University of Minnesota Athletics
Women's Basketball
Braker, Ariel
Ariel Braker
- Title:
- Assistant Coach
- Email:
- brake067@umn.edu
Braker, a native of Grosse Pointe Woods, Mich., joined Plitzuweit’s staff with the Gophers after spending one year at both West Virginia and South Dakota in the same role of Assistant Coach as well as serving as the recruiting coordinator in Vermillion. She officially joined Minnesota's staff on March 27, 2023.
During her second season at Minnesota, Braker assisted the Gophers to a 25-11 mark and winning the 2025 WBIT (Women’s Basketball Invitation Tournament). The Maroon & Gold recorded their first 25 win season since 2004-05 (26-8, 12-4 B1G) and back-to-back 20 win seasons since 2017-18 and 2018-19. Braker assisted in coaching Amaya Battle and Grace Grocholski to All-Big Ten Honorable Mention accolades.
In her first season in the Twin Cities, Braker and the Gophers won 20 games, finishing with an overall record of 20-16. The squad reached the WNIT Championship game and finished as the runner-up. In 2023-24, Braker helped coach a pair of All-Big Ten Honorable Mention guards in Mara Braun and Amaya Battle while also coaching Grace Grocholski to a unanimous Big Ten All-Freshman Team selection.
Braker’s coaching career also includes stints at Oakland (2019-21), Lehigh (2017-19), Western Texas (2016-17), Grosse Point North (HS) and Wayne State (Mich.). She has experience with player development of post players, recruiting, scouting, game strategy, scheduling and mentoring student-athletes. Braker was also a two-year starter and three-time captain during her four-year career at Notre Dame (2010-14) under Naismith Hall of Fame coach Muffet McGraw. She was a member of the winningest class in program history, with a 138-15 overall record, four Final Four berths and three National Championship appearances.
In 2021-22, South Dakota finished the season with a 29-6 record and won the Summit League title in the regular season and conference tournament. Following its third consecutive conference tournament title, USD earned the automatic bid for the Summit League in the 2022 NCAA Tournament, earning a No. 10 seed, and defeated No. 7-seeded Ole Miss, 75-61.
South Dakota met up with No. 2-seeded Baylor in the round of 32 and defeated the Bears, 61-47, on their home court in Waco, Texas, to advance to the first Sweet 16 in program history. The Coyotes led from start to finish to snap BU’s streak of 12 consecutive Sweet 16 appearances.
South Dakota concluded the 2021-22 campaign with a 52-49 loss to No. 3-seeded Michigan in the Sweet 16, in which the Coyotes were tied with the Wolverines until 22 seconds remained in the game.
A native of Grosse Pointe Woods, Michigan, Braker graduated from Notre Dame in 2014 with a bachelor of arts in industrial design. She earned her master’s degree in sports administration from Wayne State in 2015.
During her second season at Minnesota, Braker assisted the Gophers to a 25-11 mark and winning the 2025 WBIT (Women’s Basketball Invitation Tournament). The Maroon & Gold recorded their first 25 win season since 2004-05 (26-8, 12-4 B1G) and back-to-back 20 win seasons since 2017-18 and 2018-19. Braker assisted in coaching Amaya Battle and Grace Grocholski to All-Big Ten Honorable Mention accolades.
In her first season in the Twin Cities, Braker and the Gophers won 20 games, finishing with an overall record of 20-16. The squad reached the WNIT Championship game and finished as the runner-up. In 2023-24, Braker helped coach a pair of All-Big Ten Honorable Mention guards in Mara Braun and Amaya Battle while also coaching Grace Grocholski to a unanimous Big Ten All-Freshman Team selection.
Braker’s coaching career also includes stints at Oakland (2019-21), Lehigh (2017-19), Western Texas (2016-17), Grosse Point North (HS) and Wayne State (Mich.). She has experience with player development of post players, recruiting, scouting, game strategy, scheduling and mentoring student-athletes. Braker was also a two-year starter and three-time captain during her four-year career at Notre Dame (2010-14) under Naismith Hall of Fame coach Muffet McGraw. She was a member of the winningest class in program history, with a 138-15 overall record, four Final Four berths and three National Championship appearances.
In 2021-22, South Dakota finished the season with a 29-6 record and won the Summit League title in the regular season and conference tournament. Following its third consecutive conference tournament title, USD earned the automatic bid for the Summit League in the 2022 NCAA Tournament, earning a No. 10 seed, and defeated No. 7-seeded Ole Miss, 75-61.
South Dakota met up with No. 2-seeded Baylor in the round of 32 and defeated the Bears, 61-47, on their home court in Waco, Texas, to advance to the first Sweet 16 in program history. The Coyotes led from start to finish to snap BU’s streak of 12 consecutive Sweet 16 appearances.
South Dakota concluded the 2021-22 campaign with a 52-49 loss to No. 3-seeded Michigan in the Sweet 16, in which the Coyotes were tied with the Wolverines until 22 seconds remained in the game.
A native of Grosse Pointe Woods, Michigan, Braker graduated from Notre Dame in 2014 with a bachelor of arts in industrial design. She earned her master’s degree in sports administration from Wayne State in 2015.
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