Minnesota West Women’s Basketball Celebrates Another Historic Season

The Minnesota West women’s basketball program enjoyed a remarkable 2026 season, earning its second NJCAA Division III National Championship in three years. The season was marked by both team success and national recognition, including NJCAA Division III National Coach of the Year and NJCAA Division III National Player of the Year honors.
Head coach Rosalie Hayenga-Hostikka and sophomore forward Katrina Schutz played leading roles in a season that showcased the strength, effort, and pride of the Lady Jays program.

Coach of the Year Honor
Rosalie Hayenga-Hostikka was named the 2026 NJCAA Division III Women’s Basketball Coach of the Year for the second time in her career. Now in her 11th season as head coach, she led the Lady Jays to a 26–5 record, a 15-game winning streak, and a .839 winning percentage.
Minnesota West led the nation in points per game (82.5), assists per game (20.6), and free throws made per game (15.9) while holding the No. 1 national ranking for much of the season.
The Lady Jays entered the NJCAA National Tournament as the No. 1 seed, earned a first-round bye, and advanced to the championship game. They defeated Anoka-Ramsey 51–41 to win the program’s second national title since 2024.

“It is a true honor to be named National Coach of the Year,” Hayenga-Hostikka said. “This award belongs to the players. They believed in our program and put team success first.”

Hayenga-Hostikka’s history with Minnesota West runs deep. A former Lady Jays player, she is the program’s all-time leader in assists and the sixth all-time leading scorer. She led Minnesota West to a state championship as a player in 1992 and was named WBCA National Player of the Year that season.

National Player of the Year
The Lady Jays’ championship season was led on the court by Katrina Schutz, who was named the 2026 NJCAA Division III Women’s Basketball National Player of the Year.
A native of Eden Valley, Minnesota, Schutz made a big leap during her sophomore season. She averaged 16.6 points per game, shot 51.8 percent from the floor, and became a key contributor on both offense and defense.
She ranked among the national leaders in:

2nd in defensive rebounds (233)
5th in total rebounds (299)
4th in free throw percentage (81.5%)
8th in blocked shots (61)

Schutz also earned National Championship MVP, First Team NJCAA All-American, WBCA Division III All-American, and MCAC South Division Player of the Year honors.

“Katrina came back this season focused on winning a championship,” Hayenga-Hostikka said. “She worked hard, led by example, and earned everything that came her way.”

Strong Team Effort
Minnesota West placed three players on the NJCAA Division III All-America Teams, highlighting the strength of the full roster:

Katrina Schutz — First Team
Sadie Krahling, sophomore guard — Second Team
Maddie Kamm, sophomore guard — Honorable Mention

These honors reflect the teamwork and depth that defined the Lady Jays throughout the season.

With championship success, national awards, and a strong team culture, Minnesota West women’s basketball continues to be a place where student-athletes can grow, compete, and succeed.

Under Coach Hayenga-Hostikka’s leadership, the Lady Jays have built a program that values hard work, accountability, and team-first basketball. The future of Minnesota West women’s basketball remains bright as the program continues to pursue excellence on and off the court.