Freshman center Jenny Schmidgall, who led Minnesota in scoring during the 1998-99 season, and sophomore defender Brittny Ralph, have left the Gophers with the intention of transferring, the school announced Friday. Both players have been granted full releases, including waivers of the NCAA’s one-year residency requirement.
“It’s unfortunate that Jenny and Brittny have chosen to leave the University of Minnesota,” said head coach Laura Halldorson in a statement Friday. “They have both been assets to our team and we wish them well in their future endeavors.”
Schmidgall, a member of the United States’ gold-medal-winning 1998 Olympic team, was not reached by Twin Cities media for comment, but according to the Minneapolis Star Tribune, Ralph was leaving because she “didn’t feel [Minnesota] was benefiting me to the best of my abilities.”
Ralph mentioned St. Cloud, Wisconsin and Minnesota-Duluth as transfer possibilities, and indicated she would be interested in going to the same school as Schmidgall. The two players are close friends.
