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SLOWISH WEEK, BUT LOTS TO SAY: We’re starting a week where the Minnesota sports calendar slows. That’s not a bad thing because it gives us time to reflect on what’s happened during the first half of the year and look ahead at what’s coming, which is a lot. We’re going deeper on a few things this week because we can. No need to read everything in one sitting!

STUDBUDZ RUN IT BACK: Via Emma Carmichael and Derrick Chui at GQ Sports. When they were teammates with the Lynx last season, Courtney Williams and Natisha Hiedeman dropped one of the biggest real-time story lines of the WNBA season with their 72-hour livestream from WNBA All-Star Weekend. How’d it go? VERBATIM: “That weekend, they got WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert on stream, dancing to “Knuck If You Buck.” Caitlin Clark’s aunts approached them in the club and asked for a photo. They tossed back so much Crown Royal that Hiedeman had to order an IV bag to their hotel one morning. And when the dust had settled on their now-infamous, chaotic, and outrageously fun inaugural 72-hour All-Star Weekend stream, they sensed the ground beneath them had unalterably shifted.”

SO YEAH: They’re doing it again. “It was so lit last year. We’ve got to give the people what they want, man,” Williams said on USA Network before Monday’s Lynx game. Williams is an All-Star reserve, Hiedeman is in the three-point contest. They showed identically colored bright blue hair when the Lynx and Storm (Hiedeman’s current team) played Wednesday in Seattle. One thing that’s different: The duo now has 88,500 followers on Twitch, which will host the stream. The stream started at noon today.

BUILDING THE BRAND: Williams on how Studbudz has changed and grown their friendship. VERBATIM: “As their conjoined brand has grown, they’ve had to learn how to work together off the court, too. The dynamic between best friends naturally changes when they become business partners, and they’ve been mindful about navigating that transition together. ‘When you really care about somebody, man, you got to be willing to tell them when they ain’t doing what they supposed to do. Because how can I have you a part of my camp or a part of my team and you ain’t moving how I know we move? And vice versa. I got to be able to take that if you give it to me. . . . It might be some tension getting there, but by the end of it all, we understand how to move better moving forward.” FULL STORY, PHOTOS: https://fluence-media.co/studbuz0723

WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/twitch0723

GOPHER$ $PON$ORSHIP HAUL: Via Matt Brown at Extra Points newsletter with Huron Consulting. The financial numbers soup of major college sports has only gotten thicker in recent years with the advent of NIL, conference expansion and television rights. The vast majority of revenue streams for the University of Minnesota and other schools can be forecast well in advance. They have a very good idea of what’ll be generated through TV/radio, conference payouts, ticket sales and more.

BUT: One area that can vary significantly based on the success of the business operation at the U and elsewhere is the amount taken in from sponsorship and licensing revenue, which can be quite different on a year-to-year basis.

“WHAT’S THAT?” YOU ASK: Here’s why that’s important, as explained by Brown in Extra Points. VERBATIM: “That’s revenue from royalties, licensing, advertising, and corporate sponsorships. That’s a catch-all category that includes everything from the licensing checks schools earn from appearing in video games (like EA Sports College Football) to the returns from every t-shirt and bumper sticker sold with their logo to the ads you see on scoreboards and sideline ribbon boards to every ‘Official Laxative of the Big State University Tigers’ ad read you hear on radio broadcasts.”

AT THE U: As with many schools, those funds are generated at Minnesota in concert with a “multimedia rights partner” (MMR) that typically guarantees the school a set amount of money, with everything above that being split by the MMR and the school. At the U, that partner is Gopher Sports Properties, a Learfield Sports division that offices on the Minnesota campus. The highest-profile deal made public in recent months was the June announcement of a 10-year, $17 million dollar agreement to rename Williams Arena as “The Barn by Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota.” It’ll be “The Barn” to most of us, with the university trying to get the full name recognized as often as possible in its promotions. (It’s the difference between “Mariucci Arena” and “3M Arena at Mariucci” or “Athletics Director Mark Coyle and “Thomas O. Moe Director of Athletics Mark Coyle.”)

WHERE DOES MINNESOTA RANK? Not badly. In FY 2025, the Gophers ranked 29th among the 235 state schools with Division I athletic programs, taking in just over $13 million — about 8% of the program’s total revenues of $163.61 million. Minnesota was among 39 schools earning more than $10 million and 10th among the 17 public Big Ten schools. Five Big Ten schools are in the Top 10: No. 2 Ohio State ($42.8 million), No. 3 Michigan ($35.6 million), No. 6 Oregon ($26.6 million), No. 7 Penn State ($25.1 million) and No. 8 Wisconsin ($24.8 million).

WHY IS THIS BIG?: The U’s athletic department reported earlier this year that it Is facing an $8.75 million budget deficit in 2026, largely because of the increasing payments being made to athletes. When Coyle told regents the U “would work with our campus partners” to close the gap, he was referring in large measure to sponsorships and licensing through the partnership with Learfield. Those revenues amounted to about 8% of the program’s total revenues. So increasing that percentage is one big key to resolving the deficit. In the last 10 years, it has been as high as 11% of revenues (2017 and 2020) — and as low as 7% (2024).

FULL EXTRA POINTS ARTICLE: https://fluence-media.co/revenue0723

MORE: GOPHERS FY 2025 INCOME, EXPENSES | ABOUT GOPHER SPORTS PROPERTIES AND LEARFIELD

FOOD, PILATES, MEDIA DAY: Via Randy Johnson at Star Tribune. The Gophers held their media day on Wednesday and running back Darius Taylor, slowed by injuries in two of his three Gophers seasonS, offered a look into a new routine that he hopes will make him a 1,000-yard rusher and better prepare him for pro football. VERBATIM: “Taylor focused on nutrition through a personal chef and added Pilates to his workout regimen in the offseason and is happy with the results. ‘I feel great. It’s done great things.’ It’s allowed me to understand my body a little bit more. I understand how to fluctuate my weight. I’m able to go up in weight, go down in weight because I’ve paid attention to how many calories I’m taking in.’ ’’

THIS IS THE CAPTAIN SPEAKING: Fifth-year linebacker Maverick Baranowski on being named one of Minnesota’s captains. VERBATIM: “As a player, it's just about being a leader during the tough times. Everybody can be a leader when everything's going great. When stuff starts getting tough and things start going hard, it’s about stepping up and being the man that the team needs you to be in those tough moments.’’

MORE FROM MEDIA DAY: https://fluence-media.co/mediaday0723

HIGHLY RANKED LINDSEY: Via Antonio Morales and Sam Khan Jr. at The Athletic. We’re little more than a month from the start of college football and the Athletic has grouped probable starting quarterbacks into seven tiers and ranked them from No. 1 (Trinidad Chambliss of Mississippi) to No. 138 (the QB at New Mexico State). Gophers quarterback Drake Lindsey is ranked No. 29 overall and in the third tier, which is for “proven veterans who might not check all the elite trait boxes, rising up-and-comers who have bright futures and players who have elite traits but have not consistently played to their physical potential.”

THE LINDSEY REPORT: A third-year player, Lindsey is ranked ninth among the 18 probable Big Ten starters. VERBATIM: “Lindsey is one of the more underrated quarterback prospects in college football. A good-sized passer, he has a strong arm and delivers with touch. And he anticipates well to put the ball where his receiver will be, not where he is. His 2025 tape is littered with decisions he would like back, which is to be expected of a first-year starter in the Big Ten. But scouts are excited to see what Year 2 looks like.” MORE, FULL RANKINGS: https://fluence-media.co/drake0723

GEEK NOTE: Instead of years in school, the Gophers football roster now lists the number of years the player has been in college and the number of years at Minnesota. LINKS: ROSTER | SCHEDULE | TICKETS

THE TWINS, BRIEFLY: It has been an underwhelming return to play for the twins since the All-Star Break, losing four of their first six games dropped them five games behind the White Sox in the AL Central and three games from the final Wild Card spot. It has been a subpar reboot on just about every front — pitching, defense and offense. ONE THING FOR SURE: The Twins can’t afford a roster teardown. Making targeted moves no matter what will be the best path forward as I outlined in Sports Take a couple of weeks ago. That’s the after-effect of the dismantling of last year’s deadline and the follow-up off-season during which management was in denial and in tumult. ALSO: If the Twins play poorly in their six-game homestand vs. the Athletics and Royals starting Friday, the best-case hopes will pretty much disappear. biggest concern: Besides bad play, of course. August post-deadline schedule includes 12 games vs. the Brewers, Atlanta, Phillies and White Sox in a 21-game stretch. The Twins have not been to match up with top teams. Can roster moves — a better bullpen and another starting pitcher, for sure — put them in better position to compete? As of Thursday, the Twins chances of making the playoffs — according to FanGraphs — have dropped from 36.6% two weeks ago to 22.9% on Thursday. That’s steep.

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REEVE AND REACT: The Lynx have won seven straight games and are ranked No. 1 or 2 (behind Golden State) in the latest batch of WNBA power rankings. Watching the streak grow, I was wondering whether Minnesota’s shoddier play on defense recently was a natural product of the up-tempo offense that scored 90 points or more in its last five games. Coach Cheryl Reeve answered that question on Saturday night at, of all places, the postgame ceremony honoring Sylvia Fowles’ selection to the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame. Reeve recognized the team alumni at the ceremony and noted they could have played better defense than the current players did in the 101-93 win over Portland.

PILING ON: Via Cassidy Hettesheimer at Star Tribune. Reeve made the same point following Monday’s 105-102 victory at Seattle, which has the worst record in the league. Reeve pointed out that the Lynx shouldn’t have needed perimeter players Kayla McBride, Olivia Miles and Courtney Williams to combine for 86 points against the last-place Storm. VERBATIM: “Our three perimeter players have been special all season. Right now, we’re needing them to have these prolific efforts in order for us to win a game because our defense is nowhere to be found.” MORE: https://fluence-media.co/defense0723

QUICK TAKE: The Lynx need to fix their defensive game and it will not happen simply because Napheesa Collier, the 2024 Defensive Player of the Year, returned to the lineup in Wednesday’s 86-76 victory in Seattle. Every team in the league has enough talent to scare the Lynx (and other elite teams) if they’re not playing in top form. Also, the Lynx and Las Vegas — currently the Nos. 1 and 2 betting favorites to win the title — will always get an opponent’s “A game.” Aside from New York, the Lynx haven’t beaten a team with a winning record during their streak. What they’re doing right now won’t fly vs. better teams. The Lynx let last year’s title hopes disappear with stretches of awful play. Despite their 22-6 record. I still need to be convinced they’re tough enough not to let that happen again.

COLLIER’S RETURN: It started with rust as Collier missed six of her first seven shots on Wednesday. But she finished with 24 points and 10 rebounds in 22 minutes. No Lynx player had ever put up a 20/10 performance in so few minutes. Also on Wednesday, Miles reached 500 points and 150 assists in her 26th game. The fastest to those numbers previously were Paige Bueckers (28 games) and Caitlin Clark (29). Bluesky hat tips: Mitchell Hansen of Hitting the Hardwood and Mark Jones at ESPN for those numbers.

HOMECOMING: Collier’s first Target Center appearance will be at 7 p.m. Tuesday vs Toronto. (TV: Victory+) TICKETS

BONJOUR, RUDY: Via Jon Krawczynski Show podcast. Anthony Edwards and LaMelo Ball are hoping to get the Wolves roster together for a trip to France to work out with teammate Rudy Gobert, the team’s defensive cornerstone whose skills should make it easier for Edwards and Ball to maximize the things they do best on offense. KRAWCZYNSKI VERBATIM: “Covering him for the last four years here in Minnesota , it does mean more to (Gobert) when he feels completely included, when he feels like his teammates are trying to maximize him as best they can. And so I do think that the physical act of showing up, of getting on a plane and heading across the water and coming to his town to work with him, will go a long way for Rudy. It also is a recognition that they understand how important Rudy is to their chances going forward. . . . He is so important defensively” PODCAST SEGMENT: https://fluence-media.co/rudy0723

RUDY’S REVAMPED ROLE: Via Chris Hine at Star Tribune. The Wolves know they need to integrate Gobert into the offense so that other teams don’t ignore him. That’s a concern predating the trade for Ball. A bigger change awaits on defense. VERBATIM: “This season will be unlike any other for Gobert on defense with the Wolves, since he won’t have another big man, like Karl-Anthony Towns, Naz Reid or Julius Randle, playing alongside him. Barring other major moves to address power forward, there’s a front court size deficit the Wolves will have to compensate for now that wasn’t there in their previous defensive schemes. Does that mean the Wolves will be more conservative in their defense, and keep Gobert near the paint as much as possible? It’s not their preferred method of defense, but it might be what they lean into with this personnel.” MORE: https://fluence-media.co/changes0723

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STANLEY VISITS THE SUBURBS: The Stanley Cup will be at the Eden Prairie Community Center next Thursday with Carolina Hurricanes forward Jackson Blake as the host. The trophy will be on display from 10 a.m. until noon, as part of the tradition where each player on the NHL championship team gets to host it for a day. “Stanley” will return a week from Saturday (August 1) with K’Andre Miller from 1 to 3 p.m. at Pagel Arena in Minnetonka. Chanhassen’s Mike Reilly will also get a day with the Cup. MORE: EDEN PRAIRIE | MINNETONKA

3M OPEN OPENS: The tournament started today at TPC Twin Cities in Blaine. World No. 1-ranked Scottie Scheffler shot a 6-under-par 65 and was tied for second place as of 12:20 p.m. today, and has a 12:44 p.m. tee time Friday with Hideki Matsuyama and Sungjae Im. LEADERBOARD | TEE TIMES | TV/STREAMING INFO

EVERYTHING YOU NEED: Via Pioneer Press. Parking, ticket prices and the best spots to watch the 3M, among other things. DETAILS: https://fluence-media.co/3mopen0723

WILD ON TV: The Wild are the first Minnesota winter sports team to announce their broadcast plans for the season after the demise of FanDuel Sports North (and all of its regional sports network predecessors). There will be a cable and satellite channel, and the team will choose a streaming platform to watch games on the web that aren’t shown nationally. There will also be an over-the-air partner for a handful of games. Play-by-play and studio host talent will carry over from FanDuel. The Wild are currently one of four teams who will have their games produced in partnership with the NHL — similar to the Twins’ arrangement with MLB — and more are expected to join before the season starts in October.

PELISSERO LET GO: Among those who lost their jobs in this week’s ESPN staff purge is Tom Pelissero, the Twin Cities resident and Edina High School graduate who started his journalism career at KFAN and also worked for ESPN 1500 on his way to national platforms at USA Today and the NFL Network, which is now part of the ESPN family. Pelissero started at the NFL Network in 2017. He’ll take a solid information-gathering reputation and strong TV/web presence to whatever comes next.

D-III FOOTBALL POLL: Bethel is ranked No. 2 and Saint John’s No. 11 in the preseason poll. Wisconsin-River Falls, which won the 2025 national title, is ranked No. 7 with the losers of that game — North Central of Illinois — getting all 25 first-place votes. Almost one-third of the Top 25 schools are in Minnesota, Wisconsin or Iowa. Bethel lost North Central in the quarterfinals last season and the teams will have a rematch — No. 1 vs. No. 2 — in the season opener on Sept. 5 outside of Chicago. The Johnnies open their season by hosting No. 10 Wisconsin-LaCrosse. (Bethel and Saint John’s play Oct. 3 in Collegeville.) POLL: https://fluence-media.co/dthree0723

FRIDAY NIGHT FIREWORKS: The traditional Aquatennial fireworks display over the Mississippi River has been replaced this season, and folded into the Twins-Oakland postgame on Friday.

CANTERBURY HALL OF FAMERS: Owner/breeder Pete Mattson, former Minnesota Racing Commission chair and track veterinarian Camille McArdle and Dickey Bob, the all-time leading money winner among Minnesota quarterhorses, will be inducted into the Canterbury Park Hall of Fame during a dinner Friday night as part of the track’s Hall of Fame weekend. The new members will also be acknowledged during racing cards on Saturday and Sunday.

AUGSBURG’S NEW BASEBALL COACH: Brock Peterson, who played college baseball at Northwestern (Roseville) and Gustavus, has been named the new head baseball coach at Augsburg. He’s been on the Auggies baseball staff since 2021 and, until making this move, also worked in the school’s admissions office. Peterson’s father Rick was the Gustavus baseball coach in the early 1990s.

REMEMBERING DAVID LA VAQUE: David La Vaque, the Star Tribune sports reporter who was one of Minnesota’s go-to resources on high school hockey, died last weekend at age 50. He suffered from leukodystrophy, a rare central nervous system disease that blocks communication between the brain and the rest of the body. If you had a connection to hockey, there was a pretty good chance you crossed paths with David. I knew him from our work at the state hockey tournament, where we were on perpetual game-after-game deadline for two weekends a year. The things I learned about hockey from David helped me work with other writers, too. Blois knew him dating back to COVID, when they compared notes about what would happen with high school sports and how athletes could get in the workouts they needed. They talked about Blois’s son Jack, who was transferring between high schools and is now a goalie at Colgate.

On Substack, Twin Cities hockey writer Heather Rule (shown above with David) wrote, “Somewhere between discussing word counts and three stars of the game, we became friends, too. Whether it was in the press box, at an in-between-sessions dinner at Cossetta or a post-tournament beer, we talked about hockey, journalism and about life, family and even our struggles. He shared and listened, and I hope I was there for him in the same way during these meaningful conversations. I’ll miss those talks.” MORE: https://fluence-media.co/rule0723

I asked one of David’s closest friends, Star Tribune editor Brian Stensaas, about their relationship. Here’s what he wrote: “He was my editor in college, my colleague at the Star Tribune and, for the past 27 years, one of my closest friends. As an editor, he demanded your best. He'd keep me at the Minnesota Daily office late chasing details I never would have noticed and leave me with lessons I still hear in my head today: ‘Nobody reads a garden hose, Stensaas!’ As a colleague, he was my first call whenever a union issue came up or I heard the latest gossip about a coach or player.

“As a friend, he was there for everything. When I was debating getting a pet cat, I called him. When I bought a house, he helped me move. At my bachelor party, he was the last one standing, literally, on top of a pool table. David could be rough around the edges, but beneath that was a heart of gold. I'll miss his unwavering presence in my life.”

MEMORIALS: There will be a Celebration of Life on August 14 at Eagle Brook Church in Woodbury with a reception following from 2 p.m. to midnight at the VFW in North St. Paul. A GoFundMe for David’s family is here.

THANKS FOR READING.

EMAIL HOWARD: sportstake100@gmail.com

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ON THE WEB:
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Previous editions of Sports Take are here.

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/howard-sinker-80921813/

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OLIVIA MILES is a rookie who controls a basketball game like a veteran. Find me another player who has her physical skills and can see the game as clearly as she does? I’ll wait. The “Holy Bleep” factor was in full effect in Monday’s 104-100 Lynx win over Phoenix. She needed only 16 shots to score 33 points and gave out eight assists. Miles vs. Caitlin Clark on August 2 and vs. Paige Bueckers on Aug. 9 is going to be must-see hoops at Target Center, providing the ankle injury that forced her from Wednesday’s game is as minor as we’re hoping.

WHITE PEOPLE at Lynx games should be smart enough not to wear Afro wigs as some sort of misguided tribute to Miles. It’s (1) cultural appropriation and (2) one or two steps from blackface. If you don’t get it, I’m wagering you don’t have much culture to appropriate.

THE TWINS are a delightful surprise, worth watching but still suffering from the rightful skepticism and cynicism of fans. The coming month will be tests on an off the field. But the schedule is favorable and — repeating one more time — Tom Pohlad has a chance at the trade deadline to make up for last year’s disastrous decisions and the inertia at the 2024 deadline. C’mon Tom. Live the headline from your media breakfast last week: “We have to f*****g win.” Last week’s Sports Take featured my plan for how the Twins should proceed. It still stands.

VAR IS BUZZKILL because soccer’s system for reviewing close plays sucks the life out of the game. Reviews initiated by a video official are lengthy, and whether to initiate them can seem as imperfect as the calls themselves. Solution? The NHL system of challenges by coaches with consequences for failure. In hockey, that’s a two-minute delay-of-game penalty.

ANOTHER THING that makes The Beautiful Game less beautiful is all the whining by players at the referee. It has felt nonstop during the World Cup. How about letting the captain complain and shutting down any other whiners with a yellow card. More ridiculous? Players and coaching staffs going after the fourth official — the one who controls substitutes and helps with game administration from the sideline — over things happening on the field. If I’m off base and this is actually a vital part of soccer culture, somebody let me know. I hope not.

MINNESOTA AURORA should be taken seriously. The USL W shouldn’t be. Choosing Salmon Bay’s “stadium” in Seattle for the league semifinal — really a recreation complex/beer garden/soccer field with a few sets of bleachers — over TCO Stadium was bad enough. Trying to follow a livestream where the audio was about 10 seconds ahead of the video — a complaint shared by several social media pals that I also experienced — made Aurora’s shootout loss almost unwatchable. (Bonus badness: Both of my email queries about the field choice to the USL W’s publicist went unanswered.)

VIKINGS TRAINING CAMP hasn’t started and I’m already bored with the “quarterback competition.” I think whoever “wins” — J.J. McCarthy or Kyler Murray — will be only marginally better than the “loser.” I’m betting on seeing them both start during the season. WORST CASES: Murray is another Donovan McNabb, who didn’t have anything left when he finished his career with the Vikings in 2011; McCarthy is another Christian Ponder, who took over for McNabb and at his best was mediocre. BEST CASE: One of them is the Vikings starter in 2027 and for years into the future.

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GOPHERS STAR v. NCAA: Cade Tyson, the leading scorer on the Gophers men’s basketball team last season, is one of 11 athletes who have filed a federal class action suit against the NCAA seeking another season of college eligibility after the NCAA adopted its new five-in-five eligibility rules. The part being challenged is that players who finished their eligibility last season are not being allowed a fifth year. Tyson averaged 19.6 points per game for the U after spending one season at North Carolina and two at Belmont. ELSEWHERE: An Ohio judge granted a temporary injunction last week to another group of 24 basketball players in a similar suit.

WHAT IT MEANS: Via Myron Medcalf at ESPN. VERBATIM: “If successful, the federal lawsuit could essentially nullify the NCAA’s new eligibility rules for a massive pool of athletes across all sports who would then be allowed to enter the transfer portal and extend their careers. With football season set to begin in a month, a ruling in favor of these athletes could alter the college landscape for the upcoming season. If it’s defeated, it could also signal a significant ruling in favor of the NCAA, which has faced numerous state lawsuits already regarding its new eligibility rules. ‘These athletes aren’t asking for special treatment,’ said Rob Shelquist, a partner at Cuneo Gilbert Flannery & LaDuca, LLP, in a statement. “They’re asking to not be singled out and excluded from the NCAA’s eligibility framework. The NCAA updated the rules but refused to apply them only to the very group that was most immediately affected.’ “ MORE: https://fluence-media.co/ncaa0716

MY TAKE: Yes, it would be chaos if another large batch of athletes had their eligibility suddenly restored just before the start of the school year. But what part of revenue-producing Division I sports isn’t already chaotic? These players appear to be getting a raw deal based on nothing other than the timing of the rule change.

WHERE COULD TYSON GO? Via Sea of Blue. Kentucky basketball blogger Cameron Waddle writes that the Wildcats would pursue Tyson and offer him “real minutes” if he becomes eligible. DETAILS: https://fluence-media.co/cade0716

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LeBRON AND THE WOLVES: Via David Aldridge at The Athletic. The veteran NBA writer says that LeBron James has several excellent options for taking taking his remaining talents, which are still better than 90% of NBA players as he enters his 24th season. But his best option is . . . Minnesota. It’s a longshot, but here’s the rationale. VERBATIM: “Minnesota’s behind San Antonio and Oklahoma City in the West right now, but it’s not an insurmountable deficit. The Timberwolves were in back-to-back conference finals in 2024 and 2025. Anthony Edwards is in his prime as an All-NBA-level guard. LaMelo Ball, acquired from Charlotte last month, is coming off one of the best seasons of his career, a key force in the Hornets’ 25-game improvement. In Minnesota, he should help everyone get easier looks because of his own substantial shot diet. (It’s not my favorite shot diet, but no one asked me.) Rudy Gobert remains a defense system onto himself, still among the top five in most of the advanced defensive numbers favored by teams around the league.” MORE: https://fluence-media.co/lebron0716

RETURNING TO EARTH: Via Chip Scoggins at Star Tribune. With the chance of James coming to the Timberwolves being minimal, the more realistic question is what the addition of Ball, the subtraction of Julius Randle and the maturity of the team as a whole can mean to a title run. VERBATIM: “The season epitaph that resulted in this roster makeover came moments after an elimination loss to the Spurs in the second round. Edwards lamented that players failed to build ‘championship habits’ during the regular season. That honest assessment underscored the team’s lack of championship readiness. Eight different teams have won the NBA title the last eight seasons. That speaks to the distribution of talent across the league, but it also reinforces the understanding that a championship path is viable if the Wolves commit to building championship habits.”

COACHSPEAK: Coach Chris Finch on those habits. VERBATIM: “We’ve got to have better habits across the board, ones that we know are going to hold up against the best teams in the West. During the regular season, we’ve shown obviously the ability to beat anybody, and that’s kind of the league these days. We’ve done a great job with playoffs in the early rounds, and we’ve made some runs to the Western Conference finals. But we also know that’s only halfway there. You got to win the Western Conference finals and then win the Finals.” MORE: https://fluence-media.co/wolves0716

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CATCHER OF THE (NEAR) FUTURE? Via Dan Hayes at The Athletic. We’ve been having fun with the comparisons between Hall of Famer Joe Mauer and Vahn Lackey, the catcher from Georgia Tech taken with the third overall pick in the MLB draft. But the truth is that the Twins have an unsettled catching situation looking ahead because Ryan Jeffers is set to be a free agent after this season. Lackey, a complete player at the college level, won’t be surprising us if he makes a quick arrival at Target Field. He hit for power (20 home runs) and average (.397) this season and plays solid defense. Unlike Mauer, who spent three seasons in the minors and was drafted No. 1 overall in 2001 out of Cretin-Derham Hall, Lackey didn’t attract attention until college. It shouldn’t take him as long to get here.

VERBATIM: From Sean Johnson, the Twins’ scouting director. “He started making noise with the bat early this spring, and the more we went in to scout Georgia Tech, our guys kept coming out of there going, ‘I thought he was the best player on the field.’ Every time we sent someone in there to see him that hadn’t seen him before, they all came out with the same answer. He’s hard to take your eyes off when you see him play.” From manager Derek Shelton: “My level of intrigue is high, especially if you take a college player. It’s like how quickly is that college player going to be able to accelerate and be a major-league player? . . . I do think with college players we’re seeing them quickly get elevated to the major league level.” FULL STORY: https://fluence-media.co/lackey0716

CAUTION: Via Sam Caulder at Twins Daily. Sometimes we need a reminder like this. VERBATIM: “There's no guarantee Lackey will immediately live up to the hype. Prospects are never sure things. In fact, the last catcher selected this high in the MLB Draft was Henry Davis, who went first overall to the Pirates in 2021. Davis has yet to establish himself in the majors, carrying a career .568 OPS.” MORE: https://fluence-media.co/hype0716

SUNI LEE RETURNS: Via Nick Zaccardi at NBC Sports. Gymnast Suni Lee, whose six Olympic medals include the 2020 Individual All-Around gold, is returning to training for the 2028 Games in Los Angeles. She made the announcement in a video on her Instagram feed, and the 23-year-old St. Paul native said her return will be chronicled in a documentary. VERBATIM: “I know there’s more in me, and this is my chance to challenge myself, test my limits, and see what I’m truly capable of,” Lee said in a press release. “This isn’t about proving anyone wrong. It’s about showing up for myself and discovering what’s possible. Through the setbacks and the victories, I’m giving myself one more chance to find out what happens when I keep going.”

TRAINING IN LITTLE CANADA: Lee will return from New York to train at the gym — Midwest Gymnastics — where she started training and competing as a child. The gym is run by her coaches, Ali Lim and Jess Graba. VERBATIM: "Ali and I have coached Suni since she was a little girl in this gym, and watching her decide to chase this again is something I’ll never take for granted,” Graba said in a post on the gym’s website. “She’s already given the sport everything, so for her to walk back through these doors and go after 2028 on her own terms, with our whole team behind her, it means the world. We’re just going to do the work and enjoy every day of it.” FULL STORY: https://fluence-media.co/suni0716

OOPS: Last week I wrote about Bobby Nightengale’s fun story in the Strib about how the Target Field scoreboard crew chooses Celebrity Lookalikes for its popular between-inning feature — and I forgot to add the link. HERE IT IS: https://fluence-media.co/lookalike0716

BECOMING HITTERS: Via Nightengale. The vastly improved Trevor Larnach is Exhibit A in a midseason story about how the Twins have become one of the best hitting teams in MLB so far this season. From being seen as expendable to batting leadoff, Larnach lauds the team — and gives himself deserved credit. VERBATIM: “Some people come in, they’re overmatched, they’re not ready, and it takes a couple years — more or less — to develop and learn themselves. I’m biased because it’s taken me a while to develop and get better, but it’s also on the player. You have to put the work in. You have to understand and learn what went wrong, what happened. I get it’s a business. Not everyone is willing to stick through that. I’m thankful the Twins have been sticking through that with me, but I’ve also put in an immense amount of blood, sweat and tears for this.”

EXHIBIT B: Kody Clemens has reinvented himself from a fringe player with his former teams to a multi-position offensive threat who rarely gets a full game off. He remembers going hitless in his first 17 MLB at-bats and feeling exiled to a bench role in Philadelphia and Detroit. VERBATIM: “I don’t think I’m a different player. I don’t think I’ve grown into a different player at all. I finally got a chance to play every day and it’s showing.”

STORY: https://fluence-media.co/hitting0716. STATS: LARNACH | CLEMENS | MLB HITTING

PFFFFT: Former Twins and All-Star relievers Jhoan Duran and Louis Varland both pitched in the All-Star Game on Tuesday night. If you combined the stats they brought into the game, you’d have 81 2/3 innings pitched, 117 strikeouts, 11 earned runs 43 saves in 44 opportunities and a 1.21 ERA. I’ll spare you my boilerplate Twins bullpen speech today.

THANKS, PIONEER PRESS: The newspaper hired a freelancer to write about Duran and Varland from the All-Star Game. DURAN: “The Phillies have helped me more with my mentality, with the pressure. I feel so happy because I like the pressure. I like to be there in that moment.” VARLAND: “Looking back now, it’s been a crazy 12 months that’s for sure. If you’d told me this would happen 12 months, ago I would’ve said you’re crazy. But here we are.” DURAN: STORY | STATS. VARLAND: STORY | STATS.

VISA ISSUES CANCEL LOONS MATCH: Via Andy Greder at Pioneer Press. Liberia’s national soccer team won’t be coming to Allianz Field as scheduled on July 26 for a match against Minnesota United because players and members of the traveling delegation have been unable to get visas for the trip. It was the second international game canceled this season. Earlier, the German side Werder Bremen said it wouldn’t come to the Twin Cities after the killings of Renee Good and Alex Pretti by federal officers during Operation Metro Surge. VERBATIM: “The Liberian ministry said with less than two weeks before the scheduled match, ‘There was no reasonable opportunity to secure alternative visa arrangements, assemble a representative national team and complete all necessary travel requirements before the contractual deadline.’ “ MORE: https://fluence-media.co/liberia0716

WHEN WILL THEY PLAY? The Loons end their two-month World Cup break from competition at Sporting Kansas City on Wednesday. They’ll play host to Vancouver on July 25 and San Diego on Aug. 1 before another break in the league schedule for the Leagues Cup competition involving teams from MLS and Mexico’s Liga MX. STANDINGS | LEAGUES CUP

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VIKINGS BY POSITION: Via Purple Insider. Training camp begins Aug. 1 and position previews started dropping this week on Matthew Coller’s comprehensive Purple Insider web site. Short version are available for free; paid subscriptions are $7 per month. WIDE RECEIVERS | RUNNING BACKS | OFFENSIVE LINE | TIGHT ENDS/SAFETIES

CHILDRESS ON THE QBS: Via Michael Rand at Star Tribune. Yes, I professed boredom with the Vikings quarterback duel above. But I know many of you are captivated in it, and the insights of former Vikings head coach Brad Childress, who was in charge when Brett Favre came to Minnesota, are worth a share. VERBATIM: “Childress, like most of us, noticed J.J. McCarthy tended to get overwhelmed at times in 2025 (“frenetic” is the word he used). Kyler Murray, he said, has plenty of arm strength and will help the Vikings with his ability to extend plays. The real challenge for both quarterbacks, in his estimation, is being able to trust that plays will develop. ‘I think the biggest question for both of those guys will be, ‘Can you stand in the pocket and look at it, and, are you able to be an anticipatory thrower?’ ‘Childress said. ‘You can’t wait till you see the whites of a guy’s eyes. A lot of times you’ve got to anticipate and stick it in a spot over a linebacker in front of a defensive back and let him run into that throw.’ ” MORE: https://fluence-media.co/qbs0716

3M OPEN DRAMA: Via Doug Ferguson at Associated Press. The 3M Open tees off next Thursday at TPC Twin Cities in Blaine and there’s a story line to watch in the British Open, which started today at Royal Birkdale. Can Scottie Scheffler, the No, 1 player in the world and scheduled to compete in the 3M, recover from missing the cut at last weekend’s Scottish Open? That ended a streak if 78 tournaments without a miss. As the local tournament’s biggest draw, local golf fans should be rooting for him to get his game back in top form. VERBATIM: “His game didn’t look deplorable in the Scottish Open, just a matter of not hitting it terribly close and not making many putts and then moving on. It was no less frustrating . . . but it was filled with perspective. ‘I don’t think it hurts as much as coming close to winning and finishing second,’ Scheffler said. ‘I felt like coming in second at Travelers hurt more than missing the cut, but missing the cut is significantly more frustrating is how I would describe it.’ “ MORE: https://fluence-media.co/scottie0716

GIVE HER A BREAK: Lynx forward Kayla McBride should be an All Star. She’s averaging 17.3 points, hitting 38% of her threes, 1.7 steals and shooting 91% from the foul line. With Napheesa Collier still sidelined by her ankle surgeries, McBride has stepped up to be the go-to option on offense while remaining the team’s top all-around defensive player. She also leads the team with 32 minutes per game. The well-defined roles that McBride and Olivia Miles play make all their teammates better and, among my savviest hoop-head friends, McBride is typically their first or second favorite. MY TAKE: There are times when I watch the Lynx and think, "Damn, McBuckets looks tired.” That usually happens just before McBride goes on a run of long-range field goals or makes a key steal. So while I’m wrong in the moment, I can’t think of anyone else who deserves six days off her feet to get ready for the second half of the season. I’m pretty certain a player or two will opt out of the All-Star Game in the next week because of health concerns. Please resist the temptation to add McBride as a replacement. Thank you.

A TEAM DIVIDED: The WNBA All-Star Game is a week from Saturday in Chicago and Coach Cheryl Reeve will have two Lynx players on her roster and coach against a third. Reeve’s team, captained by Caitlin Clark, has Miles and Courtney Williams. Their opponents, captained by Paige Bueckers and coached by Becky Hammon, have Natasha Howard. Reeve’s team also has Jessica Shepard, the former Lynx forward now with Dallas. FULL ROSTERS: https://fluence-media.co/stars0716

CHERYL’S SHIRTS: Yes, there’s an Instagram feed that posts photos of the t-shirts Lynx Coach Cheryl Reeve wears on the sidelines at Lynx home games. IT’S HERE: https://fluence-media.co/cherylsshirts0716

NEW UMAC COMMISSIONER: The D-III conference that includes six Minnesota schools and UW-Superior has named Mark Becker as its new commissioner. Becker was the associate commissioner of the Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference and has been chair of the NCAA Division III Financial Aid Committee for the past two years. He replaced Corey Borchardt, who was named commissioner of the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference. Minnesota’s UMAC schools are UM Morris, Crown, North Central, Bethany Lutheran, Martin Luther and Northwestern.

MIAC COACH HIRED — THEN LEAVES: Early last month, St. Scholastica announced the hiring of Rob McDonald as its new women’s basketball coach. In a press release, the school’s athletic director enthused: "Rob brings a contagious positive spirit, great energy, and a strong commitment to student-athlete growth that will be a tremendous boost to our program.” NOT SO FAST: The job is vacant again because, soon after, McDonald accepted an assistant coaching position in the women’s program at D-i Charleston Southern, where the school’s coach said in its press release that McDonald “brings great enthusiasm to the floor and will help us become the highly energetic, positive program that we are wanting to be.” Sports Take promises to try piecing together the drama.

IN THE MEANTIME: If you want to coach a basketball team in Duluth — a team that went to the MIAC playoffs last season — here’s the job description and application: https://fluence-media.co/coach0716

JUST TO CLARIFY: Rob McDonald is not a member of the three-generation Minnesota high school and college coaching family that started with the legendary Bob McDonald of Chisholm, who died in 2020 and won 1,012 games during his career.

GLAD NOT TO BE COACHING: Via John Shipley at Pioneer Press. Former Gophers baseball coach John Anderson is two years removed from his 43 seasons and Big Ten-record 1,390 victories. In an interview, he said changes in college sports don’t mesh with the way Anderson sought to build his teams at the U. Transfer rules and NIL money would work against his coaching agenda. VERBATIM: “ ‘No, thank you. I’m not equipped for that. It doesn’t match by value system. We were making a commitment to young people, and they were making a commitment to us. We were developing Minnesota kids.’ Anderson liked to work with his players for a good year or two before making them regulars. ‘Now, if a kid turns out to be really good, or if he doesn’t get to perform right away, he’s in the portal. We were creating lifetime relationships.’ ”

FURTHERMORE: Anderson is concerned about the future of baseball and other non-revenue sports in Division I. VERBATIM: “In addition to the added costs, schools must adhere to Title IX, the law requiring schools receiving federal funds to create equal opportunities for men and women. That has aways been a because FBS football — the prime revenue driver for big school programs — can provide as many as 105 scholarships. No women’s sport has those kids of numbers. To bridge that gap, the U recently cut men’s gymnastics and tennis, and the Gophers athletics department expects a budget deficit of nearly $9 million in fiscal year 2026. ‘On the men’s side, I don’t think anybody can feel comfortable what the future holds. (The NCAA) can’t pass any rules, there’s no salary cap, they can’t stop the spending.’ ” MORE: https://fluence-media.co/anderson0716

AND FINALLY: Via North News. Williams Bates IV has a hard time finding a fight. That’s because the 9-year-old, who trains at Lucy Laney Boxing Academy in north Minneapolis, has a 15-0 record and won his third national title last month at a National Junior Olympics tournament in Kansas. Williams said he trains for two or three hours every weekday and sometimes on weekends. VERBATIM: “I wake up, and I eat breakfast, and I go to school, do my work, get my education, and then boxing comes through.” His father, Williams Bates III, is a coach at the academy. VERBATIM: “His achievements have made it difficult to find opponents. According to Bates, William gets turned down for national fights because of his undefeated record. Bates has even tried to schedule fights with older boxers, but ‘they tell us no.’ ” MORE: https://fluence-media.co/champ0716

THAT’S ALL FOR NOW: Thanks for reading and for sharing your thoughts.

EMAIL HOWARD: sportstake100@gmail.com

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LISTEN: Doug’s final column was featured on NPR’s All Things Considered. https://fluence-media.co/doug0709

LOOK NOW, FINISH LATER: Lynx guard Courtney Williams has been selected to play in the WNBA All-Star game on July 25 in Chicago. She authored a first-person story about her life and upbringing for The Players Tribune that is gold from start to finish. VERBATIM: “I realized the world didn’t think kids like me were ever gonna amount to anything. We weren’t worth saving.” READ IT HERE: https://fluence-media.co/courtney0709

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LET’S DO THIS, TWINS: The MLB trade deadline is August 3 and the Twins play 22 games until then, so there’s a very good chance the Twins will still be — of all things I couldn’t have imagined in April — a postseason contender. Fangraphs current gives the Twins a 42.2% chance of qualifying. The burning question for many teams right now is whether they should be buyers or sellers at the trade deadline. Last year, as you remember, the Twins held an estate sale at the deadline. This year, they could do anything from fall apart in the next few weeks to passing Chicago and Cleveland in the AL Central standings by the end of this weekend. FANGRAPHS: https://fluence-media.co/playoffs0709

OVERACHIEVERS: Many of us started the season thinking the Twins were a candidate to lose 100 games. That won’t happen. For one thing, there are so many mediocre teams this season that none of them, not even the MLB-worst Angels, are on pace to do that. In the case of the Twins, they have overachieved and scrambled their way to stay near .500 and currently trail the Guardians by one game and the first-place White Sox by two. The entire infield has been made over, the outfield has been in a season-long state of flux and the batting order has been scrambled and re-scrambled. The defense is still subpar but the offense is among league leaders in all sorts of categories. Amid all the shuffling the Twins present as a cohesive group that has rolled with the needed changes.

SO HERE’S THE PLAN: Baseball’s norm is that teams choose among being buyers, sellers or standing pat at the trade deadline. No matter what happens in the next few weeks, the Twins should break the norm. They should be buyers and sellers. The best case, obviously, is playing meaningful baseball for the final two months of the regular season. The worst is that they start a downward tumble. Either way, they should react the same. If things go well, strengthen the roster. If things go badly, strengthen the roster. The St. Paul Saints are stocked with promising players waiting for their shot, so the Twins don’t need to add to that logjam by trading elite players for prospects.

DEALS TO MAKE: Here’s a fine chance for rookie principal owner Tom Pohlad to back up his words with actions. The Twins still need to strengthen their pitching and upgrade their bench. They have assets that would help other teams who also see themselves as contenders and should barter for assets that would help themselves in 2026, as well as down the road. Do not set back the starting rotation by trading Joe Ryan, and broadcast far and wide that Byron Buxton will not be asked to waive his no-trade clause.

SPECIFICS, PLEASE: Four things. 1. Trade Trevor Larnach while his value is at a peak. Larnach is in the midst of a stunningly good season He’s only 13 plate appearances short of qualifying to be on the official MLB leaderboard, but his .380 on-base percentage would tie him for 18th among those who officially qualify. It’s an opportunity to sell high. 2. Take offers for Ryan Jeffers if he shows himself to be healthy enough to command value. The Victor Caratini/Alex Jackson catching combo is good enough to get through the season — something I didn’t expect — and Jeffers fetches immediate and future. Jeffers is rehabbing with the Saints from his broken hand and is 6-for-13 with two homers in four games. 3. Add another veteran. Find the player who would add as much to the team with his presence as with his performance, someone to complement Buxton’s leadership. In 1987, when the Twins won the World Series, that player was Don Baylor, whose impact went well beyond his 49 at-bats at the end of the season. 4. Keep improving the bullpen. Somewhere in this equation, the Twins need to have help for Yoendrys Gomez and Andrew Morris, the only currently reliable relievers.

BUXTON THOUGHT: Before Tuesday’s win over Cleveland, the Twins showed scoreboard video of manager Derek Shelton telling the team that Buxton had been named an All-Star (even though he’ll miss the game with a hip injury). This one sentence was worth 1,000 words: “I’m having the best time of my life with you guys,” Buxton told his teammates. I keep comparing his understated leadership to the leadership style of look-at-me guys (If you think Carlos Correa is in that group, we’re in agreement), and I’ll take what Buxton gives eight days a week and 13 months a year.

IF YOU COME AT THE KING: You’ll probably miss. LeBron James is trying to pick his next basketball team after deciding to leave the Lakers. He wants to be part of another NBA title-winner before retiring. NBA coverage is filled with analysts and insiders who are curating lists of most-possible destinations and longshots. Google “LeBron James and Timberwolves” for the latest updates, but the Wolves are solidly in the longshot camp. They need the 41-year-old James more than he needs them.

BRETT FAVRE REVISITED? Via Michael Rand at Star Tribune. The idea that Brett Favre would ever play for the Vikings seemed preposterous, until he signed as a free agent in 2009 for the final act of his Hall of Fame career. A replay? As of 11 a.m. Thursday, the predictions market Kalshi gave the Wolves a 2% chance of getting James — fifth behind Cleveland, Golden State, Miami and Philadelphia. VERBATIM: “The Timberwolves are a franchise that used to be stuck in a perpetual rebuild and used to almost give away season tickets for free. Being in the mix for arguably the greatest player of all-time when he has the free will to choose any team to end his career with is a huge signal of how far the franchise has come and where the Wolves could be headed. It’s good for the brand even if this LeBron “Decision” doesn’t go their way.” MORE: https://fluence-media.co/lebron0709

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MARATHON WEATHER: Via Star Tribune. Writer Bob Timmons produced an excellent package of stories about the weather-induced weekend change for the Twin Cities Marathon beginning in 2027. The move from the first Sunday in October to dates between Oct. 12 and 17 from 2027-31 was sparked by the cancellation of the 2023 race because of extreme heat and relied on an abundance of climate-change data. That ranged from the fact that seven of the 10 warmest autumns in Minnesota history have occurred in the last 25 years to the potential for a first snowfall as soon as October 20. The new dates also take into account putting the marathon on the weekend before Education Minnesota’s annual convention and school break.

KEY POINTS: Twin Cities Marathon (TCM) president Dean Orton and race director Ed Whetham summarized their case. VERBATIM: “Fall and winter are warming faster in Minnesota than other seasons, according to the state climatology office. Seven of the 10 warmest autumns on record have occurred since 2000. The warmth has moved peak fall color later in the year, too. ‘This is all about a fall experience. And that data’s clearly shifted, too,’ Orton said. ‘So, we want the full experience.’ Whetham emphasized that they tried to remove emotion from the decision — ‘of living through 2023’ — and let the data drive them toward picking a new marathon date. Orton agreed. ‘There is just too much data and too much potential for upside.’

AND THIS: "The data doesn’t lie to me," Whetham said. “It’s just stating, like, we’re just not getting those ideal conditions anymore."

FALL(OUT) IN MANKATO: The change is presenting challenges for the much-smaller Mankato Marathon, which is scheduled annually on the third Saturday of October. It will be run the same weekend as next year’s Twin Cities race and on the following weekend in 2028-2031. Joy Leafblad, sports tourism director for Greater Mankato Growth Inc., said TCM officials told her group they were considering a date change and called last week to give advance notice of the decision. Leafblad said the Mankato group intends to partner with TCM looking for ways to promote the southern Minnesota marathon, which emphasizes fall scenery and changed up the course this year to make it more runner-friendly. It’s also challenging enough to be a qualifying course for the Boston Marathon. Last year’s marathon had 380 finishers and more than 2,200 who competed in Mankato’s 5K, 10K and half-marathon. The Twin Cities Marathon had just over 7,000 finishers. In 2023, when the Twin Cities Marathon was canceled, Leafblad said her group added about 300 spots on short notice, bringing the field close to 600.

LINK FARM: Star Tribune coverage is here, here and here. Mankato Marathon information is here. MEA convention dates through 2036 are here.

REEVE’S NO. 1: Coach Cheryl Reeve became the winningest coach in WNBA regular-season history Wednesday when the Lynx won 76-70 at Connecticut. It was the 380th victory of her 17-year career and a standout milestone in a career that’s had many big moments ranging from four WNBA titles and induction last month into the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame. I recognize that times are tight at the local mainstream media orgs, but I have to think that if a men’s coach of a major local pro franchise or at the University of Minnesota was about to set such a record, they would have been on hand to cover it in person to better capture the magnitude of the moment.

VIDEO: Showing this interview for the wrong reason. I know, without a doubt, that local reporters and columnists who follow the Lynx would have done so much better than reducing Reeve’s moment to little more than a game wrap-up about beating the worst team in the league.

BIG WEEK AT HOME: The Lynx start a four-game homestand on Saturday with a noon game vs. the Liberty (Noon, ABC), who beat them 99-86 in Brooklyn on July 3. Other opponents are Phoenix at 8 p.m. Monday (NBCSN, Peacock and Victory+), Los Angeles at noon Wednesday (Victory+) and Portland at 7 p.m. a week from Saturday (Victory+). Wednesday’s game is the annual high-decibel afternoon event that fills Target Center with summer campers. Bring ear plugs and enjoy the mashup of basketball, youthful energy and pop culture. WNBA STANDINGS | TICKETS

WORLD CUP PERSPECTIVE: Many of us got sucked in again by a perfect storm of expectations for the United States men’s team in the World Cup. I’m a soccer casual, who enjoyed being in the conversation and learning over the last few weeks from people who know more than I do. I will not be dismissive of the millions of Americans who bring the same passion to soccer as other fans bring to their favorite sports. But my sense is that many of us bought in because of the event’s magnitude and because the USA was a host nation, but few will be converted into soccer fanatics. It reminds me of the way people start following their home team during a playoff run or an NCAA tournament. Interest will be sparked again in 2030 when Morocco, Spain and Portugal will co-host (along with Uruguay, Argentina and Paraguay hosting first-round matches to recognize the 100 years since the first World Cup, which was played in South America.) But without good reason, will we watch U.S. matches and be as invested? I doubt it.

ONE-PARAGRAPH REVIEW: The U.S. men’s team was the highest ranked in the group it won, didn’t face a stiff challenge in the first round of the expanded knockout stage (up from 16 teams to 32) and suffered a breakdown-filled butt-whipping in a 4-1 loss to Belgium. Fun while it lasted, but not a huge deal when it ended. In the end, I think many people were just ready to move on, in large measure because of the ham-handed silliness surrounding U.S. star Folarin Balogun’s red-card controversy and noted futbol expert Donald J. Trump’s ill-advised and awkward plea to FIFA to reconsider Balogun’s eligibility. My hope is in four years, that silliness will be long forgotten and U.S. soccer will be judged on its merits and without political taint.

SOUHAN RETIRES: Star Tribune columnist Jim Souhan is retiring after 36 years as a beat writer and columnist. He brought a beat writer’s sensibilities from covering the Vikings and Twins to becoming a columnist in 2004 (replacing Dan Barreiro), where his interviewing skills were key to his strong work. Souhan was an advocate for women’s sports and over the years developed a leftist political edge, which earned detractors from the stick-to-sports posse. In his next-to-last column, Souhan wrote: “Belatedly reflecting on more than 40 years of sports writing, including 36 at the Star Tribune, I’ve had an epiphany. Man, I made a lot of people mad.” In his departure column, he paid tribute to many of the people he worked with at the Strib, and he was also celebrated by colleague Patrick Reusse, one of the Strib’s three remaining sports columnists.

FINAL COLUMNS are here and here. | Reusse on Souhan

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AURORA SLIGHTED: After an undefeated season and wins in the first two rounds of the postseason, Minnesota Aurora expected to play at home in this weekend’s semifinals of the USL W playoffs. Instead, the league chose opponent Salmon Bay FC of Seattle to host Saturday’s game, which resulted in an outrage post on Instagram.

HMMMM: The USL W’s playoff page states: “Being the highest seed in your conference does not guarantee the hosting of matches. Playoff hosts are determined via a bid process conducted by the League.” I emailed the league’s director of marketing and communications asking for information about the decision and did not receive a response. The game is scheduled for 9:30 p.m. Saturday and will be streamed on SportsEngine. Sun Country is offering a 50% discount on flights to and from Seattle for the game.

LOONS GATHER IN SECRET: Via Andy Greder at Pioneer Press. Minnesota United will end a two-month break in the MLS schedule on July 22 at Sporting Kansas City, and is in the process of ramping up with three scrimmages that are closed to the public. The second was Wednesday at Allianz Field vs. Real Salt Lake and the Loons will play at Colorado Rapids next Wednesday. Wednesday’s scrimmage consisted of three 45-minute “halves” and the one at Colorado will more closely resemble actual game conditions. The Loons have 19 games remaining in the regular season and are currently holding eighth place in the Western Conference. The top nine teams will make the postseason. MORE: https://fluence-media.co/loons0709

WHO WILL TWINS DRAFT? Via Betty Helfand at Pioneer Press and Fangraphs. Baseball’s amateur draft is Saturday and the Twins have the third pick in a draft that appears to have three elite players. The most interesting thing is that the order in which they’ll likely be selected keeps changing, according to draft insiders and other close followers. The three are Roch Cholowsky, a shortstop from UCLA; Grady Emerson, a high school shortstop from Texas, and Vahn Lackey, a catcher from Georgia Tech. Lackey, who moved up in the rankings during a strong college season, had been the name most associated the Twins, but he could go to the White Sox or Rays, who have the first two picks, without it being a surprise. The Fangraphs mock draft has Emerson going to Chicago and Lackey going to the Rays, with Cholowsky being taken by Minnesota. PIONEER PRESS REPORT: https://fluence-media.co/draft0709. FANGRAPHS MOCK DRAFT: https://fluence-media.co/mock0708.

