round of 32. They’ve already sold 9,000 tickets at the time of writing, 24 hours before tipoff.
Head coach Dawn Plitzuit told me on Saturday morning that she got a text from Lindsay Whalen this morning that the Lynx will be back in attendance. For Minnesota basketball fans, already spoiled with two great professional teams, it’s clear there is no such thing as too much basketball in a basketball town.