Destiny Pitts, a First Team All-Big Ten guard for the Gopher women’s basketball team, announced Thursday that she intends to transfer in the wake of being suspended indefinitely.
“Last Friday, I was informed that I was suspended indefinitely for my ‘body language’ during the Northwestern game,” Pitts wrote in her announcement. “As this was my first discipline situation of my career at Minnesota (or as a basketball player at any level), I was blindsided and shocked by the suspension.”
Pitts continued: “After much reflection, thought, and advice from those closest to me, I have decided to enter the Transfer Portal to further my athletic and academic journey in an environment that will support me, while I develop into the person I want to become.”
I wish Coach Whalen and her staff nothing but the best. pic.twitter.com/8eEpkfeKNG
— Destiny Pitts (@desip33) January 16, 2020
Pitts was suspended prior to Minnesota’s 74-71 loss to Illinois earlier this week, with the University of Minnesota only revealing that her suspension was for “conduct unbecoming a member of the team.”
Head coach Lindsay Whalen said Wednesday that being an athlete at the U of M “comes with high standards and expectations,” and when those are not met there are “consequences.”
Pitts was averaging 16.3 points per game and was a huge part of Minnesota’s success in Whalen’s first year as head coach in 2018-19.
Minnesota (11-5 overall, 1-4 Big Ten) faces Iowa Thursday at 7 p.m.