VIDEO: CHOLOWSKY | EMERSON | LACKEY

TV INFO, GO DEEPER: Via Twins Daily. the draft starts at noon Saturday. The first four rounds will be held Saturday with Rounds 5 through 20 on Sunday. The first 10 picks will be shown on NBC and Peacock. The rest of the draft will be streamed on MLB.com. DRAFT PRIMER: https://fluence-media.co/primer0709

FIVE-IN-FIVE EXPLAINED WELL: Via IMG Academy. The NCAA’s new eligibility rules — giving most players five years of college eligibility while doing away with redshirts, injury waivers and other exceptions — was both a hot story last month and a major change that left fans with questions about the details. IMG Academy, the private school for students with college and pro sports aspirations, has published a guide that includes key changes and takeaways. GUIDE: https://fluence-media.co/ncaa0709

MOST UNDERRATED VIKINGS EVER. Via Matthew Collar and Josh Smith at Purple Insider. The Vikings news site has produced a ranking of the 20 most underrated players in team history and the winner is . . . wide receiver Jake Reed, who played for them from 1991-2001. VERBATIM: “We probably don’t think about Jake Reed enough. And we certainly don’t think about him when we reminisce on that game. Yet, there he was, lighting the fuse for an offensive explosion — and then just stepping back. After a frustrating journey to gain a role, Reed was, in most circles, just the lesser known sidekick to record-breaking Cris Carter. Then, after Randy Moss landed in Minnesota’s lap, he selflessly accepted even more of a complementary job as the offense set the league ablaze. It’s easy to forget that, at various points, without much individual fanfare, Reed was the other guy in perhaps the finest WR tandem and trio in NFL history. For these reasons and several others we’ll exhibit, Reed wears the crown as our list’s most underrated Viking.” ENTIRE LIST: https://fluence-media.co/underrated0709

ONE COACH HIRED, ANOTHER REINSTATED: Via Marcus Fuller at Strib Varsity. Hill-Murray, one of the state’s most successful girls’ basketball programs, has hired former Benilde-St. Margaret’s coach Bob Lyons, who retired from that job in 2019. Lyons is Hill-Murray’s third coach in three years, replacing Betsy Thull, who resigned after leading the Pioneers to a 28-4 record and the Class 3A consolation title. Trull’s predecessor who Erin Herman, who was let go by the school after 36 seasons and more than 600 wins. Lyons’ 2010 Benilde team won the Class 3A championship. REINSTATED: Maple Grove coach Mark Cook, who was placed on administrative leave for unspecified reasons in February, has been returned to the job for his 22nd season at the school. Maple Grove reached the 4A semifinals in March before losing to Hopkins. MORE: HILL-MURRAY | MAPLE GROVE

MOVING ON: Madeline Buckley is leaving Macalester after four seasons to become head women’s soccer coach at Vassar College in New York. Vassar has gone to the NCAA Division III tournament for the last two seasons and is a member of the Liberty League; Buckley was that conference’s Player of the Year playing for William Smith College in 2014.

BIG NAME TO 3M OPEN: Jordan Spieth has been added to the field of the 3M Open, which starts July 23 at TPC Twin Cities in Blaine. Spieth becomes the ninth player with a Top 100 ranking to enter. He’s ranked 54th and his only previous stop in Minnesota was for the 2016 Ryder Cup. The list of top players is headed by No. 1-ranked Scottie Scheffler. TOP ENTRANTS | TICKETS

AND FINALLY: Via Bobby Nightengale at Star Tribune. During the Dodgers-Twins series, my season-ticket partner noticed that Nightengale wasn’t in his usual front-row press box seat at the start of the game that Shohei Ohtani pitched. We speculated. Watching with Japanese reporters on the scene? A one-on-one visit with Tom Pohlad? Nope. Nightengale was hanging with the crew that produces the between-inning lookalike segment during games. Among my group, we’ve always wondered how it came together and Nightengale’s sweet story answered almost all the important questions. VERBATIM: “Inside the Twins scoreboard room, it’s an hours-long project to find the best look-alikes before it turns into a mad 90-second scramble when the mid-inning segment arrives. ‘We get a lot of requests for videos, and ‘Celebrity Look-Alikes’ is usually the one that is most popular, ‘Hey, do you have a copy of me as this person?’ ‘ said Sam Henschen, senior director of the Twins gameday experience. ‘That tells you people are really looking for it.’ The Twins don’t use facial-recognition software or artificial intelligence to find potential subjects. The work typically starts about 30 minutes after gates open. . . . Inside the scoreboard room, there are six people watching the camera feeds for possible matches. If they can’t think of a celeb look-alike within 30-45 seconds, they move onto other fans. ‘It’s really a bunch of people up here who have all different pop culture backgrounds whether you’re a music fan, a cartoon fan, a movie fan, a TV fan,’ Henschen said.”

THAT’S ALL FOR NOW: More questions, more fun, more thoughts next week.

EMAIL HOWARD: sportstake100@gmail.com

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BOOM! Wolves president Tim Connelly isn’t messing around. After dumping Julius Randle on Brooklyn in a trade to free up salary cap money and roster space, the Wolves traded Naz Reid, a first-round pick in 2033 and three second-round draft picks (2029, 2032, 2033), as well as swapping spots for three first-round picks (2028, 2029, 2030), for star point guard LaMelo Ball and reserve guard Josh Green on Thursday morning. THREE QUICK TAKES: (1) Minnesota now has two of the most interesting point guards in the world. The other, of course, is Olivia Miles of the Lynx. (2) Now the front court needs work — another starter to go with Rudy Gobert and Jaden McDaniels, as well as someone to come off the bench. (3) Ball missed 141 games in the three seasons before 2025-26 because of injuries. Pray for his health. More on the move below.

SWEPT AWAY: I arrived at Target Field earlier than usual Wednesday night for the last game of the Twins-Dodgers series. I walked a lap around the ballpark, stopping to sit in the outfield seats when the gates opened and the crowd started to build toward the sell-out announced at 39,853 fans that watched Shohei Ohtani vs. Joe Ryan and the visitors finish a three-game sweep. The evening was a reminder of two things: (1) How far apart the teams are in terms of talent and execution. That the Twins are on the fringe of playoff contention is a byproduct the rampant mediocrity in the American League this season. Only three AL teams have scored more runs than their opponents. The Dodgers are deep, excellent and don’t have baseball’s best record by accident. (2) How much fun it can be at the ballpark. An usher told me that the buzz during the Dodgers series reminded her of Target Field “before COVID” when big crowds were the norm. For a few days, Minnesota was the land of 10,000 Ohtani jerseys and baseball worth being excited about. The challenge for the Twins is create that sensation based on their success instead of the success of whoever is coming to town for a few days. — Howard Sinker

HAPPY 4TH: Sports Take is off next week for the holiday. I’ll be back on July 9.

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BIG, BOLD MOVE: Anthony Edwards was frustrated by being double-teamed by opponents last season. The solution? Bring in another high-end scorer and ball handler to take away that extra pressure. Enter LaMelo Ball, the No. 3 overall draft pick in 2020 when Edwards was taken No. 1. Ball is a career 20.8 points per game scorer and has shot 36.5% on threes. He’s also averaged 7.3 assists per game and brings a pure point-guard arsenal to Minnesota. THE CONCERNS: Ball broke his right ankle in February 2023 and missed time over the two following seasons with an assortment of ankle issues. There was also a fractured wrist during his rookie season. In his six NBA seasons, Ball has missed about 38% of Charlotte’s games with injuries. Also, the Hornets never reached the playoffs during Ball’s time there, losing 121-90 to Orlando in April’s play-in tournament finals.

BALL’S CAREER STATS: https://fluence-media.co/ball0625

NAZ REID: An undrafted free agent, Reid developed into a fan favorite and an important part of the Wolves rotation as their sixth man. Among the initial reactions to the Randle-to-Brooklyn trade was that Reid and center Rudy Gobert functioned well together when they shared the court. The fifth starter with Ball, Edwards, McDaniels and Gobert? The Wolves can either go small and quick with Ayo Dosunmu, who signed a five-year, $112 million contract this week, or look for more size in another trade or through free agency. They’ll definitely add size, but the question will be about what style of play to prioritize. For now, I’m betting on Dosunmu as a starter, with size in reserve for an alternate look.

JOSH GREEN: A six-year veteran with time in Dallas and Charlotte, the 6-foot-6 wing was a starter for the Hornets in 2024-25 but came off the bench last season, averaging 4.3 points in about 16 minutes per game.

REMEMBER THIS: By making this deal, the Hornets did pretty much what the Wolves did by ridding themselves of Randle: freeing up significant cap money that can be used to fill their roster needs. In this case, obviously, the Hornets also got an established player in their move.

VIEW FROM CHARLOTTE: Via Scott Fowler at Charlotte Observer. This is a good-riddance take. VERBATIM: “The money the Hornets still owed Ball was almost unfathomable in normal circles, but in the NBA’s alternate universe this was the first offseason he no longer had an untradeable contract. Minnesota took a risk acquiring that contract, and it might work out for the Timberwolves. But for the Hornets, The LaMelo Ball Experience is over. The show has finally closed. And that’s absolutely fine. The team will be built around Brandon Miller and Kon Knueppel now, with a whole lot of other good parts that can be placed somewhere (and maybe 1-2 more high-profile parts to come). This was a trade worth making, for a team that ultimately wants more than Ball was ever going to provide.” FULL COLUMN: https://fluence-media.co/goodbye0625

SHAMS SAYS: Via ESPN. The trade news was first reported by ESPN basketball insider Shams Charania. Here’s the video from ESPN’s morning show, Get Up, that features Charania, Brian Windhorst and others analyzing the news. WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/espn0625

BAD MOVE? Via Zach Harper at The Athletic. The Wolves get panned here, including a David Kahn reference. REPORT: https://fluence-media.co/badmove0625

BALL’S CONTRACT: Ball is signed for three more seasons at a cost of $140 million. Edwards and Ball are both set to be 28-year-old free agents after the 2028-29 season. That should be a very, very interesting summer. CONTRACTS: EDWARDS | BALL

OVER TO THE DRAFT: The Wolves drafted Isaiah Evans, who played for two season at Duke in the second round of the NBA Draft with the 33rd pick overall. STIFFED: Evans was in the draft’s Green Room on Tuesday because he expected to be taken in the first round. He also showed up to the draft wearing $4 million worth of jewelry, but that’s another story.

ABOUT THAT JEWELRY: Via New York Post. VERBATIM: “Former Duke shooting guard Isaiah Evans channeled the Met Gala at the 2026 NBA Draft in Brooklyn on Tuesday. The 20-year-old sophomore wore a $3 million diamond brooch and a $1 million diamond wallet chain by Jason of Beverly Hills while on the red carpet at the Barclays Center — and The Post got an exclusive sneak peak before the draft. After meeting through a mutual friend at Duke, Evans and the celebrity jeweler worked together for nearly a year crafting his accessories for arguably the biggest night of his life.” MORE: https://fluence-media.co/bling0625

WHO IS JASON OF BEVERLY HILLS? That would be Jason Arasheben. MORE: https://fluence-media.co/jason0625

BAD FINANCIAL MOVE? With NIL money and other opportunities, Evans would almost certainly have made more money IN 2026-27 by staying at Duke and waiting to turn pro.

WHAT DO FIRST-ROUND PICKS MAKE? Via Spotrac. First-round picks get from 80% to 120% of a slot value that’s part of the NBA labor agreement, with most contracts being at 120% of the slot. Second-round picks are on their own and receive widely varying deals, CHART: https://fluence-media.co/contracts0625

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GREAT GOLF IN CHASKA: The KPMG Women’s PGA Championship starts today at Hazeltine National in Chaska, bringing a $13 million purse and a chance to see a golfer reach the LPGA Hall of Fame by winning. Tournament favorite Nelly Korda is not only seeking her third major title of the season, but the two points she would get for winning would boost her into the Hall. The tournament teed off at 8 a.m. today Here are links for going and following along:

TICKETS | TEE TIMES/LEADERBOARD | ODDS | WEB SITE | TV AND STREAMING |PARKING AND MORE DETAILS

HOW’D SHE GET IN? Via Mark Craig at Star Tribune. Kate Smith-Stroh is only the 436th ranked player in the world, so she needed to use words rather than deeds to get into the tournament field. It helped that she was a five-time high school champion while attending high school in Detroit Lakes. VERBATIM: “Kate Smith-Stroh wrote a letter to the PGA of America months ago asking for a special exemption to play. . . . ‘I just said I’m from Minnesota, my dad worked for the PGA of America as a golf pro for 30-plus years in Minnesota, and I’d really like a chance to play in your championship in my home state.’ With no other homegrown players in the field, the PGA of America channeled its inner Minnesota Nice and said, ‘You betcha!’ It will be Smith-Stroh’s second career major. She three-putted the last hole to miss the cut at last year’s Chevron Championship.”

THE FUN PART: “Mom and dad owned a Par 3 course in Detroit Lakes called Ironman Golf Course,” Smith-Stroh said. “The clubhouse was attached to our house. My earliest memories of playing golf, it’s me and my brother playing barefoot, goofing around on this golf course in our backyard. It was a dream come true for a kid.” FULL STORY: https://fluence-media.co/smithstroh0625

WHAT ARE THE ODDS? Smith-Stroh is among several dozen golfers in the field starting the tournament at 1,000-1 odds.

YAY FOR THE NCAA! You don’t hear that often, right? But the NCAA took a big step toward simplifying its Division I eligibility standards by approving a rule change that is intended to give most players five years of eligibility. No more redshirts, no more medical waivers, few exceptions. The five-year clock starts when the athletes go to college or the academic year following their 19th birthday, whichever is earlier. If athletes wait to enroll, which often happens in men’s college hockey, they will lose a season of competition for each year beyond age 19. The new system starts with the 2026-27 season. Athletes who completed their eligibility under the old rules will not be granted an extra year. (Watch for a legal challenge there.)

THE MAIN POINT: Via NCAA.com. Simplicity was the driver of the change, as well as a feeling that eligibility rules were being skewed to the benefit of a few athletes at the expense of many. VERBATIM: "While previous NCAA rules have served college sports well for a long time, we heard also loud and clear from NCAA members and student-athletes that eligibility rules should be easier to understand," NCAA President Charlie Baker said. "This change to an age-based model eliminates aspects of the rules that have proven difficult to administer in the current litigious environment and clearly defines the exceptions available in limited circumstances, while preserving the long-intended alignment of eligibility with typical college enrollment and graduation patterns, because 98% of the 550,000 NCAA student-athletes will go pro in something other than sports." MORE: https://fluence-media.co/ncaa0525

FAREWELL TO DA BEAUTY: Via Facebook. After a decade of summer hockey at Edina’s Braemar Arena, Da Beauty League — the off-beat summer hockey league that features local pro and college players — announced that 2026 will be its final season. League organizers haven’t announced why they are getting out — only that they are. The high-end pickup games have been an autograph magnet for youngsters and a place where you didn’t know who might show up to play on any given night, much like the Twin Cities Pro-Am basketball league at DeLaSalle. Two women’s teams were added in 2024. Proceeds go to several charities and nonprofits. The games are 4-on-4, with a two-minute window when goals count double and overtime shootout rules in which both teams are on the ice at the same time. VERBATIM: “What started as an idea back in the fall of 2015 became something bigger than any of us imagined. A decade of the best hockey players in the world lacing them up at Braemar Arena in Edina, and a community that showed up every single summer. Somewhere along the way, summer nights at Braemar became part of what Minnesota summers are. We’re going out the right way. Stay tuned.” MORE: https://fluence-media.co/dabeauty0625

MORE: Opening night is July 15 with three games per night before the league championship games on Aug 19. TICKETS, MERCH AND STREAMING

NHL DRAFT, CULLEN’S FUTURE: Last week’s Sports Take included a preview that highlighted the Minnesotans who are candidates to be taken in the NHL Draft, which will be held Friday and Saturday. (6 p.m. Friday, ESPN; 10 a.m. Saturday NHL Network). Most of the state buzz has focused on Wyatt Cullen of Moorhead, who is expected to go in first half of the first round. More about Culler is in these pre-draft reports from Jess Myers at Pioneer Press and Randy Johnson at Star Tribune. Because of trades, the Wild doesn’t have a pick until the third round.

GOOD WORLD CUP READING: Jon Marthaler, a freelance writer whom the Star Tribune relied on to cover Minnesota United for a couple of years, has been writing about the World Cup from Seattle, where he’s attended games and also written about the excitement and annoyances of being in a host city. READ HIS POSTS: https://fluence-media.co/marthaler0625

WHY WALLNER’S NOT BACK: Via aarongleeman.com. Twins outfielder Matt Wallner was demoted to St. Paul last month in a move similar to what the team did to Royce Lewis. Also, similar to Lewis, Wallner has put up some impressive minor-league statistics — most notably 11 home runs and a .349 average in a 19-game stretch through the weekend. But the problem that relegated Wallner apparently has yet to be solved. VERBATIM: “He was one of MLB’s least-productive hitters against fastballs since the start of last year, to the point the Twins seemingly shielded him from the hard-throwing pitchers. Unfortunately, that doesn’t appear to have changed. There aren’t as many Triple-A pitchers with big-time velocity, so the sample is fairly small, but Wallner has hit just .176 off fastballs 95 mph or higher for the Saints while whiffing on 33 percent of his swings. By comparison, he’s hit .326 off fastballs 94 mph or lower. Wallner has 11 homers since his demotion and just one came off a pitch thrown harder than 94.3 mph. Seven of the homers were hit off pitches thrown 90 mph or slower.” MORE: https://fluence-media.co/wallner0625

EVEN DEEPER HOLE? The Twins are pretty well set in the outfield right now with Byron Buxton, Trevor Larnach, Kody Clemens and Austin Martin. Ryan Kreidler, currently getting a lot of time at shortstop, is also an outfield option. PLUS: If the Twins wanted to bring up an outfielder, touted prospects Walker Jenkins and Alan Roden are waiting for call-ups.

GOLF SHAKEUP, 3M OPEN’S FUTURE? Via Pioneer Press and Associated Press. The PGA Tour will be broken in half starting in 2028, with 15 top events as part of the “Championship Series” and the remaining 20 or so as part of the “Challenger Series.” The top-tier events will have fields of about 120 players and the others will have about 144. Championship and Challenger events will often be scheduled for the same weekend. LOCAL QUESTION: Will the 3M Open be a Championship Series event? This year’s tournament, set for July 23-26 at the TPC Twin Cities in Blaine, has a purse of $8.8 million. VERBATIM: “Conversations about just that have taken place in recent months. PGA Tour CEO Brian Rolapp indicated the Tour’s hope to lure larger markets into the Championship Series. The Twin Cities certainly falls under that umbrella. A source suggested the PGA Tour would like the 3M Open to be a stop on the top tour, but that will ultimately be determined by 3M and if the company is willing to back a $20 million purse.” MORE: https://fluence-media.co/pga0625

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STANLEY CUP TEASE: Via Patrick Reusse at Star Tribune. Three members of the Stanley Cup champion Carolina Hurricanes have Minnesota ties, which means the trophy will make another run through the state this summer. Star defenseman K’Andre Miller, right wing Jackson Blake and veteran Mike Reilly will each get a day to host and display the Cup. Reusse’s column notes their very different paths to the NHL title and ends with a sharp stick poke in the eye to Wild fans. VERBATIM: “Ah, the Cup — just visiting, as always.” COLUMN: https://fluence-media.co/cup0625

HIGH SCHOOL TRANSFER IDEA: This is the time of year when you don’t have to dig deep into the media (social or otherwise) for news of players moving from one high school to another. Chatter about MSHSL transfer rules often ignores the fact that the league doesn’t see itself as an investigative body and leaves eligibility work to school activity and athletic directors. A former AD recently told me, “It’s quite backwards that athletic directors are in change of eligibility. It sets ADs up to be wrong.” SOLUTION? I’ve heard this suggestion: What if the high school league allowed one “free” transfer and then set up a mechanism to check closely on students seeking to transfer for a second time? QUESTION: Would any rules — current or new ones — hold up to a legal challenge? The partnership among public education, private schools and a nonprofit organization is a tricky one to navigate and looks very fragile.

QUICK NOTE: Not doing any other “transfer news” in this week’s Sports Take because I don’t want to infer that the above item was generated by any specific transfers. But athletes changing schools takes up a lot of web bandwidth, including a major part of Marcus Fuller’s recruiting beat at Strib Varsity. Ignoring the issue is a head-in-the-sand move.

AUGSBURG HIRES HOCKEY COACH: Via University release. VERBATIM: “Zach Stepan, who has served as a hockey coach in junior hockey for the past decade, has been named the new head coach of the Augsburg University men's hockey team, the university has announced. Stepan will be the sixth head coach in the modern era (since 1959) of the Augsburg men's hockey program. Most recently, Stepan has served as head coach and president of the Minnesota Wilderness, a team based in Cloquet, Minn., playing in the North American Hockey League (NAHL), the second tier of the American junior hockey system and one of the main development routes for players planning to play for NCAA Division III men's hockey programs. . . . Under Stepan, the Wilderness finished 42-12-5 in the 2025-26 season, winning the NAHL's Midwest Division and advancing to the league's Robertson Cup championship game, where they lost 3-2 in overtime to the Maryland Black Bears.” MORE: https://fluence-media.co/augsburg0625

AURORA PLAYOFFS: Minnesota Aurora clinched their fifth division title in five seasons in the USL-W league and raised their record to 11-0 with a 1-0 win at Rochester on Tuesday. After closing the regular season this weekend, Aurora will advance to the 16-team playoff — and would play at home (TCO Stadium) in the league semifinals on July 10 if they win their first two playoff games. Aurora’s all-time regular season record is 54-0-5 but they have never won the USL-W title. If you’ve rekindled or discovered affection for soccer through the World Cup, watching Aurora would be a way to act on your interest. TICKETS | TEAM WEB SITE

AND FINALLY: I found out about the “Twins Rally Dancers” a few days back when a friend texted a screen grab from an Instagram post that proclaimed: “The Target Field experience just got a lot more fun! Introducing the Twins Rally Dancers!” My friend’s text: “Dancers? Are you kidding me?” Nope. The dancers are currently scheduled to appear at eight games, debuting on July 10, which also happens to be the night of a pro wrestling card following the Twins-Angels game. So far, the Twins have promoted the dancers exclusively through their social media pages, some of which include a link to a page on the team’s website. Promised are “high-octane dance routines and spontaneous fan interactions.” WEB REACTION: Decidedly mixed. MY REACTION: “Spontaneous fan interactions” feel decidedly cringe.

THAT’S ALL: Have a fabulous 4th and I’ll be back to you in two weeks.

EMAIL HOWARD: sportstake100@gmail.com

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Bluesky: @howardsinker.bsky.social
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Previous editions of Sports Take are here.

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ESPN’s full TV and streaming service listings: https://fluence-media.co/watch

SATURDAY: Minnesota Aurora vs. River Light FC at TCO Stadium (4 p.m., FOX 9+ and YouTube) Aurora has outscored its opponents 29-0 heading into their final regular-season home game and has a 9-0 record. USL-W playoffs will start up after two final games on the road. TICKETS

SATURDAY-NEXT FRIDAY: Special Olympics at the U of M and Blaine. More than 3,000 athletes and 100,000 visitors are expected. Competitions are free and ESPN+ will show 48 hours of the games Tuesday through next Friday. Opening ceremony tickets at Huntington Bank Stadium are $36. Volunteers are still needed at various venues. VOLUNTEER | TICKETS | MORE

SUNDAY: Lynx vs. Washington (5 p.m., Victory+, NBA TV). If you live here and haven’t seen Olivia Miles in person, I question your basketball fandom. TICKETS

MONDAY-WEDNESDAY: Twins vs. Dodgers (6:40 p.m., Twins.TV; TBS on Tuesday). As of now, Shohei Ohtani is scheduled to start Wednesday.

TUESDAY-WEDNESDAY: NBA Draft (7 p.m., ESPN). The Wolves currently pick 28th in the first round and have the 59th overall pick in the second. That’s subject to change on short notice.

THURSDAY-SUNDAY: KPMG Women’s PGA Championship at Hazeltine. (Golf Channel, NBC, Peacock) No. 1-ranked Nelly Korda will go for her fifth tour win in nine starts this season and a clinch a spot in the LPGA Hall of Fame. TICKETS | TV/STREAMING

THURSDAY: USA vs. Turkey (9 p.m. FOX). The end of pool play; Team USA has already clinched Group D with wins over Paraguay and Australia, and will play its first knockout round game on July 1. KNOCKOUT ROUND SCHEDULE

FRIDAY-SATURDAY: NHL Draft. (6 p.m. Friday, ESPN; 10 a.m. Saturday, NHL Network) There are 18 Minnesotans among the 200+ players ranked by the NHL’s Central Scouting service, including a potential first-rounder.

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WAY OUTSIDE THE BOX: Via Chris Hine at Star Tribune. There’s an argument to be made that the Timberwolves should follow the lead of the NBA champion Knicks and runner-up Spurs and retool their roster around Anthony Edwards and their other young players. That would mean trading Rudy Gobert and Julius Randle, relying on remaining roster to contend for the playoffs next season and being real title contenders in the years following. Using the term “gap year,” Hine cites a batch of reasons why the move makes sense and throws down a challenge for Edwards.

CHALLENGING ANT: Here’s how Hine sees it. VERBATIM: “Remove the security blanket that is Gobert on that end of the floor and make Edwards guard consistently for one of the few times in his career. It’s also time to see what Jaden McDaniels and Naz Reid can do with more offensive usage. Both have shown flashes of being solid to excellent playoff contributors. Handing them more responsibility in the regular season might help hone their games to be even more consistent in the postseason. Without Gobert on defense, the mistakes Edwards is prone to make (like falling asleep on off-ball defense) will be much louder, and it might inspire him to work harder. Embrace Edwards as a on-ball defender, an area in which the team has constantly said he can be elite. Coach Chris Finch says McDaniels is a high-level rim protector. Lean into that. . . . Finch has repeatedly said Edwards’ path to becoming an MVP candidate is to be the best two-way player in the league. Make him prove it by letting go of Gobert, 33, while his trade value is still relatively high.” FULL STORY: https://fluence-media.co/wolves0618

NAILED IT: Every now and then, someone writes something that gets to heart of how I feel and keeps me from having to find my own words. That’s the case with Nick Nelson’s recent Twins Daily essay on Byron Buxton, which is filled with frustration over Buxton’s late-career excellence (mid-career if we’re lucky, maybe) coming against the backdrop of a 2026 roster that wasn’t built to be competitive. Buxton’s 23 home run (third in MLB), .937 OPS (ninth) and extraordinary defense deserve a better supporting cast. Add to that Buxton building relationships with the organization and community to the point that he doesn’t want to waive the no-trade clause in his contract despite the feebleness surrounding him. In disserving fans by creating obvious roster shortfalls last summer and ignoring them over the winter, the Twins failed to show Buxton the respect that he’s shown them.

MONEY QUOTE: “If I’m being honest, it makes me feel all the more bitter toward a Twins franchise that is unwilling to reward that loyalty with a competitive effort around Buxton as he reaches his full potential in the late stage of his prime. This roster’s shortcomings entering the season were plain to see, regardless of Tom Pohlad’s lip service, and now we’re seeing what happens as an undermanned team ventures into the heart of the season: they are predictably running aground.” MORE: https://fluence-media.co/buxton0618

ONE MORE TIME: What if the Twins hadn’t demolished their bullpen at the trade deadline by sending Louis Varland to Toronto and Jhoan Duran to the Phillies? You would have anchors for an elite bullpen instead of one that is near the bottom of the majors by almost any measurement. The Twins would certainly be closer to 4 1/2 games ahead in the AL Central than 4 1/2 games behind.

DATA PLEASE: Via Aaron Gleeman. In starting off a post explaining the surprising success of recently acquired Twins reliever right-hander Yoendrys Gomez, Gleeman cites these sad bullpen numbers. VERBATIM: “No. 25 in Win Probability Added, No. 27 in strikeout rate, No. 28 in strikeout-to-walk ratio, and No. 29 in ERA out of 30 teams.” MORE: https://fluence-media.co/bullpen0618

ATTENDANCE INCENTIVE? Does this sound like the elementary school challenge where students get rewarded for reading books? The Twins have sold fewer tickets so far this season than in 2025 — down 3.1% through 39 home dates — when they finished with their lowest attendance since Target Field opened in 2010. On Wednesday, the Twins emailed season-ticket holders, telling them they will get a credit toward their 2027 renewal worth 15% of the price of every ticket they use this season — and an extra 5% for each of those games won by the Twins. The offer is capped at $2,000 and doesn’t include the Champions Club or suites. DETAILS: https://fluence-media.co/tickets0618

GRANDMA’S TURNS 50: Via KQDS-TV. The 50th anniversary of the Two Harbors-to-Duluth marathon is Saturday with a field of 9,500 that expands to 23,000 when the half-marathon and 5K entry lists are added. According to local sources the event is expected to generate about $40 million for the Duluth-Superior region. REPORT: https://fluence-media.co/marathon0618

RUNNING EVERY RACE. Via Christa Lawler at Star Tribune. John Naslund, 76, of Bloomington, is the only person to have crossed the finish line in every Grandma’s Marathon. He’ll be at the starting line again Saturday. A pole vaulter at Minnesota Duluth, Naslund became a marathon enthusiast and has also run all 43 Twin Cities Marathons. His best time? 2 hours, 21 minutes at the Milwaukee Lakefront Marathon in 1981. His 2025 times? 5:31:06 at Grandma’s and 6:23:12 at the Twin Cities Marathon in October. The journey takes longer, but it’s still fulfilling. VERBATIM: “Naslund’s memories of most past Grandma’s Marathons are just snippets of interactions here and there, but the rest blends together, he said. Thinking back on his early running years, Naslund said he couldn’t imagine that he would be tied to the marathon in this way. ‘You’re in your mid-20s, you’re doing stuff and having experiences. Long-term, at that point, might be five years out. But, you know, life just keeps chipping away.’ “ FULL STORY: https://fluence-media.co/everyrace0618

MARATHON GUIDE: Watch the race live | Runner and spectator guidebook | Leaderboard and results

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FIRST-ROUND DRAFT PICK? Via Scott Wheeler at The Athletic. In November, Moorhead’s Wyatt Cullen was listed as a probable fourth- or fifth-round pick in next week’s NHL Draft. Then the games began and Cullen’s ranking, as a member of the U.S. National U18 team, shot up to the point that he’s now listed 13th on the NHL Central Scouting prospect list. It happened, in part, because of a growth spurt over the last two years in which Cullen, the son of NHL veteran Matt Cullen, grew from 5-foot-5 to 6-foot-1 and gained 56 pounds. There was hard work involved, too. Cullen has committed to playing college hockey for Minnesota, where his father joined the coaching staff in April as director of player development. VERBATIM: “The growth has been a big piece for him. It has allowed him to actually separate a bit,” U.S. NTDP head coach Nick Fohr told The Athletic. “He’s such a good hockey player. He’s got such good hands in tight. He’s got the shakiness, the playmaking, the vision. All of that stuff is elite. And he couldn’t get any time and space last year because he just couldn’t get away from anybody. So the growing that he has done and the strength that he has put on has been immense. Talk about a transformation over two years.” FULL STORY: https://fluence-media.co/cullen0618

MORE MINNESOTA TALENT: Via Olivia Hicks at Strib Varsity. There are 17 more Minnesota players among the 224 ranked by NHL Central Scouting. Others among the Top 75 are forward Victor Plante of Hermantown at No. 42, defenseman Jayden Kurtz of Rogers at No. 61 and defenseman Kyle Heger of Eagan at No. 66. Carter Casey of Grand Rapids is ranked No. 26 among goalies and Luke Carrithers of Maple Grove is ranked No. 28. MINNESOTA LIST | FULL RANKINGS

WILD PICKS: The Wild don’t have a first-round pick because it was traded to Vancouver as part of the Quinn Hughes deal. Their second-round pick went to Nashville for center Michael McCarron. Minnesota has five picks in Rounds 3 through 6, including two in the fifth round. FULL DRAFT ORDER: https://fluence-media.co/nhl0618

SPECTACULAR: Olivia Miles set a WNBA rookie record with 24 points in the first half of Wednesday’s 99-83 win at Los Angeles on Wednesday. She finished with 31 points — including 16 in the second quarter when the Lynx broke open the game — to miss the team’s rookie record of 32 set 20 years ago by Seimone Augustus.

GAME OF THE YEAR? If you were distracted by something else — maybe the concluding game of the NBA Finals — you missed the Lynx and defending WNBA champion Las Vegas put on a show last Saturday night that would be fun to see repeated in the 2026 playoff finals. The Aces jumped out to an early lead, the Lynx battled back and took the lead in the final minute before four-time MVP A’ja Wilson and star guard Chelsea Gray made four free throws in the final 20 seconds to take the 100-97 victory. Olivia Miles scored 29 points and frustrated herself with six turnovers. Wilson scored 24, Gray scored 23. It was the kind of game when one team’s mistakes were usually caused by the other team’s play. In other words, the best kind of basketball. LOOK AHEAD: The teams play at Target Center at noon on August 8 and Minnesota follows that the next day with a 2:30 p.m. game against Dallas. TICKETS

THE ‘REEL DEAL’: Via Maitreyi Anantharaman at Defector. If you need to catch up on her quarter-season with the Lynx, this puts Olivia Miles in perspective. VERBATIM: “Vertical video makes Olivia Miles look good. Horizontal video makes her look better. Her gift shines in context, on the unadorned and unsoundtracked platform that is the next day’s full-game replay. What the Minnesota Lynx rookie does best as starting point guard of the WNBA’s top team is to understand every option available to her before choosing, inevitably, the right one. She’s done well to earn the title ‘highlight reel player,’ but watch her enough and realize she’s special for being a “film room player,” too. Perhaps that’s why this was not something everyone saw coming: the instant stardom, the MVP talks, the Lynx’s surprisingly torrid start as they wait for franchise player Napheesa Collier to return from an ankle injury. MORE: https://fluence-media.co/miles0618

ALL-STAR VOTING: Miles is ninth in fan voting for the WNBA All-Star Game. The top four guards and six frontcourt players are determined by fan, player and media voting. Coaches pick the reserves. Lynx post player Natasha Howard is 12th and guard Courtney Williams, who deserves to be higher, is 27th. The top two finishers will be named captains and choose up sides for the July 25 game in Chicago. VOTE: https://fluence-media.co/vote0618

TOP 40 VOTE-GETTERS: The first batch of votes was released Wednesday. Fan voting ends on June 27. https://fluence-media.co/40top0618

AND THE MEN: The NBA draft’s first round is Wednesday and the second round is Thursday. Barring a trade, which may not be a high bar, the Wolves will pick 28th in the first round. With a pick that far down, it’s understandable there’s no consensus in an assortment of mock drafts. Names getting mentioned include Sergio De Larrea, a 6-5 wing from Spain; Ebuka Okorie, a 6-2 point guard from Stanford; Isaiah Evans, a 6-6 wing from Duke; Joshua Jefferson, a 6-8 forward from Iowa State, and Jack Kayil, a 6-5 point guard from Germany.

TOP 100 PROSPECTS: Via The Athletic. There’s a Gophers player at No. 99 on the list, but only 60 will be drafted. RANKINGS: https://fluence-media.co/100best0618

U’S MURPHY DRAFTED SECOND: Via Kate Shefte at Seattle Times. Gophers forward, All-American and Olympic gold medalist Abbey Murphy was the second player taken overall in the PWHL draft and is headed for Seattle. She was one of five Gophers players selected in the six-round draft after scoring 40 goals and 26 assists in 31 games. VERBATIM: “The skilled agitator captained the Gophers and led the country in points per game. The Wall Street Journal referred to her as ‘America’s trash-talking, goal-scoring, punch-throwing hockey unicorn’ in a February headline. Her 67 penalty minutes were third in NCAA Div. I last season, according to EliteProspects. That’s a long way from her 118 PIMs during the 2023-2024 season. While former Torrent captain Hilary Knight noted her Team USA teammate’s ability to get ‘under people’s skin,’ she also compared Murphy to ‘a cheat code.’ Murphy helped the Americans to gold in Milano Cortina 2026, with seven points in as many games.” MORE: https://fluence-media.co/murphy0618

FROST’S TOP PICK: Via Cassidy Hettesheimer at Star Tribune. The Frost used the ninth overall pick to take defender Sara Swiderski, who played at Ohio State and Clarkson. She was the first Canadian player drafted and was surprised to be taken by Minnesota, which didn’t contact her before the draft. VERBATIM: "They obviously are a team that competes for championships over and over again every year, so I think I can really bring in that great kind of play and do my best to work hard and earn my spot.” MORE: https://fluence-media.co/sara0618

FULL FROST DRAFT PICKS: https://fluence-media.co/frost0618

ALSO: Four Minnesota Duluth players and one from Minnesota State were drafted, too. Gophers defender Nelli Laitinen was taken by expansion Hamilton with the sixth overall pick and defender Sydney Morrow was taken by Seattle with the second pick of the second round. The first UMD player taken was forward Thea Johansson, who went to Vancouver in the second round. The Minnesota State player taken was former Lakeville South star Taylor Otremba, a forward taken by Ottawa with the second-to-last pick of the draft. FULL DRAFT: https://fluence-media.co/pwhl0618

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LEWIS FINDS GROOVE: Via Bobby Nightengale at Star Tribune. It’s been only 10 games, but Royce Lewis has a .324 batting average and 1.003 OPS since being brought back to the Twins after a couple weeks in St. Paul. His 12-for-37 showing includes three home runs, two doubles and only seven strikeouts. The numbers is 31 games before the demotion? .163 average, .539 OPS and 37 strikeouts in 104 at-bats. He’s also made a good adjustment to playing first base, which free up Kody Clemens to play other positions and keeps defensive liability Josh Bell to more of a DH role. Part of the process was a return home to California for visits with agent Scott Boras and his father. Together, they watched videos of Lewis at his best. VERBATIM: “I feel like my confidence was always there. I feel like people say, ‘It was a confidence thing, and you’ve got to mentally reset.’ I’m like, dude, I was mentally fine. I just wanted to know what was the thing to get me back to actually doing it in a game.” FULL STORY: https://fluence-media.co/royce0618

PRIDE CONTROVERSY, MINNESOTA ANGLE: Via The Big Lead. Sam Hentges, the former Mounds View star and fourth-round draft choice in 2014, was one of the four San Francisco Giants players who protested the team’s Pride Night. Other players altered caps worn for the game; Hentges chose to wear the team’s traditional cap and the next day said of the team’s LGBTQ+ event, “I don’t morally support it.” The players participating in the action were criticized by Giants broadcaster Mike Krukow, a former MLB pitcher whose son is gay. VERBATIM: “I think that you have the right as a player to believe and say whatever you want,” Krukow told columnist Ann Killion. “But you have to take a broader look at the city you’re playing in. What makes San Francisco so great is the acceptance of others — ethnicities, opinions, cultures — and that extends to the gay community. I would just hope they would understand the demographic of San Francisco and respect people for who they are. What you do to your uniform, that has weight to it. You can offend people. And why would you do that?” MORE: https://fluence-media.co/pride0618

FORFEITING: Via USA Today. An independent minor league team in York, Pa., is forfeiting a game tonight because some of its players said they wouldn’t wear the team’s Pride jerseys. Owners of the York Revolution called the refusal “complete inconsistent with our visions” and said they would make a $10,000 donation to a local LGBTQ+ resource center. MORE: https://fluence-media.co/york0618

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MAPLE GROVE TO MADISON: Wisconsin received a commitment from Jack Thelen, the 7-foot-1 Maple Grove center whose team finished fourth in Class 4A last season. Thelen averaged 13 points and nine rebounds a game for Maple Grove. The Badgers are also recruiting his teammate, Baboucarr Ann, a 6-foot-5 wing who is also being sought by the Gophers. Former Maple Grove and Wisconsin player Brad Davison is an assistant at Madison.

INTERNATIONAL PLAY FOR GOPHER: Via University of Minnesota. Gophers junior Tori McKinney has been named to the USA 3x3 team that will play in Chile starting next weekend in hopes of qualifying for the world tournament in China in September. McKinney, from Minnetonka, was chosen to the Big Ten all-defensive team last season and was a second team all-Big Ten selection. MORE: https://fluence-media.co/mckinney0618

PETERSON’S DAUGHER LEAVES MINNETONKA: Via Marcus Fuller at Strib Varsity. Ari Peterson, daughter of former Vikings great Adrian Peterson, posted on Instagram she’s leaving Minnetonka for Long Island Lutheran, a private school that produced three McDonald’s All-Americans in 2024 and 2026. The junior already has scholarship offers from the Gophers and at least a half-dozen other Big Ten schools. Before Minnetonka, Peterson played at Providence Academy. MORE: https://fluence-media.co/peterson0618

CALLED IT: In discussing fallout from the Brendan Sorsby college gambling mess last week, which featured a Texas judge ruling that Sorsby could play for Texas Tech this season despite betting on games when the quarterback attended Indiana, I wrote there was more talk than action about repercussions. That came to pass more quickly than I expected now that Sorsby decided this week to leave school and make himself eligible for the NFL’s supplemental draft later this summer. BIGGER ISSUE: Can the NCAA enforce anything substantial without member schools and the courts getting in the way? I would bet against it.

AND FINALLY: Via MLB.com. The cast of Napoleon Dynamite has bought into the Richmond Flying Mummies of the Northwoods League, the 26-team college summer league that includes franchises in Duluth, Rochester, St. Cloud, Willmar and Mankato. Jon Gries (Uncle Rico), Jon Heder (Napoleon) and Efren Ramirez (Pedro) are among the owners. VERBATIM: “[Gries] wore us down,” Heder said. “He was just like, ‘Baseball, baseball, baseball.’ I was like, ‘Dude, you’re known for football, let’s lean into the football thing.’” MORE: https://fluence-media.co/unclerico0618

THAT’S ALL FOR NOW.

EMAIL HOWARD: sportstake100@gmail.com

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ESPN’s full TV and streaming service listings: https://fluence-media.co/watch

MORE THAN A SPORTING EVENT: Soccer doesn’t get much coverage in the Twin Cities compared to other major sports. But the World Cup is a cultural cornerstone as much as it is an elite competition. So I hope you find Sports Take’s World Cup guide interesting and useful as the world’s attention shifts to soccer for the next six weeks. — Howard Sinker

GREED BAD, GAMES GOOD: The Twin Cities have been spared the drama of hosting the world’s most riveting sports event. Given the demands that FIFA made of host cities and the uncertainties involving anything tinged with politics, this is a good thing. We won’t feel up-close anger over ticket prices, restrictions on where we can go, the impact security threats (real and perceived) or anything else politicians, organizers and their functionaries would have deemed necessary to put on the matches here.

We can just watch soccer. We have the privileges that come with not hosting, most notably the freedom to engage with the World Cup how we see fit. I will watch matches, engage with my text chain of college soccer friends, probably catch a few games in public spaces and pick a team to cheer on when the USA’s hopes for a miracle are ended. I will enjoy seeing the best players in the world and the upstart nations who will challenge them. This is a chance to bust apart the rituals of our sports calendar for the next few weeks. I’m all for that.

CONDITIONAL WELCOME: In a powerful essay for The Athletic, columnist Jerry Brewer wrote: “There will be more countries on the pitch, but fewer ordinary fans can afford tickets to watch them. For many potential visitors, an obstacle greater than price gouging will be simply arriving without incident, not to mention feeling safe if they do. The three neighbors hosting the tournament — the U.S., Canada and Mexico — once sold their continental cohesion, but now America is entangled in trade disputes with both of them. Seldom has the red, white and blue welcome mat been more conditional. The numbers suggest this is the biggest global soccer spectacle ever, but in reality, it keeps shrinking. And look at who gets squeezed out: the people who make it matter.” MORE: https://fluence-media.co/brewer0611

SO WHY CARE?: I posed that question to my text chain, most of whose members played through college. REPLY: “Think of FIFA like the NFL, only bigger. Fans love the sport and are willing to die for their teams. But the governing bodies and country leaders, like NFL owners, are exceptionally greedy.” ANOTHER ONE: One of my friends sent along this piece by the outstanding writer Dave Barry, who wrote about being in Paris when the 1998 World Cup was being played and the mood leading up to the final between Brazil, which was expected to be there, and France, which wasn’t and pulled off a shocking upset. VERBATIM: “In the four days leading up to the final, Paris was the happiest city I’ve ever seen. The Brazilians were happy because they are just naturally happy, plus they were absolutely certain their team was going to win. The French were happy just to have gotten that far. And everybody, from whatever country, was happy to be in that beautiful place at that perfect time. It was magical; all of Paris was in a good mood. Even the waiters.” MORE: https://fluence-media.co/paris0611

FAMILY MEMORY: My son being in France in 2006 and coming home to tell us about watching the semifinals, being played in Germany, at a plaza in Nice — and the fountain-jumping celebrations after Les Bleus defeated Portugal 1-0.

SO WHY NOT HERE? The Twin Cities was one of three major North American metro areas that passed on seeking to host. Chicago and Montreal were the others. That call was made in 2018, just after U.S. Bank Stadium played host to the Super Bowl. Matt Meunier, executive vice president of business development and tourism for Minnesota Sports and Events (MNSE), told Sportico’s Luke Cyphers: “That event for us was 100% financed through corporate fundraising and so we had to go back to these corporate community partners who are fantastic and say, ‘Oh, by the way, the commitment we just needed from you for Super Bowl, we need to multiply that to get to where we need to be for FIFA — can you do that?’”

WHAT DID FIFA WANT? In addition to money, you mean? From the Sportico report: “The city and state didn’t have a sufficient public-funding mechanism in place then, Meunier said. The other challenge was a perceived lack of flexibility in FIFA demands about things like size and duration of fan festivals, and the two-month no-go zones created around the stadium venues, where no other events could be held. Lacking clarity, Minneapolis dropped its bid.” MORE: https://fluence-media.co/no0611

MISSING ANOTHER CHANCE? Via Andy Greder at Pioneer Press. So far, a joint bid by the United States, Mexico, Costa Rica and Jamaica is the only one that FIFA has to host the 2031 Women’s World Cup. At one point, the Twin Cities hoped to get some games. But that optimism changed when the Legislature adjourned last month. VERBATIM: “In an April interview, Meunier expressed confidence Minnesota would be able to host matches for the women’s tournament. But his tone shifted in June after efforts to establish a sustainable funding model for MNSE failed in the Minnesota Legislature. . . . The women’s World Cup will have different costs than the men’s tournament, but Meunier emphasized, ‘until we solve our funding issue, it’s going to be really, really challenging.’ “ MORE: https://fluence-media.co/funding0611

WHAT WE GET: Instead, we will have locally sponsored fan festivals. Minnesota United is sponsoring the biggest one at Peavey Plaza next to Orchestra Hall – and there will be sports bars, restaurants and even a coffee shop in the area hosting watch parties. There will be more than enough soccer for the faithful and the casuals. It won’t be Kansas City, the nearest venue for the games, which constructed a special Fan Festival venue. And it won’t be Toronto, where estimated hosting costs of $45 million ballooned to $380 million, according to a Radio-Canada investigative report.

Even from a distance, there will be enough.

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WORLD CUP GUIDE, TWIN CITIES EDITION:

SOCCER CELEBRATION: Hosted by Minnesota United, there will be daily events at Peavey Plaza between Orchestra Hall and Brit’s Pub. There will be the usual combination of big screen viewing, food trucks and live media events. It opens at noon today and features a Spanish-language broadcast of Mexico vs. South Africa at 2 p.m. The USA opener vs. Paraguay is being shown at 8 p.m. Friday. Tickets are required, but free. TICKETS, SCHEDULES, MORE: https://fluence-media.co/celebrate0611

LATEST NEWS UPDATES: Via The Athletic. https://fluence-media.co/live0611

TEAM USA PLAYS WHEN? The United States is in Group D in the qualifying round. Games are at 8 p.m. Friday vs. Paraguay, 2 p.m. on June 19 vs. Australia and 9 p.m. June 25 vs. Turkey. All games are on Fox, Telemundo and Peacock. https://fluence-media.co/teamusa

AFTER THAT? The top two teams in each of the 12 groups will advance to the single-elimination knockout round along with the eight best third-place teams. The knockout round starts June 28. The championship match is July 19 at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey.

USA PLAYER PROFILES: https://fluence-media.co/teamusa0611

‘OUR’ COACH: Via Henry Bushnell at The Athletic. Mauricio Pochettino was hired two years ago to reverse struggling U.S. men’s soccer fortunes. The hiring of the Argentinian native who had managed Chelsea of the English Premier League was largely financed by hedge-fund billionaires with an interest in importing what the United States had failed to produce — an elite international-caliber leader. It hasn’t been easy. VERBATIM: “It has not necessarily been linear and ascendant. Pochettino’s 20 months in charge have been rocky. The 54-year-old Argentine coach has spoken about how he ‘identified problems … destroy(ed) the things that we needed to destroy, and start(ed) to build the house from the ground up.” Doing so took pain, losses and time.’ ” MORE: https://fluence-media.co/coach0611

WORLD CUP ODDS: https://fluence-media.co/worldcupodds

TV INFO: Fox, FS1, Peacock and Telemundo are the primary outlets. If you have a Roku, check out the Soccer Zone tab. Every game is here: https://fluence-media.co/worldcuptv

ON THE RADIO? Team USA and other key matches will be broadcast on KFAN (100.3 FM). FOX Sports Radio is teaming with Sirius/XM (Channels 83 and 157) and IHeartRadio for all matches.

50 BEST PLAYERS: Via ESPN. Grow some quick soccer knowledge with these rankings: https://fluence-media.co/best0611

33 PLACES THAT WILL SHOW THE GAMES: Via Bring Me the News. Some will focus on specific teams. La Doña Cervecería in north Minneapolis will focus on Latin and North American teams. The Iron Ranger on Grand Ave. will be a gathering spot for Croatia’s supporters. QUESTION: Where’s the Canada bar? LIST: https://fluence-media.co/worldcupwatch

LOCAL ANGLE: There isn’t much. But Star Tribune columnist La Velle E. Neal III tells a colorful story about how his reward for writing about the 1994 World Cup — the last time it was played here — was his first job as a baseball beat writer. CAUTION: Story includes drug reference. ;) READ: https://fluence-media.co/lavelle0611

FIFA WEB SITE: Complete standings, schedules, statistics and rosters. https://fluence-media.co/fifa

SPORTS TAKE TICKER

WORLD CUP ASIDE: it’s still a packed sports time in Minnesota. Here’s a quick look and some links. The Vikings latest “quarterback battle” chapter — Kyler Murray vs. J.J. McCarthy — is continuing this week at mini-camp . . . The spring batch of high school state tournaments concludes this week and next . . . The bottom could easily drop out of the Twins season as the schedule gets tougher in the next month . . . Minnesota Aurora has run its unbeaten streak in regular-season competition to 55 since joining the USL-W five seasons ago . . . The NBA draft is in two weeks. Those are things being crowded out of this week’s Sports Take to focus on everything else. But they’ll be back.

LYNX CRUSH WINGS; FUDD FANS FREAK OUT

UNSTOPPABLE LYNX: The Lynx shot 70 percent from the field in the first half on their way to embarrassing Paige Bueckers and the Dallas Wings 100-76 on Tuesday in front of a raucous crowd that didn’t let up from the opening tip until the post-game Electric Slide. It was the eighth straight win for the Lynx (10-2), who are acknowledged for now as the best team in the WNBA and should be acknowledged as the No. 1 sports ticket in town. MY TAKE: The result was so one-sided that it was kind of like watching the Wings play the role of the Timberwolves in their last two playoff losses to San Antonio.

BUECKERS STRUGGLED. Via Dallas Hoops Journal. Bueckers scored 23 points but had only two assists and one rebound against the mayhem-inducing Minnesota defense. She was no more than the fourth-best player on the court behind Olivia Miles, Courtney Williams and Natasha Howard of the Lynx. To her credit, Bueckers owned it. VERBATIM: “I struggled with my decision-making tonight. I felt like I was over-penetrating at times or overthinking simple reads. I need to be quicker, more assertive, more aggressive, and do a better job of getting us into the paint.” Asked about containing Miles, Bueckers said the Wings failed to execute the game plan and put the responsibility on the players.”

BUECKERS ON MILES: “When you’re guarding her, the main focus is keeping her out of the paint and keeping her on one side of the floor. We didn’t do that tonight. We weren’t disciplined enough in executing our game plan, our schemes, and our (scouting report). That’s on us as players. We have to be more disciplined, and it starts with me.” MORE: https://fluence-media.co/bueckers0611

MILES VS. FUDD. NO CONTEST: More notable was how badly Miles — the No. 2 overall pick in the draft — outplayed No. 1 pick Azzi Fudd, who scored six points (2-for-12 from the field) and didn’t have a rebound, assist or free throw in 30 minutes of play. It was a Julius Randle-like disappearance. How good was Miles? The Lynx posted this graphic on the scoreboard during the fourth quarter and then angered Dallas fans by posting it on social media, too.

FEELINGS HURT: Some Dallas fans lashed out at the Lynx for posting the graphic on social media. The Lynx deleted the post, but it lives on in the reposting. Some snippets of family-appropriate reaction: “This is absolutely disgusting.” . . . “I know Fudd had a lot of family in the building. Just complete unnecessary.” . . . “Everyone responsible needs to apologize to her.” . . . “To offer a little grace to a rookie shouldn’t be a hard ask.”

