Amaya Battle is a meat-and-potatoes basketball player. The Gophers’ senior guard can fill up the stat sheet in a variety of ways — points, rebounds, assists and on the defensive end.
Off the court, the Hopkins High School grauate has fine-tuned reverse searing a ribeye steak to get optimal pinkness, and will pair that protein with a choice of starch and vegetable at one of her regular “steak night” dinners with teammates.
“Potatoes can come different ways like French fries, mashed potatoes, copped breakfast potatoes,” said teammate Tori McKinney. “That’s like Maya. She can do anything, whatever you’re needing, whatever you’re craving.”
Minnesota guard Amaya Battle (3) brings the ball into the offensive zone against Wisconsin forward Kyrah Daniels during the Gophers’ 83-60 victory Sunday, Feb. 15, 2026, at Kohl Center in Madison, Wis. (Meghan Bielich/Gophers Athletics)
Battle and U legend Rachel Banham are the only two players in program history to register more than 1,000 career points, 600 rebounds and 500 assists. And Battle is the only active NCAA women’s player to eclipse 1,000 points, 700 boards and 500 assists. Her four-year career and the Gophers’ current season are coming to a crescendo.
With Battle as a team leader, Minnesota has won eight straight games and is ranked 23rd in this week’s Associated Press poll. The U have two tough Big Ten tests at Williams Arena this week: No. 10 Ohio State at 7 p.m. Wednesday and No. 18 Michigan State at 5 p.m. Sunday.
“Amaya has meant a great, great deal to our program,” third-year head coach Dawn Plitzuweit said last week. “She is someone that we rely on in so many different ways.”
Battle was one-fourth of the Gophers’ 10th-ranked national recruiting class in 2022. A year later, head coach Lindsay Whalen was let go while classmates Niamya Holloway had a freshman season ruined by a knee injury, Mara Braun had the next two seasons undercut by foot injuries, and Mallory Heyer transferred to Oregon before this year.
“A lot of ups and downs, a lot of change,” Battle said. “But, I mean, we’re still here and we’re at a good spot.”
Battle has been a reliable constant with a team-high 128 games played and has helped prime Minnesota for its first NCAA tournament appearance since 2018.
“You just kind of learn how quickly things can change and just not go your way, and just being able to take every moment and being in the precious present,” Battle said.
Gophers players endearingly call Plitzuweit by the nickname “Dawny P,” and one of her principles is to stay in the “precious present.”
Gophers point guard Amaya Battle dribbles the ball during Minnesota’s game against USC at Williams Arena on Sunday, Jan. 11, 2026 (Brady Paitrick / Gophers Athletics)
“That’s probably my favorite lesson, biggest takeaway I’ve taken from Dawny P and playing with her for these past three years,” Battle said. “It’s something that’s really impacted me, and I’ll definitely carry that with me for the rest of my life.”
Battle used that concept in a lighthearted way during the Gophers’ 91-85 win over then-No. 10 Iowa on Feb. 5.
“It was obviously a very intense game, but she just lightened up the mood by being herself,” McKinney said. “She was like, ‘Guys, I’m just having so much fun out here right now.’ We were like, ‘Wait, so are we.’ (But) we were still very locked in.”
Battle also pulls tips from her older brother, Jamison Battle, who went from George Washington to the Gophers to Ohio State and now plays with the NBA’s Toronto Raptors. The DeLaSalle alum is averaging 3.1 points in 8.5 minutes across 39 of the Raptors’ 55 games this season.
“He’s in the league; he’s made it to the highest of highs, so he must know something,” Amaya joked. “… He’s always just a pretty calm and consistent player, so (I’m) just trying to take that from him, as well.”
Those steak dinners started randomly last year. Roommate Taylor Woodson is a regular, so is McKinney. Grace Grocholski and Mara Braun come from time to time. Annika Stewart was part of last year’s group until she graduated.
The cooking of the steaks has evolved to the reverse-sear method; that starts in a low-temp oven and ends in the stovetop pan. It is now served with garlic butter, a type of potato and a veggie side. Battle really likes zucchini, but it could be asparagus or something else.
“It’s pretty basic, but we hit all that we need,” Battle said.
McKinney thinks that undersells it. “It’s gotten so good,” she said.
The same can be said about Battle’s contributions on the court.
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