Will Ragatz

Will Ragatz

Joined: Jul 15, 2024

Will Ragatz is a senior writer for Vikings On SI, who also covers the Twins, Timberwolves, Gophers, and other Minnesota teams. He is a credentialed Minnesota Vikings beat reporter, covering the team extensively at practices, games and throughout the NFL draft and free agency period. Ragatz attended Northwestern University, where he studied at the prestigious Medill School of Journalism. During his time as a student, he covered Northwestern Wildcats football and basketball for SB Nation’s Inside NU, eventually serving as co-editor-in-chief in his junior year. In the fall of 2018, Will interned in Sports Illustrated’s newsroom in New York City, where he wrote articles on Major League Baseball, college football, and college basketball for SI.com.

Dec 26, 2025; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Detailed view of a Minnesota Golden Gophers helmet during the Rate Bowl at Chase Field.

Gophers Football

Mar 4, 2026; Bloomington, Indiana, USA; Minnesota Golden Gophers head coach Niko Medved claps his hands against the Indiana Hoosiers during the first half at Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall.

Gophers Basketball

Regina’s Tate Wallace (0) looks to tackle Northeast’s Maxzen Eskildsen (1) during a Class 1A playoff game Oct. 24, 2025 in Iowa City, Iowa.

Gophers Football

Lakeville South OL Joseph Hamer with Gophers OL coach Brian Callahan (left) and P.J. Fleck (right).

Gophers Football

Gophers men's hockey

Gophers Hockey

Tarin Smith of the Everett Silvertips is a big-time defenseman who was a third-round NHL draft pick a couple years ago.

Michigan guard Winters Grady (10) practices at open practice at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis on Friday, April 3, 2026.

Gophers Basketball

Winters Grady comes to Minnesota with at least three years of eligibility remaining.

Tayla Thomas averaged nearly 10 points per game as a sophomore at Northwestern.

Gophers Basketball

Tayla Thomas should provide some veteran forward depth for Dawn Plitzuweit.

Mar 27, 2026; Sacramento, CA, USA; Minnesota Golden Gophers guard Mara Braun (10) reacts to a call against the UCLA Bruins during a Sweet Sixteen game of the Sacramento Regional 2 of the women's 2026 NCAA Tournament at Golden 1 Center.

Gophers Basketball

Minnesota had one of the best seasons in program history in 2025-26. What's the outlook for 2026-27?

Dec 20, 2023; Lincoln, Nebraska, USA; North Dakota Fighting Hawks forward B.J. Omot (20) drives against Nebraska Cornhuskers forward Juwan Gary (4) during the second half at Pinnacle Bank Arena.

Gophers Basketball

B.J. Omot never appeared in a game for Minnesota after transferring in from Cal.

Langston Reynolds

Gophers Basketball

The Gophers' depth remains an issue, but they appear to have a reasonable path to make the quarterfinals.

Amaya Battle

Gophers Basketball

Minnesota women's basketball held on for a big win over the Illini in the regular season finale.

Abbey Murphy becomes the Gophers' all-time leading goalscorer.

Gophers Hockey

Murphy scored her 140th and 141st career goals in Saturday's win over St. Cloud State.

Nov 26, 2022; Madison, Wisconsin, USA; A Minnesota Golden Gophers helmet sits on the sidelines during the game against the Wisconsin Badgers at Camp Randall Stadium.

Gophers Football

Steve Stanard is joining Minnesota as its new rush ends coach, according to a report.

Feb 8, 2026; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Minnesota Golden Gophers guard Isaac Asuma (1) works around Maryland Terrapins guard George Turkson Jr. (11) during the first half at Williams Arena.

Gophers Basketball

Asuma hit a career-high six threes, but Diggy Coit was too much for Minnesota down the stretch.

Feb 2, 2025; Los Angeles, California, USA; Minnesota Golden Gophers head coach Dawn Plitzuweit on the sidelines during the fourth quarter against the UCLA Bruins at Pauley Pavilion presented by Wescom.

Gophers Basketball

The Minnesota women's basketball team won its sixth consecutive game on Sunday and could be headed for a spot in the AP Top 25.

Jan 30, 2026; Los Angeles, CA, USA; UCLA Bruins Jordan Chiles looks on as she warms up prior to the gymnastics meet against the Washington Huskies at Pauley Pavilion.

Gophers Gymnastics

Chiles said she stands with Minnesota and hoped to uplift with her floor routine on Saturday.