MY TAKE: Play on, everyone! The WNBA is major league and with that comes the mean-spirited trolling we’ve come to accept as part of social media. Anyway, truth-telling is not putting anyone on blast.

SORRY FUDDBUDZ: Watch Miles break Fudd’s ankles and crush Dallas’s soul. (Wait for the announcer comment at the end of the clip.)

BONUS SNARK: Alanna Smith, who left the Lynx to become the highest-paid player on the Wings, had no points and two rebounds in nine minutes off the bench. The 6-foot-5 forward is averaging 3.5 points and 3.2 rebounds per game. Some Dallas fans are giving her grace because she broke her nose during the preseason and is playing with a mask. TAKE WITHOUT GRACE: I think Smith was an elite defensive player for the Lynx because Cheryl Reeve knew how to get the best from her. Mask or not, Smith’s current coach, Jose Fernandez, hasn’t unlocked what Reeve could. The Lynx are better off with Mia Coffey in the spot that used to be Smith’s.

BIG BASKETBALL SATURDAY: Lynx play at second-place Las Vegas (8-3) at 7 p.m. (CBS). Game 5 of the NBA Finals between the Knicks and Spurs is at 7:30 p.m. (ABC). One room, two screens, tip your food delivery driver well.

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TIME FOR CULPEPPER: Via aarongleeman.com. Most of the roster moves between the Twins and St. Paul Saints this season have been underwhelming. But the chance to make a big move exists by calling up Kaelen Culpepper and making him the starting shortstop. The data and the eye test concur, based on Culpepper’s performance with the Saints and the lack of what the Twins have gotten at the position from Brooks Lee and the three bit players — Tristan Gray, Ryan Kreidler and Orlando Arcia — who’ve taken over since Lee was moved to third base. How bad has the Twins’ shortstop play been? VERBATIM: “It’s been bad enough that nothing should be blocking Culpepper’s arrival whenever he’s deemed ready. And he sure seems ready. Culpepper’s overall performance at Triple-A has been uncommonly strong for a 23-year-old, compared to shortstop prospects across MLB or Twins prospects of any position, and he’s trending up recently by hitting .294/.402/.581 with 11 homers and a 149 wRC+ in his last 35 games. Let’s see what the kid can do and let’s start figuring out the Twins’ future infield.” MORE: https://fluence-media.co/culpepper0611

GOPHERS VS. TOMMIES, FINALLY: After ducking the Tommies since their move to Division I, Minnesota has agreed to play St. Thomas in a men’s and women’s basketball doubleheader on November 6 at The Barn. The women’s game shouldn’t be a big test for the Gophers and I’m sure the men’s game came together in large part because Minnesota thinks the risk of losing is small: A team put together after Niko Medved’s first complete recruiting cycle vs. a St. Thomas team blown apart by the loss of several key players in the transfer portal. Still, it’s good for local basketball.

WILL BIG TEN STRIKE A POSE? Big Ten athletic directors are reportedly going to meet to discuss a league-wide ban on playing Texas Tech after quarterback Brendan Sorsby obtained a temporary injunction against the NCAA, allowing him to play this season despite his admission of gambling on his team while he was on the roster at Indiana. If any Big Ten teams have scheduled Texas Tech in any sport for 2026-27, that information has not yet been made public. More noise than signal for now. If the Big 12 — Texas Tech’s conference — takes that kind of action, that would go beyond the performative. BETTING LINE: More talk than action.

WHAT WOULD P.J. DO? Via Tony Liebert at Sports Illustrated. So far, it’s been easy to make headlines by responding to the Sorsby mess. Fleck didn’t fall into that trap when he was asked about it. His answer stuck to the limits of what he hopes he can control. VERBATIM: "The only thing I can focus on is our players. That's the only thing I can do, the constant education. One thing about it is, we're going to take the case, and we're going to teach our players from that.” MORE: https://fluence-media.co/fleck0611

BIG WIN FOR COLLEGE HOCKEY. Via Randy Johnson at Star Tribune. College men’s coaches and junior hockey officials won a major victory when the NCAA’s Division I Cabinet modified a plan that would have started a player’s five years of college eligibility during the year of his expected high school graduation. That would have put a big crimp in hockey’s typical path of going from high school to junior hockey to Division I by cutting into the available years of eligibility for college play. The new recommendation, expected to be approved in two weeks, will start the eligibility clock upon enrollment in college or the start of the academic year following a player’s 19th birthday, whichever comes first. That would still give players time to grow their games in junior hockey without cutting as deeply into their college careers. New Minnesota coach Brett Larson is fine with the compromise, which was sought because of NCAA concerns about players in their middle 20s taking more roster spots in some sports. VERBATIM: “ ‘It still accomplishes some of the uniformity that the NCAA wanted, but it’s not a sea change for college hockey, junior hockey and high school hockey. This new rule is very manageable.’ Larson expects college hockey rosters to become ‘a little bit younger’ than they have been, with players occasionally reaching 25 or older as seniors. He is pleased that players enrolling after playing in a junior league still could have more than three years of eligibility remaining.” MORE: https://fluence-media.co/hockey0611

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‘IT’S NOT EASY DRAFTING ME’: Via Tyler Kuehl at Daily Faceoff. Few tears were shed among Minnesota Frost fans, especially those in the LGBTQ community, when Britta Curl-Salemme signed with Detroit as part of the PWHL’s expansion process. On the ice, in addition to her goal-scoring skills, she was suspended four times in her two season with the Frost for dirty play, including twice during the postseason. Her off-ice activities didn’t help. Apologies and other attempts at amends were followed by more actions that kept them from taken seriously. VERBATIM: “Curl-Salemme’s reputation stems from her controversial posts and supportive actions during her time at the University of Wisconsin and leading up to the 2024 PWHL Draft. She was seen liking racist, anti-LGBTQIA+ and COVID-denier posts on her X account, as well as supporting twin sisters Monique and Jocelyne Lamoreux during their multiple campaigns calling for the ban of transexual athletes in women’s sports. On top of that, Curl-Salemme has partnered with FIERCE Athlete, a group that leads anti-trans and anti-abortion campaigns. While she has apologized for her actions in previous interviews, it hasn’t changed fans’ perception of her, as she has been noticeably booed in every PWHL arena outside of Minnesota.” MORE: https://fluence-media.co/curlsalemme0611

GOOD GUYS GONE: Two players who had very different roles have recently made quiet departures from their teams. After four seasons with the Wild, Marcus Johansson decided to return to his native Sweden, signing a contract with a Swedish Elite team. Johansson, 35, had 15 goals and 34 assists in 75 games for the Wild last season. Joe Ingles, 38, the seldom-used reserve who was a parental influence on the Wolves bench, is leaving after two seasons in Minnesota (and 810 NBA games) to return home to play in Australia’s National Basketball League.

WHY GO, JOE? Via ESPN. Ingles decided to exit after playing 30 minutes in the Wolves final regular-season game, against New Orleans, when coach Chris Finch had no need to use his starters. VERBATIM: “The door opened, Ingles walked through it, and in just over 30 minutes, he dropped a double-double — 15 points and 10 assists — in a high-scoring Timberwolves win. In a vacuum, a fine performance, but it meant more than that. ‘To compete and do what I did in that game was kind of like a tick of the box,’ Ingles said. ‘Like, I know I can still do this.’ ” MORE: https://fluence-media.co/ingles0611

NEW A.D. HIRED: Brett McNeal starts Monday as athletic director at North Central University, leaving an administrative role in the Minneapolis Public Schools, where he was AD for Camden High and FAIR School for the Arts. McNeal was a basketball standout at North High. Two of his five children graduated from North Central last month after playing for the Rams, who are in the Upper Midwest Athletic Conference.

AND FINALLY: Azzi Fudd wasn’t the only one humbled by the Target Center scoreboard during Tuesday’s Lynx-Wings game. Taylor Swift took a Big L too.

THAT’S ALL FOR NOW: Touch asphalt and watch soccer with some new friends.

EMAIL HOWARD: sportstake100@gmail.com

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SOAPBOXING: The other day on Bluesky — my social platform of choice, even if it does sometimes feel like a place where fun goes to die from purity testing — someone sucked the oxygen out of cyberspace with a post that included this line about sports: “Those of us with education and intelligence prefer to discuss topics pertinent to our lives.” I’ve heard knockoffs of that before: the blowhard journalist who would proudly announced himself as “asportsual” when in a room with sports chatter, the condescending term “sportsball” and other self-congratulatory shows of derision.

THE RETORT: While pondering a defense against that attitude — something more eloquent than “stfu and leave the room, why don’cha” — I came across an eloquent retort from ESPN’s wonderful feature writer Wyatt Thompson in a profile by Ben Yoder on the Awful Announcing web site. VERBATIM: “The empathy that defines Thompson’s work is rooted in the belief that sports are rarely just about the games themselves. They are the setting where families, communities, and generations find connection with one another.”

THE QUOTE: Thompson told Yoder, “The reason sportswriting isn’t dead and the reason sportswriting won’t die is that writing about sports is really writing about your family. It’s writing about yourself. It’s writing about your community. It’s writing about your hopes and dreams. It’s writing about your inheritance. Those things will always matter, no matter how the culture zig-zags. Those things will always represent our better angels. Sports can be very divisive, but the best of us lives at its soul.”

Read Sports Take and then scroll back here for the profile on Thompson. And don’t leave the room. There’s a lot to like and to learn. — Howard Sinker

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THE BEST OF US: Via Jim Paulsen at Strib Varsity. Lorenzo Hampton III won his first state track title representing Fridley as a sophomore and is hoping to close his high school career this weekend with more honors at the state track and field meet at St. Michael-Albertville. The meet runs today through Saturday. Fridley was among the schools most impacted by the ICE surge over the winter, and Hampton was quick to get involved in reacting. He saw the toll being taken on the wrestling team, of which he was a member. VERBATIM: “The team’s practices were sparsely attended in the winter. Sports didn’t seem quite as important anymore. ‘I was inside my head too much,’ Hampton said. ‘We had less days in school, less students. In wrestling, there were less practices. Some things were canceled.’ There were questions that occupied him: ‘How could I make a difference? How do I make people aware of what’s going on?' I started being a leader, in protests and checking in on friends.’ “

FAST FORWARD: Hampton had committed to Idaho State University in the fall. But that was before the University of St. Thomas, noting his 3.99 GPA and his other activities, offered him a full-tuition scholarship named for former college president Rev. Dennis Dease. The award goes to 10 first-year students with high financial need who have displayed “a proven track record of leadership, community engagement, and academic excellence.” Hampton has talked to St. Thomas’ coaches about joining the track and field program. VERBATIM: “He works very hard, in academics and athletics, and has a lot of heart,” Fridley track and field coach Elizabeth Winkelman said. “He has a calming, humble character you don’t often see in someone who competes at his level.” MORE: https://fluence-media.co/hampton0604

LARRY FITZGERALD SR. (1953-2026): Via Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder. Larry Fitzgerald Sr. pointed all of us — journalists and readers — toward stories that weren’t likely to be told unless he was doing the telling, whether it was his early-career work for KMOJ radio, when I first met him, or the decades he spent writing for the Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder. VERBATIM: “For nearly five decades, Fitzgerald Sr. was a fixture in Minnesota sports journalism and a trusted voice who made it his life’s work to ensure Black athletes and coaches received the attention and coverage they deserved. He covered dozens of Super Bowls and major sporting events across the country, earning the respect of the Twin Cities journalism community and the broader sports world alike.”

MORE: From the Spokesman-Recorder obituary. “Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder sports columnist Charles Hallman, who worked alongside Fitzgerald Sr. for more than three decades, shared a personal remembrance of his friend and colleague. ‘Larry and I became colleagues at the MSR in 1990. Prior to that we worked together at KMOJ-FM for several years during the 1980s and competed against each other of sorts when I was at Insight News,’ Hallman wrote. ‘We both were cut from the same cloth as strong advocates for Black athletes and coaches in that if we didn’t do it, they might not get the proper attention in coverage as they should.’ “ From WNBA broadcaster Lea B. Olsen on Facebook: “For more than 30 years, Larry Fitzgerald Sr. was someone I could always count on for a warm greeting and a meaningful conversation. He would always ask me how is your big sis DeeDee doing? He understood the importance of showing up, being present in your community, and making a difference by being in the room. Grateful I got to know him! Rest easy, Larry.”

FITTING TRIBUTE: In February, Fitzgerald was inducted as a charter member of the Southside Sports Hall of Fame during a celebration at Sabathani Community Center. As much as I thought I knew about Larry, Hallman and the other inductees, I learned a lot from going to the ceremony. His memory will be a blessing.

READ MORE: Spokesman-Recorder obituary | Patrick Reusse’s column | The Athletic | ESPN

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NEW MAN ON THE MINNESOTA VIKINGS: If the Vikings front office was as fractured as indicated in the reporting following the firing of GM Kwesi Adofo-Mensah — and I don’t doubt that it was — then going outside the organization for his replacement was a logical move. But that’s about all I’m willing to commit to regarding the hiring of Nolan Teasley away from the Super Bowl-champion Seattle Seahawks. For all the superlatives and optimism, the question of whether he can inject what Seattle does well into the Vikings’ culture can’t be answered. C-suites and other sports leadership job trails have no shortage of those who couldn’t replicate success as they moved up or along. I’ll join the “right person” chorus when the Vikings improve on what was accomplished under Adofo-Mensah.

WHO’S REALLY IN CHARGE? Via Kevin Seifert at ESPN. Cutting through all the accolades at Wednesday’s media gathering was the question of how the new leadership team will work. It was heartening to hear co-owner Mark Wilf give what I thought was the right answer. VERBATIM: “It might have seemed odd or even disruptive on a day the organization meant as a celebration, but it was important for anyone who knows the Vikings’ recent and even not-so-recent history. As the team sought to portray collaborative leadership moving forward between Teasley, coach Kevin O’Connell and executive vice president of football operations Rob Brzezinski, it was necessary to ask: Who is in charge? ‘Nolan is,’ Wilf said. ‘He’s the general manager of the organization. He has final say on the roster, of the 53 (players), but in the end, he’s going to lean heavily ... on our head coach, obviously, and people like Rob Brzezinski in the building that have deep experience and skill sets that are complementary. So I think we have it all put together in a great way.’ ”

BOOM! Seifert’s story came with an unsubtle admission that things didn’t work well under previous management and that “who’s in charge” better not be an issue going forward. VERBATIM: “Wilf went on to say that both Teasley and O’Connell will report directly to ownership. Brzezinski, the team’s longtime contract negotiator and salary cap analyst who served as interim general manager for four months this spring, will report to Teasley. ‘That’s the structure,’ Wilf said. ‘That’s the way it is. [But] if it comes to structure, we’ve got a problem. The end result is making sure leaders collaborate, work together.’ ” FULL STORY: https://fluence-media.co/gm0604

ROYCE’S REVIVAL: Via Dan Hayes at The Athletic. In 11 games since he was sent to St. Paul, infielder Royce Lewis has smashed eight home runs, has a .370 batting average and 19 RBI in 51 plate appearances. That included a grand slam and two singles on Wednesday. But the Twins may have dropped the biggest hint about his future in the last 48 hours — a start at second base on defense and taking ground balls at first base in practice. The moves are a hint of what could happen when Lewis comes back to the Twins. Does Luke Keaschall move to the outfield or become a trade candidate? Does Lewis replace the committee of first basemen that has been the norm this season? Does Brooks Lee stay at third base or return to shortstop? And, most important, will mashing minor-league pitching translate to reaching the MLB potential that made Lewis the first overall pick in the 2017 draft? VERBATIM: “We’re thinking about all this stuff on a daily basis,” Twins general manager Jeremy Zoll said. “We all know that these things are really fluid. Our lineup and defensive configuration was one way, and then we look up a few days later and Kody Clemens is in center field. … Obviously, a lot of these things interplay with one another. I think a lot of these things are moment in time as we try to sort through them.” FULL STORY: https://fluence-media.co/royce0604

KEY SERIES: The Twins open a telling four-game series against Kansas City tonight at Target Field. Since last week’s outburst of optimism, the Twins finished off a five-game losing streak and were smoked 8-0 by the White Sox on Wednesday, falling seven games from first place in the AL Central and two games behind for the third Wild Card spot (with three teams ahead of them). The Royals arrive with a 9-21 road record and MLB’s third worst overall record. In other words, a subpar weekend could tell us something about the Twins than an optimist doesn’t want to admit. And in case you were wondering, Baseball Prospectus gives the Twins an 8.2% chance of reaching the postseason.

DANCING WITH NUMBERS, U OF M EDITION: Via Chip Scoggins at Star Tribune. In an interview to mark his 10-year tenure as athletic director at the University of Minnesota, Mark Coyle was asked about the school administration’s desire for the athletic department to have a balanced budget. HIS REPLY: “With the exception of COVID, we’ve always balanced our budget. This year, when we presented our athletic ’26 budget, we had a budget shortfall of about $8.75 million. The reason for that shortfall is we added the $20.5 million (revenue share with athletes) like everybody else did. This fiscal year, we feel like we will be near that $8.75 (million), plus or minus a percent on that budget. We’ll hit what we forecast with campus. We have reserves that we’ll work with campus on to get our budget balanced. We need to continue to generate revenue dollars because we can’t be running across campus (saying), ‘Hey, we need this, we need that.’ " FULL Q&A: https://fluence-media.co/coyle0604

IN OTHER WORDS: Answers like that make me check in with people who know more than I do. In this case, I asked someone who has a CEO/CFO background and is also familiar with college sports. QUESTION: “It looks like he’s saying, ‘We balanced the athletic budget but we didn’t balance the budget.’ Am I missing something here?” ANSWER: I wasn’t. The dramatic changes in contemporary college sports are forcing the U to dip into funds that could be used elsewhere to cover the cost of doing business. “They didn’t balance the budget and are calling from reserves from other parts of the university to cover.” NOTE: Drawing on reserves can be an intentional choice by a nonprofit, such as a university, to fund new initiatives on a temporary basis. The $20.5 million in revenue sharing with athletes, which was approved by the NCAA in June 2025, would be considered that kind of initiative. The bigger questions: How much should the U as a whole be propping up athletic department shortfalls? And for how long?

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HOLMGREN UNDER FIRE: Via assorted sources. Chet Holmgren, the former Minnehaha Academy star, got the Julius Randle/Rudy Gobert treatment on a national level for his poor play when defending champion Oklahoma City was eliminated by San Antonio in the Western Conference finals. Holmgren was particularly bad in Game 7, scoring only four points (on two shots) with four rebounds in a 111-103 loss. Hey, it’s tough playing against 7-foot-4 Victor Wembanyama, d/b/a The Alien in the NBA. "In a perfect world, this would have been the last game Chet plays in an Oklahoma City uniform,” said Stephen A. Smith on ESPN’s First Take. “He shows every symptom of a playoff choker. He plays like he’s terrified of The Alien,” wrote Kevin O’Connor senior NBA writer for Yahoo! Sports. There was more.

OKLAHOMA CITY VIEW: Via Anthony Slater and Tim McMahon at ESPN. There was the natural reflex by Stephen A. and others that Holmgren should be traded. Don’t expect that to happen. The Thunder are more likely to deal with their salary cap issues by reworking the role players who surround Holmgren and superstar Shea Gilgeous-Alexander. VERBATIM: “ ‘I feel like there were definitely opportunities to get more (shots) up that I didn’t in the moment,’ Holmgren said. ‘That’s an area to improve.’ This continued a downward trend in Holmgren’s volume on the perimeter. His 3-point attempts have decreased from 4.3 to 3.6 to 3.5 in his three seasons and were only at 2.8 in these playoffs. Thunder coach Mark Daigneault called it a multilayered problem but did say it was a “priority” to correct that trend. Gilgeous-Alexander backed him ‘When he’s the best version of himself, we’re the best version of ourselves. It’s no secret. We need Chet. . . . I didn’t perform my greatest this series either.’ ” MORE: https://fluence-media.co/chet0604

GREAT WRITING (FROM A HIGH SCHOOLER): Via MinnPost. Even if I didn’t know that Juan Miguel Adams was a senior who graduates from St. Paul Academy on Sunday, I would have been taken in by the maturity and insight in his story about Julius Randle, the Timberwolves forward whose playoff performance left a lot to be desired and became the symbol of the team’s elimination by San Antonio. After a spin through the stats and Randle’s strengths — “There are nights where the game still bends around him. Nights where he barrels into smaller defenders and looks like an All-NBA player for six-minute stretches.” — Adams puts Randle’s career in context.

VERBATIM: “The flashes are real enough to convince organizations they can build around them. The NBA has spent a decade trying to solve the riddle of who Randle actually is. With the Los Angeles Lakers, he was raw potential. With the New Orleans Pelicans, under assistant coach Chris Finch, he evolved into a more dynamic offensive player, posting what was then the best season of his career. With the New York Knicks, he became both savior and scapegoat, dragging a starving franchise back into relevance before eventually becoming the symbol of its ceiling. Minnesota inherited all of it. The power. The volatility. The history. And Finch, more than anyone in the organization, believed he could make it work. Their relationship matters more than most fans realize. Finch coached Randle during his breakout year in New Orleans and has repeatedly defended him publicly in Minnesota, even as criticism mounted. Randle himself admitted earlier this season that Finch’s support ‘means everything’ to him. There is trust there. Familiarity. Finch understands the emotional machinery of Randle’s game better than most coaches ever have. That relationship is likely one reason Randle’s role remained so large even while his playoff inconsistencies became impossible to ignore.” READ THE REST: https://fluence-media.co/randle0604

NOTED: Adams will be attending Boston College. He was managing editor of the St. Paul Academy student newspaper and a participant in the St. Thomas-sponsored ThreeSixty Journalism program. More of his work is here.

FROST PROTECTS STARS (BUT WILL LOSE SOME): Via Cassidy Hettesheimer at Star Tribune. As the four PWHL expansion teams begin filling their rosters this week through the PWHL’s multi-step process, the Frost signed forwards Taylor Heise and Kelly Pannek, and goalie Maddie Rooney to new contracts, designating them as the three players who won’t be exposed to the new teams. That leaves captain Kendall Coyle Schofield and alternative captain Lee Stecklein, who were protected last year, among those available. More players will be eligible for protection by the Frost later in the six-step process, which will run through the month, but the 2026-27 roster should be substantially different. HOW IT WORKS: https://fluence-media.co/pwhl0604

DO NOT MESS WITH THE MASCOT RACE:

SAD HISTORY LESSON: Via Dennis Anderson at Star Tribune. Alan Johnston, 78, was one of the last three lamplighters employed by the U.S. Coast Guard until he was found in Lake of the Woods last month while performing his annual task of setting buoys that help boaters navigate the lake on the Minnesota-Canada border. Johnston was a third-generation lamplighter and Anderson’s story tells the history of lamplighters as well as being an obituary for Johnston. In the early 20th century, there were as many as 1,200 civilian lamplighters employed by the Coast Guard around the country. They received a stipend for their work and access to government health care. Now the work is typically done by full-time Coast Guard members or other government agencies. VERBATIM: “Most mariners never know the names of the people who maintain the lights and buoys that guide them safely through darkness, storms, and danger,” Coast Guard Great Lakes District Commander Rear Admiral Russell Dash said at Johnston’s memorial service. “But everyone on the water depends on them. Alan Johnston’s historic role as a lamplighter is a cornerstone of our navigational safety mission, and it is our honor to recognize his family’s enduring commitment to guiding others safely home.” MORE: https://fluence-media.co/lamplighter0604

CELEBRATE THIS: Via Sabreena Merchant at the Athletic. Their 7-2 start has put the Lynx at the top of WNBA power rankings from The Athletic, ESPN and the league’s web site. Wonder of wonders, huh? VERBATIM: “It remains mind-boggling that a team missing Napheesa Collier (and Bridget Carleton, and Jess Shepard, and Alanna Smith, and Natisha Hiedeman) is sitting atop the WNBA standings. For all of the deserved love coming Olivia Miles and Natasha Howard’s way for their pick-and-roll partnership, the Lynx offense ranks eighth in the WNBA — exactly in the middle. Their league-leading defense (96.8 points allowed per 100 possessions) is the separating factor. Coach Cheryl Reeve has been cooking up elite defenses for more than a decade, and this season’s squad already has its principles intact, despite an offensive surge around the league.” MORE: https://fluence-media.co/lynx0604

BUECKERS SETS ANOTHER RECORD: Via Devon Henderson at The Athletic. If you’re a women’s basketball fan or a collector of Minnesota memorabilia (or have too much discretionary cash), how much would you pay for the Dallas Wings jersey Paige Bueckers wore in her 2025 NBA debut? Collectibles store MeiGray reports that the jersey sold recently for $64,720. VERBATIM: “According to the store, the Bueckers jersey, which she wore on May 16, 2025, went for more than twice the previous mark for a game-worn WNBA jersey: $32,150, paid for a jersey A’ja Wilson wore in the 2025 WNBA Finals. It was also the highest public sale for any women’s sports game-worn, photo-matched item, according to MeiGray. . . . ‘That’s insane to me, just thinking about it,’ Bueckers told reporters. ‘It’s crazy. That much money is insane to me. I wouldn’t even pay $10 for my own jersey.’ “ MORE: https://fluence-media.co/jersey0604

HOMECOMING MUST-SEE: Bueckers and the Wings come to Target Center on Tuesday to face Miles and the Lynx (7 p.m., Victory+). All kinds of fun intrigue, including the two best point guards in the WNBA despite their youth. Miles was named the WNBA Rookie of the Month for May. Bueckers is averaging 18 points and five assists per game and is shooting just under 50% from the field. The Wings also have former Lynx players Shepard, Smith and Odyssey Sims. TICKETS

300-MILE PARTY: Via Star Tribune. The 300-mile Superior Hiking Trail in northern Minnesota is celebrating its 40th anniversary on Saturday. In addition to celebrating by going for a hike one one the trail’s six sections of 50 to 60 miles, users are invited to “birthday parties” from 4 to 7 p.m. at venues in Grand Marais, Tofte, Two Harbors and Duluth. DETAILS: https://fluence-media.co/trail0604

GUIDE TO THE TRAIL: https://fluence-media.co/superior0604

BASKETBALL SHOWCASE: More than 100 college coaches from all levels are expected in White Bear Lake on June 12-13 for a boys’ high school basketball showcase with 126 players from Minnesota and the Dakotas invited. The weekend includes training sessions with coaches, games on Friday night and Saturday, a 3-on-3 tournament and a parent education session. Spectator passes for the games sell for $15 for adults and $10 for students. TICKETS | SCHEDULE

U WANTS EIGHTH-GRADE QUARTERBACK: Via Marcus Fuller at Strib Varsity. The Gophers have offered a scholarship to Carter Cupito of Minnehaha Academy, whose father Bryan is the third-leading passer in the U’s football record books. Cupito started last season for the SMB cooperative team, which also includes The Blake School, St. Paul Academy and Hope Academy and had a 7-3 record last season. Cupito also was a starting guard of the Minnehaha boys’ basketball team that won the Class 2A state title. If these details sound vaguely familiar it may be because Gophers coach P.J. Fleck also sought Jalen Suggs, who played the same combination of sports and positions at the same school before choosing basketball and going on to Gonzaga and the Orlando Magic. MORE: https://fluence-media.co/cupito0604

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DYNASTIES: Via Strib Varsity and Pioneer Press. St. Paul Academy won its fifth straight Class 1A tennis title Wednesday, beating Breck School 4-3 in the championship match. Wayzata won for the fourth straight time in Class 2A. Both matches were tied at 3-3, pending the outcome of a last singles match. Individual tournament play is today and Friday. STORIES: Class 2A | Class 1A | Brackets, Program, Streaming

BLOW OFF WORK FOR BASEBALL: No. 2 seed Edina (19-6) plays No. 1 Wayzata (19-9) in the finals of the Section 6AAAA baseball tournament today at Parade Stadium. Game time is noon with a second game following if Wayzata wins the first one. Wayzata won both regular-season games between the teams. Edina features ninth-grade pitcher Ari Miller, a 6-foot-1 left-hander who has a 9-0 record and didn’t face Wayzata in the first two games. The state baseball tournaments start next Thursday in St. Paul, St. Cloud and Jordan with the finals in four classes set for June 15 at Target Field. EDINA-WAYZATA LIVESTREAM | TICKETS

SPRING TOURNAMENTS: As a group, spring high school tournaments typically gather the least amount of attention without showcase sports — football and volleyball in the fall; hockey and basketball in the winter — to grab attention. But there will be excellent athletes competing and good stories to be told. Softball and tennis conclude four-day runs today and Friday. Track and Field goes from today through Saturday. Baseball, lacrosse, golf and boys’ volleyball are next week. Here’s the calendar, including information about sites, tickets, streaming and who’s playing when. https://fluence-media.co/mshsl0604

NEED BOXSCORES? The double blow of shrinking newspapers and way-too-early print deadlines has resulted in the deemphasis and/or elimination of box scores from newspapers — and many websites don’t make them easy to find. Jeff Blankenburg, an Ohio-based software developer, has created a daily email that includes boxscores, statistics and emails that used to be a newspaper staple. The email is free and available for all of MLB or for individual teams, and he’s planning to expand to other sports. It’s now part of my morning time-suck. INFO, SUBSCRIBE: https://fluence-media.co/boxscore0604

COMING NEXT WEEK: The World Cup opens next Thursday and runs through June 19. I’ll have a library of links to get you through your soccer watching.

HOUSEKEEPING: Previous editions of Sports Take are here. Also, whenever possible, I’m using gift links that allow you to read stories for free on pay sites.

AND FINALLY: Via New York Times. Let’s play a game. This is the first season that MLB umpires can have their ball and strike calls challenged by catchers, batters and pitchers. Their calls are overturned just over half the time, but the most intriguing thing to me is how close the calls are. When a strike call is overturned or a ball is confirmed, TV and stadium scoreboard graphics show how far outside the strike zone the pitch ended up. Typically it’s less than a half-inch. So how would you do? Try calling these seven pitches from your keyboard to find out. PLAY: https://fluence-media.co/ump0604

THAT’S ALL FOR NOW: Oh, yeah. I got two of the seven right. A friend who tried got four. “Send me to The Show!” she said.

EMAIL HOWARD: sportstake100@gmail.com

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THE OPENER: A lot went on while I was taking a holiday week away. The Timberwolves season ended with a spectacular thud and a weird Anthony Edwards controversy. The Twins started purging their roster of dead-wood hitters and rag-armed relievers — and won more than they lost. The short-handed Lynx have the best record in the WNBA and showing out as a fun team to watch. The Vikings quarterback battle — McCarthy vs. Murray — started for real this week and the tension is real. The World Cup is coming. A former Vikings player is running for office in California. And if you’re a volleyball fan, my final item is about a should-see match this evening in St. Louis Park featuring a small-town boys’ team with big tournament dreams. BAR FOR DISCUSSION: Priority goes to the notable news that we can spin into the future because, after all, Sports Take’s No. 1 mission is looking ahead and creating conversation. There’s a lot to talk about! — Howard Sinker

GOOD HOUSEKEEPING: You can find previous editions of Sports Take by tapping here. Also, whenever possible, I’m using gift links that allow you to read stories for free on pay sites. If you find yourself going over and over and over to a site, please consider subscribing to it.

EYE OPENING: Via Grace Praxmarer at Strib Varsity. The “youth sports industry” has become a $40 billion annual thing in the United States and — no surprise here — kids are being priced out of the market while more parents spend heavily on the premise that what you learn on your school teams and from the playground/gym/backyard is no longer sufficient. Mike Snee, vice president of the Minnesota Wild Foundation, says all the money parents are spending isn’t leading to much different outcomes than in the past. VERBATIM: “They met friends, they learned how to win and lose, they got exercise, they had fun — only they spent a lot more money doing it and wrapped up a lot more of their identity into it, all for the benefit of the industry. "Not for the benefit of the athlete.”

PRICE TAG? Kelly Kinney, a sophomore on the Gophers volleyball team, attended a Florida private school ($35,225 tuition at The King’s Academy for the 2026-27 school year) and has parents who spent five figures annually on costs associated with her volleyball club. VERBATIM: “Once she saw a future in volleyball, her parents doubled down, driving an hour each way to a more elite club and getting specialized lessons to help her reach D-I. Kinney’s father, Matt, estimates (the club) cost about $8,000 annually, and closer to $15,000 0r $20,000 after travel. Matt Kinney said some private clubs ‘take advantage’ of families and the current culture of private clubs fosters unrealistic expectations of greatness, in which athletes are promised D-I scholarships, even if they don’t have the skills or athleticism to make it. He said he and his wife would not have paid for the clubs had Kelly not shown so much promise from an early age.” FULL STORY: https://fluence-media.co/youthsports0528

READ MORE: Via New York Times. How youth sports became a $40 billion industry.

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HELP A WRITER OUT. Via Star Tribune. Columnist Laura Yuen is reaching out to youth sports parents to share their experiences. VERBATIM: “I’ve started a reporting project that will try to gauge why youth sports have gotten so expensive and stressful for families. It will examine why so many kids are burned out and quit by 12 or 13. I’ll also explore solutions for families desperate for moderation.” STORY, SURVEY QUESTIONS: https://fluence-media.co/survey0528

McCARTHY VS. MURRAY: Via Emily Leiker at Star Tribune. You can read the tension between the lines of the story about how Vikings starting quarterback hopefuls J.J. McCarthy and Kyler Murray are handling their competition during the Organized Team Activity workouts that run through next week. McCarthy, 23, compared their situation to “two guys in a classroom” working on getting an edge and said he was promised a “true competition” for the job. Murray, 28, a two-time Pro Bowler who was let go by Arizona, sees himself as a mentor. VERBATIM: “On the practice field during Day 2 of Vikings organized team activities Wednesday, McCarthy’s description of his relationship with Murray aligned with observations of the two. When not actively in a drill, the two were not often seen standing close to each other or engaging following their reps. Both quarterbacks worked with the first-team offense during 7-on-7 and 11-on-11 drills; individual players also rotated and mixed teams throughout practice, creating various lineups for the quarterbacks.”

MURRAY’S TAKE: “Murray also used a student analogy when asked about his relationship with McCarthy, though from a mentoring standpoint. He said McCarthy has been ‘overly receptive’ to critiques and has been active in communication and voicing questions. ‘Obviously, I know he’s a younger guy, so any way I can help him . . . give him any knowledge that he needs,’ Murray said. ‘Again, we’re both competitors. I know we both want what’s best for the team.’ “ MY TAKE: More of this, please. Both the drama on the field and the really good description of it. MORE: https://fluence-media.co/qb0528

THOUGHTS AND SHARES: Tell me what you know and what you’re thinking. sportstake100@gmail.com

TWINS ROSTER PURGE: First it was Matt Wallner banished down the Green Line to St. Paul. Royce Lewis and Kody Funderburk followed a few days later. The bullpen needs nametags to track arrivals and departures. The injured lists (including at Class AAA St. Paul) include a batch of key players. The Twins followed baseball’s tradition wisdom and gave their Opening Day roster the first quarter of the season to show strengths and weaknesses and — to the best of their ability — the Twins are attacking their shortcomings in real time. Rookie principal owner Tom Pohlad continues to be an active presence and second-year GM Jeremy Zoll is doing what he can to find replacements in a shallow pool of options. The Twins have gone from playing remarkably bad baseball to boosting themselves — for now — to the fringe of playoff contention. If the season ended today, instead of in another four months, the Twins would be tied with Oakland and Toronto for the American League’s final Wild Card spot.

WHAT’S NEXT? More is needed. The Twins are blessed for now by the remarkable ineptitude of the American League. Only four of 15 teams are above .500. By comparison, all five teams in the National League East are above .500. A closer and a reliable set-up arm will be needed for the bullpen. The offense is underperforming too often. Infield defense is still shabby. As bad teams decide to cut their losses and make players available, the Twins still need to look at their roster as being in need of continuous improvement. As Pohlad said in April, “I want to make sure we’re building on momentum, and I also want to make sure we’re finding ways to improve.”

VETERANS IN DANGER? Switch-hitters Josh Bell and Victor Caratini, signed as free agents over the winter, are both underwhelming and replaceable if the season gets serious. The MLB website Baseball Savant is a good bookmark for putting player performance in context. STATS: BELL | CARATINI

THREE THINGS I LIKE: Without speaking ill of the departed, Derek Shelton’s aggressive managerial style and direct answers are an upgrade from Rocco Baldelli’s chill and word-salad responses. Byron Buxton’s understated leadership is an upgrade from the GM-in-the-clubhouse tone Carlos Correa brought to the Twins. Two veterans who looked like fringe players (or worse) at the start of the season, pitcher Bailey Ober and outfielder Trevor Larnach, have so far been among the team’s best performers.

LIFE AFTER ROYCE? Via Dan Hayes at The Athletic. The Twins have moved Brooks Lee to third base — Lewis’s position — and have veteran shortstop options on the current roster and a couple of top prospects at the position working their way through the minors. If Lewis regains major league batting form, the question will be where he’d play in the field. First base — or in another organization? Even though Lee felt he was playing well at shortstop, his metrics are among the worst in baseball this season, so having Orlando Arcia and Ryan Kreidler take over there is a modest upgrade and Kaelen Culpepper, currently at St. Paul, should eventually get his shot. EXTREME TAKE: Lewis becomes a supersized version of Jose Miranda, who joined the twins with much promise and flamed out for an assortment of reasons. He was recently released by the Padres. VERBATIM: “In Boston, the Twins asked Lee, who in spite of recent improvement still rates worst among all major-league shortstops (in defensive runs saved), to switch positions. “We talked about what was best for our club right now,” Shelton said. “(Lee) handled it extremely professionally. . . . He and I had a very open and honest conversation. He asked me some good questions. I gave him some thoughts. His last comment to me was whatever was going to be best for us to win. That’s exactly what you want a player to say.” MORE: https://fluence-media.co/brooks0528

BASEBALL STANDINGS | TWINS STATISTICS

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ANT’S WEIRD EXIT: Anthony Edwards said he had his reasons for going over to the San Antonio Spurs bench to congratulate their players even though there were still eight minutes to play before the Timberwolves would be eliminated in Game 6 of the NBA ‘s Western Conference semifinals. For me, his behavior was far down the list of issues the Timberwolves created in their playoff collapse. TV commentators focused on it as bad form. But the really bad form was Julius Randle’s wretched play, Rudy Gobert being overmatched and the Wolves once again talking their tiresome talk about their difficulty following a game plan.

WHAT EDWARDS SAID: Edwards knew his move didn’t sit well with a lot of people and talked about it during the first minute of a post-series recap video on his YouTube channel. VERBATIM: “That’s why I’m me and y’all are whoever y’all are.” WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/ant0528

MY TAKE: Looking ahead, Edwards has three years left in his current contract that will pay him about $156 million before he’s an unrestricted free agent. He’ll be 28 years old when he signs that next contract — and I’m wondering if his bench visit was a baby step toward establishing rapport with a desirable team. Salary cap rules and current contracts are going to tax basketball boss Tim Connelly’s skills in moving to the level of the Spurs, Thunder and Knicks. If the Wolves don’t move in that direction, don’t expect Edwards to stay. A KAT-like exit down the road? A Giannis departure? Maybe.

CONTRACTS: EDWARDS | WOLVES ROSTER

MONEY QUOTE: Via Associated Press. From Connelly. VERBATIM: “If we mess up, we’ll mess up loudly.” MORE: https://fluence-media.co/wolves0528

PERSPECTIVE: Via Michael Rand at Star Tribune. This is a good reminder of what would have been if the Wolves hadn’t made the Karl-Anthony Towns trade. It also makes me wonder — even if hindsight is cheap and easy — if there was an alternative path Connelly could have taken. VERBATIM: “The Wolves, even if they had Karl-Anthony Towns (which means no Julius Randle, no Donte DiVincenzo, no Joan Beringer and no cap flexibility the past two years) would have accomplished about the same these last two years and would be set up worse for the future. Making it to the finals in the NBA’s junior varsity conference is great for Towns and the Knicks, but the Western Conference is just different.” MORE (including a weird rant by a former Wolves player): https://fluence-media.co/randball0528

HERE’S AN IDEA: Via Jace Frederick at Pioneer Press. Milwaukee is expected to trade superstar forward Giannis Antetokounmpo, quite possibly before the June 23 NBA Draft. Minnesota is expected to be a bidder, but the competition for him and salary cap issues will complicate things for Connelly. A different option? Make a play for New Orleans forward Zion Williamson, who combines an inside game with playmaking talent and is on a rebuilding team that won only 26 games last season. It would be a risk — considering Williamson’s injury history — but to use Connelly’s language, the move would be a loud one. VERBATIM: “Williamson could be both an outlet for Edwards and an orchestrator for the offense as a whole. He’s the caliber of talent to which Edwards would be willing to defer when required. No opponent is double-teaming Edwards to willingly play 3-on-4 defense against a Williamson-led attack on the back end of a play. At his best, Williamson would fit the bill of a true, consistent No. 2 option in Minnesota who could climb the final rung of that ladder whenever required. And it shouldn’t cost an arm and a leg to acquire him. Last month, Pelicans basketball boss Joe Dumars said New Orleans has ‘no intention’ of dealing Williamson this offseason. But those words aren’t matched by logic.” MORE: https://fluence-media.co/zion0528

WILLIAMSON: CAREER STATS | CONTRACT

SHOCKING! After all the concerns about their roster being broken up and injuries that have kept starters Napheesa Collier and Dorka Juhasz from playing, the Lynx have the best record in the WNBA three weeks into the season at 5-2. WHY? They play as a team, doing things consistently that the Timberwolves often do sporadically. They have already avenged their losses to Chicago and Atlanta, including Wednesday’s 96-81 win over the Dream. Minnesota shot 60% from the field, had 10 steals and finished with all five starters in double figures. The Lynx play at Chicago again on Friday (6:30 p.m., ION) and at Phoenix on Monday (9 p.m., Victory+ and Peacock).

THIS IS HOW THEY DO IT: Via Mike Cook at Pioneer Press. VERBATIM: “With their balanced offensive attack, the Minnesota Lynx continue to force opponents into difficult choices. Do opponents focus on rookie Olivia Miles, who is often manipulating defenses with her top-level ball handling skills mixed in with offensive zone speeds ranging from slow to slow then a burst to all gas? Try to contain Natasha Howard inside? That opens things up for Courtney Williams and her reliable midrange jumper. Play closer to Williams and she’s apt to find Howard inside for an uncontested layup as happened on three straight possessions at one point on Wednesday night. And Kayla McBride coming off screens, and Nia Coffey from in the paint or shooting a 3 can never be overlooked. . . . 'No one’s selfish on this team. It’s so easy to play with everyone because there’s no egos; everyone kind of just wants to get the best shot possible,’ Miles said. “When we’re swinging the ball, we know we’re at our best.’ “ MORE: https://fluence-media.co/lynx0528

LYNX GET BIGGER: Via Minnesota Lynx. The Lynx have signed 6-foot-7 center Teaira McCowan, the No. 3 overall pick in the 2019 draft. McCowan has career averages of 10.7 points, 8.1 rebounds and 1.1 blocks per game. She appeared in 17 games for Dallas last season and played college basketball at Mississippi State. MORE: https://fluence-media.co/mccowan0528

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‘NEXT C.J. HAM’? Via Patrick Reusse at Star Tribune. Ben Bredeson has developed into a standout offensive lineman for the Tampa Bay Bucs after being drafted in 2020. Younger brother Max Bredeson is headed for a more obscure role with the Vikings, a slot at fullback and on special teams that’s culmination of a career that started as a walk-on at Michigan, where he followed his big brother’s footsteps. Max will take the role that opened when C.J. Ham retired after 10 seasons as a part time but valued player. The brothers will face each other when the Vikings play at Tampa Bay in Week 3 of the season. VERBATIM: “By Michigan’s 2023 national championship season, Max was a frequent contributor at tight end and on special teams. He was voted team captain by teammates each of the next two seasons, when he split time in the running back room as he carved out more pass protection responsibilities. ‘The kid that you see now was not the 18-year-old that walked into Michigan,’ Ben said. ‘He’s grown up a lot: gotten bigger, stronger, more mature, and that was the best thing that ever happened to him.’ ” MORE: https://fluence-media.co/max0528

RARE SHOW OF LOYALTY: Via Matthew Collier at Purple Insider. For the first time in 48 years, no Football College Subdivision (the lower level of Division I) was taken in the first three rounds of the NFL draft — and only seven FCS players were taken in the final four rounds, a decrease from the past. The reason? FCS players with skills to go pro are moving on to FBS schools to chase money, get better competition and receive more exposure. Against that backdrop comes Vikings fifth round pick Charles Demmings, who opted to stay at Stephen F. Austin in Texas for his entire college career. Demmings didn’t play high school football until his senior year and said he appreciated the opportunity at Stephen F. Austin. VERBATIM: “NIL is getting super big around college football and I had those opportunities, but I had to ask myself, ‘what meant the most to me?’ And that was leaving the legacy and being a fountain, not a drain. Instead of looking for greener grass, build your own garden. Everything that SFA gave me, it was part of my story and I don’t look anywhere else or look at anyone else’s story.” MORE: https://fluence-media.co/demmings0528

WATCH DEMMINGS: https://fluence-media.co/highlights0528

THE NEXT RICKY RUBIO? Via Kevin O’Connor at Yahoo Sports. The Wolves need a point guard. This mock draft has a sleeper selection for Minnesota, which has the 28th pick. He’s 20-year-old Sergio De Larrea, a 6-foot-5 point guard from Spain. (The real draft is June 23-24.) VERBATIM: “Just look at how crucial Mike Conley still was to the Timberwolves in these playoffs. But he’s 38. And Ayo Dosunmu and Bones Hyland will both be upcoming free agents. The Wolves might need a guard. De Larrea is a tall playmaking guard with major feel and a knockdown jumper who thrives within team concepts. He suffered a dislocated shoulder that ended his 2024-25 season and removed him from draft boards, but it ended up a blessing in disguise since he returned with a bigger role and stronger production for a great team in the EuroLeague. With size, smarts, and defensive versatility, he has the tools to far exceed his draft slot. And Minnesota general manager Tim Connelly knows more than anyone how important those international hits can be to building a contender.” MORE: https://fluence-media.co/mock0528

CHRIS KLUWE PUNTING RUNNING FOR OFFICE: Via Michael Silver at The Athletic. Former Vikings punter Chris Kluwe is running for the California assembly in a traditionally Republican district that has sometimes gone majority Democratic in statewide elections. In Minnesota, Kluwe was an outspoken in 2012 of an failed amendment proposal to the state constitution that would have banned same-sex marriage. He was released by the Vikings in 2013 and then accused his special teams coach, Mike Priefer, of making homophobic comments in response to Kluwe’s political involvement. Priefer was suspended for three games in 2014. VERBATIM: “Kluwe never received another NFL contract offer, essentially making him the Colin Kaepernick of punters. Aside from Priefer’s antagonism, Kluwe recalled, ‘I never saw any blowback in the locker room. I actually got along really well with everyone. Even the guys that didn’t agree with me, they were like, ‘Yeah, that’s your view, but you’re not in here yelling and preaching at us. You’re not making it our business if we don’t want it to be our business.’ There was that mutual respect of, ‘Yes, we can disagree, but at the same time we can still work together to accomplish a common goal.’ And I think that is something that we’re currently missing in America: This idea that at the end of the day, we’re supposed to be on the same team.” MORE: https://fluence-media.co/kluwe0528

SPORTS BUSINESS HIRE BY STRIB: Via Report for America. The Star Tribune has hired Shelby Swanson to cover sports business. Swanson was an intern at the Strib after graduating from North Carolina in 2025 and is returning to Minnesota following a year of covering college football (and Bill Belichick) for the Raleigh News and Observer. The position is funded for two years with an option for a third. BIOGRAPHY: https://fluence-media.co/swanson0528

SAVE THE DATE (AND TIME): The Gophers will end their regular-season football schedule at Wisconsin on the night after Thanksgiving. The Black Friday game kicks off nationally on NBC at 6:30 p.m. FULL SCHEDULE: https://fluence-media.co/ufootball0528

NDSU GETTING LOTS OF TV TIME: Via Bison Athletics. North Dakota State’s elevation to the Mountain West Conference comes with 10 nationally televised games on various networks. HIGHLIGHTS: The opener of August 29 against Jacksonville State will be on CBS Sports Network, the Mountain West Conference debut vs. Air Force is Sept. 12 on FS1 and ESPN will show their Sept. 19 game at Sacramento State, another school making the jump from to FBS. SCHEDULE: https://fluence-media.co/bison0528

BLAKE SCHOOL HIRES A COACH: After the controversial dismissal of Tyler Biwan as boys’ basketball coach at The Blake School following his team’s surprising run to the state tournament, the Minneapolis private school has hired Damian Johnson, whose coaching contract wasn’t renewed by Benilde-St. Margaret’s after a sub-.500 season. Johnson, a former Gophers player, had a 106-58 record in six years with the Red Knights, including conference titles in 2023, 2024 and 2025.

BENILDE BACKSTORY: Via Marcus Fuller at Strib Varsity. Johnson was replaced at Benilde by John Sand, who was hired last year as the school’s assistant athletic director after coaching basketball at St. Thomas Academy. Benilde’s athletic director, Matt Pryor, previously worked with Sand at STA. VERBATIM: “I understand there’s going to be a perception,” Sand said, referring to the school’s decision on Johnson. “I stepped away from coaching, and an opportunity came, and I went through the interview process. They made a decision to hire me, and I was very thankful for it.” MORE: https://fluence-media.co/coach0528

WOMEN’S SPORTS PARTY BUS: Via Meet Minneapolis. The Lynx and Minnesota Aurora are sponsoring a ticket bundle for both teams’ games on June 6 that includes bus transportation from Target Center to TCO Field, as well as a return trip to A Bar of Their Own for a postgame party. The Lynx play Seattle at noon and Aurora plays RKC Third Coast at 4 p.m. VERBATIM: “We know thousands of fans will already be downtown that afternoon, and we wanted to create an easy, fun way for people to continue the experience together at Aurora’s Pride Match. This is about celebrating community, Pride and the incredible momentum behind women’s sports across the Twin Cities,” said Aurora FC president Saara Hassoun.” DETAILS, TICKETS: https://fluence-media.co/lynxaurora0528

PANNEK FOR MVP: Via Pioneer Press. VERBATIM: “Frost wing Kelly Pannek is one of three players named finalists for the PWHL’s Billie Jean King MVP award. She is joined by goaltenders Ann-Renée Desbiens of Montreal and Boston’s Aerin Frankel. A selection committee voted on the nominees and the three players who received the most votes were named finalists. The winner will be announced on June 16, the day before the PWHL Draft.” MORE: https://fluence-media.co/mvp0528

GOOD LOONS CONTEXT: Via La Velle E. Neal III at Star Tribune. Minnesota United has struggled through the first half of its season and is in seventh place as MLS takes a World Cup break through the final week in July. The struggle shouldn’t be a huge surprise. VERBATIM: “There was no way the Loons were in position to pick up where they left off last season, their most successful in their nine years in the league, when they finished fourth in the West and reached the conference semifinals. They lost nine players, including MLS Goalkeeper of the Year Dayne St. Clair. Coach Eric Ramsay left for West Bromwich Albion, where he was fired after a little more than a month, and replaced by Cameron Knowles.“ MORE: https://fluence-media.co/loons0528

WORLD CUPPERS: Defenders Michael Boxall will play for New Zealand and Carlos Harvey for Panama. Both have seen limited action for the Loons this season because of injuries. Midfielder James Rodriguez, who made a messy departure from the team before the break and isn’t likely to return, will play for Colombia. Two former MNUFC notables — goalkeeper Dayne St. Clair (Miami) and forward Tani Oluwaseyi (Villarreal in Spain’s top league) — will play for Canada. The latter will be cheered on during the local Canadian Consulate’s Canada Day celebration, which is set for June 18 at Fulton Tap Room and will feature a stream of the Canada vs. Qatar match.

ULTIMATE SUPERPOWER: Carleton College’s women’s Ultimate team won the national Division I title last week with a 15-13 victory over the University of British Columbia in the championship match, capping a 7-0 tournament run that included wins over Georgia, Colorado, UCLA and Oregon. The men’s team took second, losing 15-11 to UMass in the title match after wins over Pitt in the quarterfinals and Colorado in the semis. Carlton sent separate teams to the D-III tournament and the men finished second after losing 15-7 to Middlebury in the title game. MORE: https://fluence-media.co/ultimate0528.

STORYBOOK SEASON: Bethany Lutheran of Mankato broke the mold for Upper Midwest Athletic Conference teams that earn bids to postseason tournaments and are usually knocked out quickly. Bethany (enrollment 850) defeated defending national Division III champion Wisconsin-Whitewater twice to win a four-team sectional in Whitewater, Wis,, and lost 3-2 to Adrian College of Michigan in the finale of a best-of-3 supersectional that sent the winner to the eight-team national tournament. The Vikings finished the season 35-8, including a 6-0 record against MIAC teams. THREE THINGS ABOUT BETHANY: 1. Of the 850 students, 57 of them were on this season’s baseball roster. 2. The school was founded as Bethany Ladies College in 1911. 3. Bethany went from being a two-year school to a four-year college in 2001.

