In a surprising development that has drawn national attention, University of Minnesota women’s basketball head coach Dawn Plitzuweit has been suspended indefinitely following a heated post-game confrontation with an official that reportedly turned physical.
The incident occurred on Saturday night following the Gophers’ narrow and emotional overtime loss to the Michigan State Spartans at Williams Arena. Tensions were high after a series of controversial calls in the closing minutes — including a disputed foul that gave Michigan State the go-ahead free throws — sparked frustration among Minnesota players and coaches.
According to multiple eyewitness accounts, Plitzuweit confronted the lead official near the scorer’s table immediately after the final buzzer. While the initial exchange appeared verbal, several sources allege that it escalated when Plitzuweit made “aggressive physical contact,” described by one source as a “forceful shoulder bump” during a face-to-face argument.
Security staff and assistant coaches quickly intervened, and the confrontation did not result in injury, but the Big Ten Conference has taken the matter seriously.
In a statement released Sunday afternoon, the University of Minnesota confirmed the suspension:
“Head Coach Dawn Plitzuweit has been placed on administrative leave effective immediately, pending the outcome of an internal and conference-led investigation into conduct following Saturday night’s game. The University of Minnesota holds its athletic staff to the highest standards of professionalism and sportsmanship. We are cooperating fully with the Big Ten.”
Plitzuweit, who took over the program in 2023 following Lindsay Whalen’s departure, has helped revitalize Minnesota women’s basketball. In just her second season, she guided the Gophers to a 19–8 record and had them positioned for a possible NCAA Tournament bid — making this disruption particularly devastating for the team’s momentum.
Neither Plitzuweit nor her representatives have released an official statement, but her legal counsel has reportedly requested video footage from the incident to challenge what they claim are “overblown” allegations.
Meanwhile, Associate Head Coach Carly Thibault-DuDonis has been named interim head coach, effective immediately.
Players have remained largely silent publicly, but several expressed support for Plitzuweit on social media, calling her “passionate,” “protective,” and “committed to the team.”
The Big Ten Conference issued its own brief statement Sunday evening, confirming that a review is underway:
“The Big Ten takes all incidents involving game officials and coaching conduct seriously. We are in the process of reviewing all materials related to the post-game exchange at the University of Minnesota and will determine next steps in accordance with conference policy.”
While disciplinary action in such situations is rare, the possibility of a multi-game suspension — or even more serious penalties depending on the final findings — looms large.
This development casts a shadow over what had been a season of renewed hope for Minnesota women’s basketball. As the regular season winds down and the postseason approaches, the Gophers must now regroup without their head coach and try to maintain focus under intense media scrutiny.
One longtime Gopher season-ticket holder summed up the community’s mood: “Coach P brought fire back to this team. I hope this gets resolved quickly, but I also hope everyone remembers that passion can be messy — it doesn’t mean it’s malicious.”
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