Gophers women's basketball coach Lindsay Whalen got her first 2024 commitment from 6-5 center Alyssa Wirth on Thursday. Wirth plays for Altoona (Wis.) High School.
In her sophomore season in 2021-22, she averaged 12.5 points, 7.2 rebounds and 1.5 assists while shooting 57% from the field. She led her team, the Railroaders, in points, shooting percentage and blocks while being named all-conference.
Wright on U.S. team
Guard McKinley Wright IV, who played five games with the Timberwolves last season and was on their G-League Iowa team, was named to USA Basketball's 12-man team for the second round of World Cup qualifying.
The Americans will play Uruguay on Aug. 25 and Colombia on Aug. 29, both in Las Vegas.
Wright, the former Champlin Park prep star, played for the Phoenix Suns in the recent NBA Summer League.
Etc.
- Taylor Ledwein of the New Prague Golf Club lost 2 and 1 to Julia Gregg of Farmers Branch, Texas, in the round of 32 in the U.S. Women's Amateur at Chambers Bay in University Place, Wash.
- The Gophers soccer team, which won 2-0 over St. Thomas on Monday, will play Iowa State in its second and final exhibition match at 6 p.m. Friday at Elizabeth Lyle Robbie Stadium.
- Five-time defending NSIC women's soccer tournament champion Minnesota State Mankato was picked to win the conference in the preseason coaches' poll. The Mavericks received eight first-place votes and tallied 217 points. Reigning NSIC regular-season champion Bemidji State was next with five first-place votes and 210 points.