AND FINALLY: Via Boyd Huppert at KARE-11 and Joe Brown at West Central Tribune. When boys’ volleyball was first sanctioned by the Minnesota State High School League for the 2024-25 season, it was seen mostly as a sport for the metro area. But that wasn’t the view in Milan, about 150 miles west of the Twin Cities on Hwy. 7, where 46.6% of the residents in the city of 564 people identify as Micronesian. It’s another Minnesota community where immigration has been a lifeline, with volleyball being the No. 1 sport for many who arrived. The students attend Lac Qui Parle Valley in near-by Madison for middle and high school, and have a varsity boys’ team on which all but two members are from the Micronesian Islands. After two years as a club sport, the team made the jump to varsity play this season. The path to Milan was started by a Peace Corps volunteer from Minnesota and many have found work over the years at a nearby turkey processing plant. VERBATIM: “We don’t really have to teach basics,” says Molly Hennen, Milan’s head boys’ volleyball coach. “You can just tell they’ve played all their life.”

ALL THAT TRAVEL: Because there are only three other outstate boys’ volleyball teams, Lac Qui Parle Valley has played mostly in metro-area weekend tournaments, compiling an 8-8 record, including wins over Hopkins, Maple Grove and Forest Lake. There have been no home matches. At 6 p.m. tonight, the team plays at Benilde-St. Margaret’s in a section quarterfinal. TICKETS

GOFUNDME: To cover costs associated with a fully on-the-road schedule, the team has a GoFundMe page that has so far collected more than $5,000.

READ MORE: KARE-11 | WEST CENTRAL TRIBUNE

That’s all for now. Enjoy the drama.

EMAIL HOWARD: sportstake100@gmail.com

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EYE OPENING: Via Grace Praxmarer at Strib Varsity. The “youth sports industry” has become a $40 billion annual thing in the United States and — no surprise here — kids are being priced out of the market while more parents spend heavily on the premise that what you learn on your school teams and from the playground/gym/backyard is no longer sufficient. Mike Snee, vice president of the Minnesota Wild Foundation, says all the money parents are spending isn’t leading to much different outcomes than in the past. VERBATIM: “They met friends, they learned how to win and lose, they got exercise, they had fun — only they spent a lot more money doing it and wrapped up a lot more of their identity into it, all for the benefit of the industry. "Not for the benefit of the athlete.”

PRICE TAG? Kelly Kinney, a sophomore on the Gophers volleyball team, attended a Florida private school ($35,225 tuition at The King’s Academy for the 2026-27 school year) and has parents who spent five figures annually on costs associated with her volleyball club. VERBATIM: “Once she saw a future in volleyball, her parents doubled down, driving an hour each way to a more elite club and getting specialized lessons to help her reach D-I. Kinney’s father, Matt, estimates (the club) cost about $8,000 annually, and closer to $15,000 0r $20,000 after travel. Matt Kinney said some private clubs ‘take advantage’ of families and the current culture of private clubs fosters unrealistic expectations of greatness, in which athletes are promised D-I scholarships, even if they don’t have the skills or athleticism to make it. He said he and his wife would not have paid for the clubs had Kelly not shown so much promise from an early age.” FULL STORY: https://fluence-media.co/youthsports0528

READ MORE: Via New York Times. How youth sports became a $40 billion industry.

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HELP A WRITER OUT. Via Star Tribune. Columnist Laura Yuen is reaching out to youth sports parents to share their experiences. VERBATIM: “I’ve started a reporting project that will try to gauge why youth sports have gotten so expensive and stressful for families. It will examine why so many kids are burned out and quit by 12 or 13. I’ll also explore solutions for families desperate for moderation.” STORY, SURVEY QUESTIONS: https://fluence-media.co/survey0528

McCARTHY VS. MURRAY: Via Emily Leiker at Star Tribune. You can read the tension between the lines of the story about how Vikings starting quarterback hopefuls J.J. McCarthy and Kyler Murray are handling their competition during the Organized Team Activity workouts that run through next week. McCarthy, 23, compared their situation to “two guys in a classroom” working on getting an edge and said he was promised a “true competition” for the job. Murray, 28, a two-time Pro Bowler who was let go by Arizona, sees himself as a mentor. VERBATIM: “On the practice field during Day 2 of Vikings organized team activities Wednesday, McCarthy’s description of his relationship with Murray aligned with observations of the two. When not actively in a drill, the two were not often seen standing close to each other or engaging following their reps. Both quarterbacks worked with the first-team offense during 7-on-7 and 11-on-11 drills; individual players also rotated and mixed teams throughout practice, creating various lineups for the quarterbacks.”

MURRAY’S TAKE: “Murray also used a student analogy when asked about his relationship with McCarthy, though from a mentoring standpoint. He said McCarthy has been ‘overly receptive’ to critiques and has been active in communication and voicing questions. ‘Obviously, I know he’s a younger guy, so any way I can help him . . . give him any knowledge that he needs,’ Murray said. ‘Again, we’re both competitors. I know we both want what’s best for the team.’ “ MY TAKE: More of this, please. Both the drama on the field and the really good description of it. MORE: https://fluence-media.co/qb0528

THOUGHTS AND SHARES: Tell me what you know and what you’re thinking. sportstake100@gmail.com

TWINS ROSTER PURGE: First it was Matt Wallner banished down the Green Line to St. Paul. Royce Lewis and Kody Funderburk followed a few days later. The bullpen needs nametags to track arrivals and departures. The injured lists (including at Class AAA St. Paul) include a batch of key players. The Twins followed baseball’s tradition wisdom and gave their Opening Day roster the first quarter of the season to show strengths and weaknesses and — to the best of their ability — the Twins are attacking their shortcomings in real time. Rookie principal owner Tom Pohlad continues to be an active presence and second-year GM Jeremy Zoll is doing what he can to find replacements in a shallow pool of options. The Twins have gone from playing remarkably bad baseball to boosting themselves — for now — to the fringe of playoff contention. If the season ended today, instead of in another four months, the Twins would be tied with Oakland and Toronto for the American League’s final Wild Card spot.

WHAT’S NEXT? More is needed. The Twins are blessed for now by the remarkable ineptitude of the American League. Only four of 15 teams are above .500. By comparison, all five teams in the National League East are above .500. A closer and a reliable set-up arm will be needed for the bullpen. The offense is underperforming too often. Infield defense is still shabby. As bad teams decide to cut their losses and make players available, the Twins still need to look at their roster as being in need of continuous improvement. As Pohlad said in April, “I want to make sure we’re building on momentum, and I also want to make sure we’re finding ways to improve.”

VETERANS IN DANGER? Switch-hitters Josh Bell and Victor Caratini, signed as free agents over the winter, are both underwhelming and replaceable if the season gets serious. The MLB website Baseball Savant is a good bookmark for putting player performance in context. STATS: BELL | CARATINI

THREE THINGS I LIKE: Without speaking ill of the departed, Derek Shelton’s aggressive managerial style and direct answers are an upgrade from Rocco Baldelli’s chill and word-salad responses. Byron Buxton’s understated leadership is an upgrade from the GM-in-the-clubhouse tone Carlos Correa brought to the Twins. Two veterans who looked like fringe players (or worse) at the start of the season, pitcher Bailey Ober and outfielder Trevor Larnach, have so far been among the team’s best performers.

LIFE AFTER ROYCE? Via Dan Hayes at The Athletic. The Twins have moved Brooks Lee to third base — Lewis’s position — and have veteran shortstop options on the current roster and a couple of top prospects at the position working their way through the minors. If Lewis regains major league batting form, the question will be where he’d play in the field. First base — or in another organization? Even though Lee felt he was playing well at shortstop, his metrics are among the worst in baseball this season, so having Orlando Arcia and Ryan Kreidler take over there is a modest upgrade and Kaelen Culpepper, currently at St. Paul, should eventually get his shot. EXTREME TAKE: Lewis becomes a supersized version of Jose Miranda, who joined the twins with much promise and flamed out for an assortment of reasons. He was recently released by the Padres. VERBATIM: “In Boston, the Twins asked Lee, who in spite of recent improvement still rates worst among all major-league shortstops (in defensive runs saved), to switch positions. “We talked about what was best for our club right now,” Shelton said. “(Lee) handled it extremely professionally. . . . He and I had a very open and honest conversation. He asked me some good questions. I gave him some thoughts. His last comment to me was whatever was going to be best for us to win. That’s exactly what you want a player to say.” MORE: https://fluence-media.co/brooks0528

BASEBALL STANDINGS | TWINS STATISTICS

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ANT’S WEIRD EXIT: Anthony Edwards said he had his reasons for going over to the San Antonio Spurs bench to congratulate their players even though there were still eight minutes to play before the Timberwolves would be eliminated in Game 6 of the NBA ‘s Western Conference semifinals. For me, his behavior was far down the list of issues the Timberwolves created in their playoff collapse. TV commentators focused on it as bad form. But the really bad form was Julius Randle’s wretched play, Rudy Gobert being overmatched and the Wolves once again talking their tiresome talk about their difficulty following a game plan.

WHAT EDWARDS SAID: Edwards knew his move didn’t sit well with a lot of people and talked about it during the first minute of a post-series recap video on his YouTube channel. VERBATIM: “That’s why I’m me and y’all are whoever y’all are.” WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/ant0528

MY TAKE: Looking ahead, Edwards has three years left in his current contract that will pay him about $156 million before he’s an unrestricted free agent. He’ll be 28 years old when he signs that next contract — and I’m wondering if his bench visit was a baby step toward establishing rapport with a desirable team. Salary cap rules and current contracts are going to tax basketball boss Tim Connelly’s skills in moving to the level of the Spurs, Thunder and Knicks. If the Wolves don’t move in that direction, don’t expect Edwards to stay. A KAT-like exit down the road? A Giannis departure? Maybe.

CONTRACTS: EDWARDS | WOLVES ROSTER

MONEY QUOTE: Via Associated Press. From Connelly. VERBATIM: “If we mess up, we’ll mess up loudly.” MORE: https://fluence-media.co/wolves0528

PERSPECTIVE: Via Michael Rand at Star Tribune. This is a good reminder of what would have been if the Wolves hadn’t made the Karl-Anthony Towns trade. It also makes me wonder — even if hindsight is cheap and easy — if there was an alternative path Connelly could have taken. VERBATIM: “The Wolves, even if they had Karl-Anthony Towns (which means no Julius Randle, no Donte DiVincenzo, no Joan Beringer and no cap flexibility the past two years) would have accomplished about the same these last two years and would be set up worse for the future. Making it to the finals in the NBA’s junior varsity conference is great for Towns and the Knicks, but the Western Conference is just different.” MORE (including a weird rant by a former Wolves player): https://fluence-media.co/randball0528

HERE’S AN IDEA: Via Jace Frederick at Pioneer Press. Milwaukee is expected to trade superstar forward Giannis Antetokounmpo, quite possibly before the June 23 NBA Draft. Minnesota is expected to be a bidder, but the competition for him and salary cap issues will complicate things for Connelly. A different option? Make a play for New Orleans forward Zion Williamson, who combines an inside game with playmaking talent and is on a rebuilding team that won only 26 games last season. It would be a risk — considering Williamson’s injury history — but to use Connelly’s language, the move would be a loud one. VERBATIM: “Williamson could be both an outlet for Edwards and an orchestrator for the offense as a whole. He’s the caliber of talent to which Edwards would be willing to defer when required. No opponent is double-teaming Edwards to willingly play 3-on-4 defense against a Williamson-led attack on the back end of a play. At his best, Williamson would fit the bill of a true, consistent No. 2 option in Minnesota who could climb the final rung of that ladder whenever required. And it shouldn’t cost an arm and a leg to acquire him. Last month, Pelicans basketball boss Joe Dumars said New Orleans has ‘no intention’ of dealing Williamson this offseason. But those words aren’t matched by logic.” MORE: https://fluence-media.co/zion0528

WILLIAMSON: CAREER STATS | CONTRACT

SHOCKING! After all the concerns about their roster being broken up and injuries that have kept starters Napheesa Collier and Dorka Juhasz from playing, the Lynx have the best record in the WNBA three weeks into the season at 5-2. WHY? They play as a team, doing things consistently that the Timberwolves often do sporadically. They have already avenged their losses to Chicago and Atlanta, including Wednesday’s 96-81 win over the Dream. Minnesota shot 60% from the field, had 10 steals and finished with all five starters in double figures. The Lynx play at Chicago again on Friday (6:30 p.m., ION) and at Phoenix on Monday (9 p.m., Victory+ and Peacock).

THIS IS HOW THEY DO IT: Via Mike Cook at Pioneer Press. VERBATIM: “With their balanced offensive attack, the Minnesota Lynx continue to force opponents into difficult choices. Do opponents focus on rookie Olivia Miles, who is often manipulating defenses with her top-level ball handling skills mixed in with offensive zone speeds ranging from slow to slow then a burst to all gas? Try to contain Natasha Howard inside? That opens things up for Courtney Williams and her reliable midrange jumper. Play closer to Williams and she’s apt to find Howard inside for an uncontested layup as happened on three straight possessions at one point on Wednesday night. And Kayla McBride coming off screens, and Nia Coffey from in the paint or shooting a 3 can never be overlooked. . . . 'No one’s selfish on this team. It’s so easy to play with everyone because there’s no egos; everyone kind of just wants to get the best shot possible,’ Miles said. “When we’re swinging the ball, we know we’re at our best.’ “ MORE: https://fluence-media.co/lynx0528

LYNX GET BIGGER: Via Minnesota Lynx. The Lynx have signed 6-foot-7 center Teaira McCowan, the No. 3 overall pick in the 2019 draft. McCowan has career averages of 10.7 points, 8.1 rebounds and 1.1 blocks per game. She appeared in 17 games for Dallas last season and played college basketball at Mississippi State. MORE: https://fluence-media.co/mccowan0528

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‘NEXT C.J. HAM’? Via Patrick Reusse at Star Tribune. Ben Bredeson has developed into a standout offensive lineman for the Tampa Bay Bucs after being drafted in 2020. Younger brother Max Bredeson is headed for a more obscure role with the Vikings, a slot at fullback and on special teams that’s culmination of a career that started as a walk-on at Michigan, where he followed his big brother’s footsteps. Max will take the role that opened when C.J. Ham retired after 10 seasons as a part time but valued player. The brothers will face each other when the Vikings play at Tampa Bay in Week 3 of the season. VERBATIM: “By Michigan’s 2023 national championship season, Max was a frequent contributor at tight end and on special teams. He was voted team captain by teammates each of the next two seasons, when he split time in the running back room as he carved out more pass protection responsibilities. ‘The kid that you see now was not the 18-year-old that walked into Michigan,’ Ben said. ‘He’s grown up a lot: gotten bigger, stronger, more mature, and that was the best thing that ever happened to him.’ ” MORE: https://fluence-media.co/max0528

RARE SHOW OF LOYALTY: Via Matthew Collier at Purple Insider. For the first time in 48 years, no Football College Subdivision (the lower level of Division I) was taken in the first three rounds of the NFL draft — and only seven FCS players were taken in the final four rounds, a decrease from the past. The reason? FCS players with skills to go pro are moving on to FBS schools to chase money, get better competition and receive more exposure. Against that backdrop comes Vikings fifth round pick Charles Demmings, who opted to stay at Stephen F. Austin in Texas for his entire college career. Demmings didn’t play high school football until his senior year and said he appreciated the opportunity at Stephen F. Austin. VERBATIM: “NIL is getting super big around college football and I had those opportunities, but I had to ask myself, ‘what meant the most to me?’ And that was leaving the legacy and being a fountain, not a drain. Instead of looking for greener grass, build your own garden. Everything that SFA gave me, it was part of my story and I don’t look anywhere else or look at anyone else’s story.” MORE: https://fluence-media.co/demmings0528

WATCH DEMMINGS: https://fluence-media.co/highlights0528

THE NEXT RICKY RUBIO? Via Kevin O’Connor at Yahoo Sports. The Wolves need a point guard. This mock draft has a sleeper selection for Minnesota, which has the 28th pick. He’s 20-year-old Sergio De Larrea, a 6-foot-5 point guard from Spain. (The real draft is June 23-24.) VERBATIM: “Just look at how crucial Mike Conley still was to the Timberwolves in these playoffs. But he’s 38. And Ayo Dosunmu and Bones Hyland will both be upcoming free agents. The Wolves might need a guard. De Larrea is a tall playmaking guard with major feel and a knockdown jumper who thrives within team concepts. He suffered a dislocated shoulder that ended his 2024-25 season and removed him from draft boards, but it ended up a blessing in disguise since he returned with a bigger role and stronger production for a great team in the EuroLeague. With size, smarts, and defensive versatility, he has the tools to far exceed his draft slot. And Minnesota general manager Tim Connelly knows more than anyone how important those international hits can be to building a contender.” MORE: https://fluence-media.co/mock0528

CHRIS KLUWE PUNTING RUNNING FOR OFFICE: Via Michael Silver at The Athletic. Former Vikings punter Chris Kluwe is running for the California assembly in a traditionally Republican district that has sometimes gone majority Democratic in statewide elections. In Minnesota, Kluwe was an outspoken in 2012 of an failed amendment proposal to the state constitution that would have banned same-sex marriage. He was released by the Vikings in 2013 and then accused his special teams coach, Mike Priefer, of making homophobic comments in response to Kluwe’s political involvement. Priefer was suspended for three games in 2014. VERBATIM: “Kluwe never received another NFL contract offer, essentially making him the Colin Kaepernick of punters. Aside from Priefer’s antagonism, Kluwe recalled, ‘I never saw any blowback in the locker room. I actually got along really well with everyone. Even the guys that didn’t agree with me, they were like, ‘Yeah, that’s your view, but you’re not in here yelling and preaching at us. You’re not making it our business if we don’t want it to be our business.’ There was that mutual respect of, ‘Yes, we can disagree, but at the same time we can still work together to accomplish a common goal.’ And I think that is something that we’re currently missing in America: This idea that at the end of the day, we’re supposed to be on the same team.” MORE: https://fluence-media.co/kluwe0528

SPORTS BUSINESS HIRE BY STRIB: Via Report for America. The Star Tribune has hired Shelby Swanson to cover sports business. Swanson was an intern at the Strib after graduating from North Carolina in 2025 and is returning to Minnesota following a year of covering college football (and Bill Belichick) for the Raleigh News and Observer. The position is funded for two years with an option for a third. BIOGRAPHY: https://fluence-media.co/swanson0528

SAVE THE DATE (AND TIME): The Gophers will end their regular-season football schedule at Wisconsin on the night after Thanksgiving. The Black Friday game kicks off nationally on NBC at 6:30 p.m. FULL SCHEDULE: https://fluence-media.co/ufootball0528

NDSU GETTING LOTS OF TV TIME: Via Bison Athletics. North Dakota State’s elevation to the Mountain West Conference comes with 10 nationally televised games on various networks. HIGHLIGHTS: The opener of August 29 against Jacksonville State will be on CBS Sports Network, the Mountain West Conference debut vs. Air Force is Sept. 12 on FS1 and ESPN will show their Sept. 19 game at Sacramento State, another school making the jump from to FBS. SCHEDULE: https://fluence-media.co/bison0528

BLAKE SCHOOL HIRES A COACH: After the controversial dismissal of Tyler Biwan as boys’ basketball coach at The Blake School following his team’s surprising run to the state tournament, the Minneapolis private school has hired Damian Johnson, whose coaching contract wasn’t renewed by Benilde-St. Margaret’s after a sub-.500 season. Johnson, a former Gophers player, had a 106-58 record in six years with the Red Knights, including conference titles in 2023, 2024 and 2025.

BENILDE BACKSTORY: Via Marcus Fuller at Strib Varsity. Johnson was replaced at Benilde by John Sand, who was hired last year as the school’s assistant athletic director after coaching basketball at St. Thomas Academy. Benilde’s athletic director, Matt Pryor, previously worked with Sand at STA. VERBATIM: “I understand there’s going to be a perception,” Sand said, referring to the school’s decision on Johnson. “I stepped away from coaching, and an opportunity came, and I went through the interview process. They made a decision to hire me, and I was very thankful for it.” MORE: https://fluence-media.co/coach0528

WOMEN’S SPORTS PARTY BUS: Via Meet Minneapolis. The Lynx and Minnesota Aurora are sponsoring a ticket bundle for both teams’ games on June 6 that includes bus transportation from Target Center to TCO Field, as well as a return trip to A Bar of Their Own for a postgame party. The Lynx play Seattle at noon and Aurora plays RKC Third Coast at 4 p.m. VERBATIM: “We know thousands of fans will already be downtown that afternoon, and we wanted to create an easy, fun way for people to continue the experience together at Aurora’s Pride Match. This is about celebrating community, Pride and the incredible momentum behind women’s sports across the Twin Cities,” said Aurora FC president Saara Hassoun.” DETAILS, TICKETS: https://fluence-media.co/lynxaurora0528

PANNEK FOR MVP: Via Pioneer Press. VERBATIM: “Frost wing Kelly Pannek is one of three players named finalists for the PWHL’s Billie Jean King MVP award. She is joined by goaltenders Ann-Renée Desbiens of Montreal and Boston’s Aerin Frankel. A selection committee voted on the nominees and the three players who received the most votes were named finalists. The winner will be announced on June 16, the day before the PWHL Draft.” MORE: https://fluence-media.co/mvp0528

GOOD LOONS CONTEXT: Via La Velle E. Neal III at Star Tribune. Minnesota United has struggled through the first half of its season and is in seventh place as MLS takes a World Cup break through the final week in July. The struggle shouldn’t be a huge surprise. VERBATIM: “There was no way the Loons were in position to pick up where they left off last season, their most successful in their nine years in the league, when they finished fourth in the West and reached the conference semifinals. They lost nine players, including MLS Goalkeeper of the Year Dayne St. Clair. Coach Eric Ramsay left for West Bromwich Albion, where he was fired after a little more than a month, and replaced by Cameron Knowles.“ MORE: https://fluence-media.co/loons0528

WORLD CUPPERS: Defenders Michael Boxall will play for New Zealand and Carlos Harvey for Panama. Both have seen limited action for the Loons this season because of injuries. Midfielder James Rodriguez, who made a messy departure from the team before the break and isn’t likely to return, will play for Colombia. Two former MNUFC notables — goalkeeper Dayne St. Clair (Miami) and forward Tani Oluwaseyi (Villarreal in Spain’s top league) — will play for Canada. The latter will be cheered on during the local Canadian Consulate’s Canada Day celebration, which is set for June 18 at Fulton Tap Room and will feature a stream of the Canada vs. Qatar match.

ULTIMATE SUPERPOWER: Carleton College’s women’s Ultimate team won the national Division I title last week with a 15-13 victory over the University of British Columbia in the championship match, capping a 7-0 tournament run that included wins over Georgia, Colorado, UCLA and Oregon. The men’s team took second, losing 15-11 to UMass in the title match after wins over Pitt in the quarterfinals and Colorado in the semis. Carlton sent separate teams to the D-III tournament and the men finished second after losing 15-7 to Middlebury in the title game. MORE: https://fluence-media.co/ultimate0528.

STORYBOOK SEASON: Bethany Lutheran of Mankato broke the mold for Upper Midwest Athletic Conference teams that earn bids to postseason tournaments and are usually knocked out quickly. Bethany (enrollment 850) defeated defending national Division III champion Wisconsin-Whitewater twice to win a four-team sectional in Whitewater, Wis,, and lost 3-2 to Adrian College of Michigan in the finale of a best-of-3 supersectional that sent the winner to the eight-team national tournament. The Vikings finished the season 35-8, including a 6-0 record against MIAC teams. THREE THINGS ABOUT BETHANY: 1. Of the 850 students, 57 of them were on this season’s baseball roster. 2. The school was founded as Bethany Ladies College in 1911. 3. Bethany went from being a two-year school to a four-year college in 2001.

AND FINALLY: Via Boyd Huppert at KARE-11 and Joe Brown at West Central Tribune. When boys’ volleyball was first sanctioned by the Minnesota State High School League for the 2024-25 season, it was seen mostly as a sport for the metro area. But that wasn’t the view in Milan, about 150 miles west of the Twin Cities on Hwy. 7, where 46.6% of the residents in the city of 564 people identify as Micronesian. It’s another Minnesota community where immigration has been a lifeline, with volleyball being the No. 1 sport for many who arrived. The students attend Lac Qui Parle Valley in near-by Madison for middle and high school, and have a varsity boys’ team on which all but two members are from the Micronesian Islands. After two years as a club sport, the team made the jump to varsity play this season. The path to Milan was started by a Peace Corps volunteer from Minnesota and many have found work over the years at a nearby turkey processing plant. VERBATIM: “We don’t really have to teach basics,” says Molly Hennen, Milan’s head boys’ volleyball coach. “You can just tell they’ve played all their life.”

ALL THAT TRAVEL: Because there are only three other outstate boys’ volleyball teams, Lac Qui Parle Valley has played mostly in metro-area weekend tournaments, compiling an 8-8 record, including wins over Hopkins, Maple Grove and Forest Lake. There have been no home matches. At 6 p.m. tonight, the team plays at Benilde-St. Margaret’s in a section quarterfinal. TICKETS

GOFUNDME: To cover costs associated with a fully on-the-road schedule, the team has a GoFundMe page that has so far collected more than $5,000.

READ MORE: KARE-11 | WEST CENTRAL TRIBUNE

That’s all for now. Enjoy the drama.

EMAIL HOWARD: sportstake100@gmail.com

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NEWEST SCAR TO PICK AT: The Wild were the team that couldn’t get beyond the first round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs. Now they’ll be known as the team that backed down, blew a big lead and blew themselves out of the playoffs. It joins the family of local sports scars that includes the Wolves habitual immaturity; the Vikings and their postseason meltdowns (the grandparent of scars), and the Twins with their long-term acceptance of being just good enough at their absolute best.

SPLAT I: Maybe someone can explain to me how the Wild could take a 3-0 lead after the first period and then get only seven more shots on goal for the rest of Wednesday night’s 4-3 elimination loss to Colorado. The Wild led 3-1 until the Avalanche scored with 3:33 to play and were eliminated 3:52 into overtime. That’s a three-goal, passive-unaggressive, season-ending swing in less than 7 1/2 minutes. That’s also an average of more than six minutes between shots over the final 43+ minutes.

SPLAT II: Maybe someone can explain to me how the Wolves could rally from a 18-point deficit late in the second quarter of Tuesday’s Game 5 to tie the game a few minutes into the third — and then fall apart to lose by 29. That’s a deep hole to dig out of only to fall into an even deeper one.

CHOKE IS A CHOKE IS A CHOKE: Via Chip Scoggins at Star Tribune. How do you explain to your casual Wild-following friends — as Scoggins puts it — “the degree to which they gagged on an opportunity to do something special”? This is his pretty good cheat sheet. VERBATIM: “This one will haunt. It will leave the Wild filled with regret. Not just the collapse, but also their lackluster effort in Game 4 with a chance to tie the series two nights earlier. The Avs clearly are a superior team, but nowhere is it written in stone that a team can’t pull an upset, or put an opponent away after taking the fight to them in building a three-goal lead. The hill still would have been steep had they won, but at least the Wild could have created some doubt.”

WHAT NOW? Scoggins has so many questions. Is John Hynes the right coach to get the Wild to where GM Bill Guerin thinks they should be? Will superstar defenseman Quinn Hughes want to stay and how will the Wild juggle their financials to make it possible? Who should be the No. 1 goalie? How do you get consistent excellence from Kirill Kaprizov when it’s needed? The Wild has an offseason of drama ahead. VERBATIM: “Criticism over a coach’s line combinations is hockey tradition, but Hynes made a strategic mistake by switching goalies after Jesper Wallstedt had one bad outing in Game 1 of this series when he wasn’t even the biggest problem. The Wild’s approach after the first period on Wednesday also deserves critical review. The next (and most important) business is to sign Hughes to a long-term extension. . . . Any blueprint that does not include Hughes is not a plan worth calculating. The Hughes-Brock Faber pairing should be set for the next five to seven seasons.” MORE: https://fluence-media.co/wild0514

NEXT FEW DAYS

TODAY: Battle of the guards. Olivia Miles vs. Paige Bueckers, also known as Lynx vs. Dallas. 7 p.m. Prime. NFL schedule release at 7 p.m. on NFL Network and ESPN. MY TAKE: The choice between watching a rightfully hyped game and watching sports schedules being revealed is an easy one. It’s like the difference between active verbs and passive ones.

FRIDAY: Elimination game. Wolves vs. Spurs, Game 6. 8:30 p.m. Prime. Twins vs. Brewers, opener of a three-game Border Battle. Game moved up to 6 p.m., Twins.TV.

SATURDAY: Go outside. Go to a high school baseball game or girls’ lacrosse match. Twins-Brewers have the home schedule to themselves, 6 p.m. Twins.TV. Loons at New England, 6:30 p.m. Apple TV.

SUNDAY: Could have a Game 7 with the Wolves on the road. Also, Twins-Brewers at Target Field, 1 p.m. Twins.TV and Lynx-Chicago at Target Center, 6 p.m., Victory+

NEXT WEEK AND BEYOND: The Gophers should be in the Big Ten baseball tournament unless they have a weekend of collapse and bad luck (more on that below), Minnesota Aurora starts its USL-W season next Thursday, Canterbury Park opens a week from Saturday and some of you are training for the Fargo Marathon on May 30 and the 50th annual Grandma’s Marathon on June 20. BREAK TIME: I’m getting an early start on the Memorial Day weekend. Sports Take will be back two weeks from today.

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THAT VIKINGS SCHEDULE RELEASE: Via Star Tribune. As of mid-morning, we knew that the Vikings are playing the 49ers in Mexico City on the Sunday before Thanksgiving and that they’ll play in Chicago on the second week of the season and at home against the Bears on the final weekend. Other dates will leak out during the day, and you can track them on the Strib’s Live Blog. GEEKY TAKE: The Strib has hit a solid rhythm with its live blogging during big games and events, and they’re a valuable companion for what you’re following. They’re easy to do, but not easy to do well. LIVE BLOG: https://fluence-media.co/liveblog0514

BIG MAN FAILURES: Via Britt Robson at MinnPost. Peel away the maturity problems that the Wolves have exhibited all season and the Game 5 collapse can be pinned to a great extent on the lacking play of Julius Randle and Rudy Gobert. On a night when Anthony Edwards didn’t sparkle, neither of their other big-money players stepped up to help. VERBATIM: “The minimal impact Gobert had on this game was sobering. His skills are pretty much limited to his height and his heart, the latter of which should never be underestimated. He is a phenomenally dedicated player whose defense on multiple MVP Nikola Jokic against Denver is the primary reason the Wolves are in the second round. But he is exposed when he and his teammates don’t adhere to the game plan – when his teammates make game-plan mistakes, Rudy’s desire to cover for them either dramatically helps, or, more often, exacerbates the issue. Then there is Randle, whose miserable series extended to a fourth straight game after his solid performance in Game One. In those four games, three of them Wolves losses, he is shooting 35.3% from the field and 15.4% (2-for-13) from three-point range. He has six assists and 13 turnovers.” MORE: https://fluence-media.co/bigs0514

WHAT NOW? The Wolves won Game 1 when Spurs gigantic superstar Victor Wembanyama was off his game and Game 4 when he was ejected. Still, both were close calls decided in the final minute. The Spurs have won two games in blowouts and their other by seven points. Foul trouble has hindered Randle and Jaden McDaniels, which keeps coach Chris Finch from using some of the defensive sets that could slow down 7-foot-4 Wemby. The Wolves’ immaturity has shown up all season in their inability to stick with game plans. Against the Spurs, it’s surfaced as an offense that looks improvised, especially compared to the smooth-running Spurs. Or, as NBC commentator Reggie Miller put it during the second quarter of Game 5, “What kind of offense is Minnesota running here? Just jacking up threes.” With the media, Finch has taken an “it’s on me” approach. In reality, it’s on the players to do what the coaches want.

TIPS AND THOUGHTS: Email me. sportstake100@gmail.com

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GLEEMAN GOES SOLO: Aaron Gleeman couldn’t get on the staff at the Minnesota Daily when he was in college, started blogging about baseball 24 years ago, co-founded a podcast, kept growing his brand and became one of two reporters covering the Twins for The Athletic. Last month, The Athletic asked him to step away from the Twins to focus on national baseball news. Gleeman answered by stepping away from The Athletic to restart his personal website: aarongleeman.com. VERBATIM: “Covering the Twins for The Athletic was my dream job, in many ways. But what I learned is that the ‘covering the Twins’ part is what made that true. And any job that wants to pull me away from covering the Twins, and scale back their overall coverage of the team, ceases being my dream job.” MORE: https://fluence-media.co/whyileft0514

WHY? Via Michael Grant at Awful Announcing. This is what qualifies Gleeman’s departure as the Most Minnesota Thing Ever. Most writers aspire to move from a local focus to a national platform. Metro daily newspapers used to have “national beat writers” and many of the people you see on network TV (Ken Rosenthal, Buster Olney and Tim Kurkjian, to name three) went from writing locally to talking nationally. Gleeman said he’s wired differently. VERBATIM: “I was born and raised in Minnesota. I don’t plan to ever leave. I’m a lifelong Minnesotan. I grew up a Twins fan. I wrote about them for many years, when no one paid me or read my work. So the opportunity to cover them as a more traditional beat writer for The Athletic was really fun for me. It’s just what I love to do. I think it’s what I’m best at. It’s what I’m most passionate about.” Q&A: https://fluence-media.co/gleeman0514

BIG PICTURE: Via Cody Christie at Twins Daily. VERBATIM: “His decision says a lot about the current state of sports media. For years, national outlets viewed local team coverage as a major growth area. Hiring respected beat writers created loyal audiences and helped establish credibility in regional markets. But the economics have shifted. Large companies increasingly want scale, national conversations, and content that can appeal to the widest possible audience. The Twins still matter deeply to Minnesota fans, but local coverage no longer fits as neatly into the business model many national companies are chasing.” MORE: https://fluence-media.co/local0514

MY QUESTION: I asked Gleeman in an email what he learned from his time at The Athletic and how that will influence his future writing. Gleeman replied by noting that The Athletic was his first shot at daily access to the Twins. VERBATIM: “I felt I could use (access) to supplement my writing in a way that added to it without needing to be the focus. I’m not a traditional beat writer, so the day-to-day quotes about lineup decisions, injury updates, and other minutiae was never my focus. But being able to ask specific questions to the people directly involved often made a good column or feature article into a very good one. Or at least that was my hope. I’m fortunate that I’ll continue to have that same access as an independent writer, and my goal is to combine my previous years of blogging experience with my recent years of reporting experience to find an ideal middle ground.”

WANT TO PAY THE MAN? Gleeman is charging $8 month or $75 per year. SUBSCRIBE HERE

ONE MORE MOVE: The Strib has hired Natalie Pierre as its new sports editor. Pierre comes to Minnesota from the Louisville Courier Journal, where she was sports editor for four years. She is also the founder of The Mental Game, a nonprofit that focuses on mental health issues in athletics. MORE: https://fluence-media.co/pierre0514

TWINS HAVE SEEN ENOUGH: There’s a baseball axiom that teams wait until they’re about 40 games into the season before making major moves. What’s just a slow start and what’s a chronic condition? The Twins have seen enough of Matt Wallner for now, with a recent playing time decrease capped for now by a demotion to St. Paul announced this morning. Wallner was batting .167 and 53 strikeouts and four home runs in his first 120 at-bats this season. That’s a “strikeout average” of .442. Recently, he’s been even worse, carrying a .105 batting average and .447 strikeout average (4 for 38 and 17 for 38) in his last 11 games. MATT’S STATS: https://fluence-media.co/wallner0514

BONUS: Gleeman on Wallner’s exile.

STUNNINGLY BAD SIMEON: Via Bobby Nightengale at Star Tribune. It has been painful to watch Simeon Woods Richardson pitch for the Twins, with his latest lousy performance coming in Wednesday’s 9-5 loss to Miami. Woods Richardson faced 19 batters before being mercifully removed in the fourth inning. Seven got hits, four drew walks, eight scored runs. His record dropped to 0-6 and he could find himself out of the rotation, a hard-to-fathom plummet under current circumstances. The Twins are limited in what they can do with Woods Richardson because he’s out of options and can’t be sent to the minors without giving other teams a chance to claim him on waivers. VERBATIM: “Woods Richardson owns a 7.71 ERA through nine starts, the fourth-highest mark among all MLB starters who have thrown at least 20 innings. He has a tenuous spot in the Twins rotation, which is already down two pitchers with Mick Abel (elbow inflammation) and Taj Bradley (chest) on the 15-day injured list. Beginning with a start in Toronto, when Woods Richardson pitched while sick, he has allowed 48 hits and 33 earned runs over his last 30⅓ innings. That’s unsustainable.” MORE: https://fluence-media.co/simeon0514

SMOKING HOT BUXTON: Via The Athletic. In their weekly power rankings, released before Byron Buxton smashed two more home runs Wednesday, the Twins ranked tied for 21st. But Buxton got this salute. VERBATIM: “On Saturday in Cleveland, Buxton started the game with a solo homer off Tanner Bibee. In the 11th inning, he delivered a go-ahead RBI double. The Twins didn’t record a single hit in between, but they won anyway, thanks to their dynamic center fielder. The night before, he had three hits, including another homer and a double. He collected a hit, a walk and a stolen base on Sunday. As he navigates his way through his 12th big-league season, he’s still leaving his fingerprints all over the box score. He ranks among the league leaders in homers. He boasts an (.899) OPS. He’s on pace for a career-best WAR total. He’s doing everything he can to keep the Twins relevant in an uninspiring AL Central.” RANKINGS: https://fluence-media.co/buxton0514. BUXTON STATS: https://fluence-media.co/buckstats0514

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FROST LOSE, FACE UNCERTAIN FUTURE: Via La Velle E. Neal III at Star Tribune. Montreal eliminated the Frost 2-1 in Tuesday’s Game 5 of the PWHL semifinals by shutting down the Minnesota offense after Game 1 — holding it to five goals in the next four games — while taking advantage of the Frost’s subpar penalty killing, which was the worst in the PWHL. The series winner came on a power-play goal by Canadian Olympic standout Marie-Philip Poulin early in the third period. Next up for Minnesota will be a roster dispersal as the league adds four teams (Detroit, Las Vegas, Hamilton, Ontario, and one still to be named for the 2026-27 season.) VERBATIM: Expansion will affect this group, which includes the scoring champ Kelly Pannek, the physical Britta Curl-Salemme, the playmaking Taylor Heise, the speedy Kendall Coyne Schofield, the reliable Grace Zumwinkle, the defensive savant Lee Stecklein and the effective net tandem of Maddie Rooney and Nicole Hensley. . . . Their brand of hockey was not good enough to reach a third consecutive Walter Cup Finals. And their brand of hockey might not be able to make it to next season.” MORE: https://fluence-media.co/frost0514

EXPANSION DRAFT KILLED: Via John Wawrow at Associated Press. The PWHL won’t supply the four new teams via an expansion draft, instead opting for a process that allows existing teams to protect a few players and then lets the new teams submit a list of 20 players they want to sign. Details were obtained in a memo sent out by the PWHL players’ union. SHORT VERSION: After existing teams protect three players by May 28, expansion teams can reach out to the rest of the players and sign up to five. One player on each new team will get a “franchise offer” of at least $100,000 per season — with the player deciding the length of the deal, from one to four years. Then existing teams can protect three more players before expansion teams can increase their rosters to 10 heading into the June 17 draft. An open signing period will follow. VERBATIM: “There’s two priorities that we’re trying to match, which are competitive balance within the league, and player experience and ensuring they are happy with the process,” PWHL executive vice president Jayna Hefford said. MORE: https://fluence-media.co/pwhl0514

MILES WAS RIGHT CHOICE: It’s taken two games for the Lynx to show they made the right move by taking Olivia Miles with the No. 2 overall draft pick. She’s made a few youth-tinged mistakes in her first two games. But she brings skills and fire — and is surrounded by a better roster (even with Napheesa Collier and Dorka Juhasz out with injuries) than I expected. Nia Coffey is a grinder whose play is infused with her father’s work ethic. Richard Coffey was a forward for the Gophers in the late 1980s and was a reserve for one season with the Wolves. European players are typically wild cards, but Reeve has added two — Emma Cechova and Antonia Delaere — who are part of the current rotation. Natasha Howard has been hanging in as an undersized post player — 10 points and eight rebounds per game so far — even if she’s shooting 20% (2 for 10) on free throws so far. EARLY TAKES: Fun team, will get better, a force when and if full health is reached. Miles may be the point guard, but Courtney Williams is still boss of the backcourt.

WHAT ABOUT BETTS? The popular choice — including mine —for the Lynx pick was Lauren Betts, the 6-foot-7 center who led UCLA to the national title. Washington took her fourth overall and she’s averaging 3.5 points, 3 rebounds and 15 minutes coming off the bench in her first two games. I was wrong.

REUNION GAME: Tonight’s Lynx-Wings game brings Miles back to Dallas-Fort Worth, where she played her graduate-year season at TCU after transferring from Notre Dame. In addition to Hopkins High star Bueckers, Minnesota will face three ex-Lynx who’ve started the first two Dallas games: Alanna Smith, Jessica Shepard and Odyssey Sims. The first two left via free agency after the new collective bargaining agreement was reached. Shepard leads the team in rebounds and assists and has scored 25 points so far. Smith has struggled, including scoring only eight points on 21% shooting. The Wings are 1-1, beating Indiana 107-104 in their opener and losing 77-72 at Atlanta.

IF YOU MISSED IT: Via Cassidy Hettesheimer at Star Tribune. This story is a good one for getting up to speed on the new Lynx players and returning ones who are getting more court time than before. STORY: https://fluence-media.co/lynx0514

JAMES EXITS WITH LOSS: Via Andy Greder at Pioneer Press. Minnesota United sent Colombian star James Rodriguez off with a 1-0 loss to Colorado on Wednesday, capping his bizarre half-season stint with the Loons. The club had an option on James for the second half of the season, but won’t exercise it and will pay out only half of the $684,000 contract he signed in February. VERBATIM: “He exited in the 63rd minute, capping his MLS stint with no goals and two assists in 195 minutes across six appearances and two starts. He missed a total of seven games for a variety of reasons and was an unused sub two other times.” MORE: https://fluence-media.co/james0514

ME$$I AND THE LOON$: Via The Athletic. A salary dump released by the MLS Players Association this week has a trove of interesting data. MY FAVORITE: Inter Miami is paying superstar Lionel Messi $28.3 million this season. The Loons are paying their entire roster $15.6 million. Also, star goalkeeper Dayne St. Claire signed for $809,000 when he left the Loons for Miami. MORE: https://fluence-media.co/mls0514

COLLEGE STUFF

WOULD RULE CHANGE HURT COLLEGE HOCKEY? Via Olivia Hicks at Strib Varsity. The NCAA is pondering a rule change to limit athletes to competing in five seasons within a five-year period in Division I athletics after they turn 19 or graduate from high school, whichever comes first. That idea isn’t sitting well with high school hockey coaches, whose players typically play junior hockey before starting their college careers. Among their fears is that players would leave high school early for junior hockey and that one year of juniors isn’t adequate preparation for college in many cases. Moorhead coach Jon Ammerman voiced his concerns. VERBATIM: “It is a rule written for other sports. With our sport being a regional niche sport, my guess is the NCAA doesn’t really care, to be honest. A kid in Minnesota, his ultimate goal is to play D-I hockey, and those are going to be the people that dictate what that path looks like.” MORE: https://fluence-media.co/eligible0514

‘FIVE-IN-FIVE’ RULE EXPLAINED: Via Marcus Fuller at Strib Varsity. VERBATIM: “NCAA leadership will meet on May 22 to further discuss the rule, which reportedly could include voting on the proposal. NCAA President Charlie Baker seemed optimistic on the process, telling ESPN that ‘their direction to the D-I cabinet is full speed ahead on figuring this out.’ The actual implementation of the new rule is proposed to start Aug. 1 entering the 2026-27 school year.” FULL REPORT: https://fluence-media.co/rule0514

U’S TOURNAMENT RETURN: The Gophers end their Big Ten baseball regular season with an excellent chance to make the conference tournament for the first time since 2019. The top 12 teams make the tournament and Minnesota is currently tied for 10th at 11-16 with Rutgers and Washington. Penn State is 8-19 and Michigan State has finished its season at 11-19. The Gophers host second-place Nebraska at 2 p.m. today, 5 p.m. Friday and 1 p.m. Saturday. One win gets them into the tournament, which begins Tuesday in Omaha. A sweep by Nebraska, ranked No. 24 in the nation, sets up an assortment of tie-breaker possibilities pending the outcome of other series. Games are on BIG on Friday/Saturday and BIG+ on Sunday. A revised tournament set up has three days of double-elimination play among the fifth through 12th place teams to reach an eight-team single-elimination bracket from Friday through Sunday. STANDINGS | TOURNAMENT | TICKETS

MORE COLLEGE BASEBALL: Minnesota State finished second in the Northern Sun Conference at 29-7 and second in its conference tournament to make the NCAA Division II regionals, starting tonight vs. Central Missouri at 6 p.m. in a four-team double-elimination regional. Games will run through Saturday or Sunday. In Division III, Macalester and Bethany Lutheran qualified and will play in Whitewater, Wis. On Friday, Macalester (29-15) plays defending national champion UW-Whitewater at 11 a.m. and Bethany (31-6) plays Luther at 2:30 p.m. to open their double-elimination bracket. Games will be streamed for free on NCAA.com. Winners in both divisions will advance to a best-of-three playoffs for the eight s[pots at nationals. D-II BRACKET | D-III BRACKET | LIVESTREAMS

VERY HONORABLE MENTION: St. Mary’s led Bethel 6-4 in the bottom of the ninth inning when Ben Trucke rounded the bases after clearing the left-field wall with a runner on base. But the umpires met and changed the call, turning a game-tying homer into a foul ball. On the next pitch, Trucke bashed another pitch over the wall — this time to center field so there was no doubt. But St. Mary’s ended up winning 8-6 in 11 innings, the first of two losses that knocked regular-season champ Bethel out of the tournament — and a likely postseason berth.

5 ADVANCE IN D-II, D-III SOFTBALL: Saint Mary’s, St. Benedict and Bethany Lutheran all have spots in the D-III softball tournament, with St. Mary’s hosting a regional in Winona and the other two going on the road. In D-II, St. Cloud State and Winona State qualified. All five have games today in their double-elimination regionals. BRACKET/SCHEDULE: D-II | D-III | LIVESTREAMS

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EX-STUDENT’S BEHAVIOR CAUSED RESIGNATION: Via Lakeland PBS. After the news that football coach Bryan Stoffel and Special Olympics coach Jackie Stoffel had resigned from those roles at Bemidji High School because of “ongoing personal attacks” and “a lack of support” (Bryan Stoffel’s words), some reports assumed that parents were responsible. But the school district issued a statement saying that wasn’t the case. VERBATIM: “The personal attacks that have been referenced are from a former student. This individual does not presently have any connection to Bemidji Area Schools. The district has worked with our legal counsel to provide guidance and support for the Stoffels as they respond to this situation.”

U COLLECTING SPUDS: Via Randy Johnson at Star Tribune. I’m trying to set a high bar for writing about college “commitments” from high school athletes. But the Gophers adding their fourth football player from Moorhead to their 2027 recruiting class is worth noting. Cornerback Zak Walker announced this week he’s joining quarterback Jett Feeney, running back Taye Reich and wide receiver David Mack. Moorhead reached the Class 6A title game at last season’s prep Bowl, losing 42-35 to Edina. There are 11 players committed for 2027 who aren’t from Moorhead. VERBATIM: “Walker made his second unofficial visit to Minnesota on Tuesday and gave his commitment Wednesday morning. His other scholarship offers were from FBS newcomer North Dakota State and FCS contenders South Dakota State, South Dakota and North Dakota.” MORE: https://fluence-media.co/spuds0514

ADRIAN PETERSON JR. GETS MINNESOTA OFFER: Via Will Ragatz at SI.com. The offers are coming in for the youngster, who is about to finish eighth grade at Billy Baines Middle School 20 miles outside of Houston. VERBATIM: “Adrian Peterson Jr., the son of former Vikings star running back Adrian Peterson, has received several offers from major college football programs, including the University of Minnesota. . . . Currently listed at 6'1" and 175 pounds, Peterson Jr. plays wide receiver, running back, and defensive back. He also plays baseball and runs track, according to his X/Twitter bio. He announced an offer from the Gophers on Friday and has previously announced offers from Miami, Baylor, UTSA, and Missouri State.” MORE: https://fluence-media.co/peterson0514

AND FINALLY: Via Eric Peterson at Fargo Forum. The Fargo RedHawks independent minor league baseball team is turning 30 this year. The Coen Brothers cult movie Fargo is turning 30, too. What better way to acknowledge the anniversaries than the RedHawks taking the field as the Fargo Woodchippers for five games this summer? What better way to sell merch, too? It doesn’t really matter that most of the movie centered in and around Brainerd. VERBATIM: “The cult classic was released a few months before manager Chris Coste, one of the original RedHawks, and F-M played its first game in early June as a member of the defunct Northern League. ‘Even in 1996, when players started arriving to town, their only knowledge of Fargo for a lot of these guys was the movie,’ said Coste.’ ” MORE: https://fluence-media.co/fargo0514

WOODCHIPPER: MERCHANDISE | SCENE FROM FARGO

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What we know from the first five days of Minnesota’s postseasons

*When Wolves elder statesman Joe Ingles enters the game, it’s safe to go to bed. Ingles played the final 10 minutes in San Antonio’s 133-95 thumping of the Wolves Wednesday night.

*When the Wild’s goalie play softens, even their best roster ever can’t compete with Colorado, the NHL’s best team this season.

*When the Frost plays, you never know whether you’ll get an offensive shootout (The 5-4 overtime win in Game 1 of their series with Montreal) or a night of dominant defense (The 1-0 triple-overtime loss in Game 2). Overtime is the best bet.

WOLVES

THIS AIN’T DENVER: Via Jace Frederick at Pioneer Press. The Wolves showed they could play hard, plan well — and then hold on to win Game 1 by two points when San Antonio missed a potential game-winner at the buzzer. Then Minnesota showed what happens when its pathological tendency for sloppy, unmotivated play resurfaces — Wednesday’s 38-point loss in Game 2. VERBATIM: “San Antonio is excellent. Even if they lack playoff experience, the Spurs won 62 games — including four against defending champion Oklahoma City — for a reason. They’re athletic, tenacious and deep, with a coaching staff capable of making adjustments and a top five player in the world serving as the hub of the operation. They have moxie, competitiveness and fire. If they lacked belief, they should have it now. If Denver was a foothill, San Antonio is a mountain. This climb is far more treacherous. Minnesota could likely beat the Nuggets with its A, B or C game. The former will be required to win this series. Which is why Wednesday was so alarming. Yes, Minnesota still got the split it went to Texas in search of, but Game 2 was a no-contest. The Wolves punted without first playing a single down.” MORE: https://fluence-media.co/fail0507

PUNKED: Via Jon Krawczynski at The Athletic. VERBATIM: “All the edge and tenacity the Wolves showed in their inspiring Game 1 win was buried underneath a wet blanket of missed shots and turnovers on Wednesday. They shot 29 percent from the field, turned the ball over 11 times and scored just 35 points in the first half, gift-wrapping a 25-point lead for the Spurs that would eventually grow to as many as 47. Julius Randle turned the ball over five times, Anthony Edwards and Rudy Gobert had four giveaways each, and the Wolves were out-rebounded 55-43 and outscored in transition 29-5 in their most lopsided playoff loss in franchise history. ‘I told them we just got punked,’ Wolves coach Chris Finch said.” MORE: https://fluence-media.co/punked0507

WEMBY VS. JOKER: Former Minneapolis Community and Technical College basketball coach Jay Pivec also worked for several years as an advance scout for the Spurs. So I asked him about game-planning to face Wembanyama after Minnesota’s opening-round series against Nikola Jokic and the Nuggets. Turned out he was writing about that on his X feed. Here’s an edited version, which he posted before Game 2: “Everyone wants to talk about the matchup shift — from Jokic to Wembanyama — and they should. It’s real. Jokic is discipline. He’s patience. He waits you out and then picks you apart. If you’re not locked in mentally, possession after possession, he breaks you down. Wemby? He doesn’t wait. He changes the floor the second he steps on it. Now it’s length, spacing, angles — stuff you can’t simulate. You can guard it right and still be wrong. So your preparation has to change. Completely. Denver tests your discipline. San Antonio tests your awareness. And flipping that switch, back-to-back, after an emotional win — that’s not easy. That’s where teams slip.”

WOLVES LINKS: PLAYOFF SCHEDULE, TICKETS, TV | STATS

WILD

A NEEDED BREAK: After losing 9-6 and 5-2 in their first games, having three days off before Saturday’s Game 3 is a needed respite for the Wild. For one thing, it could give them a chance to get center Joel Eriksson Ek and defenseman Jonas Brodin back on the ice. Eriksson Ek is the Wild’s best at winning face-offs and Brodin is vital to the No. 2 defensive pairing behind Quinn Hughes and Brock Faber. That doesn’t solve the lack of hot goaltending — which covers for mistakes even when a team is playing well — or fully solving the riddle of poor penalty killing that also troubled the Wild throughout the Dallas series.

CHANGES COMING: Via The Athletic. Watch for changes in the defensive pairings and how they’re used, even if Brodin doesn’t return. Picking a goalie for Game 3 is also on the agenda after Filip Gustavsson didn’t bring the sharpness needed as Jesper Wallstedt’s replacement. And there could be shuffling among the healthy scratches for Saturday night at Grand Casino Arena. Coach John Hynes indicated it’s more about the players than strategy. VERBATIM: “I think we ought to use this time a little bit wisely. . . I would say the five-on-five game from Game 1 to Game 2 was significantly better. Special teams were the difference in (Game 2), and I think when it comes down to individual players, you have a little bit of time now to go through some things and see if we can help those guys get to the level where they can be and where we need them to be.” MORE: https://fluence-media.co/next0507

MACKINNON’S EXCELLENCE: Via Colorado Hockey Now. The Avalanche often use Hall of Famer Peter Forsberg as a measuring stick for their top players and center Nathan MacKinnon is again meeting that standard in the playoffs. VERBATIM: “Forsberg had 58 goals, 101 assists, and 159 points in 140 postseason games with the team. . . . MacKinnon’s power-play goal in Game 2 was his 59th career playoff goal. . . . More impressively, MacKinnon’s 59 goals, along with his 76 assists and 135 total postseason points, have come in just 101 games. Basically, MacKinnon in the playoffs operates at a pace of 48 goals, 62 assists, and 110 points per 82 games. Forsberg produced at an 82-game pace of 34 goals, 59 assists, and 93 points. Different eras and different players. But MacKinnon’s production is incredible.” MORE: https://fluence-media.co/avs0507

WILD LINKS: PLAYOFF SCHEDULE, TICKETS, TV | STATS

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FROST

OVERTIME HABIT: My reference above to betting on overtime wasn’t in jest. The Frost’s last seven playoff games, going back to last season’s title run, have all needed extra time to resolve. Minnesota and Montreal also played two overtime games of their four during the regular season.

COUNTERPUNCHING? Via Heather Rule at Written Rule of Sports. The Frost looked less offensive minded during the overtimes of Game 2, as if they were waiting to take advantage of a Montreal miscue more than carrying the attack. That resulted in Maddie Rooney needing to make 51 saves before Canadian hockey legend Marie-Philip Poulin scored to end the 1-0 game. VERBATIM: “Of those 51 saves for Rooney last night, 25 of those stops came across the three overtime periods. Montreal tilted the ice in their favor with plenty of offensive-zone time and appeared to have an extra jump. The Victoire outshot the Frost 52-38 in the game, including 25-11 in overtime. ‘They gained some momentum,’ Frost coach Ken Klee said. ‘They hemmed us in a little bit, and then we got a couple long shifts, with the long change, I think that happens at times. Unfortunately for us, it happened the first overtime period, for sure. We got stuck in our own zone way too long. Our shifts were too long because of it.” MORE: https://fluence-media.co/overtime0507

SNACK TIME: Via the PWHL announce team on YouTube. The Victoire went heavy on pickle juice to replenish between periods. The Frost leaned on Uncrustables.

FROST LINKS: PLAYOFF SCHEDULE, TICKETS, TV | STATS

WE INTERRUPT THE FUN AND GAMES: Something I haven’t seen reported locally and another reminder that college sports as they’ve become doesn’t happen without mind-boggling amounts of money.

BIG TEN HANDS OUT $1.37 BILLION TO SCHOOLS. Via Adam Rittenberg at ESPN. VERBATIM: “The league announced its most recent revenue numbers (May 1) for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025, up from $883 million in the previous fiscal year. The Big Ten’s 55% increase was fueled in part by its first full year as an 18-member conference after the additions of Oregon and Washington. The league also gained more revenue through its success in the first 12-team College Football Playoff, won by Ohio State following the 2024 season.”

WHAT DID ‘WE’ GET: “Sixteen of the Big Ten’s member schools are fully vested but received different revenue payouts because of CFP participation and other factors. Ohio State received a league-high $91.57 million for fiscal year 2024-25, and Penn State, a national semifinalist in football, received $88.92 million. Other full members received between $76.01 million and $79.87 million. Oregon and Washington are receiving partial revenue shares until 2030.” (Note: Minnesota is in the ‘full members group.) MORE: https://fluence-media.co/bigten0507

MY TAKE: “Take” is probably the wrong word here. My take from the Big Ten is only what I choose to take in as a fan. Seriously, keep those numbers in mind when you’re having any discussion about what’s happening in college sports that’s so different than what we remember from a generation or two ago. It’s all about the money for everyone from the highly paid coaches to the athletes who hop from school to school seeking better deals. If it makes you queasy, you can always stop gorging on it.

TIPS AND THOUGHTS: Email me. sportstake100@gmail.com

LYNX POWER RANKINGS: Via Stephanie Kaloi at High Post Hoops. The Lynx open their season Saturday night against Atlanta at Target Center (7 p.m., Victory+) in a game that was moved from Sunday to accommodate Game 4 of the NBA playoffs. The revamped roster is making fans wonder how the Lynx stack up compared to other WNBA teams in a postseason of massive player movement. High Post Hoops placed them at No. 6 among the 15 teams, right behind Los Angeles and ahead of Dallas. VERBATIM: “The Lynx are rarely bad, and despite an offseason that didn't seem to go the way a lot of fans wanted it to (and that saw some surprising departures), there's every reason to assume they'll be good this year. The real question is when Napheesa Collier comes back, and how much work needs to be done at that point.” MORE: https://fluence-media.co/power0507

ABOUT THAT ROSTER: Nine of the team’s 14 players weren’t on the roster last season. Five are rookies. Four are from Europe. The biggest names are Olivia Miles, the No., 2 overall draft choice, who will take over at point guard, and 6-foot-5 forward Dorka Juhasz, who played for them in 2023-24 before spending the 2025 season in Europe. Juhasz suffered a foot injury during the Euroleague playoffs and will miss the start of the regular season. ROSTER: https://fluence-media.co/lynx0507

ROOKIE OF THE YEAR? Via The Athletic. The website’s WNBA staff thinks Miles is the season-starting favorite to be Rookie of the Year in a highly competitive first-year class. VERBATIM: “Miles got overlooked as the No. 1 pick because of the Wings’ needs, but in Cheryl Reeve’s system she not only will have the opportunity to shine — considering the early injuries the Lynx are facing — but also will have the resources needed to maximize her talent playing for a coach with a history of developing Rookie of the Year players.” MORE: https://fluence-media.co/rookie0507

WOLVES EXEC PASSED OVER: Via Jon Greenberg and Nick Friedell at The Athletic. The Chicago Bulls opted against hiring Wolves general manager Matt Floyd as their new VP for basketball operations, instead hiring Bryson Graham away from Atlanta. Floy’s hiring could have meant that the Wolves would also have lost Micah Nori, their top assistant, to fill Chicago’s head coaching vacancy. VERBATIM: “Many observers seemed focused on . . . Lloyd, a former Bulls executive who started his career under former Bulls GM and current adviser John Paxson. Lloyd did not turn the job down despite momentum that he was the favorite entering this week.” MORE: https://fluence-media.co/gm0507

JOE RYAN IN CONTEXT: Via The Athletic. Leaving Sunday’s game after facing only two batters, there were legitimate concerns that Twins pitcher Joe Ryan had suffered a significant injury. But he threw in the bullpen on Wednesday and the Twins have him scheduled to start Saturday at Cleveland. That was good news not only for the Twins, but for contending teams that might be willing to make a substantial deal near the August 3 trading deadline. Ryan is No. 1 on a list of seven top pitchers who could be traded assembled for The Athletic by former major league GM Jim Bowden. VERBATIM: “Since 2022, Ryan has been a reliable top of the rotation presence for the Twins, throwing more than 135 innings in each of the last four seasons. He made his first All-Star team last year and has looked like an All-Star so far this year, even as the Twins have struggled. Ryan has always thrown a lot of strikes and he’s done an excellent job limiting home runs so far this year. A lot of teams will be monitoring his health status closely the next few weeks.” MORE: https://fluence-media.co/ryan0507

STRANGEST STAT EVER? Byron Buxton is on pace to hit more than 40 home runs and leads the Twins in OPS (On Base + Slugging Percentage) by more than 90 points. But it took him until Tuesday to get his first hit of the season with a runner in scoring position — hitting a home run in Washington after going hitless in 21 previous at-bats. No explanations here; just acknowledging the weirdness.

CORREA OUT FOR SEASON: Via ESPN. Former Twins shortstop Carlos Correa’s history of foot and leg problems has continued with a season-ending ankle injury that occurred while he was taking batting practice before Houston’s game against the Dodgers on Tuesday. Signed by the Twins to a six-year contract in 2023 — after the Giants and Mets backed out of longer deals because of medical concerns — Correa was traded to the Astros last July during the team’s trade-deadline binge. VERBATIM: “ ‘It just completely snapped on me and then I fell to the ground. I couldn’t put weight on it. Right away, I knew something was wrong.’ Correa was on crutches and in a walking boot Wednesday morning at the ballpark after seeing a foot specialist. He said he would seek some other opinions before scheduling the surgery.” MORE: https://fluence-media.co/correa0507

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HUSBAND-AND-WIFE PREP COACHES LEAVE POSITIONS: Via Adam Uren at Bring Me The News. VERBATIM: “The head coach of Bemidji High School’s football team has resigned, citing ‘ongoing personal attacks.’ Bryan Stoffel made the announcement on Facebook, saying he was making ‘the difficult decision to step down . . . effective immediately ‘It has been an honor to coach this program and work with such dedicated student-athletes,’ Stoffel wrote. ‘However, ongoing personal attacks – including those affecting my family – along with a lack of support have led me to prioritize my family and step away.’ Shortly after Stoffel’s post, his wife Jackie announced on the Bemidji Unified Special Olympics Facebook page that she was also resigning from her role as the Unified Athletics coordinator for Bemidji Area Schools.’ “

MORE: “Stoffel becomes the latest in a flurry of high school sports coaches who have left their positions in recent months while citing abusive conduct of either parents or community members. Last month, Kasson-Mantorville boys basketball coach Nick Pocius announced his departure, citing ‘pressures’ from people in the community. In March, a girls hockey coach in Cloquet cited inappropriate behavior by parents as her reason for quitting, while the Blake School controversially dismissed its boys basketball coach Tyler Biwan despite a historic state tournament run, citing ‘parent, player and alumni feedback.’ ” MORE: https://fluence-media.co/coaches0507

FACEBOOK POSTS: Bryan Stoffel | Jackie Lilly

STUDENT REPORTING: Via Blake Spectrum. This week’s edition of the student newspaper at Blake School published an excellent follow-up to the two Sports Take reports about Biwan’s dismissal. The story includes excerpts from a previously unreleased letter to team parents from Head of School Anne Stavney, which was sent before Biwan asked supporters to cease efforts on his behalf to get him rehired. STORY: https://fluence-media.co/blake0507

WHAT’S GOING ON HERE? I asked John Millea about the issue of coaches leaving or losing their jobs around the state. Millea recently retired from the Minnesota State High School League after 15 years as a writer and social media specialist. He was previously a reporter and editor at the Star Tribune for 20 years. VERBATIM: “The coaching situation is interesting. I don’t know if it’s happening more these days (I suspect it is), but the proliferation of things like Facebook surely sheds more light on it. Compared to past years, I think parents are feeling more powerful, in a bad way. And I don’t know what the remedy is. Every team in every sport has a mandatory preseason meeting with kids and parents, and one of the major points is how parents should handle issues they may have. But how can parents be stopped from gossiping, turning their kids against the coaches, griping, leaving threatening notes on coaches cars, etc.? There is an absolute mass exodus of young coaches who walk away because of parents. Coaches are paid next to nothing for their coaching jobs, so who can blame them for walking away from all the B.S.?”

MILLEA’S BOOK: I also wanted to ask Millea about Prepville MN; Unforgettable Stories of High School Sports, an anthology from his writing for the MSHSL and Star Tribune. It is scheduled for a November release. Millea told me in an email that he started on the book before the pandemic and whittled his original story list in half — from about 100,000 words to 50,000. VERBATIM: “Trimming it to 42 stories was a long process. I knew I wanted it to be in the 50,000-word range, and I kept trimming and trimming (tucking away other stories for a possible second book). I wanted a range of story types, including profiles of people like Joe Mauer, Kris Humphries, Caleb Thielbar and Natalie Darwitz when they were in high school (Natalie was actually in seventh grade; that story from 1997 is the oldest in the book. The Mauer story is from 1999 when he was in 11th grade). I also included profiles of coaches, including Bob McDonald, Dwight Lundeen, Ron Stolski and others. There are a couple of stories about officials, stories of athletes who overcame obstacles and community-oriented stories. One story is about Mark Wellstone, who took solace in working as an assistant wrestling coach at Apple Valley after his parents and sister were killed in a plane crash.”

MORE: “Each chapter ends just as the original stories ended. We discussed adding a ‘where are they now’ at the end of each but chose to keep the stories in their original form. I’ve been thinking of this book as a sort of career capstone. The days of families clipping articles out of the newspaper are all but over, and I wanted to re-share these stories in a permanent (paperback) form. I also wanted to leave something for my kids and grandkids, and maybe even generations beyond that. We’re hoping to start a companion podcast, with each show focusing on a chapter.”

WHEN AND WHERE: The book is scheduled for Nov. 10 release by Mendota Heights-based publisher North Star Editions. Preorders are available through Barnes & Noble and Amazon.

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GOPHERS HOCKEY CATCHING UP: Via Randy Johnson at Star Tribune. After slogging through last season without any newly college-eligible players from Canada’s major junior leagues, the Gophers announced the addition of Tarin Smith, who played for Everett of the Western Hockey League and was a finalist for the league’s top defenseman award. Smith, 20, was Anaheim’s third-round pick in the 2024 NHL draft. VERBATIM: “The hockey-focused website eliteprospects.com praised Smith’s game entering the 2024 NHL draft. ‘Smith is not simply reading momentum; he’s dictating it,’ ” the publication said. ‘He uses lateral movement, shot fakes, and constant changes of direction to turn defenders’ feet before attacking in the opposite direction. Away from the puck, Smith gaps up early on opponents between the blue lines, closes on them with force, and makes opponents pay a physical toll for getting to the net front.’ ” MORE: https://fluence-media.co/uhockey0507

SMITH MAKES THREE: The Gophers had previous commitments from two other players with experience in Canadian major juniors. Right wing Jackson Kvasnicka, who played one season at Wayzata, scored 35 goals for Penticton of the WHL. Forward Christian Humphreys has played for Kitchener of the Ontario Junior League for the last two seasons, scoring 38 goals in 91 games. (Our favorite is Smith, if for no other reason than he’s from Porcupine Plain, Saskatchewan, a town of 817 people with a mascot named Quilly Willy.

LOOK AHEAD: Via Tony Liebert at SI.com. A look at potential line combinations and defensive pairings after Smith’s commitment and other additions to the roster since Brett Larson was named head coach in March. LIST: https://fluence-media.co/depth0507

STATISTICS AND MORE: SMITH | KVASNICKA | HUMPHREYS

WILD TV GUY TAKES COACHING JOB: Via Olivia Hicks at Strib Varsity. Wild TV analyst Ryan Carter is returning to his high school alma mater, White Bear Lake, to coach its girls’ hockey team. Carter, a 2002 graduate, had a nine-year NHL career, mostly as a center, and spent his final two seasons with the Wild. VERBATIM: “After a rocky past two seasons, with 34 combined losses from 2024 to 2026, the Bears are looking to turn a page with Carter behind the bench. Stillwater shut out White Bear Lake 5-0 in a Class 2A, Section 4 quarterfinal Feb. 7, bringing the Bears’ 8-17-1 season to an end.” MORE: https://fluence-media.co/carter0507

GOOD PLACE TO SAY IT: With the coming shutdown of FanDuel Sports Network, Carter’s TV future is likely unsettled. Hockey isn’t No. 1 on my fandom list, and Carter’s guidance through Wild games as Anthony LaPanta’s partner is something I appreciate. He’s like the classroom teacher who is interesting, informative and constructive with criticism.

AURORA SIGNS TRANS PLAYER: Via Cassidy Hettesheimer at Star Tribune. Goalkeeper Isaac Ranson came out as a man during his time as a goalkeeper for the women’s soccer team at Cal State Fullerton. The United Soccer League, which includes Aurora, states that players “shall register only with the gender team with which the player was assigned at birth, without regard to any other stated gender held or part of the player’s core identity.” Ranson was a four-year starter in college and was second in the nation last year with 13 shutouts. VERBATIM: “Ranson was looking for an inclusive club to continue playing after his college graduation, but he was also searching for a competitive training environment. . . . ‘I didn’t have a role model or someone to look up to growing up that looked like me or identified as I do. And I just think that’s super important. I want to be that person that little kids can look up to and think to themselves . . . I don’t care if I look differently than everyone else or identify differently than everyone else. I can thrive in anything I put myself into.’” MORE: https://fluence-media.co/ranson0507

AURORA’S SEASON: The team has preseason matches Saturday in Kansas City and a week from Saturday at TCO Stadium in Eagan. The regular season begins at home on May 19 vs. Rochester. In its four years in the USL-W, Aurora has a 43-0-5 regular-season record but has been eliminated at various points of the postseason without winning a title. ROSTER | SCHEDULE | TICKETS

RODRIGUEZ AND LOONS SPLITTING UP? Via Andy Greder at Pioneer Press. The odd relationship between Minnesota United and Colombian soccer standout James Rodriguez may come to an end later this month. There are only two more Loons games before the Colombian team opens training for next month’s World Cup. Loons Chief Soccer Officer Khaled El-Ahmad was noncommittal about whether Rodriguez and the Loons would part ways afterward. He has played only 104 minutes in 11 matches because of a injury and other issues. VERBATIM: “MNUFC has a contract option to bring Rodriguez back for the second, post-World Cup portion of the MLS season, but there is little on-field reason to exercise it. El-Ahmad was asked if he anticipates James returning in July. ‘We take this as it comes,’ he said. Rodriguez has been noncommittal about what he will do after the World Cup, saying he’s only focused on the buildup to the tournament.” MORE: https://fluence-media.co/rodriguez0507

MIAC BASEBALL PLAYOFFS OPEN: MIAC baseball playoffs start this afternoon at CHS Field in St. Paul and run through Saturday. Regular-season champ Bethel plays fourth-place Saint Mary’s at 2:30 p.m. today and No. 2 Macalester plays No. 3 Saint John’s at 7 p.m. The tournament is double elimination with the title game set for 3 p.m. Saturday with another following, if needed. OF NOTE: Saint John’s has the top two pitchers in the conference. First-year Max Edwards was 6-1 with a 1.16 ERA in seven starts. He struck out 56 batters in 54 1/3 innings and yielded only one home run. Junior Matthew Magnuson was 5-1 in eight starts and second in the MIAC with a 2.55 ERA. Bethel has the MIAC’s two leading home run hitters — juniors Sam Abbas (13) and Seth Nelson (11) — who combined for more homers than five other entire MIAC teams. SCHEDULE, TICKETS, STREAMING: https://fluence-media.co/miac0507

ALSO: The six team MIAC softball playoffs start today and conclude Saturday with single-elimination games at Saint Benedict (21-1), which won the regular-season title owing to a doubleheader sweep of Ni. 2 Saint Mary’s. Carleton and St. Catherine took the final two spots in a four-way tie-breaking that knocked out out Bethel and Macalester. All finished at 12-10. Schedule, tickets and streaming info are here. NORTHERN SUN: Baseball and softball tournaments started Wednesday and go through Saturday in Sioux Falls. DETAILS: BASEBALL | SOFTBALL

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GOPHERS GONE: Washington knocked out the Gophers in the first round of the Big Ten tournament Wednesday afternoon, rallying for a 4-2 victory. Minnesota, which qualified as the last seed, finished the season 16-36, its worst record since 2010.

PROMOTION: Via Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference. The WIAC, a unique D-III league because it is made up entirely of public universities, has named Corey Borchardt as its new commissioner. Borchardt has been commissioner of the Upper Midwest Athletic Conference since 2008 and previously was assistant athletic director at University of Northwestern in Roseville. MORE: https://fluence-media.co/wiac0507

AND FINALLY: Via Jeff Kolpack at Bison Sports Zone. There’s a football team with 32 Minnesotans on it that one college football expert is expecting to see in the College Football Playoffs this season. And it’s not the Gophers. That would be North Dakota State, which is making the leap this fall to the Football Bowl Subdivision after decades of domination at the FCS and Division II levels. Brett McMurphy of On3 — a comprehensive college football and basketball site — is making the prediction. NCAA officials are meeting today and are expected to eliminate the two-year waiting period that teams have waited out in the past before becoming bowl eligible after moving up to the FBS. The Bison are joining the Mountain West Conference. VERBATIM: “ ‘With the Bison expected to be favored in every game this season . . . sure, why not?’ McMurphy wrote. It was part of his ‘On3 Way-Too-Early’ bowl projections for the upcoming season. McMurphy has the No. 12 Bison playing at No. 5 Oregon in the first round of the playoffs. That’s almost exactly to last year’s CFP when No. 12 James Madison played at the No. 5 Ducks.” MORE: https://fluence-media.co/bison0507

ONE FINAL STAT: North Dakota State has 32 Minnesotans on its current roster. The Gophers have 19. Will Bison marketing wizards start promoting NDSU football as “The Real Minnesota Team?” ROSTERS: BISON | GOPHERS

That’s all for now.

EMAIL HOWARD: sportstake100@gmail.com

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QUICK BITS: Wild — Does Sunday’s 9-6 loss to Colorado in Game 1 mean we’ll see Filip Gustavsson (d/b/a “The Gus Bus”) parked in front of the Minnesota net for Game 2? Wolves — Anthony Edwards is back, but does that mean he’ll be back in action for tonight’s opener in San Antonio? Frost — Can they avoid playing on back-to-back nights this week — owing to scheduling issues at Grand Casino Arena — by sweeping their semifinal series from first-place Montreal?

QUICK QUESTION (AND ANSWER): A Sports Take reader posed this question to Google on Friday morning. “What was the betting line on the Twins, Wolves and Wild all winning last night?” As the night started, I don’t think many people imagined both the Wild and Wolves wrapping up their playoffs — in addition to the Twins beating Toronto. “Based on odds . . . a parlay for the Minnesota Twins, Minnesota Timberwolves and Minnesota Wild all to win on Thursday night was listed at approximately +1062 odds. A $10 wager on this specific three-team parlay would have paid out roughly $116.” In other words, the odds by people who make them were about 11.5 to 1.

SEVEN DAYS IN MAY: Daily playoff schedule through the weekend.

MONDAY: Wolves at San Antonio, Game 1, 8:30 p.m. Peacock, NBC Sports Network.

TUESDAY: Frost at Montreal, Game 2, 6 p.m. Fox9+, Prime; Wild at Colorado, Game 2, 7 p.m., ESPN.

WEDNESDAY: Wolves at San Antonio, Game 2, 8: 30 p.m., ESPN.

THURSDAY: Frost vs. Montreal, Game 3, Grand Casino Arena, 6 p.m., FOX9+, Prime.

FRIDAY: Wolves vs. San Antonio, Game 3 Target Center, 8:30 p.m., Prime. Frost vs Montreal, Game 4 (if needed), 7:30 p.m., FOX9+, Prime.

SATURDAY: Wild vs. Colorado, Game 3, GCA, 8 p.m. TNT, TruTV.

SUNDAY: Wolves vs. San Antonio, Game 4, Target Center, 6:30 p.m., NBC, Peacock.

TICKETS: WOLVES | WILD | FROST

BETTING LINES: WOLVES | WILD | FROST

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WILD

SHOULDN’T BE SURPRISED, EH: The Wild battled gamely Sunday night in their second-round opener against the NHL’s best team this season. But in the end, the team that had a week to rest and rejuvenate after a four-game sweep outlasted a team that had to recover and recalibrate on the fly after an emotional six-game series. And did I mention that Colorado, in addition to leading the NHL with 121 points, also lost fewer home games than any team in the league? The Wild’s rollicking 9-6 loss probably wasn’t a sign of things to come in this series, if only because the Avalanche allowed the fewest goals of any team in the league and the Wild tied for the fourth-fewest allowed. Fifteen goals? It was the game of game that makes you want to return for the next to see how the teams adjust.

SIX SENTENCES ON 15 GOALS: Via Tracey Myers at NHL.com. If you need a quick catch-up, this is a good start. VERBATIM: “Who can explain it? Fifteen goals total. Fourteen different goal-scorers between the two teams. Five goals from Avalanche defensemen. The nine goals the Avalanche had equaled the number of shots on goals the Montreal Canadiens had in their 2-1 win over the Tampa Bay Lightning in Game 7 of their Eastern Conference First Round series earlier on Sunday. Pick your scoring poison, this game had it: Pretty goals (Wild forward Vladimir Tarasenko’s backhand at 6:45 of the second period), weird bounce goals (Wild forward Mats Zuccarello at 16:01 of the third period), first-career playoff goals (Avalanche defensemen Sam Malinski and Nick Blankenburg), and didn’t-see-that-coming goals (Wild forward Marcus Foligno’s 2-on-0 short-handed at 16:55 of the second period).” FULL REPORT: https://fluence-media.co/goals0504

WAIT, THERE’S MORE. Via Michael Russo at The Athletic: VERBATIM: “In the grand wisdom of the NHL, along with television rights holders that don’t care one iota about the ability for one team to prepare for another, the Wild were told Friday to order and book their charter to Denver on Saturday for a Sunday night start against the Avs. So on Saturday, with several players banged up, coach John Hynes and his staff held a video session to show players what to be on the lookout for against the high-flying Avs compared to what the Stars were doing. But the Wild made a full practice optional. Add in the fact that two of their best defensive players — center Joel Eriksson Ek and defenseman Jonas Brodin — were left behind because of injuries, and maybe it wasn’t a shock that the Wild looked so utterly unprepared on Sunday for the style change between series, and couldn’t figure out how to slow down one of the league’s fastest, most potent offensive teams.” MORE: https://fluence-media.co/wild0504

WANT TO SEE EVERY GOAL? Of course you do!

GOALIE CHANGE? That’ll be a hot topic leading up to Game 2. Jesper Wallstedt didn’t get much help from his defense, but TV commentators pointed out several times when he drifted out of position on Avalanche goals, in part to compensate for what his teammates weren’t doing in front of him. That the Wild have a capable backup in Filip Gustavsson, who started more games during the season than Wallstedt (49 to 33), would keep the change from sparking any controversy. MORE: https://fluence-media.co/goalie0504

SIMPLY PUT: Via Chip Scoggins at Star Tribune. VERBATIM: “Wallstedt lacked the same sharpness he displayed in the Dallas series, but the defense in front of him also provided little help. Even if Hynes pivots to veteran Gustavsson to start Game 2, the Wild must tighten the screws in the defensive zone to give their goalie a chance.”

WILD STATISTICS | AVALANCHE STATISTICS

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WOLVES

ANT’S BACK! BUT WHEN? Via Chris Hine at Star Tribune. Sunday’s unexpected news was that star forward Anthony Edwards has been cleared to play against San Antonio after his left knee hyperextension and bruise that kept him out of the final two games of the Nuggets series. He’s listed as questionable for tonight’s Game 1. Ayo Dosunmu, who missed Game 6 with calf problems after a heroic 43-point performance off the bench in Game 4, is also listed as questionable. KEEP IN MIND: Being cleared to play and playing are two very separate things. What the Wolves are doing, if nothing else, is giving the Spurs one more thing to plan against. The difference between game-planning the Wolves with Edwards and the lineup without him is substantial. FULL REPORT: https://fluence-media.co/ant0504

ALL ABOUT THE INJURY: Via Lorenzo Reyes at USA Today. If you need to get up to speed on Edwards’ knee, including how his timeline compares to a similar injury from another top NBA star, go here. VERBATIM: “Even if Edwards can’t go Monday night, this is a massively good sign for his eventual availability in the series.” MORE: https://fluence-media.co/injury0504

BIG VS. BIGGER: Via Chris Hine at Star Tribune. The Wolves-Spurs series should be less ornery than the first-round series against the Nuggets — if only because the centers on both teams — Rudy Gobert and 7-foot-4 Victor Wembanyama — are friends and have been teammates on the French national team. They first met nine years ago, when Wemby was 13. VERBATIM: “I’m very, very proud and very excited to watch him grow every day, to see his work paying off,” Gobert said. “Outside of the talent, he’s someone that is a very unique soul, very unique mind. Nothing is an accident. It’s not an accident he’s having the success he’s having. He’s preparing his mind, preparing his body like I’ve rarely seen someone do.” MORE: https://fluence-media.co/centers0504

HOW UNIQUE? Gobert was asked about their relationship by Wolves podcaster Dane Moore. VERBATIM: “A few weeks ago he asked me what kind of filter I had in my house for water. It just tells you how his mind is. I try to talk to the young guys here about the food they eat and stuff like that. But I don't get those type of questions." Then, Gobert went into a riff in which he playfully tweaked Anthony Edwards. WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/rudy0504

WEMBY ON RUDY: Via Maxine Aubin on X. VERBATIM: “It's great. We're already lucky to face him regularly during the regular season, and it's tough to play against him, it's demanding. He's played a huge role in my journey, has been a role model, has inspired me in so many ways that should actually inspire more people, especially when it comes to the care given to the body, which is an example for all big men.”

ANT VS. WEMBY: Via Jon Krawczynski at The Athletic. VERBATIM: “(Edwards’) return at any point in the series would be a huge boost to the Timberwolves. . . . Minnesota went 2-1 against San Antonio in the regular season. Edwards’ 3-point shooting is a crucial element in the matchup, helping the Wolves spread the floor and put more pressure on Wembanyama and the Spurs’ defense. The two superstars went at it in a thrilling Spurs victory in January. Edwards scored 55 points and hit nine 3s in the game. Wembanyama countered with 39 points and nine rebounds in the 126-123 win. Edwards got the better of Wembanyama in November, when he scored 32 points and got the game-sealing bucket after bursting by Wemby.”

SPURS STATISTICS | WOLVES STATISTICS

SOMETHING TO WATCH: The Wolves were an eight-man team in their Game 6 clincher over to Nuggets, with an improvised playing rotation that Denver couldn’t prepare to counter. in addition, Wolves coach Chris Finch absolutely schooled Denver’s second-year coach David Adelman. It was PlayStation 5 vs. Atari 2600 stuff. The Spurs will benefit from scouting that game.

HEY, NEW YORKERS AND VISITORS: If you’re looking for a place to watch Minnesota’s playoff games, Lake Street Bar in Brooklyn comes well recommended. Not much to look at, but it scores high on the Dive Bar and sports viewing scales.

FROST

FROST FIND NEW HERO: Via Heather Rule at Written Rule of Sports. The game-winning overtime goal in the Frost’s 5-4 Game 1 win at Montreal was scored by Jincy Roese (JIN-see ROHZ), who had played only six regular-season games for Minnesota after a late-season trade from New York. She hadn’t scored for new York in her 22 games there, either. The Frost gave up forward Denisa Krizova to get the defender, who played for Ohio State. VERBATIM: “Joining the Frost, it’s really been an honor. This is a great group of girls, and it’s a privilege to be on this team and to get to compete with them. I mean, the mindsets on this team, the talent, the skills . . .to get to be part of that, it’s really a privilege of my career.” The Frost got the win with five different goal scorers and nine players recording points. Spreading the scoring around isn’t unusual for the Frost this season. But there’s a lot more to the story, too, in a playoff game filled with physicality, penalties, special teams factoring into scoring, an historic hat trick and a game that was tied three different times.” MORE: https://fluence-media.co/frost0504

SCHEDULE UPDATE: Via Cassidy Hettesheimer at Star Tribune. Scheduling back-to-back nights for Games 3 and 4 (if needed) is necessary because of other events booked into Grand Casino Arena. In addition to Game 3 and 4 of the Wild-Avalanche series, the “Stars on Ice” tour by U.S. Olympic figure skaters is set for Saturday. VERBATIM: “The PWHL awaited updates on NHL playoff scheduling to set dates for Games 4 and 5 of the series. Grand Casino Arena was booked May 9-11, so the options were either to play back-to-back nights or to wait five days for Game 4. In choosing the former, it would be the first time the league has scheduled two games in a playoff series on consecutive nights.” MORE: https://fluence-media.co/schedule0504

NOTE THIS AND THAT: In going for their third straight PWHL title, this was the first time the Frost had won the opening game of a playoff series. Also, it was their first victory over the Victoire in five tries this season — following two losses in regulation play and two more in overtime.

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STATE OF HEISE: Via Written Rule of Sports. Former Gophers star Taylor Heise is having her best season with the Frost, including two assists as part of a balanced offense in Game 1. VERBATIM: “She put up career-best numbers in all three offensive statistical categories with 13 goals, 17 assists and 30 points in 30 games. She also finished the regular season with a plus-18 rating and a career-high three power-play goals. . . . ‘Kind of brings me back to college where I kind of just had to score,’ said Heise, who finished her time with the University of Minnesota ranking sixth all-time in scoring with 97 goals and 227 points. ‘As much as I want to make a play, I really just have to rely on myself to put the puck in the back of the net sometimes. I think this year, just seeing it go in a little bit more gave me more confidence.’ “ MORE: https://fluence-media.co/heise0504

UGLY CURL: Via Tyler Kuehl at Daily Faceoff. Controversial Frost forward Britta Curl-Salemme may be disciplined beyond the major and game misconduct she received for a check to the head of Montreal’s Kaitlin Willoughby. Curl-Salemme was suspended three times last season by the PWHL for dirty play, including once in the playoffs. She was also fined for an illegal cross-check during a game in March of this season. VERBATIM: “If the PWHL Player Safety Committee holds to its recent standard, Curl-Salemme won’t be in the lineup for the second game of the semifinals between Minnesota and Montreal. . . Curl-Salemme’s style of play, along with her past social media interactions, have made her one of the more despised players amongst fans, with many showing their displeasure whenever she gets near the puck.” MORE: https://fluence-media.co/curl0504

FROST STATISTICS | VICTOIRE STATISTICS

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OTHER THINGS TO START YOUR SPORTS WEEK:

RYAN’S INJURY: Via Bobby Nightengale at Star Tribune. Joe Ryan threw nine pitches Sunday afternoon before leaving his start against Toronto with elbow soreness. He wasn’t available after the game and Manager Derek Shelton’s postgame terseness on the subject didn’t inspire confidence that it was a minor setback — like the back soreness that sidelined Ryan from a spring training start. The Twins’ bullpen managed to be good enough for a 4-3 victory, although the lead shrunk from 4-1 to 4-3 in the top of the ninth and a nicely executed double play was needed to close out the Blue Jays. VERBATIM: “We got [medical] imaging,” Shelton said. “It was something in the elbow. We’ll evaluate from there.” MORE: https://fluence-media.co/ryan0504

OUCH, OUCH AND MORE OUCH: Via Matthew Leach at MLB.com. Twins top prospect Walker Jenkins left Sunday’s St. Paul Saints game against Iowa after he ran into the outfield wall while making a catch in the sixth inning. The injury appeared to be to his left shoulder. Another top outfield prospect, Emmanuel Rodriguez, was sidelined Friday after straining a muscle in his left thumb. In Saturday, pitcher David Festa reported more shoulder soreness after throwing batting practice during his rehab in Florida. It was his third throwing session and the Twins had hoped he was close to a return. STORY AND VIDEO OF JENKINS: https://fluence-media.co/jenkins0504

WOLVES GETTING RAIDED? Via Joe Cowley at Chicago Sun-Times. Timberwolves General Manager Matt Lloyd is said to be the front-runner among four candidates to become executive vice president for basketball of the Chicago Bulls. Lloyd was named Wolves GM in 2024 after joining the franchise in a player personnel role two years earlier. He has previous experience working for the Bulls. His hiring would likely mean the loss of the Wolves top assistant coach. VERBATIM: “According to a source with the Timberwolves, if he gets the Bulls job, he undoubtedly would make Micah Nori the new head coach, replacing Billy Donovan, who resigned April 21 after six seasons. Nori has been the Timberwolves’ lead assistant since 2021, was voted top assistant coach by NBA general managers the last two seasons and is considered a top defensive strategist in the league.” FULL REPORT: https://fluence-media.co/bulls0504

U SOFTBALL GRABS FINAL SPOT: By finishing 12th among the Big Ten’s 17 softball team, Minnesota grabbed the final spot on the conference tournament, which opens Wednesday in Maryland. The Gophers nosed out Iowa and will open against No. 5 seed Washington (10 a.m. Wednesday, BIG) despite losing two of three at Northwestern this weekend, including a 6-0 loss Sunday night. Minnesota and Iowa tied for 12th, but the Gophers took two of three games from the Hawkeyes earlier this season. Both teams finished 7-17, and the Gophers have a 16-35 overall record. Washington swept their three-game series last month in Seattle. BRACKET: https://fluence-media.co/softball0504

VARLAND RETURNS: Via Dan Hayes at The Athletic. Louis Varland returning to Target Field for four games vs. the Twins was like a poke in the eye considering the sorry state of the Twins bullpen. The Jays have helped make Varland more effective by having him throw his change-up more often. Varland has a 0.53 ERA and has struck out 28 batters in 17 innings. VERBATIM: "'I think that’s been a pretty big difference maker,” Toronto manager John Schneider said. “When you’re gearing up for 100 and you can throw a 92 mph changeup with pretty good depth and location, that’s a pretty good combo. He’s really taken to it.”

REALLY? Twins GM Jeremy Zoll offered up thoughts on the Varland trade last summer — in which the Twins received lefty reliever Kendry Rojas (at Class AAA St. Paul) and outfielder Alan Roden (St. Paul), who is expected to be out for another month because of a shoulder injury. VERBATIM: “It’s hard to part with someone like Louis Varland. . . . Unfortunately, you have to make some hard calls along the way, and that was undoubtedly one of the tougher ones from last July.” MORE: https://fluence-media.co/varland0504

FOR THE 10,000TH FREAKIN’ TIME: It’s fine to make trades as you long as you do follow-up work to make the roster whole. That didn’t happen and, as a result, the Twins and their fans are suffering accordingly.

MYSTERY SETBACK FOR LOONS STAR: Via Andy Greder at Pioneer Press. James Rodriguez, the highly regarded Colombia midfielder, missed Saturday’s 3-2 win over Columbus due to what MNFC leadership described as “a previously scheduled routine medical procedure — not related to any injury. He will rejoin the team in training next week.” Rodriguez has played in only four of 11 Loons matches for a total of 103 minutes, and his issues have been concerning to Colombian National Team leadership, which made a trip to St. Paul to see him play the previous weekend against Los Angeles FC. That was his only start of the season and he played 63 minutes. Their worry is that Rodriguez will not be in good form when the World Cup opens next month. MNUFC has four more games before the MLS break for the World Cup. MORE: https://fluence-media.co/james0504

LEGEND CRITICIZES MOVE: Via Santiago Tovar at Bolavip. Colombia soccer legend Wellington Ortiz said it was a bad idea for Rodriguez to come to Minnesota. In his mind, MNUFC coach Cameron Knowles didn’t want Rodriguez. VERBATIM: “I think the mistake is when a coach doesn’t want you and you still go to that team. You’re not part of his group or the players he trusts, so he’s not going to play you because you’re not his choice. That’s the mistake.” MORE: https://fluence-media.co/loons0504

50-YEAR REUNION: Via Frederick Melo at Pioneer Press. Mechanic Arts High School closed in 1976. Among other things, it meant that athletes from the freshman, sophomore and junior classes dispersed to high school around St. Paul and were never recognized for their time at Mechanic Arts. That will change tonight. VERBATIM: “With those athletic diversions and stolen glory years in mind, the Mechanic Arts reunion dinner that takes place Monday at Mancini’s Char House on West Seventh Street will feature a special program, as well as 50-year commemorative letters and certificates for all the varsity letter-holders who were freshmen, sophomores and juniors when the doors shut on them in ’76. Located at the edge of Frogtown and Old Rondo, Mechanic Arts opened in 1896 and shut its doors forever 80 years later. The structure was demolished in 1987, making room for what is now the Minnesota Supreme Court building.” MORE: https://fluence-media.co/mechanicarts0504

FAMOUS ALUMNI: Civil rights leader Roy Wilkins graduated from Mechanic Arts in 1919 and U.S. Supreme Court justice Harry Blackmun was in the Class of 1925. Elmer Bailey starred in football and graduated in 1975. He played wide receiver at Macalester and the University of Minnesota before being drafted by the Miami Dolphins in 1980 and playing in the NFL for three seasons.

WORLD SERIES IN TOWN: The World Series of Bowling, to be precise. Qualifying rounds are currently taking place at Bowlero in Brooklyn Park with the finals scheduled from Friday through Tuesday at Lucky Strike in Lakeville. The finals will be telecast by CBS Sports Network. About 120 bowlers are competing for a $100,000 first prize. TICKETS | MORE INFO

That’s all for now. Back on Thursday with our regularly scheduled Sports Take.

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ON THE WOLVES

IT’S ON THE FANS? YES (AND NO): Via Jace Frederick at Pioneer Press. I’ll argue that home-court advantage plays a bigger role in basketball than any other sport. The Timberwolves’ shorthanded state makes winning at Target Center tonight that much more of a necessity. It’s not an absolute, but it’s close for a team missing injured stars Anthony Edwards and Dante DiVincenzo. Winning Game 7 in Denver would be a daunting task under the circumstances. VERBATIM: “Denver looked rattled in Games 3 and 4 as the roof nearly busted off the building in downtown Minneapolis. A repeat performance from the Wolves’ faithful may be required to get Minnesota across this series’ finish line. Because while Minnesota has proven it can win a Game 7 in Denver, that challenge will be infinitely harder given its current roster deficiencies. It would be difficult for fans to stomach the local team losing a series it led 3-1 to a fierce rival, largely on account of unfortunate injury luck. Thursday is their best chance to do something about it, though the Wolves know that advantage is only one piece of the puzzle. “At the end of the day, it’s on us to bring it,’ Rudy Gobert said. ‘The crowd and all that can only give us what they can give us to an extent, right? It’s on us to just come in and be ourselves, be in the moment.’ “ MORE: https://fluence-media.co/wolves0430

IT’S ON CHRIS FINCH? FOR SURE: Via Michael Rand at Star Tribune. As much as his players, Coach Chris Finch needs to be at his best for Game 6. VERBATIM: “He needs to identify the best path to a victory for the Wolves, who are 5.5-point home underdogs. To me, that means leaning into the team’s defensive identity. I would expect to see a lot of minutes for veterans in this game, with injections of pace from Bones Hyland and Ayo Dosunmu. If any younger player is going to get more than one shift, it feels like it should be Jaylen Clark and not Terrence Shannon Jr. . . . Finch needs to call timeouts to stop runs. Don’t let Denver get rolling or confident. He needs to have a heart-to-heart with Jaden McDaniels. In many ways, McDaniels is the emotional barometer for an emotional team. The Wolves need him on the court and locked in. He can’t pick up a second foul in the first quarter, which often seems to happen quickly after he picks up a first foul (Game 5 being the most recent example).” MORE: https://fluence-media.co/finch0430

THE DENVER VIEW: Via Arjun Peroor at Stadium Rant. It’s all about Nikola Jokic. VERBATIM: “The Joker needs to find a fine line between forcing shots and being aggressive. That’s what he did in Game Five. His first two shots were midrange floaters off of passes over Rudy Gobert. They were good confidence-building shots. Minnesota soon realized that Jokic was going to be active under the three-point line, so they mixed some coverages. That is when the Joker works his magic, and he ended the game with 16 assists, which was his most by a wide margin this series. The Nuggets win 75% over their games when Jokic has 10+ assists. They are going to need him to replicate that performance. Staying aggressive while taking smart shots is the biggest key. Once the three-time MVP is aggressive, the rest of the troops will follow.” MORE: https://fluence-media.co/denver0430

ON THE WILD

WHAT’S DIFFERENT? Via Joe Smith at The Athletic. The Wild are one game away from breaking their ugly streak of eight straight first-round playoff losses dating back to 2015. VERBATIM: “They appear ready to seize the moment, not just meet it. They’ve been hardened by previous playoff scars and learned from them. They’ve gone from bubbly to businesslike, reticent to relentless, tentative to mentally tough. From waiting for someone else to take over to a bunch of alpha dogs who will rip your heart out to snag a loose puck. Sure, this is the most talented team the Wild have ever assembled in their 25-year history. They have three of arguably the top 20 players in the game: Kirill Kaprizov, Matt Boldy and Quinn Hughes, the mid-December blockbuster acquisition. Brock Faber is playing like a franchise defenseman. Rookie goalie Jesper Wallstedt has been the perfect blend of cocky, confident and calm as their backbone in the playoffs. But they’re here, up 3-2 on Dallas after Tuesday’s 4-2 win, because of their drive, their play in the dirty areas, their battle level and their poise.” MORE: https://fluence-media.co/wild0430

HIGH-STAKES REMINDER: Via Tom Schreier at Hockey Wilderness. The Wild traded for superstar defenseman Quinn Hughes knowing that his contract expires after this season. Eliminating Dallas has repercussions beyond merely advancing to the Stanley Cup quarterfinals. VERBATIM: “Advance, and they probably keep Hughes. Blow the 3-2 lead, and they put the franchise in limbo. If Hughes leaves, it sets the franchise back a decade. Don’t believe me? Think of how long it took for the Wild to get this close to the second round again.” MORE: https://fluence-media.co/hughes0430

WANNA GO? WILD VS. STARS: As of 10 a.m., the cheapest seats available through the Wild’s web site were $278 each. With fees, that’s almost $600 for the pair. That’ll get you into the seventh row of the upper level behind one goal. The high end? $1,963 to sit in the front row next to the Dallas bench. WOLVES VS. NUGGETS: Low price was $78 each, including fees, to sit in the corner of the upper level, nine rows from the top of the arena. High end? Two in the third row behind the basket are listed at $4,033 each. (Note: Better seats are listed for about two-third of that price.) NEW 65” TV: $380 at Costco. LISTINGS: WILD | WOLVES | COSTCO

THAT VIKINGS DRAFT: Via assorted sources. In general, the media finds reasons to like first-round draft picks when they’re first made. That wasn’t the case with Caleb Banks, the defensive lineman from Florida who brings a history of foot problems to Minnesota along with some freakish upside. “Not worth the risk,” wrote La Velle E. Neal III. “Adding a known uncertainty the size of a 327-pound man who has already needed two foot surgeries seven months apart in the past year at age 22-23? Nope,” wrote Mark Craig. “There’s a case to be made that no other team would have taken Banks until the second round,” wrote Judd Zulgad.

NATIONALLY? Via Dane Mizutani at Pioneer Press. In this compilation of eight national experts, Banks received grades from A-minus to F, with grades of B, C and D all in the mix. Bleacher Report handed out the F: “To understand how much of a need-based reach this is, Banks was graded as the 60th overall prospect on the B/R Scouting Department’s final draft board and the sixth-best interior defender, even though the entire positional class was still available to the Vikings at this spot.” Yahoo! Sports gave the A-minus: “This might be the highest grade on Banks you’ll see, but this guy can really do all the hard stuff in terms of defeating blocks and understanding leverage within a true top-1% athletic frame.” MORE: https://fluence-media.co/grades0430

THE GM SEARCH: Now that the draft is over, it’s on. Rob Brzezinski, the team’s executive VP for football operations (and salary cap wizard) led the team through the draft process and wants to be the general manager for real. That’s not stopping Mark and Zygi Wilf from conducting a national search, complete with internal confidantes and an outside consultant. The Wilfs are determined not to share names until a new GM is chosen, which is different than during the last search that brought Kwesi Adofo-Mensah to Minnesota four years ago. In a culture of competitive NFL insiders, I’m betting on names leaking out. Brzezinski’s skill set and standing within the Vikings management team are such that he should remain a fixture if he doesn’t become the GM.

BULLPEN BUFFOONERY: The Twins lost yet another game Wednesday because of its horrific bullpen, which was unable to hold a one-run lead going into the ninth inning against Seattle. Twins relievers have yielded the highest batting average to opponents and have the fewest strikeouts in the majors. The team ERA is 27th and they are tied for 25th in saves. None of the relievers have defined roles because it would be foolish to think of any of them as a closer or as a set-up man who can hold a lead into the ninth inning. The Twins are the only MLB team that hasn’t won a one-run game and have played only two teams that currently have winning records. It’s a lock that the bullpen as currently constructed will undermine whatever progress the team makes elsewhere on the field. Reading the item below about Louis Varland makes the data even more disturbing.

VARLAND TAKES OVER: Via Nick Prasad at Blue Jays Nation. Louis Varland’s strong start and the weak work of Toronto reliever Jeff Hoffmann have resulted in Varland taking over as Toronto’s primary closer, which won’t go unnoticed with the Jays start their four-game series at Target Field tonight. In 15 appearances, Varland has an 0.56 ERA and converted all four of his save situations. He also has 26 strikeouts in 16 innings. VERBATIM: “His overall pitch profile and execution allow him to succeed in this volatile role. He combines physical tools, pitch quality, command, and presence—traits that give him the ability to control high-leverage situations. There’s a reason the Minnesota product is getting an opportunity to close out games for the Blue Jays, and until he proves otherwise, he should remain in that spot.” MORE: https://fluence-media.co/varland0430

TOUGH LESSON: Via Dan Hayes at The Athletic. Tom Pohlad is feeling the pain of being a Twins fan, watching home games from a front-row seat in the Champions Club and, he said, seeing every road game so far this season either in person or on TV. Watching his team stumble through 11 losses in its last 13 games, he understands why fans are annoyed. VERBATIM: “While I might take issue with how some fans choose to display their displeasure emotions, I think it’s rooted in a pretty good place. They want this team to be successful and we haven’t done our job as of late to fulfill what these fans want from this organization. That motivates me and I can understand where they’re coming from.” MORE: https://fluence-media.co/pohlad0430

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BUECKERS FOR THE WIN: ESPN didn’t mention Paige Bueckers’ relationship with former college and new Dallas Wings teammate Azzi Fudd when Fudd was taken with the first pick in the WNBA draft. Soon after, a team official shut down a reporter’s question during a media conference. As often happens, not dealing with an issue created more buzz, which Bueckers — the former Hopkins High star — handled with point-guard deftness during the Wings’ media day this week. Her thoughts are at the start of this video:

JOB WELL DONE: Via Brendon Kleen at Awful Announcing. VERBATIM: “The statement from Bueckers is about as good as it gets from a PR standpoint. Without crossing a line and specifying the status of their relationship or the details of their personal lives, Bueckers acknowledged the story was relevant and worthy of an explanation. Then, she gave evidence as to why she, Fudd, and the team are confident it will not become an issue, thereby getting in front of any future questions about their relationship’s effect on the team. And after all that, Bueckers offered a reminder of Fudd’s story and status in the WNBA, taking the focus off their relationship once again and putting it back onto Fudd’s journey toward her first pro game next month. And even if reporters find an opening to try and ask about this again, Bueckers ensured she and Fudd will not need Wings PR to shut down questions in the future, explaining that they both will decline comment going forward.” MORE: https://fluence-media.co/bueckers0430

GRADY GETS PRIME WNBA GIG: Wolves play-by-play announcer Michael Grady will be the lead announcer for WNBA games on Amazon Prime this season working with commentator Candace Parker. The Lynx have moved Sloane Martin from radio to TV on their Victory+ broadcasts — replacing Marney Gellner — with Lea B. Olsen as her partner. Friday’s preseason game vs. Toronto will be on Victory+. DOWNLOAD THE APP | WATCH ON THE WEB

MORE WATCHING NEWS: Minnesota Aurora’s six home games will be broadcast on FOX9+ and streamed on the FOX Local app for the fourth straight year. Jake Griffith is returning as the play-by-play announcer. WATCH PARTIES: Game 1 of the PWHL series between the Frost and Montreal on Saturday will include team sponsored watch parties as Alary’s Bar in downtown St. Paul and A Bar of Their Own near the U of M. Puck drop is at 1 p.m.

NO DISRESPECT INTENDED, SUPPOSEDLY: Via CBC Sports. By winning the PWHL regular-season title, the Montreal Victoire could choose between playing third-place Minnesota and fourth-place Ottawa in the semifinals. They chose the Frost, whom they beat in all four of their regular-season games — two in regulation and two in overtime. VERBATIM: “The choice wasn’t just about who Montreal would play in the first round. With only four teams in the playoffs, Montreal also had the power to pick the second-place Boston Fleet’s opponent. By picking Minnesota, Montreal ensured Boston would play the team it struggled more against this season. Ottawa and Montreal are the only teams Boston didn’t beat in regulation.” MORE: https://fluence-media.co/pwhl0430

FROST VS. VICTOIRE PREVIEWS: Star Tribune | Title IX Sports | Daily Faceoff

NEXT-LEVEL EXPECTATIONS: Via Cassidy Hettesheimer at Star Tribune. Too often, expectations of Twin Cities sports teams are of a “just happy to get there” nature. Gophers football getting to a bowl game. The Twins getting to the playoffs. The Wild winning a playoff series. After last season’s success, Gophers women’s basketball coach Dawn Plitzuweit is playing at a refreshingly higher level, which she cited when talking about retaining current players, attacking the transfer portal and her highly regarded class of first-year players. VERBATIM: “In the portal, we were in a different place than we’ve been in past years. The success that our program had kind of put us on the map with some young ladies who [before] maybe we didn’t necessarily have a chance to have some of those further conversations with.”

TRANSLATION: The Gophers don’t have to settle. Making the Sweet 16 will be the baseline in future season as opposed to a reason to celebrate. Getting there, and losing to national champion UCLA, proved to the Gophers what they accomplished — and showed what the future could be. VERBATIM: “The ceiling for this team projects to be at least matching, with expectations of exceeding, last year’s tournament run. The first post-portal national rankings have the Gophers slotted in anywhere from No. 9 (The Athletic) to No. 22 (CBS). The full group arrives on campus in early June, and then, Plitzuweit said, ‘we’ll get started putting all those pieces together.’ “ FULL STORY: https://fluence-media.co/uwomen0430

ST. THOMAS SMACKED DOWN AGAIN: Via The Crest. The St. Thomas men’s basketball team has taken another hit with 6-foot-6 forward Ben Oosterbaan, who started every game last season, entering the transfer portal and ending up at San Francisco. Four of the team’s seven top players hit the portal, as well as two reserves. Leading scorer Nolan Minessale ended up at Marquette, guard Nick Janowski at Davidson, guard Jermaine Coleman at Youngstown State and guard Ryan Lafferty at Idaho. Sixth-man Isaiah Johnson-Arigu still hasn’t committed to a new school. Perhaps the most unnerving thing for St. Thomas fans is that, with the exception of Minessale, players are leaving for other mid-major Division I schools. TRACKER: https://fluence-media.co/toms0430

NORTH HIGH TO THE NFL: Via Giants.com. Former North High star Bobby Jamison-Travis went off the local radar when his college career took him to junior college power Iowa Western and then to Auburn, where the 328-pound defensive lineman started all 12 games last season. The New York Giants took him in the sixth round of the NFL draft. He’d been the No. 3-ranked defensive line prospect in the nation when he made the move to Auburn. He also ran track, wrestled and played one season of basketball at North, scoring 27 points in the 2020 Twin Cities Championship Game against St. Paul Johnson. MORE: https://fluence-media.co/bobby0430

NORTHWESTERN MINNESOTA TO THE CFL: Via Andrew Haugland at In-Forum. It was a four-college journey through the United States for Ethan John before he ended up at the University of Windsor in Ontario — where he played three seasons before being taken in the second round of this week’s Canadian Football League draft by the Toronto Argonauts. The graduate of Dilworth-Glyndon-Felton, near the North Dakota border, originally committed to Concordia College in Moorhead to play baseball before plans changed. His college trail included a season canceled by COVID and a junior college stop before crossing the border and starring in Canada as a defensive back. CFL training camps begin next weekend and the regular season starts in June. MORE: https://fluence-media.co/ethan0430

VIDEOS: Bobby Jamison-Travis | Ethan John

GOPHERS TO THE PROS? In addition to defensive tackle Deven Eastern, who was taken in the seventh (final) round of the draft by Seattle, three Gophers are getting a longshot look as undrafted free agents: Tight end Jameson Geers signed with Arizona, wide receiver Le’Meke Brockington signed with Atlanta and defensive lineman Jalen Logan-Redding signed with the Rams.

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ARENA AT CITY CENTER? Via Axios. Could the largely vacant City Center site become the new home of the Timberwolves and Lynx. Mayor Jacob Frey said he likes the site, but there would be many hurdles to clear before the project moves beyond speculation. Axios cited “multiple sources’ as saying that Frey is pushing the site. Wolves officials have said the most optimistic timeline for picking a new site would have that done at the end of 2026. VERBATIM: “Frey did not confirm or deny that he's pushing that location to team leaders, but told Axios: ‘You are right — I really like the site. . . . I see the ability to literally march down Nicollet Mall to games and concerts and have a full pedestrian experience." MORE: https://fluence-media.co/arena0430

LEAVING SO SOON? Via Jim Paulsen at Strib Varsity. In January, Shannon Currier was named football coach at DeLaSalle. This week, he announced that he was leaving DeLaSalle for conference rival Benilde-St. Margaret’s. Most of Currier’s coaching has been in college programs, including two stints at Concordia-St. Paul, the second one ending after last season. VERBATIM: “He said he’s not an opportunist, constantly looking for the next job, but sees Benilde-St. Margaret’s as his long-term future position. ‘It’s the best move for me and my family,’ he said. ‘I like that it’s a faith-based school, which is important, and the administration has shown a real commitment to football.’ “ MORE: https://fluence-media.co/coach0430

MORE TO KNOW: At DeLaSalle, Currier was taking over a team that went winless last season — including 57-0 and 54-8 losses to Benilde — and is 10-38 over the last five years. Benilde has gone to the state Class 4A tournament in 2023 and 2025 and lost in the section finals in 2022 and 2024.

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MORE ON BLAKE BASKETBALL: Here’s a follow-up on last week’s report about Blake School firing boys’ basketball coach Tyler Biwan earlier this month and his agreement not to seek reinstatement despite a campaign on his behalf from team parents, players and others. In March, Biwan coached Blake, a No. 9 seed in its section, to the state tournament for only the second time in school history.

I reported and shared contents of a short letter Biwan wrote last week following a meeting with Blake officials. Some readers concluded from the letter that a specific incident led to Biwan’s dismissal.

But former Blake athletic director Nick Rathmann, who hired Biwan, laid out why that wouldn’t be the case. “If there’s anything major, you don’t let the coach finish out the season. You would take care of it right away,” said Rathmann, who left the school four months ago to become a management consultant. He also called Biwan an “exemplary employee,” whom he hired as a junior varsity coach and later to be the school’s head coach.

Also, a letter sent by Blake’s head of school and athletic director about the dismissal, while not citing specifics, included a reference to “creating a culture that nurtures all of our student-athletes.”

Simply put, both sides decided for different reasons it was in their best interests to move on.

ATHENA AWARD WINNERS: Via Strib Varsity. The 2026 Athena Award winners have been announced. Awards are given senior female athletes in the metro area who distinguished themselves through a special athletic achievement or for excellence in one or more sports. St. Paul-area winners were honored earlier this month at St. Paul Rivercentre. Minneapolis-area winners will be honored Friday morning at the Earle Brown Heritage Center in Brooklyn Center. LIST: https://fluence-media.co/athena0430

ANOTHER BIG LIST: Via Strib Varsity. More than 90 Minnesota high school athletes who did not announce choices during NCAA signing periods earlier in the academic year have made commitments to Division I and II schools. LIST: https://fluence-media.co/college0430

WATCHING THE DERBY: Donna Barton Brothers, the NBC horse racing announcer known for her horse-side interviews with winning jockey, is retiring after this year’s Triple Crown races. That means Saturday’s Kentucky Derby will be her last after 26 years. LOCAL ANGLE: Brothers won 1,130 races during her career as a jockey in the 1980s and 1990s, starting her career as an apprentice jockey at Canterbury Park.

NEED A DERBY PICK? Go here for some options. Post time is 5:57 p.m. Saturday on KARE-11.

U BASEBALL, SOFTBALL UPDATES: The Gophers baseball team is currently a half-game out of the final spot in the Big Ten postseason tournament with nine games remaining. Minnesota plays three games at Penn State this weekend followed by three games each with Michigan and Nebraska at Siebert Field to close out the season. Twelve of the Big Ten’s 17 teams make the conference playoffs in Omaha later this month. Minnesota last qualified for the tournament in 2019. The softball team is tied with Iowa at 6-15 for the final spot in the Big Ten tournament field and ends its regular season with three games at Northwestern Friday through Sunday. The conference tournament opens Wednesday at the University of Maryland. All regular-season games for both teams are on BIG+. The softball tournament is on BIG.

AND FINALLY: There are plans for the NCAA men’s and women’s basketball tournament to expand from 68 to 76 teams starting next season. But don’t get the idea those added slots will go to the St. Thomases and North Dakota States of college hoops. They’re being added to feed the needs of mediocre power conference schools. (Yes, that would include the Gophers men right now.) For the men’s tournament, it means openings for teams that finish in the lower half of major conferences. For the women’s tournament, it means more lopsided games in a tournament that still has too many of them.

‘NO ONE WANTS THIS’: Via Jon Greenberg at The Athletic. VERBATIM: “No one wants this. The NCAA Tournament works just fine. So of course, it’ll happen. . . . The beauty of the one-and-done tournament is that every game promises chaos. But making it is a victory in itself. The process and the result reward the survivors, both the winners of the small-conference tournaments and the teams that claw their way through months of games in newly bloated super-leagues. Expanding the field won’t make the NCAA Tournament more exciting for fans, and it won’t reward the truly deserving teams. It isn’t fixing a problem. Instead, it will weaken one of our last great sporting events. It’s good for the coaches of 17-16 teams and their fathers. For the rest of us, it’s another sign of the decline of our times.” FULL RANT: https://fluence-media.co/ncaa0430

THANKS FOR READING. GET READY FOR A FUN FEW DAYS.

EMAIL HOWARD: sportstake100@gmail.com

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QUICK START: Here are highlights you’ll find in Sports Take.

NFL DRAFT: Useful info for the draft (tonight through Saturday) and for afterward, as college players from throughout Minnesota and border schools get their shot at turning pro. And will the Vikings do what the experts are expecting?

WILD: An epic Game 3 went until almost 1 a.m. and deep into double-overtime before Dallas took a 4-3 win and a 2-1 series lead. Game 4 is at 4:30 p.m. Saturday in St. Paul. The winning score came after a delay-of-game penalty on Danila Yurov, who smacked the puck over the boards following a Stars scoring threat.

WOLVES: Game 3 is tonight at Target Center (8:30 p.m., Prime) and the Timberwolves have home court advantage after an emotion-packed Game 2 win in Denver. It took the Wolves five quarters against the Nuggets before they combined intensity and execution to play up to their potential. Will it last?

GOPHERS BASKETBALL: The women are hitting the transfer portal like a national power. The men added two players from NCAA champion Michigan and one of Coach Niko Medved’s former Colorado State players in the last few days.

LYNX: TV and streaming plans are set for after the imminent shutdown of FanDuel Sports Network. Are the Lynx blazing a trail for the Wild, Wolves and Frost? Also, a road map to TV and streaming the WNBA this season. There will be games on every day. You just have to know where to find them.

FROST: Positioning themselves for a three-peat in the third year of the PWHL and hoping to have the league’s MVP. The Walter Cup Playoffs start next week.

TWINS: Solid play didn’t last and things I warned you about last week came to pass, including bullpen fails that led to the Twins’ last three losses and a sweep by Cincinnati that featured decisive defensive misplays in every game.

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LIFE AT BLAKE: The Blake Bears entered the state boys’ basketball playoffs without being taken seriously. They were a No. 9 seed, meaning they played all but one of their section games away from their gym in Hopkins. But the Bears persisted, making the Class 2A state tournament with a five-game tournament run, including victories over two teams that had beaten them during the regular season. It was only the second time the school had ever played at state. Then, last week, school administrators told Coach Tyler Biwan his contract wasn’t being renewed. It set off a week of anger in the Blake community.

INTENSE UPROAR: Social media reacted strongly to the original decision to fire Biwan, including angry posts by two of Blake’s top players. One posted on X: “I’ve never felt more embarrassed and ashamed to be a Bear.” The other posted: “We just went to state as the 9 seed in our section and they think to fire the guy who led us there? Nobody on the team besides maybe 1 or 2 people support this.” Coaches from around the state weighed in, including the Minnesota Basketball Coaches Association, and an online petition circulated that gathered more than 600 signers. as of Wednesday. Biwan’s post on X last week about his dismissal gathered replies from numerous coaches around the state. One former coach called him, “One of the best 10 or 15 coaches in the state, and a better person.”

DISPUTE RESOLVED: After a meeting Thursday morning involving Biwan and school officials, the dispute was resolved. Biwan asked those who were seeking his reinstatement to stop their efforts. He declined to go into further detail. VERBATIM: “Blake shared with me the reasons for its decision, and it is our intention and hope that those reasons will remain between the school and me. After hearing from Blake, I want you all to know i support the decision and believe it is in the best interests of the program, the school and me to part ways on good terms.”

BIWAN BACKGROUND: The former Blake coach is a U of M graduate who was a men’s basketball team manager under former coach Tubby Smith. He was hired by Blake in 2016. He is a senior vice president at Circana, a market analytics company, and previously worked at General Mills and Best Buy. Biwan said he learned of his dismissal last week during a 10-minute meeting with Blake’s interim athletic director. In a social media post about his departure, Bivan wrote: “Learning under Tubby Smith, he often preached ‘always leave it better than when you found it.’ We did that at Blake. Onward.”

LETTER FROM PARENTS: A letter signed by 32 basketball program parents had been sent to school officials and Blake’s board of trustees seeking an “independent investigation.” The school responded with a letter from Head of School Anne Stavney and interim Athletic Director Hugh Brown that was distributed to the entire Blake community. VERBATIM: “Leading a Blake athletic team is about much more than wins and losses (though those are important too!). It is about creating a culture that nurtures all of our student-athletes, and leading with behavior consistent with Blake’s values. When we have documented reasons to believe that is not happening, we do not renew seasonal coaching contracts. Families do not decide this; donors do not decide this. This decision is made entirely by Blake leadership, and that was the case here.”

PARENT LETTER: PAGE 1 | PAGE 2

RESPONSE LETTER TO BLAKE COMMUNITY: TAP HERE

UPDATE: In a follow-up to Blake families, Stavney attached Biwan’s letter and wrote, “I regret that this has been a difficult week for many in our community. We will continue to move forward focused on the best interests of our students.”

WHAT’S NEXT? Stavney is leaving Blake this summer and a new head of school has been hired. In addition, a new athletic director will start this summer. Blake has already posted the opening on its web site, one of seven coaching openings being advertised by the 126-year-old K-12 private school. Asked if he would return to coaching, Biwan said he’ll mull that over later. “Especially with how it’s been a chaotic week. It’s good to move forward. . . . Time will tell.”

MY TAKE: In a year of high-profile stories about high school coaching dismissals, resignations and leaves of absence, this was an unique situation because a private school doesn’t operate with the same transparency as public schools. Blake is an extraordinary academic school and would not routinely be a place that students leave over athletic issues. Sports don’t define schools such as Blake as much as they enhance them. Settling this on mutually agreed-upon terms is the best way for Blake to get focus back on what makes its an attractive K-12 option.

BLAKE SCHOOL WEB SITE | BLAKE ATHLETICS

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FEELING THE DRAFT: The first round is tonight (7 p.m., ABC and ESPN), but the drama carries on through the weekend. During my tenure as web sports editor at the Star Tribune, the most active day of the year — based on the number of updates and readership — was the Saturday of the draft. The combination of the final day picks, the fast pace of the picking and the analysis and coverage of moves made during the first two days was a holiday for Vikings fans. As of now, the Vikings have five picks on the final day. They’ll pick 18th in the first round and 49th, 82nd and 97th is the second and third rounds on Friday. Of course, that’s subject to change in a moment’s notice via trades. Here’s a guide for getting you through the coming days:

THE FIRST-ROUNDER: Via Ben Goessling at Star Tribune. Conventional wisdom and logic has the Vikings picking Oregon safety Dillon Thieneman, who will be cast as the likely successor to Harrison Smith. VERBATIM: “The Vikings love safeties with the kind of instincts and versatility Thieneman showed at Oregon. As they prepare for a major shift at the position (possibly as soon as this fall) after Harrison Smith’s retirement, Thieneman could be a perfect successor. He ran a 4.37-second 40-yard dash at the NFL combine, putting to rest questions about his speed, and in Minnesota, he would have a chance to learn from Josh Metellus (and Smith, the Vikings hope) about how to direct the team’s ever-shifting defense.”

WHAT IF? Should Thieneman be gone with the Vikings pick, options are safety Emmanuel McNeil-Warren of Toledo and defensive tackle Peter Woods of Clemson. As he does annually, Goessling scopes out Vikings picks — trades and all — for the entire draft. GOESSLING’S DRAFT: https://fluence-media.co/bensdraft0423

VIKINGS CHALLENGE: Via Alec Lewis at The Athletic. It’s simple. Do better. Vikings executive Rob Brzezinski, who has been running the draft preparation since the firing of GM Kwesi Adofo-Mensah, understands the assignment. There is more uncertainty than certainty on the current roster, in part because of recent draft failures. VERBATIM: To set the stage, here is perhaps the most underdiscussed Vikings organizational factoid, a tidbit that should occupy headlines as much as the team’s quarterback conundrum: Minnesota’s roster currently contains two players who were drafted in the second round, three who were drafted in the third round and one who was drafted in the fourth round. To summarize, six of the 61 players on the Vikings’ roster were selected in what is typically viewed as the meat of the draft, the fewest of any team in the NFL by a wide margin. . . . When you don’t find starters in the middle rounds, everything else has to overextend. This doesn’t prevent winning seasons. It does, however, limit the margin for error.”

MORE: “With former GM Kwesi Adofo-Mensah in charge, the Vikings landed just four solid starters over four seasons: receivers Jalen Nailor and Jordan Addison, kicker Will Reichard and left guard Donovan Jackson. Others, such as safety Jay Ward, edge rusher Dallas Turner and quarterback J.J. McCarthy, could join the mix, but the dearth of impact is hard to deny.” FULL STORY: https://fluence-media.co/challenge0423

MINNESOTA GUYS: Two intriguing players with state connections. EMMETT JOHNSON: The Nebraska running back played at Holy Angels in Richfield and was the Big Ten’s leading rusher last season. He’s viewed as a probable third- to fifth-round pick. (Top running backs don’t go as high as they once did.) JACK STRAND: This is a fun one. The Minnesota State Moorhead quarterback set a batch of Northern Sun Conference records during his time at the Division II school, which was the only one that offered him a scholarship. He’s seen as a seventh-round pick or getting a larger-than-normal bonus to sign with a team as an undrafted free agent. He’s ranked as the 15th best quarterback in “The Beast,” the comprehensive draft guide from The Athletic.

STRAND’S STORY: Via Andy Greder at Pioneer Press. Strand played high school football in Bloomer, Wis., and wasn’t even planning to try college until his coach convinced him to make a highlight tape. Ne caught the attention of MSU Moorhead coach Steve Laqua at football camps in North Dakota. VERBATIM: “ ‘I remember just talking to our wide receiver coach and just saying, ‘If we end up with this guy at quarterback, we might have broken hands on half of our receivers,’ because he throws the ball so hard,’ Laqua said. . . . Strand stepped into the starting spot midway through his true freshman year, and as he developed touch to go with the arm strength, the numbers started to pile up in his sophomore season.” MORE: https://fluence-media.co/strand0423

BELLY OF THE BEAST: Here’s are several Minnesota-themed draft charts compiled from The Beast, the Athletic’s exhaustive preview. HOW EXHAUSTIVE? 402 profiles, 2,700 rankings, 45,000 verified measurements and almost 300,000 words.

GOPHERS AND TOMMIES: None are likely to be drafted, but here’s a list of 17 — 15 from the U and two from St. Thomas — who could sign as undefeated free agents. The list is headed by Gophers kicker Brady Denaburg and defensive tackle Deven Eastern. https://fluence-media.co/gophstoms0423

AROUND THE STATE: In addition to Strand, here are 10 players from the Northern Sun (D-II) and MIAC (D-III) who have undrafted free-agent potential. Next on the list after Strand is Carleton quarterback Jack Curtis. https://fluence-media.co/miacnsic0423

ON THE BORDER: There are 34 players ranked from the four border colleges — North Dakota, North Dakota State, South Dakota and South Dakota State — that played in the FCS Missouri valley Conference last season. NDSU is moving to the FBS-level Mountain West Conference in July. The list is topped by NDSU wide receiver Bryce Lance, tabbed as a third- or fourth-round pick, and NDSU quarterback Cole Payton, prediction for the fourth round. https://fluence-media.co/border0423

THE OTHER BORDER: Three players from Division III champion Wisconsin-River Falls, which had a roster with a majority of Minnesotans, are expected to get undefeated free agent looks. They are quarterback Kaleb Blaha (Fridley), center Hunter McKinney (Pipestone Area) and linebacker Gage Timm of Shawano, Wis.

MORE LINKS: NFL.com has a real-time draft tracker that is organized by PICKS | TEAMS | PROSPECTS

GUT PUNCH, COUNTERPUNCH: Via Joe Smith at The Athletic. The lasting images from the Wild’s Game 3 loss to Dallas in double-overtime will be how the Wild squandered opportunities — and how Dallas tied the score and got the game-winner by taking full advantage of the few times it controlled the puck. The Wild has five unsuccessful power plays in the third and period and overtime while the Stars tied the score on a third-period power play and got the game-winner on another one. VERBATIM: “The Wild were handed this one on a silver platter. It was there for the taking. They had rallied from a 2-0 deficit, with Matt Boldy’s gutsy playmaking — after he was temporarily pulled by a concussion spotter — close to becoming forever part of Wild lore. Marcus Foligno’s bloody face after his tussle with Matt Duchene would have been put on T-shirts. The Wild held the Stars to just two shots over a 33-minute period. They had SEVEN power plays, including two in overtime. They went 1-for-7. The puck was on the stick of the best player in franchise history, Kirill Kaprizov, who hit the post with 3:57 left in the first overtime. Nobody has scored more OT winners here than him, but his snap shot from 20 feet away clanked harmlessly off the post.” MORE: https://fluence-media.co/gamethree0423

GONE MISSING: Via Dane Mizutani at Pioneer Press. Superstar Kirill Kaprizov, who had a goal and two assists in the Wild’s 6-1 Game 1 victory, has barely been a factor since. Kaprizov has been stymied in part because of the absence of teammate and BFF Mats Zuccarello, who hasn’t played in the two losses since because of an upper-body injury. VERBATIM: “Though it wouldn’t be fair to place the blame solely on Kaprizov at this point, he needs to be better for the Wild if they’re going to have a chance moving forward. He simply hasn’t been good enough. The recent struggles were underscored by the fact that Kaprizov only managed to muster up a pair of shots on goal in Game 3 despite logging a whopping 36 minutes, 22 seconds of time on the ice. He also failed to produce on the power play and was a big reason the Wild as a whole went 1 of 7 with the man advantage. It’s not a coincidence that Kaprizov’s downturn has coincided with Mats Zuccarello missing time with an upper body injury. They are best friends off the ice and have almost a telepathic connection on the ice that often unlocks everything for the Wild in the offensive zone. It’s pretty clear that Kaprizov has been lost without Zuccarello.” MORE: https://fluence-media.co/kirill0423

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THREE-PEAT? The Frost end their season Saturday at Vancouver (6 p.m., FDSN) and will finish the PWHL season in third place. They won’t know their semifinal playoff opponent until afterward for two reasons. (1) Montreal and Boston are still battling for first place. (2) The first-place team gets to choose its first-round playoff opponent from the third- and fourth-place finishers. The semifinals and finals are both best-of-five. Keep in mind the Frost won the Walter Cup, named for the PWHL’s founders, after finishing fourth in the 2024 and 2025 regular seasons. PLAYOFF GUIDE: https://fluence-media.co/pwhl0423

PANNEK FOR MVP? Via Theodore Tollefson at Pioneer Press. While the Frost are going for their third straight title, Kelly Pannek is making a bid to become the team’s first PWHL Most Valuable Player. The former Gophers and Benilde-St. Margaret’s star leads the league in goals (15) and points (32). She’s also tied for third in assists. Those totals increased Wednesday with a goal and two assists in the Frost’s 5-4 loss at Seattle. VERBATIM: “She’s putting pucks in the net, she’s playmaking, she’s winning face-offs, she’s reliable every night,” Frost Captain Kendall Coyne Schofield said. “It’s been awesome to see her get rewarded, but I think she’s always been this good. It’s just people are now talking about it because of the points being put up on the board.” MORE: https://fluence-media.co/pannek0423

TIMBERWOLVES SMACK BACK: Via Anthony Slater at ESPN. Wolves forward Jaden McDaniels opted to turn up the verbal heat after his team tied its playoff series with Denver at one game apiece. He went after Denver’s defense, showing the same ferocity that both teams displayed in Minnesota’s 119-114 Game 2 victory. He named names. VERBATIM: “Jaden McDaniels called several Nuggets players ‘bad defenders,’ identifying Nikola Jokic, Jamal Murray, Aaron Gordon, Tim Hardaway Jr. and Cam Johnson by name. ‘They’ve just been saying a lot,’ Johnson said in response. ‘All season, all series. Let them talk. Let them get everything they want off their chest.’ . . . After practice on Wednesday, Johnson, coach David Adelman and starting guard Christian Braun were asked about McDaniels’ comments. ‘I can't wait for his podcast,’ Adelman said sarcastically. ‘He's a really good player. Everyone has a sounding board these days. It'll help his social media.’ “

BRAUN’S RESPONSE: "It's part of the rivalry. I don't think it caught anybody off guard. He's kinda speaking his truth and what he believes. We'll allow them to do that. We kinda want to take care of our own." MORE: https://fluence-media.co/talk0423

WOLVES GOOD FOR BUSINESS: Via Chris Hine at Star Tribune. Combine words off the court and action on the court and you have a smoking-hot rivalry that’s great for the NBA. VERBATIM: “Timberwolves vs. Nuggets is a full-fledged modern NBA rivalry, and it’s great for the game. So, too, are McDaniels’ chirps. Viewers get interested in sports when there are villains and rivalries. It’s just as important for people to root against certain players or teams as it is for them to support their favorite ones. That’s what drives casual viewership, and it’s one reason why the NFL, especially when Tom Brady and the New England Patriots were perennial contenders, always got huge ratings. If you’re a casual fan who saw McDaniels’ comments on social media, you might now make it a point to watch Game 3 to see how Denver responds. If you’re an old-school hoops fan, and you enjoyed the 1980s and 1990s, when players like Michael Jordan and Larry Bird wanted to crush their opponents at all costs, Timberwolves-Nuggets is for you.” MORE: https://fluence-media.co/rivals0423

WOLVES VS. WILD: My friend Scott Winter, a sports journalism professor at the U, offered me his Minnesota playoff take. “Angry Wolves are better Wolves. Embrace villainy. But that doesn’t work when you get two-minute penalties in hockey. So the Wild need to stop that.”

PORTAL SUCCESS: The Gophers women are reloading in the transfer portal like an elite team after reaching the Sweet 16 and losing to eventual national champion UCLA. Their big issue was losing two post players who completed their eligibility — and replacements are coming from other Big Ten schools. Gracie Merkle, a 6-foot-6 center who was fifth in the conference in scoring (19.8 points per game) and led Division I by making 72.5% of her field goals. Also added is 6-foot-3 Tayla Thomas, who averaged 10 points, 7 rebounds and more than a block per game for Northwestern. They also added point guard Leah Harmon who is coming from Central Florida after playing one year at Miami. Minnesota also has four freshman players coming in, a class ranked 19th in the nation by ESPN It’s fair to have even higher expectations for the 2026-27 Gophers, who are morphing into a team that opponents circle on their schedules. MEN: Coach Niko Medved has worked the edges of the portal, picking up two reserves from national-champion Michigan — including 7-foot-2 center Malick Kordel — and one of his former Colorado State players — guard Kyan Evans — who started every game for Medved as a sophomore and saw his junior year playing time reduced as the season went along at North Carolina.

HOCKEY UPDATE: The men’s hockey transfer portal closes Monday and, so far, the Gophers have taken in six players while having seven leave from last year’s team. The women’s portal closed on April 6. To see comings and goings for all men and women in D-I and D-III men, you can follow the Gopher Puck Live transfer tracker.

LOONS BACK: After a sloppy start, Minnesota United is moving up the MLS standings, tying a team record Wednesday with their fourth straight win — 1-0 at Dallas, which had an 11-match winning streak at home. At 5-2-2, the Loons have climbed into a third-place tie in the Western Conference. They play Saturday at Allianz Field against LAFC, which also has a share of third place. (3:45 p.m., FOX). STANDINGS

LYNX TV FIX: FanDuel Sports Network will go dark soon after the first round of the Stanley Cup ends and the Lynx have announced that streaming service Victory+ will carry 26 of their regular-season games. The others will be part of the league’s broadcast and streaming package on an assortment of networks. Victory+ is a streaming service that includes a group of pro teams, as well as an assortment of other sports. I set up the Victory+ app on Roku and it seems easy to navigate. Games will be streamed without charge this season. TWO QUESTIONS: Will the Lynx continue to stream for free after this year? is this the route that other teams that are currently on FanDuel — the Wolves, Wild and Frost — will take in the future?

FOLLOWING THE W: Here’s the schedule of which networks will show WNBA games and when. MONDAY: Peacock and USA. TUESDAY: ESPN. WEDNESDAY: USA. THURSDAY: Prime. FRIDAY: Ion. SATURDAY: ABC, CBS. SUNDAY: NBC, CBS, ABC, ESPN. Got that?

LYNX TV SCHEDULE: https://fluence-media.co/lynxtv0423

TWINS BLUNDERS: It took a visit from the Twins for the Mets to end their 12-game losing streak and the bullpen — once again — was to blame. Relievers spit up leads on Saturday and Sunday vs. the Reds and came back weakly for an encore on Wednesday. With two outs and the game tied at 2 in the eighth inning, Taylor Rogers walked a batter and Justin Topa entered to walk another one before a game-winning bloop single. Yet another example of how slim of a margin for error the Twins have.

HA! Twins fans don’t have much reason to laugh at their rivals, but there was a precious moment in Minnesota’s win on Tuesday over the Mets. After a New York reliever failed to retire any of the five batters he faced in the ninth inning, when the Twins scored their winning runs, his replacement struck out Royce Lewis, setting off an “M-V-P!” chant from the crowd.

GRAND OPENING: Via CCX Media. Brooklyn Park’s Zanewood Recreation Center (a/k/a “The Wood) has its formal grand opening celebration from 4 to 7 p.m. today to show off the new building at 7100 Zane Ave. N. The $9.8 million facility expansion includes a new gym, arts space and a “Teen Tech center” sponsored by Best Buy. The space was funded by a 2018 referendum and grant money, including a $100,000 gift from the foundation created by former Vikings wide receiver Adam Thielen. VERBATIM: “You talk about helping youth reach their full potential, you think of resources and opportunities,” said Thielen. “This is a space that creates both of those: resources, beautiful resources, beautiful opportunities with the programming and the space to be able to do [that] programming. It’s a perfect opportunity to help these youth be at their best and to be who they want to be.” MORE: https://fluence-media.co/zanewood0423

AND FINALLY: Via CCX Sports. Even without the controversy surrounding Blake, I would have shared this video about what the school did for a rival at the end of the regular season. Brooklyn Center had played its entire schedule on the road because of problems with its gym floor. Biwan reached out and offered to let Brooklyn Center be the home team in Blake’s gym so the Centaurs could hold a Senior Night celebration. Here’s what happened:

THANKS FOR READING AND REACHING OUT.

EMAIL HOWARD: sportstake100@gmail.com

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FIRST-PLACE TWINS: The first three weeks of a six-month season can be filled with illusions. Hot starts give way to cold reality as the daily grind casts aside teams that aren’t built to last. Whether the Twins’ early success is an illusion or the product of quality few people associated with them is up for debate. Sweeping Detroit in four games and then winning two of three from Toronto and Boston boosted the Twins to the best record in the American League (11-8) and has made Target Field a fun place to be for now, even if they’re playing to substantially more empty seats than filled ones.

‘HOW DO YOU EXPLAIN THIS?’ A friend texted that to me during Tuesday’s 6-0 win over the Red Sox, which followed the Monday game when the Twins scored 11 runs in the first two innings off Boston ace Garrett Crochet. MY REPLY, SLIGHTLY EXPANDED: (1) The starting pitching and hitting has been better than expected, and that’s covered for a mediocre bullpen that will need to be upgraded. (2) The team minimized the sloppy defense and at-bats that soured the opening of the season. A week nine-game start has been followed by a strong 10-game run. (3) I suspect that that after the 3-6 start, Manager Derek Shelton found a way to ask the team “WTF is going on here?” Shelton appears to have a command of the team that Rocco Baldelli didn’t — a supportive but stern elder replacing a mellow modern dude. I could be overthinking and it may not be more that the Twins responding to a fresh voice. We’ll see how Shelton ages with the players (or if the players age Shelton).

POSITIVE/NEGATIVE: POSITIVE: Below-average defense can be neutralized by making smart decisions. Starting pitchers Taj Bradley and Mick Abel, two of the acquisitions during last summer’s roster purge, have been excellent. Outfielder Austin Martin and the catchers — Ryan Jeffers and Victor Caratini — are off to hot starts. NEGATIVE: The bullpen is untrustworthy. None of the Twins relievers would inspire confidence if asked to protect a one-run lead in the ninth inning, a situation that has yet to occur in their first 19 games.

A REMINDER: The successes are reminders of what could have been if management had taken a couple more steps over the winter to rebuild the roster by adding a proven closer and another quality right-handed bat in the outfield. If other teams drift toward mediocrity, those players would become available — and the organization needs to get after them. The meager attendance so far shows that trust still needs to be built.

BULLPEN THEORY? Via La Velle E. Neal III at Star Tribune: Derek Shelton explained that he sets up “pockets” of potential matchups for his relievers in each game, which could come up starting in the fifth or sixth inning. VERBATIM: “It’s going to take probably a full month to have actual defined roles of where we’re at,” Shelton said. “Then again, we may not. We just may mix and match the whole time.” MY TAKE: “Actual defined roles” will happen when the Twins have pitchers who can actually fill them. And that’s not coming from the current group. FULL STORY: https://fluence-media.co/bullpen0416

MLB STANDINGS | TWINS STATISTICS

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DISAPPOINTING LYNX FANS: You could hardly find a voice among WNBA fans who didn’t side with the players during the contract talks that led to their groundbreaking collective bargaining agreement reached last month. But now it isn’t hard to find Lynx fans upset that (1) players decided to cash in on their new opportunity and go elsewhere for big money or (2) that Lynx Coach/GM Cheryl Reeve couldn’t keep last year’s roster together.

NUMBERS 101: Players are cashing in. Four key members of the 2025 Lynx are gone through free agency. Alanna Smith went to Dallas, getting a raise from $150,000 last season to a three-year deal that averages $1.25 million. Jessica Shepard, also gone to Dallas, made $79,000 last season and now has a two-year deal that averages $1.025 million. Natisha Hiedeman made $605,000 combined in her first seven years in the WNBA. She signed with Dallas for two seasons at an average of $762,500. DiJonai Carrington made $472,000 in her first five pro seasons and will make $650,000 this season in Chicago.

NUMBERS 201: The team salary cap has gone from $1.5 million in 2025 to about $7 million this year. The 2026 salaries of the four players who left and the three key players who have reached deals with the Lynx — Kayla McBride, Courtney Williams and free-agent Natasha Howard — add up to about $6.65 million. And that doesn’t include the qualifying offer of $1.4 million made to superstar Napheesa Collier, who has yet to sign, that kept her from becoming a free agent. The departed Lynx weren’t going to get anything from the Lynx close to what other teams offered.

SOAPBOXING: The huge salary cap bump reinforces that relationships between WNBA players and their teams are just as transactional as relationships in the major men’s pro leagues. Anyone thinking it would be different was horrifically naive.. To her credit, Cheryl Reeve created a culture that made Lynx players that much more in demand in free agency. Now, it’s on her to find the right replacements on a tight budget. The Lynx may not be better in 2026, but women’s sports will be better for what the WNBA player’s union accomplished.

IN CONCLUSION: You can’t support the players without supporting them taking full advantage of their new-found wealth.

INCONVENIENT TRUTH: The Lynx suffered one of the biggest in-game meltdowns in Minnesota pro sports history last season when they blew a 20-point second-half lead to Phoenix in Game 2 of the semifinals and lost in overtime. The Lynx lost their next two games to drop the series. Maybe a reset is a good thing.

MILES AND MORE MILES: Reeve made the call that the Lynx needed to draft a player who could run their offense more than they needed a post player as part of their reset. Enter point guard Olivia Miles, the No. 2 overall pick after a standout college career at Notre Dame and Texas Christian.

UNDERSTANDING THE LYNX: Via Anika Besst at MPR News. At a press conference Wednesday, Miles made it clear she understands the important role the Lynx have played in the growth and development of women’s sports. VERBATIM: “It’s special, I think, to have the opportunity to look up to such amazing, strong women who have truly seen it all. I can't wait again to be a sponge and soak up all of their information and everything that they have to share Nothing they say, basically, will be too much for me, and I can't wait to take it in and follow in their footsteps and carry that responsibility forward.” MORE: https://fluence-media.co/miles0416

HIGHLIGHT REEL: This video makes a solid case for why Miles was the second overall pick — and why you’re going to hear comparisons to Hall of Famer Lindsay Whalen.

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VIKINGS DRAFT DRAMA: At this time last week, prevailing wisdom among NFL mock drafts was that the Vikings would take Oregon safety Dillon Thieneman as a major move in revamping their secondary. Over the last few days, however, revised drafts have moved toward the Vikings filling other needs with their first-round pick, currently the 18th overall. ONE EXAMPLE: Todd McShay, the former ESPN analyst who has moved to The Ringer, has the Vikings taking wide receiver Denzel Boston of Washington. VERBATIM: “The Vikings had real issues catching the football last season, and the situation hasn’t exactly improved. With Jalen Nailor now in las Vegas, the Vikings are planning to give Tai Felton and his three rookie receptions a starting role. That’s a problem.” MORE ON BOSTON: https://fluence-media.co/boston0416

OTHERS: Here’s what some of the highest-profile mock drafts have the Vikings doing with their first-round pick.

Dane Brugler at The Athletic: Jermod McCoy, CB, Tennessee. “McCoy is a tough player to project in a mock draft — some teams are comfortable with his 2025 knee injury, while others won’t consider him in the first round. I don’t know how the Vikings feel, but adding his level of talent to a Brian Flores defense would be fun to watch.”

Adam Rank at NFL.com: Emmanuel McNeil-Warren, S, Toledo. “I'm going to give it to you straight, Vikes: You need to find a long-term answer at safety, with Harrison Smith likely at the end of the line. McNeil-Warren is the solution. Like Smith, he's the kind of guy you grow to appreciate -- or, if he's not on your side, you grow to hate seeing.”

Tom Fornelli at CBS Sports: Jeremiyah Love, RB, Notre Dame with the No. 9 pick after a trade with Kansas City. “The Vikings have a need at running back and nine picks in this draft. Rather than sitting back and hoping Love falls, they get aggressive and snap him up.”

Mel Kiper at ESPN: Thieneman. “Along with many evaluators, I've been projecting Thieneman to Minnesota since before the combine. There's still uncertainty around Harrison Smith's status, but it's sort of irrelevant because the Vikings have to start planning for the future at safety whether or not Smith is back there in 2026. Defensive coordinator Brian Flores would have Thieneman lined up all over the place to create havoc”

MOCK DRAFTS: The Athletic | ESPN | The Ringer | NFL.com | CBS Sports

AND ONE MORE OPTION: Via Matthew Coller at Purple Insider. Vikings right tackle Brian O’Neill still doesn’t have a new contract and left tackle Christian Darrisaw is an elite player who has been compromised by knee problems. So what about drafting for the offensive line in the first round? VERBATIM: “Acting GM Rob Brzezinski talked at the NFL Combine and the owner’s meetings about building a draft board objectively to pick the best players, not adjusting the rankings for need. Well, this draft appears to be strong with offensive tackles. Mock Draft Database lists six tackles (among its) top 32 players on its consensus big board.”

DEEP, DEEP DIVE: Mock Draft Database is what the name implies, data from multiple sources that’s used to create prospect rankings. DIVE IN: https://fluence-media.co/mock0416

TOMMIES TAKE A HIT: Via Chip Scoggins at Star Tribune. After losing their Nos. 2 and 3 scorers to the transfer portal, there was hope at St. Thomas that an offer could be made that would keep leading scorer Nolan Minessale at the school. Didn’t happen. Smaller D-I schools like St. Thomas — “mid-majors” is the popular term — are simply going to be feeder schools for more powerful programs. VERBATIM: “Minessale loved his two seasons at St. Thomas. He often spoke glowingly about Coach Johnny Tauer and the program in interviews. But he is a skilled wing who undoubtedly will earn a six-figure contract from some school a level above St. Thomas. And it’s likely that his contract will be closer to seven figures than five figures.” MORE: https://fluence-media.co/nolan0416

WEALTH MANAGEMENT: I’m going to be conservative here. let’s say Minessale can save $600,000 from whatever offer he gets from his next school. With a 6% annual return for 40 years, that gives him almost $6.2 million in 2066. At 8% annually, that $600,000 becomes $13 million in 40 years. Not a bad payoff for attending college, right?

GOPHERS GET ONE: Via Andy Greder at Pioneer Press. Nolan Groves, the Orono High star who played only 5.8 minutes per game during his freshman year at Texas Tech, will be joining the Gophers. The 6-foot-5 forward averaged only 5.8 minutes and 0.9 points per game at Texas Tech, where he went after originally committing to Yale. In high school, he led Orono to the 2025 Class 3A tournament and had a career-high of 57 points against St. Louis Park. VERBATIM: “Groves now fills one of five scholarship openings for the 2026-27 roster. Two key remaining needs include a starting-caliber guard and primary center.” MORE: https://fluence-media.co/groves0416

HIGH SCHOOL TRANSFERS: Via Strib Varsity. The Star Tribune’s high school section is on the front end of a two-week series about high school athletes who change schools for athletic reasons. Thursday’s reporting explains why the issue is front-and-center. VERBATIM: “Transfer students make up just 1% of Minnesota’s high school athletes, but their impact on top teams is far greater — and increasingly visible on championship stages. . . . A Strib Varsity review of top teams found nine of the Top 25 boys basketball teams in the state began the year with a key contributor who transferred in during high school. In girls basketball, eight of the top 12 teams had the same, including the entire top five. Seven of the 12 hockey and basketball teams that won boys or girls state titles this winter had a transfer student playing a key role.” MORE: https://fluence-media.co/transfer0416

IMPERFECT SYSTEM: The Strib Varsity reporting included a lengthy Q&A on how the system is supposed to work, including an explanation of the Minnesota State High School league’s version of the “transfer portal.” There’s also a question about whether Minnesota should follow some other states and let students make one free transfer. It’s a good read, even if it’s hard to take some of what respondents are saying at face value. READ IT: https://fluence-media.co/qa416

ARCHAIC, AMBIGUOUS, ARBITRARY: Via Stinson LLP. The Minneapolis law firm offers this guide and critique of the MSHSL transfer system geared toward parents. VERBATIM: “The MSHSL Bylaws are intended to prevent unfair competition, but are archaic, ambiguous and vague. To make matters worse, MSHSL rules are frequently applied arbitrarily to the detriment of parents and students, and the cost of appealing an adverse decision is high. As such, it is prudent that parents and students understand the MSHSL rules before transferring so they can avoid an ineligibility determination and subsequent loss of their right to participate in their chosen activity.” MORE: https://fluence-media.co/stinson0416

BOILING IT DOWN: The transfer rules don’t really matter. As one coach told me, “Rules are only enforced if the ADs choose to enforce.”

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SOFTBALL POWERHOUSE: St. Mary’s of Winona, which went to the D-III World Series last season, is currently ranked No. 4 in the latest National Fastpitch Coaches poll. The Cardinals are 24-2, including 10-0 in the MIAC, with doubleheaders today vs. St. Olaf, Saturday at Macalester and Sunday vs. St. Catherine’s. The Cardinals’ top player is Makayla Steffes, a junior from Winona, who is batting .486 with 15 steals and has a 13-1 record and 1.39 ERA in 14 starts as a pitcher. STATISTICS | LIVESTREAM | MIAC STANDINGS

MINNESOTA COACHES TAKE OVER: After losing its head coach to Utah State following an NCAA men’s basketball tournament berth, Northern Iowa has hired Kyle Green. He graduated from Washburn High School and Hamline before getting a master’s degree from St. Thomas. Joining him as an assistant and the team’s general manager is Abe Woldeslassie, a St. Thomas Academy grad and former Macalester head coach who was an assistant last season at Denver. Green is the father of Milwaukee Bucks guard A.J. Green. BIO: https://fluence-media.co/green0416

KOZ RETIRES: Via St. Olaf. St. Olaf is looking for a new men’s basketball coach after Dan Kosmoski announced his retirement. Kosmoski coaches at St. Olaf for 32 seasons after an eight years as an assistant at Minnesota under Jim Dutcher, Clem Haskins and Jimmy Williams. His teams had a 395-404 record and went to the D-III Sweet 16 in 2015. VERBATIM: "The great gift in this journey is for all my players to learn one of the most valuable lessons in life: how to work together to achieve your dream of a winning championship. The pursuit of excellence knowing that sometimes you never quite arrive, as John Wooden would say." MORE: https://fluence-media.co/koz0416

DISCLAIMER: Ellen Kosmoski — “Mrs. Koz” — catered our wedding in 2010!

AUTHOR/COACH RETIRES: Via Great Teams Better Leaders. Lake City basketball coach Greg Berge used his newsletter to announce his retirement after 20 years as the school’s boys’ basketball coach. He will stay on as principal. Berge’s teams had a 394-146 record and went to state three times, finishing second in the 2024 state 2A tournament. VERBATIM: “Coaching is one of the greatest jobs in the world. You get to impact kids. You get to build something bigger than yourself. You get to be part of moments that last a lifetime. But it also asks a lot. Time. Energy. Emotional investment. At some point, you have to ask yourself an honest question: Can I still give this what it deserves?”

MEMORIES: Berge’s departure newsletter included 20 memories from 20 seasons of coaching. READ: https://fluence-media.co/berge0416

INJUSTICE FOR THE WILD: Via The Athletic. The NHL system of seeding playoff teams is a bad one and the Wild vs. Dallas series is another exhibit why. VERBATIM: “Everyone knows the NHL’s playoff format is unjust; the Dallas Stars and Minnesota Wild aren’t the first teams to be screwed by the format and certainly won’t be the last. Still, this series feels like a new low for Gary Bettman’s NHL. Minnesota earned significantly more points than the fourth-best team in the West and will be rewarded for that incredible regular season with a matchup against the second-best team in the West. Unjust doesn’t even begin to describe it. A great team is going home early after what should be a very tight series. And it could be either one.”

ON THE ICE: The series is pretty much a toss-up, with a slight lean to Dallas. The Stars have been to the last three conference finals; Minnesota has lost their last eight first-round series. (Tap here for current odds) The Athletic’s detailed preview goes deep on how the acquisition of star defenseman Quinn Hughes made the Wild better even if their winning percentage didn’t change after he was acquired in December. VERBATIM: “The Wild’s early-season record was floated primarily by their goaltenders. In 12 pre-Hughes appearances, Jesper Wallstedt put up a .937 save percentage, saved nearly 13 goals more than expected, shut out four opponents and went 9-1-1. Filip Gustavsson, in 20 appearances, was solidly above average, as well. Those two helped wallpaper over intensely mediocre offensive numbers at five-on-five. . . .Wild general manager Bill Guerin recognized that, so he swung a blockbuster trade for an ultra-high-end player. Simple enough. And in the months since, Hughes has been as advertised: An offensive engine on the back end, capable of connecting effectively with Minnesota’s elite forwards and mitigating a lack of down-roster game-breakers.” MORE: https://fluence-media.co/wild0416

WOLVES MUST FLIP SWITCH: Via Britt Robson at MinnPost. The Wolves-Denver series starts Saturday and Minnesota is a huge underdog. (Tap here for current odds.) The Nuggets will enter the playoffs on a 12-game winning streak while the Wolves sputtered their way through much of the season. VERBATIM: “The Wolves forfeited the right to be dubbed plucky by overestimating their commitment to a championship mentality, specifically by reneging on their promises to build teamwork and momentum game-by-game over the course of the season. ‘I’ve said it all year. We know this team — who we can be and who we have been,’ said head coach Chris Finch after practice on Tuesday, referencing the Wolves previous two years making the conference finals and its tendency to lock in and play the league’s best teams on equal terms this season. ‘It’s about whether we can maintain that. We don’t ever really want to be a flip-a-switch team but we do have a switch to flip and we have to flip it now. And when we do that, everybody becomes the best version of themselves and brings out that continuity and connection that we need.’ “

DIALOGUE: “So you do think there is a switch to flip?, asked Jon Krawczynski of The Athletic. “I mean, we’ll see,” Finch said with a short, rueful laugh. “We’ll see.” PREVIEW: https://fluence-media.co/wolves0416

TWINS INVESTIGATING INCIDENT: Via Dan Hayes and Jen McCaffrey at The Athletic. Red Sox outfielder Jarren Duran told Boston media after Tuesday game against the Twins that he made an obscene gesture toward fans at Target Field who were heckling him about mental health issues he’s been open about during his career. So far, the Twins have not been able to verify his account. VERBATIM: “Because Duran didn’t alert his teammates, coaches or security personnel, a Twins official said the club was unaware of the alleged incident until after the game. A league source said multiple people seated in the area had been interviewed. One person with knowledge of the event said fans were bragging afterward that Duran had raised his middle finger at them after they had mocked his swing. Though the announced crowd was 16,220, only about 10,000 fans were in attendance at Target Field. In spite of the subdued crowd noise, field and television microphones didn’t pick up fans yelling for Duran to harm himself or mocking his swing. Additional audio or video of the incident has yet to surface on social media or in the public sphere.” MORE: https://fluence-media.co/taunt0416

FRESHMAN BOOSTS U TO NATIONALS: Via Grace Praxmarer at Star Tribune. Gophers freshman Arianna Ostrum is a rarity in college gymnastics, competing in all four events that comprise the all-around competition. Typically, a first-year competitor would participate in only one or two. But Ostrum came to the Gophers from Stevens Point, Wis., with impressive credentials on a national level and was named Big ten Freshman of the Year. VERBATIM: “It hasn’t happened in a while where we’ve had [someone] compete in the all-around as a freshman, but she’s really risen to the occasion and embraced it,” Gophers coach Jenny Hansen said. “She’s done everything she can to not only compete on all four events, but really be a huge contributing member for the team.” MORE: https://fluence-media.co/gymnast0416

HOW IT WORKS: The Gophers compete at 8 p.m. tonight (ESPN2) against Oklahoma, UCLA and Arkansas. The top two teams advance to Saturday’s finals at 3 p.m. on ABC. You can also watch a livestream focused on Minnesota and get live scoring updates here.

ANOTHER NATIONAL POWER: Carleton College’s ultimate team (“Ultimate frisbee” isn’t the proper term) is among the nation’s best of all schools regardless of size. The Carleton women are 19-0 this season and ranked No. 1. The men are 20-2 and No. 3 behind Colorado and Oregon. The men won the USA Ultimate championship in 2025, their sixth national title, and the women finished second. The team was founded in 1977. HISTORY: https://fluence-media.co/ultimate0416

AND FINALLY: Via Katie Heindl at The Ringer. The word nice has a negative connotation in sports. Nice guys finish last, and all that. Calling someone’s game nice is a good thing. Calling someone nice often isn’t. VERBATIM: “Mamba Mentality, which redefined Kobe Bryant’s image and influenced a generation of players, was based on being a solitary, selfish, singular asshole. Nice, we hear over and over, is antithetical to winning. It won’t get you a signature shoe, and it’s not going to get you paid.”

ENTER MIKE CONLEY: Wolves veteran Mike Conley is generally regarded as the NBA’s ultimate nice guy. VERBATIM: “Conley is unanimously the nicest guy in the league — the person whom players, fans, and anyone orbiting the game will point to as the most considerate, thoughtful, and generous with his time. And, of course, he’s also the most principled; he has zero career technical fouls in over 1,200 games, which speaks for itself. . . . ‘t’s a false narrative, in a sense, that people think you have to be the asshole,’ Conley says. ‘In my mind, inside every bone in my body, I want to go and score 40 points and dominate you and be as ruthless as I can on the court.’ Conley and several other Nice Guys around the NBA are changing the rules for how players can act. They’re competitive, but they’re also considerate and empathetic, and their self-awareness allows them to maintain a presence without taking up all the oxygen in a room.” GREAT READ: https://fluence-media.co/nice0416

THANKS FOR READING, STAYING IN TOUCH AND BEING NICE.

EMAIL HOWARD: sportstake100@gmail.com

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IT’S ON. ALL OF IT: WNBA free agency opened Wednesday and player signings can start Saturday. Most of the league’s veterans are free agents after timing their previous contracts to end at last year’s expiration of the old collective bargaining agreement. The WNBA draft is Monday, with the Lynx having the second overall pick following some fancy trade maneuvers. The Timberwolves’ regular season ends Sunday with the NBA playoffs starting a week from Saturday. The Wild’s regular season ends Tuesday with the Stanley Cup Playoffs starting a week from Saturday. The college basketball transfer portals are filling with the Gophers men and women rosters needing another makeover and the St. Thomas men seeing two of their top three scorers enter. And Vikings draft chatter will be nonstop leading up to the NFL Draft on April 23-25, with the general manager search as an encore.

AND MORE: What’s up with the mysterious medical condition of a recently acquired Minnesota United standout? How bad good are the Twins? A Gophers team scored a stunning upset to reach a national tournament next week? Has Kirk Cousins found a place where he’ll be appreciated? Sports Take gets to all of these.

FOUR HOT TOPICS

HOT TOPIC 1: Want a textbook-sized guide to the NFL Draft? The Athletic has published The Beast, which it calls “the world’s most detailed NFL Draft guide: 402 profiles, 2,700 rankings, 45,000 verified measurements and almost 300,000 words.” I’ll start you out with this link to 15 players from Minnesota, two from St. Thomas and seven from the MIAC. THE FULL BEAST: https://fluence-media.co/beast0409

HOT TOPIC 2: The WNBA draft is Monday (6 p.m., ESPN) and the Lynx are in the center of the action by having the second overall pick, the end result of a 2024 trade and follow-up moves that started with Minnesota and Chicago swapping the seventh and eighth overall picks so the Sky could draft Angel Reese, who they just traded to Atlanta for two first-round picks. We’ll get to some options and mock drafts below. One thing for now: If Lynx fans could vote on the pick, the Internet winner would be 6-foot-7 center Lauren Betts, who just led UCLA to the NCAA title.

HOT TOPIC 3: Have you figured out the Timberwolves yet? Are they postseason frauds who will perish quickly in the playoffs based on their inconsistent play? I’m clinging to the more optimistic view that things will come together when the stakes are higher, but I don’t blame you if you feel otherwise. One thing looks certain: They’ll finish sixth in the Western Conference and start out on the road against the third-place finisher, which is currently Denver. By NOT finishing fourth or fifth, that means the Wolves would avoid a conference semifinal series against defending-champion Oklahoma City if they get past (probably) Denver or (maybe) the Lakers in the first round. NBA STANDINGS AND PLAYOFF PICTURE: https://fluence-media.co/nba0409

HOT TOPIC 4: College hockey excellence bypassed Minnesota this year, but the Frozen Four begins tonight with North Dakota playing Wisconsin at 4 p.m. and Michigan playing Denver at 7:30 p.m. (ESPN2). The title game is at 4:30 p.m. Saturday. There are 20 players from Minnesota on the rosters: Wisconsin has seven, North Dakota and Denver have 5, Michigan has 3. Tap the links for the rosters and read on for the fan who came from Saudi Arabia to cheer on hos beloved team. BEST COVERAGE? Spend $3 for a trial subscription to the Grand Forks Herald

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WILD SHOWDOWN TONIGHT: Via Michael Russo at The Athletic. Tonight’s Wild game at Dallas (7 p.m., Hulu, ESPN+) will go a long way toward deciding whether the Wild get home ice advantage for the first round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs. After their March stumbles, the Wild are on a four-game winning streak and enter the game (1) Two points behind Dallas with four games remaining and (2) In better health than the Stars. Winning in regulation is vital for the Wild because Dallas holds the tie-breaker of non-overtime victories (35 to 30). Russo makes a case for the Wild being able to make a serious playoff run after losing in the opening round of their last eight playoff series, a streak that dates back to 2015 and includes four head coaches.

RUSSO: “The Wild have never had a roster like this, boasting three legit stars: 40-goal scorers Kirill Kaprizov and Matt Boldy, and 2024 Norris Trophy winner Quinn Hughes. Hughes’ defense partner, Brock Faber, has developed into a tremendous defenseman since playing six playoff games against Dallas in 2023, when he was fresh off the Frozen Four ice. Wild goalies Filip Gustavsson and Jesper Wallstedt have combined for the best save percentage in the NHL. Jonas Brodin and Jared Spurgeon have been an elite shutdown pair since the Olympics. And two-way center Joel Eriksson Ek is playing his best hockey after getting cheated out of essentially the entire Dallas-Minnesota series in 2023, when he broke his leg blocking an Evgeni Malkin shot late in the regular season.” FULL STORY: https://fluence-media.co/wild0409

MORE: NHL Standings | Playoff format | Wild schedule

ANOTHER BAD, BAD BEATDOWN: Last week’s Sports take posted an MIAC line score that featured a 14-run pitching meltdown by St. Olaf that allowed Macalester to rally for a 17-10 win. There was quite an encore in Northfield on Wednesday afternoon. Four Carleton pitchers combined to give up 32 runs in the first three innings in a 42-9 loss to St. Scholastica. (For the record, Carleton led the second game of the doubleheader 9-3 when play was suspended in the ninth inning.)

BY THE WAY: Want to see the full box score, which includes 22 walks, 19 hits, 11 wild patches and eight hit batters yielded and thrown by Carleton pitchers? IT’S HERE: https://fluence-media.co/boxscore0409 WANT TO SEE MORE? Carleton is hosting crosstown rival St. Olaf in a doubleheader today. First pitch is scheduled for 2:30 p.m. Prayers up for the pitchers! VIDEO

SO MANY OPTIONS: There isn’t an obvious first overall pick in Monday’s WNBA draft, which means there will be serious drama when Dallas makes its choice and the Lynx make the next selection. There are four players who could be taken at the top who would all be reasonable choices: 5-foot-10 point guard Olivia Miles of Texas Christian, 5-foot-11 shooting guard Azzi Fudd of UConn, 6-foot-4 center Awa Fam of Spain and 6-foot-7 center Lauren Betts of UCLA. All could fit just as well with the Lynx as they would with Dallas. How are the mock drafts playing out?

ESPN: Fam goes to the Lynx and Dallas takes Miles. VERBATIM: “Fam, who is averaging 9.2 points and 5.0 rebounds for Valencia in Spain, is just 19 with a ton of potential. It comes down to how quickly and how well coach Cheryl Reeve and the Lynx believe Fam can adjust to the WNBA and how high they believe her ceiling is, especially considering how well UCLA's Lauren Betts played her senior season. Betts has to be considered for this spot, too, if the Lynx pick a post player.”

CBS SPORTS: The Lynx take Miles and Dallas takes Fam. VERBATIM: “Miles is one of the best playmaking prospects we've ever seen. She can throw every pass in the book with either hand, and has an innate ability to see the floor and create opportunities out of nothing. She would give the Lynx the true point guard they've been missing the last few years, and Minnesota's defensive infrastructure would be able to cover up for some of her issues on that side of the ball.”

THE ATHLETIC: The Lynx take Fudd after Dallas takes Fam. VERBATIM: “Fudd has become a ballhawk with 2.5 steals per game, and she has the best on-off impact on UConn’s defense. Minnesota wouldn’t be drafting Fudd to turn into a primary on-ball creator. There is little evidence that she can be the engine of an offense, and her free-throw attempt rate is pretty low. Still, her gravity as a shooter — both at a standstill and in movement — makes her an ideal secondary option, not unlike the role Kayla McBride currently plays with the Lynx. Considering that McBride will turn 34 this season, it’s not a bad time for a succession plan.

USA TODAY: The Lynx take Miles after Dallas takes Betts. VERBATIM: “Minnesota doesn't struggle to move the ball, but adding Miles into the mix gives the Lynx the ability to take their offensive movement up a level. The TCU guard has a high basketball IQ, which should help her with the rookie learning curve on a team with championship aspirations. Head coach Cheryl Reeve can also bring out the best in Miles defensive skills as she adjusts to WNBA play.”

BLEACHER REPORT: The Lynx take Miles after Dallas takes Fam. VERBATIM: “There are only a handful of point guards in WNBA history who can read the floor like a supercomputer and create their own shot from anywhere. That group is basically Diana Taurasi, Chelsea Gray, Caitlin Clark, Paige Bueckers and soon enough, Olivia Miles. It’s reasonable to be concerned about her defensive projection . . . but it’s not like we haven’t seen offensive superstars supersede those kinds of defensive shortcomings. Miles is an all-time passing prospect, with real counters as a driver and pull-up scorer that keep defenders guessing at all times. If there’s an organization that can maximize what she does best, it’s the Minnesota Lynx.”

MOCK DRAFTS: ESPN | CBS SPORTS | USA TODAY | THE ATHLETIC | BLEACHER REPORT

MY TAKE: I don’t know and I don’t think — if you’re reading this before the weekend — that the Lynx know either. All four players would bring different strengths and projections, and it may well hinge of who the Lynx sign (and who they lose) in the first three days of free-agent signings before the draft. It could well be a front office debate that goes into the final minutes before the draft begins and Reeve tells the draft room who they’re taking.

VISIT CONFIRMED BY LYNX — AND BALLOONS: Via Cassidy Hettesheimer at Star Tribune. A source confirmed that veteran star Nneka Ogwumike is visiting the Twin Cities and could sign with the team. She was second team all-WNBA with Seattle last season and was the No. 1 overall pick in the 2012 draft. The news was actually broken by a Minneapolis company — Amazing Balloons — that posted a video on social media of a custom bouquet it created for the Lynx. The company deleted the post, but not before it was reposted by others. CAUTION: The visit does not mean Ogwumike is signing here, despite the conclusions being drawn by some re-posters. MORE: https://fluence-media.co/nneka0409

THAT BALLOON VIDEO: Watch it here.

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“RING OR BUST” LOOKS LIKE BUST: Via Britt Robson at MinnPost. After citing the season’s shortcomings, which intensified as the season wore on, it’s hard for Robson to imagine the Timberwolves pulling together for the playoffs. VERBATIM: “This is a rescue mission. The Timberwolves may still ‘luck out’ and wind up facing a Lakers team recently ravaged by injuries to their two best players, Luka Doncic and Austin Reeves; or a Rockets team without a point guard that has real issues closing out games. They have also traditionally played Denver tough. None of this excuses the fact that the Wolves weren’t ready for a ‘ring or bust’ style commitment and are consequently playing catch-up after being hindered by the sort of travails that befall most contenders over the course of the season. If they do manage to get past the first round, they will almost certainly face one of the top two teams in the NBA, the San Antonio Spurs, in round two, and then the best team, the reigning champion Thunder, in the conference finals. But we are a long, long way away from those pipe dreams. First things first: A motto that has been ignored and bedeviling to these shortcut specialists throughout the 2025-26 campaign.” MORE: https://fluence-media.co/wolves0409

AT LEAST THERE’S PEACE: Via Star Tribune. Today is the third anniversary of the Wolves 2023 season finale against New Orleans. You might remember it as the game when Rudy Gobert punched teammate Kyle Anderson during a time out and was given another time out when he was sent home early by Coach Chris Finch. And Jaden McDaniel broke his hand punching a wall in frustration. The shorthanded Wolves went on to lose their first-round playoff series to Denver in five games. STORY, VIDEO: https://fluence-media.co/punch0409

PORTAL PAYOUTS: Via John Shipley at Pioneer Press. Few people really know how much college athletes are getting from revenue sharing and NIL deals, and Gophers basketball coaches Niko Medved and Dawn Plitzuweit have staked out different positions on whether the numbers should be public. VERBATIM: “Plitzuweit said she’s still holding onto a ‘Utopian’ idea of college athletics, and at heart she doesn’t want those numbers — essentially salaries — to be made public. Being a high profile college athlete is difficult enough, she said. BUT: “ ‘What’s challenging now is that in the world of college athletics, there is no transparency of what the numbers are.’ She still believes those numbers shouldn’t be made public, but added, ‘I’m teetering to the side of understanding the value of making the information public.’ “

NIKO’S VIEW: “Medved has fewer issues with making players’ pay public. ‘I do think transparency benefits everybody, so yes, overall I’m in favor of it. But I do think it’s tricky until there is some sort of real cap, or collective bargaining of sorts, with the athletes. That’s tricky to do. And while, yeah, as a whole I think everybody wants it, I think they still have their head in the sand a little bit. There need to be some radical changes made.’ ”

MONEY QUOTE (LITERALLY): Medved cited Big Ten commissioner Tony Petitti, who chided university administrators for taking years to make decisions that need to be made in months. VERBATIM: “We’re kicking the can down the road on a problem that we really need a lot of smart people to understand. It’s professional sports, but a different kind of professional sports. There’s still is an education piece, and not everybody is a star player. We need to be a lot more nimble than we are. We need to act fast and put some committees together to discuss this. It’s like AI, it’s all happening so fast and we don’t really understand it.” FULL STORY: https://fluence-media.co/money0409

TOO SOON, BUT: There are a lot of “these would be good fits” for Gophers basketball right now and most aren’t worth the speculation. But two deserve examining.

KYAN EVANS? Via Andy Greder at Pioneer Press. Medved tried to bring the former Colorado State point guard to Minnesota last year, but Kyan Evans chose North Carolina instead. He didn’t play much and has re-entered the portal. The Gophers need a point guard. VERBATIM: “Evans, a 6-foot-2 guard from Kansas City, Mo., averaged 4.0 points and 2.5 assists in 17.7 minutes per game for the Tar Heels last season. Those numbers fell off from his standout sophomore season with Medved in 2024-25. That year, Evans averaged 10.6 points, 3.1 assists and 2.4 rebounds in 28.2 minutes per game. He started all 36 games as the Rams made it to the second round of the NCAA Tournament.” MORE: https://fluence-media.co/evans0409

AUDI CROOKS? Via Jack Maloney at CBS Sports. The Gophers women need a post player with centers Sophie Hart and Finau Tonga being out of eligibility — and 6-foot-3 Iowa State star Audi Crooks, who averaged 26 points and 8 rebounds per game, has entered the portal. She was first team All-Big 12 and a second-team Associated Press All American. VERBATIM: “It's easy to imagine Crooks sliding into Hart's spot and replacing much of the offensive production Minnesota got from her, as well as senior guards Mara Braun and Amaya Battle. Furthermore, the Golden Gophers have the shooting to space the floor around Crooks.” DOWNSIDE: I asked a high-profile former coach about how Crooks would fit at Minnesota. The reply: On offense, she would fit the Hart/Tonga role. On defense, it would require major adjustments. “She can’t guard anybody,” the coach said, which is probably why Crooks, even though she’s eligible for the WNBA draft, is planning to stay in college. MORE: https://fluence-media.co/crooks0409

TEST FOR TOMMIES: Via Jace Frederick at Pioneer Press. Two of the top three scorers on the St. Thomas men’s team have entered the portal. Guard Nick Janowski was the Summit League’s Freshman of the Year and averaged 16.1 points and 5.1 rebounds per game. Sophomore forward Isaiah Johnson-Arigu averaged 105 points and four rebounds per game. St. Thomas was the second school for each: Janowski came from Nebraska and Johnson-Arigu from Miami. BIG CHALLENGE: Can the Tommies keep leading scorer Nolan Minessale, who averaged just under 20 points per game? VERBATIM: “Should Minessale — who would instantly become a target for many high-major programs — go looking for another program, Tommies coach Johnny Tauer would be tasked with a major roster reconstruction this offseason. But if Minessale stays in St. Paul — something that will undoubtedly require a hefty financial commitment from the Tommies — he will have St. Thomas right back in the Summit League championship conversation next season, and the news would signal that the Tommies can compete in a meaningful way at the Division I level not only on the floor, but off it, as well.” MORE: https://fluence-media.co/toms0409

TRANSFER PORTAL TRACKERS: Big Ten men | Big Ten women | Summit League

ADVICE FOR TWINS FANS: Live in the moment. It’ll be the best way to get through the season if the first two weeks are any indication. After watching the first week’s stumbles who would have thought the second week would bring wins in the first three games against AL Central favorite Detroit and a chance at a sweep this afternoon (12:40 p.m., TwinsTV)? Much less a sweep featuring wins against two-time Cy Young winner Tarik Skubal and free-agent hire Framber Valdez. Both are left-handed, or the kind of pitchers the Twins flailed against during the opening week. Despite the success, little has changed the feeling this will be a season of struggles.

WHY? The bullpen is thin and shaky. It struggled to close out Tuesday’s 4-2 win over Detroit — following a magnificent start by Taj Bradley — and came close to spitting up a seven-run lead in Wednesday’s 8-6 win. The defense, Byron Buxton excluded, makes too many routine plays look difficult. The left-leaning roster is still a disorganized mess. EXTRA ANNOYING: If ownership issues over the winter hadn’t distracted the team from making a few needed improvements, this could actually be a good team. Manager Derek Shelton is basically running a lottery of untrustworthy relievers and there’s a crying need for right-handed batting. The defense will be an ongoing minus with the current roster.

KEEP IN MIND: The Twins have yet to play a team with a winning record so far this season and their next two series are against Toronto (5-7) and Boston (4-8). Not until they host Cincinnati, starting a week from Friday will they play a team that’s off to a strong start. ADVICE: Enjoy the wins when they happen and don’t let the front office off the hook for its off-season failings.

IT WON’T LAST, PROBABLY: But I can’t help but share. CARLOS CORREA, Houston starting third baseman/shortstop: .262/.354/.381 average/on-base percentage/slugging. 1 home run, nine RBI, $32.8 million salary. TRISTAN GRAY: Twins reserve third baseman/shortstop: .286/.353/.571, 1 HR, 8 RBI, $820,00 salary. It’s a small sample size but I . . . don’t . . . care.

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VIKINGS DRAFT: Via Nick Baumgardner at the Athletic. In this mock draft of the first 100 picks, the Vikings get Oregon safety Dillon Thieneman of Oregon with the 18th overall pick, Notre Dame running back Jadarian Price with the 49th pick, Mississippi State wide receiver Brenen Thompson with the 82nd pick and Auburn center Connor Lew with the 97th pick. VERBATIM: “A complete athlete with a nose for the ball and enough versatility to play either safety spot (and a bit in the slot), Thieneman feels like almost too good a fit for the Vikings for it to come true. He’s exactly what they’re looking for.” MORE: https://fluence-media.co/mock0409

GO TO THE VIDEO: Via Star Tribune. Football writers Emily Leiker and Ben Goessling go deep on why Thieneman is the consensus choice among drafters on their Access Vikings podcast.

HIGH SCHOOL LEAGUE VS. GOPHERS: Via Joe Christensen at Strib Varsity. The state boys’ basketball tournament was pushed back a week this year because the Gophers put a hold on Williams Arena for their women’s basketball team if it qualified to host the first two rounds of the NCAA tournament, which ended up happening. Next year, there could be a bigger conflict with the girls’ tournament, which is set for March 17-20, 2027. The Gophers again want to keep Williams Arena open for the women and the NCAA has made Minneapolis a site for the first two rounds of the men’s tournament that weekend. Options could include Maturi Pavilion at the U or the Lee & Penny Anderson Arena at St. Thomas, although both are smaller than The Barn. The state hockey tournament is the weekend before at Grand Casino Arena, but it’s unlikely the Wild could be booted from their home ice on consecutive weeks late in the season. MORE: https://fluence-media.co/tourney0409

THREE NEW SPORTS? Via Joe Nelson at Bring Me the News. The Minnesota State High School League is expected to vote in June on sponsoring girls’ flag football, girls’ dual wrestling and esports for the 2026-27 school year. VERBATIM: “Girls’ flag football has exploded in the past two years behind support from the Minnesota Vikings and the Minnesota High School Girls Flag Football Coaches Advisory. Fifty-one Minnesota schools had a girls’ flag football team in 2025, and there are 106 teams registered ahead of the 2026 school year. If accepted, girls’ flag football would be labeled an ‘emerging’ sport, possibly being fully sanctioned by the MSHSL in future years. The same goes for girls’ dual wrestling. To date, girls wrestle with boys in league-sanctioned events, though schools are allowed to schedule up to eight girls-only events, while the MSHSL has a girls division in the individual state tournament.” MORE: https://fluence-media.co/mshsl0409

SAUDI ARABIA TO FROZEN FOUR: Via Tom Miller at Grand Forks Herald. Max Anadon went to elementary and middle school in Grand Forks before moving to Minot, N.D., — and moving again and again and again in his work as an accountant. He made the trek from Neom, a futuristic and environmentally friendly region under construction in Saudi Arabia, and was watching North Dakota practice Wednesday in Las Vegas. VERBATIM: “ ‘I had to drive to the closest city of Tabuk. From Tabuk to Jeddah. To New York. To Minneapolis. To Minot. Minot to Las Vegas.’ Anadon developed a passion for UND hockey while living in Grand Forks from 1967 to 1981. He recalls games at UND’s old Winter Sports Center, which predates both Ralph Engelstad Arenas. ‘They had the old barn, a Quonset, and my parents would take me, and we’d go with blankets and hot chocolate because it would snow inside.’ ” MORE: https://fluence-media.co/undfan0409

KIRK COUSINS, HYPE VS. REALITY: Via NFL.com and Spotrac. After being linked to a return to the Vikings — as well as the Jets and Packers — Kirk Cousins, 37, has signed with Las Vegas, where he should open the season as the No. 1 quarterback while the team grooms Fernando Mendoza, the expected first overall pick in the draft, to take over the role. HYPE: Technically, Cousins signed a five-year contract worth $172 million. REALITY: $11.3 million is guaranteed this season by the Raiders and he’s expected to be leaving Las Vegas at season’s end. VERBATIM: "Going into Year 15 now, I'm trying to set a standard in the locker room. Just trying to be an available resource to everybody in the locker room that would want to ask questions or want to learn about what my journey has been like in this league, I'd love to help them anyway that I can." MORE: https://fluence-media.co/cousins0409

U GYMNASTS GOING TO NATIONALS: Minnesota’s gymnastics team qualified for nationals April 16-18 in Fort Worth, Texas, by coming in second behind UCLA in a four-team regional competition. The Gophers upset Utah, which had been to 49 consecutive national meets, and Alabama, which has won six national titles. Minnesota will be trying for its first national title and last went to nationals in 2022. Minnesota, Utah, Oklahoma and Arkansas will compete for two spots in the finals (3:30 p.m. April 16, ESPN2) and the finals are set for 3 p.m. April 18 on ABC. LSU, Stanford, Georgia and Florida are the other semifinalists. MORE: https://fluence-media.co/ugymnastics0409

WHAT’S UP WITH LOONS STAR? Via ESPN. It was a big deal when James Rodriguez, a veteran of high-profile European clubs and captain of Colombia’s national team, signed a contract with Minnesota United in February. But he has appeared in only two of the team’s matches — both as a substitute — and was hospitalized after suffering “severe dehydration” following a match between Colombia and France late last month. Little was revealed about his health, save for a statement from Colombia’s football federation that it was not related to an on-field injury. The news took an odd turn this week when Minnesota United put out a media release denying web rumors that Rodriguez was suffering from rhabdomyolysis, a condition that causes rapid muscle tissue breakdown. VERBATIM: “The club and our medical professionals can unequivocally state there has been no clinical or laboratory evidence of rhabdomyolysis. We respectfully ask members of the media and the public to refrain from further speculation regarding James' health. Any additional updates will be communicated directly by the club through official channels.” MORE: https://fluence-media.co/james0409

READ ABOUT RODRIGUEZ: “The gasoline that fuels him” | Career statistics

OOPS: I messed up something in last week’s newsletter and I’m betting — given this audience skews toward the politically knowledgeable — a number of you caught it. In my writing about the late J Robinson’s strident opposition to Title IX, I cited a quote from former Board of Regents chair Dean Elton Johnson about the wrestling coach’s firing from the University of Minnesota in 2016. I identified Johnson as a “former Republican state legislative leader.” That part was accurate. Johnson was the Senate minority leader in the 1990s but switched parties in 2000 and, as a member of the DFL, was the majority leader from 2004-2007. Thanks to reader Roger Greiling for the cheerfully worded email adding the context.

AND FINALLY: Carleton’s lopsided baseball loss reminded me of the school’s 2015 football loss to St. Thomas, when they took an early 3-0 lead — and ended up losing 80-3. The Knights’ sports information staff handled the loss wonderfully, making sure to point out the early lead, that the Tommies went for a two-point conversion after their first touchdown and deferring mention of the final score:

You can read that game report here and next week you can read here about Carleton athletic teams that are among the nation’s best regardless of enrollment.

THANKS FOR READING AND STAY IN TOUCH.

EMAIL HOWARD: sportstake100@gmail.com

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THE OPENER: As Sports Take nears its second anniversary, I am struck by all the choices we have in the sports marketplace. That’s provides both challenges and opportunities when compiling the newsletter. I hope I’m giving you new ways to look at the topics that take up a lot of our attention and introduce you to things you might not otherwise know about. This week, I was intrigued by much of the reporting and remembering about J Robinson, the program-changing U of M wrestling coach who died last weekend and left a complicated legacy that went well beyond the national titles his teams won. I tried to sort out some things. — Howard Sinker

THIS IS GREAT: Unless it busted your bracket or you have a connection to Duke, I’m betting you shed no tears over the UConn buzzer-beater than kept the Blue Devils from advancing to the Final Four. I watched this every-single-angle video a few times and kept seeing new stuff. I recommend the whole four minutes. But if you want the highlight of highlights, go to the 1:45 mark for the reaction by Christine Hurley, the mother of UConn coach Dan Hurley, whose team will be trying for its third title in four years. Good thing she wasn’t mic’d up.

CAN IT GET WORSE? If you find a bigger bullpen meltdown than this one, let me know.

CAN IT GET WORSE II? Do I need to do more than show you this section from The Athletic’s fifth-annual Hope-O-Meter of MLB fans. The Twins came in 30th among 30 teams — and with a stunning drop in optimism from a majority of their fans in 2025 (and before) to 1 in 25 being optimistic about this season. It’s hard to become that unpopular that quickly without committing fraud, right?

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HATE TO SAY IT: But this one is warranted. The absolute and only ray of hope is that new controlling owner Tom Pohlad has come to understand how messed up things were before the family deposed his younger brother Joe. I can only imagine what Tom is finding as he digs through the mess, and I’m not sure how quickly a new generation of Twins leadership can make things right.

SORTING THROUGH IT: Via Adam Platt at Twin Cities Business. In this interview, Pohlad comes across as thoughtful. Some of that stems from knowing there’s still a lot for him to learn, as well as things that are outside his control — namely the upcoming MLB labor negotiations that will be strident and cloud clear projections about the future. For now, Pohlad’s credibility comes from his willingness to acknowledge how far the organization went off the rails: VERBATIM: “ ‘I think we thought we owed it to the fans to always be competitive,’ he says, alluding to the question of whether teams must go through winning droughts to achieve full-throated success. ‘If always being competitive comes at the cost of truly being able to compete for a world championship, then I have to question that approach. Also, what is competitive? Is it getting to the postseason? That’s been our [philosophy]. My definition is: ‘Let’s build a team that can truly compete in the postseason,’ rather than, ‘Let’s see if we get lucky.’ ” MORE: https://fluence-media.co/pohlad0402

ON THE FIELD: The Twins looked at bad as advertised during the first week of the season. At their best, the Twins have a slim margin for error, and the opening five games of the season coughed up an array mental errors, misplays and mediocrity. The ill-fitting batting order hardly strikes fear and the defense has made the pitching look worse than it’s actually been — and the pitching staff needs all the help it can get.

FRUSTRATING DECISION: In Sunday’s 8-6 loss to Baltimore, Manager Derek Shelton opted not to remove pitcher Mick Abel sooner in a 3 1/3-inning stint in which he yielded eight hits and four walks after replacing Bailey Ober, who weakened after his first time through the Baltimore batting order. Sticking with Abel was more in line with exhibition-game strategy instead of regular-season play, and was all the more frustrating because the Twins blew an early 4-0 lead and gave up the final three runs after rallying for a 5-5 tie. The Twins also had three runners tagged out on the bases, struck out five times with the bases loaded and ran out of challenges when Matt Wallner challenged a called third strike on a pitch that was clearly in the strike zone. (He did the same thing Wednesday night in Kansas City.) I don’t want to say this, but the Twins looked like a 100-loss team during Week 1.

OF COURSE THERE IS: There’s a website that tracks Automated Ball-Strike decisions in granular detail. DATA: https://fluence-media.co/challenge0402

J ROBINSON’S DEATH: No one can deny that J Robinson, who died Sunday at age 79, built one of the nation’s elite college wrestling programs at the University of Minnesota. He coached at the U for 30 years with his teams winning three national titles and 14 wrestlers winning individual national titles. He was named Big Ten coach of the year eight times. Robinson was fired in 2016 after a U investigation into Robinson’s handling of alleged prescription drug sales involving team members. But too much of the writing about his life has neglected his virulent opposition to Title IX because of its perceived impact on the sport. Yes, many schools eliminated their wrestling programs. But blaming it on mandates for equity, as Robinson did, was (and is) a thinly disguised attempt to oppose fair treatment of women’s sports. To his credit, the Strib’s Randy Johnson included Robinson’s anti-Title IX stance in his obituary

QUOTE: From a Strib profile of Robinson during the 2002 season, when the Gophers were on their way to a second consecutive NCAA title. ROBINSON: "Interest has to play a role in a free society. More men like to play sports. More girls like to play with dolls. Are we going to make a law forcing boys to play with dolls? I think things are changing though. You can only push a dog so far back into the corner before he will bite you. I think women see that and are afraid. When men get organized, it's going to be great." FULL PROFILE: https://fluence-media.co/profile0402

WOMEN AFRAID? Not then, not now. In fact, The U’s Morris campus was the first in the nation to establish a women’s wrestling program in the early 1990s. It was terminated, along with the men’s program, as part of budget cuts and a de-emphasis on athletics by the school in 2004. In 2009, a girl from southwestern Minnesota, Elissa Reinsma, became the first to quality for the state wrestling tournament and had a career record of 64-17, with all but one of those matches against boys. In 2022, the first girls-only state wrestling tournament was held, although girls still have the option to compete against boys. In 2024, Caley Graber of Northfield became the first girl to win a match against a boy at state and finished fifth in the 107-pound division of Class 3A.

2004 COMPLAINT: Via Minnesota Daily archives. A former U official noted a 2004 gender discrimination complaint filed by Robinson with the Minnesota Department of Human Rights against the school. VERBATIM: “Though the Gophers coach declined to discuss the details of the complaint, he said the university has created a class system inside the athletics department, in which decisions are made based solely on gender. ‘If you coach a women’s sport, you get all kinds of advantages based on just coaching women – just coaching the gender,’ he said. ‘There’s nothing else. It’s pretty simple. It’s pretty indefensible really.’ “ FULL STORY: https://fluence-media.co/complaint0402

HIDDEN HISTORY: What people don’t remember is that Robinson was placed on leave by U athletic director Mark Coyle in his first day on the job in June 2016. The firing came about three months later. The chairman of the Board of Regents at the time — the former Republican state legislative leader Dean Elton Johnson — heralded the move. VERBATIM: "In case anyone has not noticed, we do have a new sheriff in town and his name is athletic director Mark Coyle. There's little room, little tolerance for missteps in participating and representing the University of Minnesota.”

BEST CONTEXT: Via Marcus Fuller and Joe Christensen at Star Tribune. This story, published at the time of his firing, is an excellent retrospective of Robinson’s career. VERBATIM: “In 2002, Tonya Moten Brown, then the U vice president and chief of staff, said, ‘J represents a quandary for the university. On the one hand, the wrestling program is a competitive success and J enjoys tremendous loyalty and respect. But at times it feels like the university spends more time, energy and resources investigating issues involving wrestling than the other 22 sports combined. And it never seems to end."

‘LOYALTY AND RESPECT’: “To his wrestlers, Robinson was a father figure who boldly turned teenagers into strong men. Damion Hahn, a two-time NCAA champion in the early 2000s and current Cornell assistant wrestling coach, got choked up when talking about what Robinson meant to him. ‘He was a father figure for me when I was in college. He really pushed me to reach my potential.’ ” FULL STORY: https://fluence-media.co/j0402

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A TAKE ON COYLE: Coyle doesn’t get enough credit for being an activist athletic director willing to make changes when he feels they’re needed, even if they aren’t popular. Firings of Robinson, football coach Tracy Claeys, women’s basketball coach Lindsay Whalen and last month’s purge of hockey coaches Bob Motzko and Brad Frost weren’t well received to varying degrees by Gophers fans. I suspect Coyle’s moves would be better understood if he made himself more available to fans — directly and through the media — rather than using his current reliance on news drops-via-press release. Coyle ought to be as accessible in 2026 as he was in 2016.

BRZEZINSKI FOR VIKINGS GM? Via Matthew Coller at Purple Insider. Vikings management has been using a lot of words to say very little about the search for a new general manager, except to let on that the process will play out promptly after the NFL Draft later this month. After attending the NFL owners meetings in Phoenix this week, Coller made a case for promoting Rob Brzezinski, the team’s executive vice president of football operations who has been the interim GM. VERBATIM: “They couldn’t ask for someone who has more experience or is more invested in the fate of the franchise. All indications are that Brzezinski and Coach Kevin O’Connell have great respect for each other and have managed this offseason well together, despite the lack of headline-worthy moves. Hiring Brzezinski would also alleviate the uncomfortable nature of bringing in a new GM to work with a head coach who has had his ups and downs.” MORE: https://fluence-media.co/gm0402

THE QUARTERBACK ROOM: Via Ben Goessling at Star Tribune. At the owners meetings, O’Connell talked about the open competition for the starting quarterback job — a 180-degree shift from this time last year when J..J. McCarthy was the presumed starter with lesser talented and inexperienced QBs taking positions behind him. The main takeaway is a competition between Kyler Murray and McCarthy, with veteran Carson Wentz in a mentoring role and as a fallback candidate. VERBATIM: “The Vikings seem to have a better plan in place than they did before last season, although Wentz is recovering from a season-ending shoulder injury. Does Murray have the smarts and talent to be the key to the Vikings’ first playoff win five years into O’Connell’s tenure? ‘We feel really good about the combination of depth, talent and the fact that we’ve got a room that’s going to push each other,’ O’Connell said. ‘All those guys are gonna have great off-seasons and be ready to rock and roll.’ ” MORE: https://fluence-media.co/qb0402

MORE KOC: O’Connell sat for an interview with Mike Florio and Chris Simms of Pro Football Talk at the owners meetings.

WILD PLAYOFF CONCERNS: With eight games left in the regular season, the Wild are in solid playoff shape with 94 points — third in the NHL’s Western Conference, trailing only Central Division rivals Colorado (108) and Dallas (100). WHAT’S THE PROBLEM? The Wild haven’t won consecutive games since the first week of March and are 4-7 since then. Also, Filip Gustavsson has yielded 10 goals in his last two starts. VERBATIM: Via Jason Chen at Hockey News, who dropped the Wild from sixth to eighth in his most recent power rankings: “The more you watch the Wild play, the more you wonder whether they have one too many holes in their lineup. They're an excellent team, but they lack centers, and their goaltending has suddenly looked very mortal. They have only won once in regulation over the past three weeks.” STANDINGS | WILD STATISTICS

BEST OPPONENT FOR WOLVES? Via Jace Frederick at Pioneer Press. With seven games to play, it would be hard for the Wolves to finish below sixth place in the NBA’s Western Conference. That would make their first-round playoff opponent the Lakers, Nuggets or Rockets. Breaking down the potential matchups, Frederick thinks playing Houston provides the most favorable way to get Minnesota to the conference semifinals. WHY? The Rockets don’t have a game-changer similar to Luka Doncic of the Lakers or Nikola Jokic of the Nuggets. (Sorry, Kevin Durant.) VERBATIM: “Houston consistently plays with physicality and wouldn’t be an easy opponent for any team, but the Rockets’ roster in its current form lacks anything scary for which to gameplan. The Wolves would have a clear talent edge here.” MORE: https://fluence-media.co/playoffs0402

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McCARVILLE JOINS LYNX: Via Minnesota Lynx. Former Gophers star Janel McCarville is joining the Lynx staff as an assistant coach. After starting her WNBA career with Charlotte and New York, McCarville played center for the Lynx in 2013, 2014 and 2016. The 6-foot-2 center was the No. 1 overall pick in the 2005 WNBA draft. She was suspended by the Liberty in 2011 when she didn’t show up for training camp and also sat out the 2012 season before coming to the Lynx in a trade. MORE: https://fluence-media.co/janel0402.

GOOD NEWS: The Strib has finally moved Cassidy Hettesheimer into the newly created job of full-time women’s sports reporter that was posted last summer. She jumped in this week with a timeline of what’s ahead for the Lynx in the fast-track run-up to the WNBA season caused by the extended negotiations for a new labor contract. The expansion draft, in which they could lose two players, is Friday (2:30 p.m., ESPN). Free-agent players, a group that includes almost all of the league’s veterans, can sign contracts starting a week from Sunday. The rookie and foreign player draft is April 13, training camp starts April 19 and the opener vs. Atlanta is May 10. DETAILS: https://fluence-media.co/wnba0402 EXPANSION DRAFT RULES: They’re here.

HETTESHEIMER: She joined the Star Tribune staff as an intern after graduating from the University of Georgia and hasn’t left. READ ABOUT HER: https://fluence-media.co/cassidy0402

RIVER FALLS THREE-PEAT: Via KARE-TV. UW-River Falls won its third straight Division III women’s hockey title last weekend with a 4-0 victory over Nazareth University of New York. River Falls is 87-4 over that three-year run and this season’s roster was entirely from Minnesota, except for one player from Hudson, Wis., and another from California.

GOING OUT STRONG: Via Jim Souhan at Star Tribune. The Gophers women’s basketball team set a high bar for its future by getting to the Sweet 16 of the women’s tournament before being overwhelmed by Final Four-bound UCLA in the Sweet 16. Coach Dawn Plitzuweit not only has not only made her team a national factor, but she’s done it in the way vital for contemporary coaches. VERBATIM: “The Gophers weren’t just stunningly good down the stretch this season, they were fun. In the transfer portal area, cultivating a fun atmosphere isn’t merely endearing. It might be necessary. This is not Bobby Knight’s college basketball world. You can’t intimidate and berate your players and survive. They can leave. Modern coaches look more like Plitzuweit, St. Thomas men’s coach Johnny Tauer, Gophers men’s coach Niko Medved and Timberwolves coach Chris Finch, who understand they need to have productive two-way relationships with players to win.” MORE: https://fluence-media.co/uwomen0402

GOING QUIETLY: It may have been for the best that the Gophers men’s basketball season ended with a game that started about 45 minutes late. The 67-48 loss to Baylor in the opening round of the College Basketball Crown tournament wasn’t representative of the grit that the undermanned team showed when playing at its best this season. NAME TO KNOW: Sophomore guard Cameron Carr, who had 15 points and nine rebounds for Baylor, is the son of former Timberwolves guard Chris Carr. BOX SCORE: https://fluence-media.co/box0402

ANOTHER RANKING: Via Max Preps. Among the 250 players on the rosters of the women’s Sweet 16 players, where did Minnesota rank? HERE: https://fluence-media.co/rank0402

MINNESOTA HOCKEY TAKES A HIT: Via NCAA.com. Neither Minnesota entry in the men’s Division I tournament advanced to the Frozen Four on April 9 and 11 in Las Vegas. Minnesota State was knocked out 3-1 by No. 4-seed Western Michigan in the first round and Minnesota Duluth lost 4-3 to No. 1 Michigan in the quarterfinals. Michigan will play Denver in one semifinal and No. 2 North Dakota plays Wisconsin in the other. STORIES, HIGHLIGHTS: https://fluence-media.co/frozen0402

JERSEY REVEAL: Via Minnesota Aurora. The women’s soccer team unveiled a new jersey for the 2026 season, released in collaboration with the Minneapolis Institute of Art. Designed by local artist Lindsay Nohl, the jersey celebrates Aurora’s upcoming fifth season. A jersey launch party is set for 5:30-8 p.m. Friday at the team’s headquarters in Eagan. There will be food trucks. DETAILS: https://fluence-media.co/aurora0402

FUN FACT: Nohl is also a tattoo artist in Uptown. LOOK: https://fluence-media.co/tattoo0402

AND FINALLY: Writing about J Robinson reminded me of an excellent story by the Star Tribune’s Chip Scoggins and Aaron Lavinsky from a few years back about Nari Miller, who was captain of the wrestling team at Edison High School before competing at Texas Women’s University, where she qualified for the national women’s tournament in 2024. VERBATIM: “ ‘Wrestling reminds me that I’m alive every day,’ she says. That awareness is a testament to Title IX. . . . A girl without an athletic background not only finds her place in sports but rises to become a recipient of the prestigious Athena Award as her school’s top senior girl athlete competing in three sports: wrestling, football and track and field.” The words and photos are excellent and made me wonder: What did J Robinson think about her? FULL STORY: https://fluence-media.co/nari0402

THANKS FOR READING AND FOR REACHING OUT ABOUT THE NEWSLETTER.

EMAIL HOWARD: sportstake100@gmail.com

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THE OPENER: — The Twins open their season today. The Wolves and Wild are moving toward the playoffs. The Vikings are a month from the NFL draft. The Lynx are about to embark of a frenzied run of free agency and drafts (college and expansion) before their May opener. A fascinating boys’ basketball tournament is ending the winter high school season. But none of that compared to the quantity and quality of Gophers news at a time that it normally pretty quiet for the U. It ranges from excellent to exasperating with a side order of WTF. After a week away, I’m ready to dive in. Let’s go! Howard Sinker

SOUNDTRACK: Headphones on, please.

HOLD ON A SEC: The Timberwolves played perhaps the craziest basketball game ever — or at least that I’ve ever seen — in Wednesday’s overtime win over Houston. Outscored 24-2 at the end of regulation and start of overtime, Minnesota rallied to score the final 15 points to win 110-108. No NBA team had ever recovered from a 13-point OT deficit to win a game in at least 30 years — and the Wolves did it with a lineup that would likely win fewer than 30 games if forced to play a full season. Anthony Edwards is still injured, Jaden McDaniels left injured in the fourth quarter. Rudy Gobert fouled out with nine seconds left in the fourth. Naz Reid was ejected in overtime. You can pull apart the game a dozen ways to make your case about the Wolves. But the biggest takeaway is that if they can conquer the stretches of reckless/immature/disinterested basketball that have pockmarked their season, they can be a special team in the playoffs.

SUMMING IT UP: Via Jon Krawczynski at The Athletic. VERBATIM: “They sprinkled a little magic on this confounding season of theirs Wednesday, and walked out into the Minnesota night with a feeling of satisfaction that has been hard to come by this year. ‘We deserved to win that game,’ Coach Chris Finch said. ‘We were the better team all night, and we gave them a chance to steal it from us. But we stole it right back.’ “ MORE: https://fluence-media.co/wolves0326

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BACK TO U: We were watching the Gophers vs. Ole Miss game at 8 a.m. Sunday morning on Maui with, among other things, a plate of Spam-fried rice. A fun way to start another day in paradise. An excellent game finished off by a thrilling comeback that speaks highly of the work done (and standards set) by veteran players who stuck together through a dramatic coaching change — the firing of U legend Lindsay Whalen — and their improvement in three years under Coach Dawn Plitzuweit. Playing No. 2-ranked UCLA (6:30 p.m. Friday, ESPN) in the Sweet 16 is a tremendous challenge and tremendous opportunity. Minnesota now has the right stuff to be a destination for top-tier players in the transfer portal as opposed to a safety school for those overlooked elsewhere. There’s also a solid batch of first-years coming in. Add some size via the transfer portal and the U should be loaded for 2026-27.

BEST OF THE BEST? Haven’t seen this reported elsewhere in Minnesota media, but Gophers commit Natalie Kussow, a 5-foot-10 lefty guard, was named Wisconsin’s Gatorade Player of the Year for the second year in a row this week. Kussow scored 34 points with 10 rebounds and six assists earlier this month to lead her team to the state title in the division that includes Wisconsin’s biggest schools. Maddyn Greenway of Providence Academy, who’s heading for Kentucky, won Minnesota’s award for the second straight year and Paige Bueckers was a three-time winner at Hopkins from 22018-20. ON KUSSOW: https://fluence-media.co/kussow0326.

STATE TITLE VIDEO: Watch and you’ll see why I think Kussow will contribute from the start of her Gophers career. https://fluence-media.co/title0326

MINNESOTA’S GATORADE WINNERS: Girls’ basketball | All sports

VEGAS, KIDS! The U men when caught a break when enough teams opted out of postseason play to land them a spot in the College Basketball Crown tournament in Las Vegas, which has an eight-team field of middling schools from Power Four conferences. Minnesota plays Baylor (9:30 p.m. Wednesday, FS1) in the quarterfinals. The tournament is made-for-TV exposure — (READ: good for recruiting) — and teams are competing for a $500,000 NIL prize pool. Playing well in Vegas would give Coach Niko Medved a boost in building his own team for 2026-27 as opposed to rebuilding the mess he inherited this season.

HOCKEY COACHES. AIM HIGHER? Sports Take was on the front end of calling out the wretched Gophers men’s hockey season and wondering how long Bob Motzko would remain as head coach. Still, I was surprised the end came without giving him another season’s chance to make things right. Athletic director Mark Coyle also ran out of patience with the title drought in the women’s program and sacked Coach Brad Frost after 19 seasons of compiling a .788 winning percentage. We have questions about their replacements. Most are filed under whether Minnesota has dropped from the elite list of hockey programs that coaches consider to be destination schools. Replacing Frost with his assistant, Greg May, doesn’t feel like the jolt needed for the women’s program. Hiring Brett Larson away from St. Cloud State isn’t the needle mover of the last three coaches — Motzko, Don Lucia and Doug Woog, whose tenures date back to 1985. St. Cloud State’s 30-40-2 record over the last two seasons, with fifth and eighth place finishes in the NCHC, hardly provokes excitement regardless of the challenges Larson may have faced. (His career record with the Huskies was 158-116-23.)

GOOD QUESTIONS: Via Michael Rand at Star Tribune. VERBATIM: “Is Coyle putting enough of a priority on hockey if these searches ended with these hires? That’s not the same as saying these are bad coaches, because clearly they are not. But was the process as exhaustive as the ones that yielded P.J. Fleck as football coach, Keegan Cook as volleyball coach, Dawn Plitzuweit as women’s basketball coach or Niko Medved as men’s basketball coach?” MORE: https://fluence-media.co/questions0326

TWO TAKES: (1) A red flag about the men’s program: That former Gophers assistant Garrett Raboin turned down Minnesota’s overtures to stay at Augustana, which just finished its third season as a D-I program in Sioux Falls. His action speaks louder than all the upbeat words about Larson’s hiring. That Raboin played and coached for Motzko tells me he has unique insights into the Gophers program that could have factored into his decision as much as any love he’s developed for running a hockey team in South Dakota. (2) The women were a hockey dynasty with six national titles in a stretch from 2004-16. Yes, it’s still a winning program. But Wisconsin and Ohio State have become the USA and Canada of women’s college hockey while the U has fallen into a secondary role, much like Finland. It’s not unreasonable to expect better.

ONE QUOTE: Via Trent Singer at Sioux Falls Live. Raboin went deep on his commitment to Augustana this week. VERBATIM: "There's a belief in a continued build at Augustana. There's reasons why Augustana and the Sioux Falls community is a place I find greater belief in. As time passes, this is a hockey program that I believe can win. This university attracts student-athletes that are most important in that process that I believe we can win with and continue to elevate our men's hockey program, but outside of the job of being the head coach of this program, this is one of the best communities in the United States.” MORE: https://fluence-media.co/raboin0326

FLECK HIRES FIRED COORDINATOR: Long-ago Alabama head coach Mike Shula (2003-06) has signed on with P.J. Fleck as a special offensive assistant, in large part to work with quarterback Drake Lindsey. Shula has been an assistant with eight NFL teams and was most recently an assistant at South Carolina, where he was fired as offensive coordinator nine games into last season.

WHY THE FIRING? Via Lulu Kesin at Greenville News. With Shula in charge of the Gamecocks’ offense, the team was last in the SEC in total yards per game (294.1), 15th in passing yards of 16 schools (193.3), last in rushing yards (108.8) and last in points (19.7) per game. VERBATIM: "I made the decision last December to promote him and believed it was the right decision for a lot of reasons," Coach Shane Beamer said. "Frankly it just hasn't worked like I wanted it to work." MORE: https://fluence-media.co/shula0326

SO YOU KNOW: Mike Shula is the son of NFL coaching legend Don Shula. His boss, Gophers offensive coordinator Greg Harbaugh Jr., is not related to accomplished veteran head coaches Jim and John Harbaugh.

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WRESTLING GOLD: Via Andy Greder at Pioneer Press. Sophomore Max McEnelly won the NCAA 184-pound title over the weekend, defeating Penn State’s Rocco Welsh to avenge a close and controversial loss to Welsh in the Big Ten finals. Winning the bigger prize isn’t enough for McEnelly, who is from Waconia and pictures himself as a three-time NCAA titlist. VERBATIM: “McEnelly was dominant for most of the season, finishing 24-2 overall and 15-2 versus ranked opponents. Half of his win total came by technical fall and two more by major decision. He plans to stay at 184 next season and add to his legacy in his junior and senior seasons. ‘The road doesn’t end here. This is only the start of it. . . . The goal is definitely to become a three-time NCAA champ.’ ” MORE: https://fluence-media.co/max0326

TECHNICAL FALL? That’s when a match is stopped because a wrestler takes a 15-point lead. Kind of like the 10-run rule in baseball or the eight-run rule in softball.

BACK OUTSIDE: The Gophers baseball team, seeking its first winning record in the Big Ten since 2019, moves outside this weekend with a three-game series vs. Ohio State at Siebert Field. The U is 16-8 overall and 2-4 in the Big Ten. Games are at 3 p.m. Friday, 2 p.m. Saturday and 1 p.m. Sunday (BIG+) TICKETS

WELL, IT’S STARTING TODAY: I wish I could bring you a counternarrative of optimism for the 2026 Twins season. Not to boast, I’m pretty good at finding rainbows after a storm. If you can find the Star Tribune’s 1987 baseball preview — my last season covering the team — you’ll find my case for how the Twins could improve from their 71-91 previous season to winning a championship. (It’s in the April 5, 1987 edition, if you want to check newspapers.com.) The 1987 Twins took serious steps to better themselves. The 2026 Twins are betting on a limited lineup of $2 beers to keep fans engaged. The 1987 Twins were the first full season of Tom Kelly managing the team after taking over from unsuccessful Ray Miller. The 2026 Twins are Tom Pohlad’s first full season as their main owner after booting his brother Joe from the job. The 1987 Twins added ace closer Jeff Reardon to their bullpen. The 2026 Twins are adding reliever Zak Kent, who was acquired and let go by the Guardians, Cardinals and Rangers during the off-season. I’ll stop there.

MODERN TIMES: Via Aaron Gleeman at The Athletic. VERBATIM: “For anyone looking for reasons to believe in the 2026 Twins, there’s this: In both 2015 and 2017, the Twins were projected to be awful after being so bad the previous season that it got the manager or general manager fired. And in both 2015 and 2017, they surprised everyone with a winning record.”

REALITY CHECK: “On the one hand, it’s fair to suggest the Twins could have avoided a 90-loss season had they not sold so aggressively at the 2025 trade deadline. On the other hand, it’s hard to put much weight into that when they played like a Triple-A team down the stretch and have since done so little to rebuild the gutted roster. In fact, the Twins’ only notable offseason changes came off the field. There are new leaders in the manager’s office, front office and owners’ suite. Yet even those moves could be perceived as half-measures, because none of the three ‘new’ people in charge are actually new to the Twins.”

IN CONCLUSION: “I see a team that was abysmal after the fire sale and did little to restock the talent shelves this offseason. I see an owner whose words are disconnected from the reality of another payroll drop. I see a disjointed roster that’s short on stars and depth, and severely lacking in defense and reliable relief.”

THE FULL GLEEMAN: https://fluence-media.co/preview0326

THIS BAD? Via Anthony Dabbundo at The Ringer. In this power ranking, you don’t have to look far to find the Twins. That’s because it starts at No. 30 and works toward the top. VERBATIM: “There are teams with worse rosters than Minnesota’s that have a more favorable ranking on this list. But I docked the Twins because of their horrendous vibes entering 2026, following the great sell-off at the 2025 trade deadline. Minnesota had won the AL Central in three of the past six years. It had a talented roster, although many of its key players had underperformed considerably in the first half of 2025. But the franchise decided it was more than an off year and elected to blow everything up. The Twins traded 10 players — including top relievers Jhoan Duran and Griffin Jax, as well as shortstop Carlos Correa — at the deadline. . . . Right now, it seems like the Twins are in a long, uncertain reset.” MORE: https://fluence-media.co/power0326

RAY OF OPTIMISM: Via ESPN. These rankings have the Twins grouped among a bunch of mediocre teams under the heading, “We’re saying there’s a chance.” That’s one rung above “Already playing for next year.” VERBATIM: “How they can be 2026’s biggest surprise: The Twins drafted Royce Lewis in the first round in 2017, Trevor Larnach in the first round in 2018, Matt Wallner in the first round in 2019 and Brooks Lee in the first round in 2022. All of them, to varying degrees, are still waiting to make their imprint in the major leagues. With the Twins flailing, the pressure off and opportunities vast, this is in some ways a fork-in-the-road year for all of them. And if you think it’s too late for some, consider how long it took Byron Buxton -- a first-round pick in 2012 -- to fully come into his own.” MORE: https://fluence-media.co/hope0326

THE ROYCE FACTOR: Via La Velle E. Neal III at Star Tribune. After a poor 2025 season, Royce Lewis batted only .133 during spring training. Number can be deceiving during spring training, but those numbers provoke more than a bit of caution. VERBATIM: “Generally speaking, I would say spring training stats don’t matter,” former Twins player Roy Smalley said. “I have seen it in spring training, and the bell rings and they are not the same player. I will tell you that a manager looking at guys they are counting on and are looking at guys getting 30 at-bats and hitting .090, they are worried. They want to say it doesn’t matter, but they are worried. I want to still be in the camp that Royce Lewis will figure it out and things will be different when the bell rings, but you just don’t know at this point.” MORE: https://fluence-media.co/royce0326

FINDING BASEBALL: Via Awful Announcing. We know that MLB did a major overhaul of its TV and streaming homes during the off-season. But do you know where to find everything? Here’s a guide that covers all seven platforms where you can find games beyond the Twins cable, streaming and over-the-air presence. VERBATIM: “Fourteen months ago, commissioner Rob Manfred called ESPN a ‘shrinking platform’ in a memo to teams and used it to justify opting out of a $550 million-per-year deal with six years left. The memo set off a chain reaction that has fundamentally reshaped how Major League Baseball will be watched in 2026 and for the foreseeable future. The result is the most fragmented, most expensive, and arguably most interesting media landscape in the sport's history.” GUIDE: https://fluence-media.co/watch0326

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VIKINGS WANT 2028 DRAFT: Via Ben Goessling at Star Tribune. The NFL has turned its draft into a fan destination, so much so that about 600,000 people were in Green bay for the event and everything surrounding it last year. The draft is in Pittsburgh this year and Washington, D.C. in 2027. Will Minnesota be next? There’s a committee chaired by high-end Minnesota business leaders as well as an infrastructure that has been successful at bringing over major sporting events here. But the realistic view is that sometimes a city needs to go after the event more than once to get it, according to Matt Meunier, a senior official with Minnesota Sports and Entertainment. VERBATIM: “In talking to other draft cities that have hosted, often times it does take multiple attempts to secure future drafts,” Meunier said. “And so certainly if 2028 doesn’t work out, we would need to pivot to a future year. We’d try to figure out what is the earliest available year, because we do want to bring this event to our community. It would be a massive, massive impact. So, we’re focused on ‘28 now, and we’ll just wait until the league tells us otherwise.” MORE: https://fluence-media.co/drafthost0326

SPEAKING OF DRAFTS. With its labor issues settled, WNBA teams will submit lists of five protected players by Sunday to prepare for the expansion draft next Friday that will stock the new Portland and Toronto franchises. The main thing to know is that teams will only be allowed to lose two players from their rosters. MY TAKE: The Lynx will protect Napheesa Collier, Alana Smith, Kayla McBride, Courtney Williams and Natisha Hiedeman — and that Bridget Carleton will end up in Toronto and Dorka Juhasz, who played in Europe last season, will go to Portland. AN ALTERNATIVE: The Lynx risk losing one of the StudBudz while protecting Juhasz. DRAFT RULES: https://fluence-media.co/expansion0326

THEN, THE SCRAMBLE: WNBA free agency opens April 7 and almost every veteran player in the league will be available, as most players signed deals that ended after last season in anticipation of the new labor agreement that will greatly increase future contracts. The WNBA draft is April 13, with the Lynx having the No. 2 overall pick. TWO TO WATCH: While you’re watching the Gophers-UCLA Sweet 16 game keep an eye on Lauren Betts, the Bruins’ 6-foot-7 center who is among the top candidates to end up with the Lynx. Also, UCLA guard Gianna Kneepkens, an elite three-point shooter, is a graduate of Duluth Marshall and a probable first-round pick.

GREAT PERFORMANCES: Via Strib Varsity. His team lost, but 6-foot guard Deron Russell of Waseca tied a state tournament record Wednesday night with 51 points in his team’s 77-69 loss to Minnehaha Academy in the Class 2A quarterfinals. Russell also scored 51 in his team’s section semifinal victory over Glencoe-Silver Lake. He plays in an 8 p.m. consolation game tonight vs. The Blake School at Concordia University. As a junior, Russell scored 38 points against Breck School in the 2A semifinals and 32 in Waseca’s title-game loss to Albany. Russell has committed to play football in college at North Dakota State. VERBATIM: “Deron Russell is as good as advertised,” said Minnehaha Academy coach Jadee Jones. “We had a good scheme for him and I felt like we did a pretty good job. He did make some shots. However, I felt like the strength of our entire squad was just too much for him to overcome.” MORE: https://fluence-media.co/deron0326. STREAM WASECA VS. BLAKE.

RETURNING TO STATE, KIND OF: Perhaps no top team suffered more quality transfer losses than Breck, which won the Class 2A title in 2024 and reached the semifinals last season. Three key guards from last year’s team are starting for schools that are in the state semifinals: DeAngelo Dungey plays for Class 3A Totino-Grace, Waleed Muhammad is at 3A Richfield and Ayden Green is at 2A Minnehaha.

THREE-PEAT POSSIBLE: Wisconsin-River Falls goes for its third straight D-III hockey title with a game against Amherst. Game time is 7 p.m. Friday in River Falls with the title game set for 3 p.m. Sunday. River Falls is 28-1 this season. All but two of the 25 players on the team are from Minnesota. Top scorer is forward Megan Goodreau of Centennial, who has 74 points in 29 games. The team’s top goaltender, Jordan O’Kane, is from Alexandria. The other semifinalists are Norwich and Nazareth. ROSTER | TICKETS | LIVESTREAM

NEW TOMMIES COACH: Via Joel Rippel at Star Tribune. After leading her team from the No. 8 (and bottom) seed in the D-II Central Regional to the region title, Mandy Pearson has left Minnesota Duluth for the women’s basketball coaching job at St. Thomas. She is replacing the retired Ruth Sinn. VERBATIM: “Pearson directed Minnesota Duluth to a 208-105 record, two NSIC regular-season titles, four NSIC tournament titles and six appearances in the Division II NCAA tournament. Under Pearson, the Bulldogs made two trips to the Elite Eight, including an appearance in the championship game in 2023. The team’s season ended in this year’s Elite Eight with a loss to Colorado Mesa on Tuesday.” MORE: https://fluence-media.co/pearson0326

ANNIVERSARY: Via Dan Whenesota on Bluesky. Today is the 66th anniversary of the final game played by the Minneapolis Lakers before their move to Los Angeles. It was a Game 7 loss to St. Louis in the Western Conference finals despite 33 points from Elgin Baylor. MORE: https://fluence-media.co/lakers0326

AND FINALLY: Via Bill McKibben at the New Yorker. Afton’s Jessie Diggins didn’t medal in her final weekend of Nordic ski racing before her retirement. But she once again won the hearts of fans from throughout the world, including those from Minnesota who went to Lake Placid, N.Y., to watch her do well enough to win her fourth World Cup overall title. VERBATIM: “In Lake Placid, the Minnesota state flag was prominent around the course, and American flags flew, too, if not a sea of them. In fact, many of the Minnesotans in attendance wore buttons that expressed their opinions of Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers; many of those who cheered Diggins on two years ago spent this winter blowing whistles to protect their neighbors. (The sport definitely skews liberal.) . . . But for every shirt bearing a slogan, there were ten cheeks covered in (biodegradable) glitter like the kind that Diggins sprinkles on her face before every race. Diggins, for all her grit, has also brought a sparkle to the sport. The love for her was palpable; you could follow her progress around the course just by listening for the cheers that would arise as she turned each corner. She perhaps arrived too worn from the Olympics to dominate the proceedings; she mustered a fifth-place and a ninth-place finish in the first two races, but it didn’t matter. Handmade ‘Thank You, Jessie’ signs waved around the track.” MORE: https://fluence-media.co/diggins0326

A LOOK BACK: No Minnesota journalist — and few elsewhere — had as much access and wrote as prolifically about Diggins as retired Star Tribune Olympics writer Rachel Blount. Here are three stories from her archive.

2018: The ski’s the limit for Diggins

2022: Diggins bears the weigh of Olympic gold happily

2023: Star Tribune Sportsperson of the Year

THANKS FOR READING AND WRITING.

EMAIL HOWARD: sportstake100@gmail.com

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ON THE WEB:
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Instagram: @howardsinkermn

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/howard-sinker-80921813/

ESPN’s comprehensive TV and streaming service listings: https://fluence-media.co/watch

WHY IT WORKS: The NIT wants teams from major conferences. That’s Minnesota. St. Thomas finished the season with the highest NET ranking of any team in the Summit League. Tommies Coach Johnny Tauer told me his team is still practicing in hope of an NIT bid; Gophers Coach Niko Medved could give Gophers fans one more chance to show affection for the six-player rotation that carried the team through the final weeks of the season.

MEDVED VERBATIM: Two quotes from Wednesday’s postgame press conference. (1) “I don’t know if these guys could have given us any more than they gave this year.” (2) Asked about postseason play: “It’s too early to say. Let’s give these guys a few days and then see what the opportunities are and whether it makes sense.”

DEAL KILLER? The College Basketball Crown is an eight-team tournament in Las Vegas that will include two spots for Big Ten teams. If nine Big Ten teams make the NCAA field, as ESPN bracketologist Joe Lunardi believes, the next two teams in the final conference standings are Indiana and the Gophers. But three teams that finished below the U have higher NET rankings (Washington, Northwestern and USC). Nebraska and USC played in the Crown last year, with the Cornhuskers taking the title. Teams offered a spot in the Crown, which has NIL prize pools for the top four finishers, are not allowed to turn it down to play in the NIT.

MY TAKE: Fans on both sides want the game and it’s a sure bet to draw better than a usual first-round NIT match-up. Take the lemons that dropped on both teams this season and turn them into lemonade.

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KYLER MURRAY DAY: The former Arizona quarterback is set to visit the Vikings training facility today and the question will be whether that will mark the end of his job search. We shared a deep dive into Murray last week, so we’re not going to repeat ourselves, beyond saying the move makes sense for the Vikings on the field and financially. The remaining question is whether it makes sense for Murray.

KOC BETS BIG (ON HIMSELF): Via Michael Silver at The Athletic. Coach Kevin O’Connell has basically turned down safer QB options in favor of hoping to resurrect Murray’s career. VERBATIM: “As much as O’Connell may have winced watching Sam Darnold help the Seattle Seahawks to a Super Bowl LX victory last month . . . getting drowned by regret is not a winning strategy. Reviving a motivated Murray, who’s reeling from a midseason benching that ended his six-and-a-half-year stint as the Cardinals’ starter, absolutely could be. For O’Connell, who remains the most powerful presence in the Vikings’ universe, it better be. The Vikings are expected to hire a new GM after the draft, but this is very much O’Connell’s show.” MORE: https://fluence-media.co/koc0312

ANOTHER OPTION? Posted on the X feed of Arizona Sports football writer John Gambadoro:

HUH? Via Billy Heyen at Sporting News. Gambadoro is saying that a starting job is the goal, but does it have to be for 2026? Murray could position himself as a backup to an established quarterback who may only play for one more season. Maybe the Rams and Matthew Stafford or the Steelers if they bring back Aaron Rodgers. VERBATIM: “That would be a fascinating choice for Murray -- essentially choose to take a redshirt year, learn from Sean McVay and Matthew Stafford, and hit the ground running after a presumed Stafford retirement. Obviously, if Stafford chose to keep playing, that plan could backfire. Minnesota seems like a great fit. Murray could beat out J.J. McCarthy for the starting QB job, and he’d have a ton of offensive talent around him. It’s always good to have alternatives, though, and the Rams would probably be a solid one for Murray.” MORE: https://fluence-media.co/murray0312

THE GOOD NEWS: This almost certainly gets settled in the next few days.

MORE: Via Star Tribune. Vikings free agent tracker | Access Vikings podcast on free agents.

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GRACE: Class A state hockey typically takes a back seat to the big-school tournament. But this year’s Class A final should be remembered for the thrills on the ice and postgame humility from the Warroad player who scored in overtime to give his team a 5-4 victory over Hibbing. Warroad tied the game at 4 with 46 seconds left after Hibbing rallied with three third-period goals to take the lead. Then, Ryan Shaugabay scored the game-winner one minute into OT. The goal was pretty, the on-ice celebration was emotional and Shaugabay couldn’t get through his postgame TV interview without tearing up. It was a sequence full of good. VIDEO: Here’s the goal. The emotions get real (for both teams) starting at the 40-second mark — and good on the announcers for knowing when to let the images speak for themselves. Here’s the postgame interview, when Shaugabay is asked about sharing the moment with his father, a Warroad assistant coach.

FUN: Via Olivia Hicks at Strib Varsity. This story got buried in the innards of a longer story about the state tournament. Moorhead’s potato mascot, Spuddy, made frequent on-camera appearances in front of the Moorhead student section during the Class 2A tournament. BACKSTORY: Tournament Spuddy has no connection to Moorhead beyond the costume and a sense of whimsy. In real life, Spuddy is Bennett Wieland, a senior at Blake School in Minneapolis. Joining the student section was an idea that came about after Moorhead won its section title. VERBATIM: “He emailed Moorhead orchestra teacher Brian Cole with a simple request. ‘In order to do great things, one must fully commit to the bit,’ Wieland wrote. ‘I want to offer up my services. I understand this may seem like a prank, but I’m being so incredibly serious. If you need a Spud in the stands, I’m your Spud.’ “ BONUS QUOTE: “The vibe of the Spud just embodies something about the tourney that I just love,” Wieland said. MORE: https://fluence-media.co/spud0312 (Scroll down to find the story.) Photo courtesy of Brian Cole.

OVERREACTION: There was lots of social media chatter about many of Minnetonka’s players taking off their silver medals right after receiving them during the awards presentation following their overtime loss to Moorhead for the Class AA title. Poor sportsmanship from entitled suburban kids was the theme. TWO THINGS: (1) Many Hibbing players did the same thing after the Class A title game but it wasn’t noticed. (2) In both cases, it was a reaction to painful losses where a state title was within reach and slipped away. It wasn’t disrespect. It was agony. Somewhere in our house there’s a runner-up medal from a long-ago section basketball final that never got worn or displayed. Similar situation, smaller stage. If you’ve been there, you get it.

EDINA: The roughhouse end of Moorhead’s 3-1 semifinal win over Edina gathered an interesting collection of headlines. It was described as everything from a mass brawl in one game report to a postgame skirmish in another. On social media — the worst place for analysis — this was generally painted as an “Edina issue” that went beyond the usual glee over the Hornets losing. In fact, the situation was created and accelerated by one player responsible for a questionable play at the game of the game, throwing punches afterward and then being skated off the ice by an official. The player did not play in Edina’s third-place loss to Rosemount. Most of the Edina players stayed clear of the situation and off the ice until the postgame handshake line. Yes, it was an ugly ending. But many players kept it from being worse. BRAWL OR SKIRMISH? Somewhere in the middle. VIDEO (Choose your platform): FACEBOOK | INSTAGRAM | YOUTUBE | BLUESKY | X

TWINS ROSTER PROJECTION: Via Aaron Gleeman and Dan Hayes at The Athletic. Opening Day in Baltimore is two weeks from today — and the unsettling Twins roster may be settling in through default. The most interesting take here is that Alan Roden, the outfielder acquired from Toronto in the Louie Varland trade, may not make the final cut because major league mediocrity may trump youthful potential. James Outman is out of minor-league options and Trevor Larnach has a guaranteed contract for almost $4.5 million. VERBATIM: “If Larnach were removed from the mix, it would open up a regular job for Roden, make it easier to find a role for Kody Clemens, improve the defense by shifting Josh Bell more to DH and clear a bench spot for a right-handed bat to be used as a platoon partner for the various lefties.”

AND THIS: "The bullpen is a problem. The projection is for four lefty relievers, none of whom strike fear into opposing batter, and four right-handers, with the Twins hoping that Liam Hendriks, 37, rediscovers the form that once made him a top-end closer. VERBATIM: “They’re also banking on Cole Sands pitching like the 2024 version, not the 2025 version. I see the right side of the bullpen as perhaps the Twins’ biggest weakness, and that’s saying something.” FULL PROJECTION: https://fluence-media.co/twins0312

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IT’S JUST BUSINESS: Via Ben Goessling at Star Tribune. The headline that Harrison Smith has been released by the Vikings looks like a shocker. But Goessling explained how the move makes sense for reasons beyond the $25 million salary that would have been guaranteed for 2027 if the move wasn’t made by Friday. VERBATIM: “It means he's off the Vikings' roster, at least for now, for the first time since the team drafted him on April 26, 2012, but the team would welcome him back if he decided to return. It seems unlikely Smith would play anywhere else at this point; the question will become whether he wants to do it again in Minnesota. The Vikings' move Wednesday gives him some space to make that choice.” MORE: https://fluence-media.co/smith0312

THANKS, KEV: Via Michael Rand at Star Tribune. Daniel Jones turned his short stayover in Minnesota into a huge, new deal with Indianapolis after the quarterback didn’t think he’d be given a serious shot at the Vikings starting QB job last season. The end result, coming off season-ending Achilles surgery, is a two-year contract for $88 million with $50 million guaranteed and incentives that could bring it to as much as $100 million. VERBATIM: “He should send two bouquets to Kevin O’Connell: One for trouncing KOC’s Vikings in the 2022 playoffs, leading to his first payday with the New York Giants, and another for O’Connell helping him land on his feet and eventually cashing in with the Colts.” MORE: https://fluence-media.co/jones0312

THANKS, SAM: The Vikings will get a compensatory third-round pick in the 2026 draft as a result of Sam Darnold’s signing and success with Seattle. The placement of compensatory picks is determined by a formula that includes a player’s value, amount of playing time and postseason honors. The pick is the highest of the 34 compensatory picks handed out by the NFL.

MISERABLE GOPHERS HOCKEY FINISH: Via Tony Liebert at SI.com. The Gophers men’s hockey season stumbled to a sad conclusion with a 6-3 loss at Penn State in the Big Ten quarterfinals. The 11-22-3 record is the team’s worst in more than a half-century. VERBATIM: This season was Bob Motzko’s eighth at the Gophers head coach, and they’ve been trending in the wrong direction since losing in the NCAA Championship game in 2023. This season will be their first not in the NCAA Tournament since his very first with the program, excluding the 2020-COVID campaign. Motzko has built up plenty of goodwill, but he now faces serious pressure after a historically bad season. After deciding not to add any players from the Canadian Hockey League (CHL) last offseason, there was a lot of criticism of their team-building strategy. They’ve already changed their tune with that idea, adding a commitment from Avalanche prospect Christian Humphreys on Wednesday. Their incoming recruits give them potential for a significant improved roster next season. Is that enough to overlook a declining 64-year-old head coach? That is a question Mark Coyle and the rest of Minnesota's administration will have to decide. It will be a fascinating offseason in Dinkytown.” MORE: https://fluence-media.co/uhockey0312

HOW BAD WAS IT? Gophers men’s hockey records through the years are here.

U REFUSES REQUEST: Via Alexandra DeYoe at Star Tribune. The University of Minnesota declined the Strib’s request for information about how much athletes are being paid under new NCAA rules and NIL agreements. The decision troubled open records advocates and those who are concerned that Title IX regulations about treating men’s and women’s sports equally are being bypassed. VERBATIM: “By arguing that student athletes are not employees of the school like a professor or a coach, the school cited student privacy when it refused a request to reveal specific athlete payments. When asked for a payment breakdown by individual sport, the school denied the request by citing a law protecting trade secrets. Government transparency advocates say the decision runs counter to the spirit of the Data Practices Act, which requires public entities to disclose how they spend taxpayer money. ‘If they’re a public institution and they’re paying funds out, the public needs to understand what’s going on,’ said Matt Ehling, a board member for Minnesotans for Open Government.” MORE: https://fluence-media.co/pay0312

GOOD GOPHERS NEWS: The NCAA women’s basketball field will be announced Sunday and ESPN, CBS Sports and Yahoo currently have the Gophers hosting games in the first two rounds as one of the nation’s 16 best teams picked by the NCAA. All have Minnesota as a No. 4 seed. The CBS bracket has the Gophers playing No. 13 Western Illinois in the first round with the winner playing No. 5 Notre Dame or No. 12 McNeese. ESPN’s has them playing UC-Irvine in the first round with the winner playing No. 5 North Carolina or No. 12 Gonzaga. Yahoo has the Gophers-Irvine matchup with the winner playing either No. 5 Mississippi or No. 12 Green Bay. PROJECTIONS: ESPN | CBS | Yahoo

TOP HOCKEY HONOR: Gophers and Team USA Olympic star Abbey Murphy is one of three finalists for the Patty Kazmaier Award, given to the top player in women’s college hockey. She reached the final 10 nominees after the last two seasons. The award will be announced a week from Saturday during the Frozen Four at Penn State. The others are Wisconsin’s Caroline Harvey and Penn State’s Tessa Janecke, who were also on the Olympic gold-medal team. WHO WAS KAZMAIER? https://fluence-media.co/kazmaier0312

HOME HOCKEY SATURDAY: The Gophers women are the No. 4 seed in their NCAA tournament and play Northeastern at 2 p.m. Saturday at Ridder Arena (BIG+). Unseeded Minnesota Duluth and Yale play in Columbus, Ohio, at 5 p.m. today (ESPN+) with the winner facing No. 1 seed Ohio State on Saturday. GOPHERS TICKETS | BRACKET

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PROBLEM OR SITUATION? Via Jess Myers at Pioneer Press. This story handled one of my reactions to all of the Wild’s player moves at the deadline: How do players feel about going from playing time with their old team to potentially watching with their new one. Obviously, that’s not an issue for Quinn Hughes. But what about some of the others? VERBATIM: “In his first 48 hours as a member of the Minnesota Wild, defenseman Jeff Petry got a taste of the excitement and the reality of life with his latest NHL employer. The excitement comes via his move from Florida, which is likely to be a spectator when the playoffs start next month. Minnesota, meanwhile, is all but a lock for the postseason and has designs on much more than just a playoff spot. The reality came Friday night in Las Vegas, where Petry watched much of the Wild’s 4-2 win over the Golden Knights from the T-Mobile Arena press box. He’s one of the odd men out on a team that, when fully healthy, will have some tough choices to make about who makes the line chart on any given night.”

VERBATIM: “They’ve obviously put themselves in a good position with the crew that they have,” Petry said, acknowledging that the Wild were upfront about his role when they called to welcome him to Minnesota. “Whether that’s me stepping in, playing a handful here and there, whatever the situation is, that’s something that I’m fully ready to be with. (I’m) just excited to be a part of this.” MORE: https://fluence-media.co/wild0312

TRADE GRADES: Via Joe Smith and Michael Russo at The Athletic. VERBATIM: “The Wild’s heavy lifting was done with their mid-December blockbuster for Quinn Hughes, who has absolutely been a game-changer for the franchise. At the deadline, they basically overhauled their bottom six. Michael McCarron brings some size, snarl and strong faceoff ability to the fourth line and the penalty kill. Bobby Brink brings some speed and skill to the middle six, plus he fits Minnesota’s defensive identity and forecheck. Robby Fabbri is a four-time 15-goal scorer who is open to any role and can help with his experience in the room. Nick Foligno, the former Columbus Blue Jackets and Chicago Blackhawks captain, is another potential fourth liner/depth piece who may not play much, but Chicago is doing the veteran a solid to give him a chance to chase the Cup with his brother, Marcus. Nick Foligno has played center all year, so that gives the coaching staff options. The addition of Jeff Petry (for a seventh-round pick) offers an experienced, right-shot defenseman who is OK being a seventh or eighth defenseman. Overall, the Wild didn’t make any flashy moves at the deadline — the Hughes addition brought plenty of that — meaning GM Bill Guerin and company still have useful assets they can parlay into a bigger move this offseason.” MORE: https://fluence-media.co/grades0312

DONE SPINNING THE WOLVES: A five-game winning streak followed by three straight losses of 14, 25 and 27 points, including a while-we-should-have-been-sleeping 153-128 humiliation by the L.A. Clippers Wednesday night. The Wolves have 16 games before the postseason and the only question is whether they’ll conquer their disinterested tendencies in the playoffs. If they don’t, it will be yet another Minnesota sports embarrassment. If they do, it’s logical to ask why we should pay any heed to the NBA regular season in the future. STANDINGS AND PLAYOFF PICTURE: https://fluence-media.co/nba0312

SURPRISE RUN: One of the metro-area surprise teams in section boys’ basketball playoffs is Blake School, which upset top-seed Holy Family and No. 4 Minneapolis North to reach Friday’s title game against No. 3 Maranatha Christian. The game is at 7 p.m. Friday at Augsburg. The Bears are the lowest-seeded team to reach the boys’ section finals in all four classes. Blake is led by Carson McMichael, a 6-foot-1 guard who is shooting 41% on threes this season and will play college basketball at Macalester. VERBATIM: “I’ve been head coach at Blake for 10 years, 13 overall as a head coach in Minnesota,” said Coach Tyler Biwan. “This team walks into the gym with more belief and more energy than any team I’ve coached. Defensively, assistant Max Bohrer has led tremendous game plans for each upset, that our guys go and execute flawlessly. Offensively, our ball movement and shot selection has never been better. We’ll continue to ride that wave into Friday and keep doing the things that got us here.” TICKETS

GAMES TO WATCH: Here are the high school basketball games I’d pay extra attention to over the next three days. GIRLS: At the state tournament, No. 1-seed Hopkins plays No. 4 Maple Grove at 6 p.m. tonight in Class 4A and I’m hoping for a Class 2A title game between No. 1 seed Providence Academy (Maddyn Greenway’s team) and No. 2 Duluth Marshall (Chloe Johnson’s team) at 6 p.m. Saturday. Both games are at Williams Arena and on Ch. 45. BOYS: In Class 3A, the top four teams in the final Pacesetter Poll all play tonight. No. 1 Totino Grace plays Becker at St. Francis, No. 2 DeLaSalle hosts No. 4 Mahtomedi and No. 3 Richfield hosts No. 10 Orono. All three tip off at 7 p.m. and are being streamed by NSPN.TV. On Friday, Class 4A defending champ and No. 2 ranked Wayzata hosts No. 5 Hopkins at 7 p.m. Strib Varsity stream. GIRLS’ TOURNEY INFO: TICKETS | BRACKETS | PROGRAM

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WNBA TALKS IN PLAY: Via Alexa Phillipou at ESPN. Not much new to say except that talks were in high gear two days after the WNBA’s Tuesday “deadline” for starting the season on time. VERBATIM: "At the end of the day, we want a season," WNBPA President Nneka Ogwumike told reporters. "We want to play. We've heard that from the other side as well. We need to see a more robust demonstration of that as we continue on in these negotiations." MORE: https://fluence-media.co/wnba0312

D-III UPDATE: Men — Winning twice at home last week earned Gustavus a boost to No. 7 in the latest D-III basketball poll and a game at 4 p.m. Saturday at No. 6-ranked University of Chicago with a spot in the national quarterfinals to the winners. Quarterfinals and semifinals will be in Fort Wayne, Ind., next Thursday and a week from Saturday. The title game will be in Indianapolis on April 5 — the Sunday and site of Final Four weekend. Women — Bethel and Concordia-Moorhead are in the Sweet 16. Bethel plays at Washington and Lee at 7 p.m. Friday and at 7 p.m. Saturday against Denison or John Carroll if the Royals win. Concordia plays Johns Hopkins at 3:30 p.m. Friday in Scranton, Pa., and at 6 p.m. Saturday against Scranton or Bates if the Cobbers advance. Semifinals and finals are next Thursday and a week from Saturday in Salem, Va.

D-II STARTS: First- and second-round games are this weekend. Women — Minnesota State hosts St. Cloud State at 5 p.m. Friday with the winner playing Central Missouri or Washburn University. Concordia-St. Paul hosts Northwestern Oklahoma State at 2:30 p.m. Friday with the winner playing Fort Hays State or Harding University on Saturday. Those games are also in Mankato. The Mavericks are the top seed in the Central Region and Concordia is second, despite beating Mankato in two of their three games this season, including the Northern Sun title game. UMD in the bottom seed among the eight teams. Men — No. 4 seed St. Cloud State plays Missouri Western at 8 p.m. Saturday right after No. 8 UMD plays Washburn. Both games are in Topeka, Kansas, with the winners advancing to play each other.

D-III HOCKEY: Men — St. John’s plays at Aurora College at 2 p.m. Saturday and UW-Stout hosts Anna Maria College of Massachusetts at 7 p.m. Saturday in the 14-team tournament. The semifinals and finals will be March 27 and 29 in Utica, N.Y. Women — Three MIAC teams are among the 14 in the tournament. At 3 p.m. Saturday, Augsburg hosts Elmira and Hamline hosts Endicott at TRIA Rink in downtown St. Paul. St. Benedict, which won the conference title, plays at Amherst at 2 p.m. Saturday. No. 1 seed UW-River Falls has a first-round bye. TICKETS: Augsburg | Hamline POLLS: Men | Women

LIVESTREAMS FOR ALL D-II AND D-III GAMES

AND FINALLY: Via Breaking the News at KARE-TV. Last March, veteran Minnesota hockey writer David La Vaque was in his usual spot covering the state tournament for the Star Tribune. Soon after, his health took a sad turn when David was diagnosed with leukodystrophy, a central nervous system disorder that forced him to give up his writing, but not his love of hockey. La Vaque attended this year’s tournament as a spectator, visited one team’s locker room before a game and was featured in this Ch. 11 report that explains his place in the state’s hockey universe.

There is a GoFundme to help with David’s medical expenses. You can donate here.

THANKS FOR READING AND WRITING. Taking next week off and back in two weeks.

EMAIL HOWARD: sportstake100@gmail.com

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A FEW QUICK OPINIONS:

*The girls’ basketball tournament isn’t until next week. But the “real” 4A title game is tonight when No. 1 Hopkins plays host to No. 3 Wayzata at 7 p.m. You can watch for free here if you’re a Star Tribune subscriber. Ticket info is here. BONUS OPINIONS: (1) Get to the Royals Athletic Center early. (2) All section finals should be played at neutral sites.

*Kyler Murray would be the best competition for Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy. Murray will be released by the Cardinals next week, will continue to be paid by them and has a truckload to prove. There’s an excellent case for Murray later in today’s Sports Take. At the same time, I’m not ruling out that a challenged McCarthy would prevail. The “legal tampering period” for free agents opens at 11 a.m. Monday and signings can start Wednesday.

*I’ve never heard so little spring training buzz about the Twins. The screen grab below is the ticket map for the lower rows of Section 119 (behind the third-base dugout) for the home opener as it stood late Wednesday morning. The red seats are available. Spring training scores are meaningless, but it doesn’t help that the Twins are 2-8-1, allowing 10 or more runs in four of those losses. Also, the defense looks pretty bad despite all the Florida talk about fundamentals. More on that later, too.

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NOTABLE AND NEWSWORTHY:

VIKINGS ROSTER MOVES: Via Ben Goessling at Star Tribune. The Vikings need some heavy salary cap management to prepare for free agency and the draft. The Strib’s lead Vikings reporter is being told the team will cut defensive tackle Jonathan Allen next week and noted previous reports that defensive tackle Javon Hargrave and running back Aaron Jones are prime candidates for release. Several of the moves will make it even clearer that last year’s surround-McCarthy-with-veterans plan was a flop from every angle. VERBATIM: “Edge rusher Jonathan Greenard could be a trade candidate if the Vikings decide not to meet the request for a new contract he is reportedly seeking. The Vikings could also decide to cut or restructure the contracts of tight end T.J. Hockenson and center Ryan Kelly, while considering a contract extension for Brian O’Neill that could reduce the right tackle’s $23.12 million cap hit.” MORE: https://fluence-media.co/vikings0305

TALK IS CHEAP, DEFENSE IS BAD: Via Aaron Gleeman at The Athletic. "Among ‘10 things’ he saw at spring training, the long-time baseball writer said that the Twins defense won’t be good. It’s another example of the awkwardly constructed roster. VERBATIM: “Like every new manager, Derek Shelton has talked a lot about cleaning up fundamentals and playing better defense, but the roster simply lacks the fielding chops to make that a reality. After ranking among MLB’s worst defenses last season, the Twins’ biggest offseason pickups were first baseman Josh Bell and catcher Victor Caratini, both of whom are bat-first players. Aside from Byron Buxton, no projected regular is an above-average fielder and several are well below average.” MORE: https://fluence-media.co/defense0305

THAT TIMBERWOLVES BENCH: Via Jace Frederick at Pioneer Press. After finding their young players surprisingly lacking, the Wolves pivoted to a veteran-infused bench that will serve them well in the postseason. Bones Hyland was signed toward the end of last season. Ayo Dosunmu was picked up at the trade deadline last month. Kyle Anderson was reacquired as a free agent last week. Mike Conley returned to be a bit player with a wise voice. Naz Reid hasn’t needed to fill in as a starter because those five players have generally been healthy. VERBATIM: “Through trades and affordable signings, basketball boss Tim Connelly – with the assistance of a new ownership group that ultimately agreed to pay the luxury tax for the second time in two years of team control – has cobbled together a more playoff-suitable bench that not only touts more bankable attributes, but also addresses needs and accentuates the strengths of the team’s top six players. . . . The Wolves are a bigger threat moving forward because of it.” MORE: https://fluence-media.co/bench0305

SO MUCH SPORTS: As promised, here’s how crowded the sports calendar is in the next week.

GOPHERS: Women’s basketball earned a double-bye in the Big Ten tournament for its fourth-place finish. They’ll start in the quarterfinals against Ohio State, Indiana or Nebraska at 1:30 p.m. Friday (BIG). Winning likely gets them No. 1 seed (and No, 2 in the polls) UCLA at 1 p.m. Saturday. Women’s hockey (seeded No. 3) plays in the WCHA Final Faceoff semifinals at St. Thomas at 7:30 tonight vs. No. 2 seed Ohio State (FOX9+). TICKETS. Baseball, which is off to an 8-3 start, hosts the Cambria Classic on Friday-Sunday at U.S. Bank Stadium. Opponents are UNLV at 7 p.m. Friday, South dakota State at 7 p.m. Saturday and Omaha at 6 p.m. Sunday. BIG+ | TICKETS Men’s basketball closes its regular season at 8 .m. Saturday vs. Northwestern at The Barn. The conference tournament opens Tuesday, Men’s hockey closes its season vs. No. 2-ranked Michigan State at Mariucci tonight (7 p.m., FOX9) and Friday (7 p.m., FOX9+). The Gophers will be on the road for a Big Ten tournament quarterfinal on Wednesday. Softball has a three-game series Friday-Sunday at Indiana BIG+ | SCHEDULE. WRESTLING is at Big Ten Championships at Saturday and Sunday at Penn State (BIG). GYMNASTICS is at No. 15 North Carolina at 5:45 p.m. Friday ESPN+

STATE HOCKEY: Class 2A quarterfinals are all day today. Class AA semifinals are at 6 p.m. and 8 p.m. Friday with the title game at 7 p.m. Saturday. Class A semis are at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. Friday with the title game at noon Saturday. (Ch. 45 and kstp.com). TOURNAMENT PROGRAM | BRACKETS | TICKETS

ST. THOMAS: Men’s hockey is seeded No., 2 in the CCHA Playoffs and starts at best-of-three series vs. Lake Superior State at 7 p.m. Friday. Games 2 and 3 are scheduled for 7 p.m. Saturday and 5 p.m. Sunday. MIDCO+ | TICKETS Men’s basketball is seeded No. 2 in the Summit League tournament and plays No., 7 South Dakota State at 8:30 p.m. tonight (MIDCO). If the Tommies win, the semifinal is at 9:30 p.m. Saturday. The title game, for an NCAA berth, is at 7 p.m. Sunday (CBS Sports Network). Women’s basketball is seeded No. 5 at plays No. 4 Oral Roberts at noon Friday. (MIDCO). Semifinal would be at noon Saturday (MIDCO) at the title game at 3 p.m. Sunday (CBS Sports). Both tournaments are in Sioux Falls.

HIGH SCHOOL BASKETBALL: Girls’ section finals are tonight and Friday. In addition to tonight’s Hopkins-Wayzata game (see above), best options are Mounds View at. Maple Grove for the Section 5 title in Class 4 at 6 p.m. tonight and Maranatha Christian vs. Providence Academy for the Section 5 title in Class 2A at 7 p.m. Friday at Augsburg. FULL SCHEDULE. Boys’ sections are in the quarterfinal and semifinal rounds. Tartan, No. 1-ranked in Class 4A, hosts a Section 4 semifinal vs. St. Paul Central 7 p.m. Saturday. In a Section 6 semifinal, No. 2-ranked Wayzata will play Edina or St. Louis Park at 7 p.m. Tuesday. DAILY SCHEDULES

PARALYMPICS: Via Noah Bloch MPR. The games run from Friday through March 15 in Italy and there are seven athletes with Minnesota connections. Liam Cunningham and Landon Uthke, ice hockey; Aaron Pike, Max Nelson and Sydney Peterson, cross-country skiing; Mike Schultz, snowboarding, and Oyuna Uranchimeg, curling. TV INFO | BIOGRAPHIES: https://fluence-media.co/para0305

WORLD BASEBALL CLASSIC: It starts today and Team USA, which includes Byron Buxton, opens play at 7 p.m. Friday vs. Brazil (FOX). The tournament runs through March 17. SCHEDULE | ROSTERS

DIVISION III: NCAA play in men’s and women’s basketball is Friday and Saturday. WOMEN: Four MIAC teams are in the women’s field. Bethel and Concordia are hosting four-team regionals, with the Royals playing Millsaps of Mississippi in the first round at 7:45 p.m. Friday and the Cobbers playing Wisconsin-Superior at 8 p.m. Friday. Gustavus plays Chicago in Whitewater, Wis., and St. Mary’s plays Wisconsin Lutheran in Oshkosh. Both games tip off at 4:45 p.m. Friday. Second-round games are Saturday. MEN: Gustavus, which won the regular season and post-season titles, plays UMAC champ Bethany Lutheran of Mankato at 7:20 p.m. Friday in St. Peter. LIVESTREAMS | MEN’S BRACKET | WOMEN’S BRACKET. MIAC men’s and women’s hockey finals are Saturday in St. Cloud. Gustavus plays St. Benedict at 4 p.m. in the women’s final and Gustavus plays St. John’s at 7 p.m. in the men’s final. VIDEO | TICKETS.

OTHER BIG STUFF: The NHL trade deadline is 2 p.m. Friday and the Wild always seems to be on the verge of making one more move. The Big Ten men’s basketball tournament runs Tuesday through next Sunday. The state girls’ basketball tournament starts Wednesday morning. NFL free agents can sign starting Wednesday afternoon. Is that enough?

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THE CHOICES WE MAKE: We can literally go nonstop from late morning to late night through the weekend, go triple screen (TV/tablet/phone) much of the time and still miss stuff. Here’s how (I think) I’ll be spending most of my next four days.

THURSDAY — TV: Gotta watch the hockey tournament because it’s what Minnesotans do, right? TABLET: I’ll add the St. Thomas vs. South Dakota State men’s game in the Summit League tournament to the mix in the evening. PHONE: Twins vs. Yankees during the day and Hopkins-Wayzata in their girls’ section title game in the evening. SOMEHOW: Check in on Gophers vs. Ohio State in the WCHA hockey semis. PRO TIP: if you have the right Xfinity package, you can watch the Summit League men’s and women’s tournaments on MIDCO (Ch. 1270).

FRIDAY — TV: Gophers women’s basketball — the best-to-follow team in town right now — gets the big screen in the afternoon for its Big Ten quarterfinal (vs. either Ohio State or Indiana) and Class 2A hockey takes over in the evening. TABLET: I’m a D-III guy so I’ll flip among the five NCAA first-round games in the late afternoon and early evening. Curious to see if the Gustavus men are as good as their No. 7 national ranking or whether a down year in the MIAC inflated their standing. PHONE: Keep up with the last day for NHL trades during the day and switch to baseball. Team USA in the World Baseball Classic opener vs. Brazil and the Gophers vs. UNLV in the Cambria Classic. SOMEHOW: Check in on St. Thomas in the first game of CCHA hockey playoffs.

SATURDAY — Things get iffier here. TV: If the Gophers women win their first game, they get the big screen for their Big Ten semifinal, probably vs. UCLA. The night-time doubleheader is the Class 2A hockey final followed by St. Thomas in the Summit League men’s semis (providing the Tommies advance), which has a 9:30 p.m. tip-off. TABLET: WCHA Final Faceoff title game at 2 p.m. followed by whatever teams are still alive in the D-III basketball playoffs. PHONE: TBD. Maybe I’ll just read all the texts I missed.

SUNDAY — Gotta see what happens Thursday through Saturday depending on who's still playing. BEST BETS: St. Thomas in the Summit League men’s title game and needing a Game 3 in the CCHA hockey playoffs vs. Lake Superior State. FALLBACKS: Wild and Frost. Or maybe I’ll go to A Bar of Their own and power watch the eight women’s conference title games scheduled between noon and 5 p.m. Or maybe I’ll go for a long walk.

TIPS AND THOUGHTS: sportstake100@gmail.com

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EX-TWINS PITCHER GETS LIFE IN PRISON: Via Jessica Hill at Sacramento Bee. Dan Serafini, the Twins’ first-round draft choice in 1992, has been sentenced to life in prison after being convicted of first-degree murder in the death of his father-in-law and attempted murder for the shooting of his mother-in-law. Serafini, 51, was convicted in July 2025. He pitched for the Twins from 1996-98 and was with five other teams in the final four seasons of his career. VERBATIM: “Serafini reportedly hated his wife’s wealthy parents, prosecutors said, telling friends that he would offer $20,000 to whoever would carry out their killings. Ultimately, Serafini took the task into his own hands. . . . ‘Dan Serafini executed my dad and left my mom to die,’ daughter Adrienne Spohr told reporters following Serafini’s sentencing. ‘My mom fought with everything she could and did not let Dan Serafini win. Dan Serafini is finally being held accountable and will spend the rest of his life behind bars.’ “ MORE: https://fluence-media.co/serafini0305

2 STATE TOURNEY PLAYERS SUSPENDED: Via Jim Paulsen at Strib Varsity. Hibbing/Chisholm’s leading scorer Cole Swanson served a one-game suspension during Wednesday’s Class A quarterfinal win over Dodge County for making an obscene gesture after his No. 1-seeded team won its section final. In today’s Class 2A quarterfinals, Rosemount goalie Drew Sherman will sit out “at least the start” of his team’s game vs. Grand Rapids for doing the same after the Irish defeated St. Thomas Academy to win their section title. Tate Swanson, the Star Tribune’s All-Minnesota Player of the Year, acknowledged his brother’s situation in a postgame press conference. VERBATIM: “ ‘Everyone knows he made a mistake. It’s not the type of person he is. He’s learned from it.’ A representative from the Minnesota State High School League ended the postgame news conference after Swanson’s comment.” MORE: https://fluence-media.co/suspension0305

ASKING A QUESTION: I texted a retired veteran Hall of Fame coach for thoughts about a player making an obscene gesture toward fans. VERBATIM: “When I saw the clip on the goalie from Rosemount, the first thing I said was, ‘I’m glad I don’t have to deal with that.’ Not sure I have a good answer. My first inclination was ‘he’s done’ and as a coach I had somehow failed him.”

GAME STOPPED EARLY: Via WCCO-TV. Richfield, the No. 1-ranked team in Class 3A had its section quarterfinal game against Westonka stopped with 15 minutes to play after a dunk by Gideon Horne shattered a backboard. The final was 67-28. Richfield hosts Holy Angels at 2 p.m. Saturday in the semifinals. VERBATIM: “I feel like Shaq right now.” TICKETS: https://fluence-media.co/richfield0305

WNBA LABOR BATTLE DRAGS ON: Via Mark Giannotto at USA Today. Three main things to know: (1) The league has told players that Tuesday is the deadline for reaching an agreement without the season being delayed. (2) The players’ union called the latest proposal “not worth taking.” (3) Two League superstars and executive committee members wrote to the union’s executive director, criticizing her for not keeping the players more involved in the talks. VERBATIM: “Kelsey Plum and Breanna Stewart, in a three-page letter sent earlier this week to players' union executive director Terri Jackson, cited ‘a lack of adequate player involvement in the process’ thus far and warned of the harm a potential work stoppage would do to the league's financial outlook.” MORE: https://fluence-media.co/talks0305

FROM THE LETTER: Via ESPN. VERBATIM: “When we and other players have attempted to express concerns about negotiations, we have been made to feel as though we are acting against the interests of the PA. Many other players across the league feel these same frustrations and have expressed them to us, but feel afraid or unable to speak out.’ ESPN previously reported that there has been a strong debate within the executive committee in recent months over how to proceed in negotiations, with a split over willingness to hold out or to take a deal more in line with the league’s latest proposal.” MORE: https://fluence-media.co/wnba0305

HOLTZ AND THE GOPHERS: Via MPR and Associated Press. College football coaching legend Lou Holtz, who died this week at age 89 after entering hospice care in February, is typically identified and revered for the time he spent at Notre Dame, leading the school to a 100-30-2 record and the 1988 national championship. Many of us remember that he went to Notre Dame after two seasons at Minnesota (1984-85), where he took over a team that went 1-10 in the year before he arrived. The Gophers went 10-12 under Holtz, including beating Clemson in the 1985 Independence Bowl. VERBATIM: “But by that point, Holtz had already accepted an offer to coach Notre Dame, his dream job. ‘When I went to the University of Minnesota, I firmly believed in the bottom of my heart that would probably be the last coaching job I would ever have. However, the only stipulation we did put in was, if Notre Dame ever did contact me, I would be free to go. And they understood that from Day 1.’ “ MORE: https://fluence-media.co/holtz0305

ON PROBATION: Via Los Angeles Times archive. The Gophers were put on NCAA probation and banned from playing in a bowl game for one year because of two Holtz violations that are laughable in the context of current college sports. The findings were part of a larger investigation that put the U on probation for two years because of 17 violations in men’s basketball, wrestling and football. VERBATIM: “Holtz gave $250 to an athlete to pay for a course that allowed the athlete to remain eligible for competition. Holtz also was found to have given between $25 and $40 to Roselle Richardson to reimburse the former quarterback for the loss of a wallet.” MORE: https://fluence-media.co/probation0305

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‘BRIDGEWATER BILL’ PASSES FLORIDA SENATE: Via Grant Gordon at NFL.com. Last year, former Vikings quarterback Teddy Bridgewater lost his coaching job at a Miami high school for giving money to help players with personal expenses — help he was very public about providing. In response, the Florida senate has approved a bill allowing coaches to provide up to $15,000 per year to help their players. The bill passed unanimously and awaits action by the state’s House of Representatives. VERBATIM: “Officially, the act requires, ‘the Florida High School Athletic Association to adopt bylaws authorizing a head coach to support the welfare of a student by using personal funds to provide certain effects to the student; requiring the head coach to report such use of personal funds to the association; providing that such use of personal funds is presumed not to be an impermissible benefit, etc.’ " MORE: https://fluence-media.co/teddy0305

MINNESOTA PARALYMPICS CO-HOSTS: Via Neal Justin at Star Tribune. FOX9 reporter Courtney Godfrey and veteran Paralympian swimmer Mallory Weggemann of Eagan will be part of the NBC and Peacock coverage of the Paralympics, working from network studios in Connecticut. Godfrey, who lost her left leg in a 2017 boating accident, is a snowboarder good enough to compete on the U.S. Para Snowboard Team. VERBATIM: “Going all out to earn a place on this year’s team would have meant even fewer hours at Fox 9 News, where she shifted from full-time reporter to a freelancer two years ago, and more time away from her husband and kids, who are 3 and 6. ‘This allowed me to feel like I’m still part of the Paralympics movement without having to sacrifice so much and highlight what I’m truly good at. I love snowboarding. But the truth is I’m a better broadcaster than a snowboarder.’ ” MORE: https://fluence-media.co/godfrey0305

VERY GOOD NEWS: Via GoFundMe. Carleton quarterback Jack Curtis, whose story of receiving chemotherapy for Hodgkin’s Lymphoma while continuing to play for the Knights was first reported by Sports Take in September, has announced that his cancer is in remission. Curtis threw for 29 touchdowns and completed 72% of his passes in leading Carlton to a 6-4 record. VERBATIM: “I am excited to announce that in my first remission appointment, we found no cancerous activity! I am officially in a healthy remission, and I could not have done that without all of your help! Thank you all, and god bless you! . . . Outside of my health updates, I am now preparing to pursue a career in the NFL and professional football. At the same time, I am preparing for my graduate school path to continue to study Aerospace Engineering with a focus on super/hypersonics.” MORE: https://fluence-media.co/curtis0305

THE CASE FOR KYLER: Via Matthew Coller at Purple Insider. Based on past performance with the Arizona Cardinals — and despite his inconsistency — there are reasons why quarterback Kyler Murray is the right choice to compete with J.J. McCarthy to be the Vikings starter. While you read this, keep in mind that every potential option — Kirk Cousins, Malik Willis, Aaron Rodgers, Geno Smith — involves risks. VERBATIM: “Last year, McCarthy struggled mightily to find Justin Jefferson, which proved very costly to the Vikings passing attack. When Murray had a receiver of similar caliber in DeAndre Hopkins, he completed 71% of passes in his direction and registered a 109.5 QB rating throwing to his WR1. The Vikings also made a huge investment in tight end T.J. Hockenson that did not pay off last year as McCarthy struggled to find him. In Arizona, Murray completed 76% of throws to TE Trey McBride at 7.8 yards per attempt with a 94.7 QB rating. What do we get when we add up all the information on Murray? He’s the best quarterback (likely) available in this year’s market. If there are no other politics involved, like the desire to give McCarthy a chance to still become the Vikings franchise QB, then Murray’s top-end performance would give the Vikings the best chance to compete in the NFL North and under the perfect circumstances potentially be dangerous in the postseason.” MORE: https://fluence-media.co/murray0305

PRAISING PLITZUWEIT: Via Marcus Fuller at Strib Varsity. Whose opinions matter most when it comes to college sports? I’d rank players and prospective players at the top — and Gophers women’s coach Dawn Plitzuweit appears to be doing quite well by that standard. Fuller’s story has current high school players, including Crosby-Ironton standout and future Gopher Tori Oehrlein, competing to see who can dish the most praise. VERBATIM: “I’d say a lot people didn’t have faith,” Oehrlein said. “I knew Dawn would be able to turn the program around and surprise a lot of people. I knew Dawn was that type of coach that really pushes her players and gets everything out of them. She has a great IQ for the game, and you can see them putting that into play at the end of the season.” MORE: https://fluence-media.co/dawn0305

MARCH MADNESS HOME GAMES? The Gophers women are currently seeded 15th by the NCAA tournament selection committee. if they remain in the top 16, that will let Minnesota be host at Williams Arena for the first two rounds of the tournament. Winning Friday’s quarterfinal Big Ten tournament game should enough to earn the spot. RANKINGS: https://fluence-media.co/seeding0305

ST. PAUL TEAM TO WATCH: After starting the season 8-6, Concordia-St. Paul has won 16 straight games and earned the Northern Sun’s automatic bid to the NCAA Division II women’s basketball tournament. MOST IMPRESSIVE: Concordia ended Minnesota State’s bid for an undefeated season in the final game of the regular season, beating the Mavericks 96-75. For an encore, the Golden bears beat No. 3-ranked Mankato 79-71 for the NSIC title on Tuesday in Sioux Falls. ABOUT: Leading scorers are senior guard Lydia Haack from Elk River (18 points per game) and junior forward Lauren Wilson of Springville, Iowa (17.3) Wilson is also the leading rebounder with 8.7 per game. Eleven of the 15 players are from Minnesota. The tournament field will be announced Sunday night.

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MOORE TELLS ESPN TO GO AWAY: Via Sam Neumann at Awful Announcing. Timberwolves podcaster Dane Moore is getting tired of ESPN asking if it can use his content. After the Wolves beat Denver on Sunday, the network messaged Moore to ask if it could use a clip from Anthony Edwards that Moore posted on X. VERBATIM: “You do not have permission to use it, as I’ve told you numerous times in DMs. Shouldn’t have laid off all those reporters if you wanted locker room content.” STORY AND VIDEO: https://fluence-media.co/dane0305. WATCH: Dane Moore Podcast on YouTube.

AND FINALLY: My favorite statistic of the year so far comes from Strib Varsity’s Marcus Fuller in this week’s Basketball Across Minnesota report: Niko Medved has more Big Ten wins (seven) than healthy rotation players (six).

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