Stanzel’s Sports Takeout — BREAKING NEWS: 10.11.24

Oct 11

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Biggest news locally came off the field/court/ice, when the Pohlad family announced yesterday that the Twins are for sale. Interesting timing, since as soon as two weeks ago they told The Athletic’s Aaron Gleeman the team was not for sale. In yesterday’s announcement, they said the decision was made earlier this summer. Forbes estimates the team’s value at $1.5 billion. Could A-Rod and Marc Lore make another run at a Minnesota sports team? Does Zygi Wilf, the Vikings owner who has diversified into soccer, want to add a baseball team to his portfolio?

I don’t get the MLS, which gives all teams but four the weekend off heading into the final weekend of the regular season. We’ll know more about the Loons’ playoff outlook after Vancouver plays LAFC late Sunday.

Amazing Lynx Comeback Ends in Game 1 OT Win

There may have been more drama in the final 5.1 seconds of regulation than in an entire regular season. Courtney Williams made a four-point play. New York’s Breanna Stewart missed a game-winning free throw after a controversial out of bounds call. All setting up for Napheesa Collier’s game-winning shot with 9.1 seconds left in overtime of a 95-93 Game 1 win at Barclay’s Center.

They’ll be talking about this game for years to come. The Lynx, understandably flat 48 hours after a Game 5 win over Connecticut, falling down by 18 in the first half. They unleashed a 20-5 run to get back into the game, but still trailed 83-72 with 3:23 left. You don’t erase 11-point leads in playoff games against the No. 1 team in the NBA.

But they did. Collier and Williams each hit two field goals before Williams was fouled on a three-pointer with 5.1 seconds left.

On the ensuing Liberty possession, the ball appeared to go out off a New York player, but it was too close to call and they called a jump ball. Williams was given a jump ball violation, Collier blocked Stewart, allowing for one final play with one second left. Collier fouled Stewart with .1 ticks left (it was a foul, but I don’t know if you call it at that point in the game, and Stewart was too far under the basket), but the Liberty star made only one of the two free throws.

The Lynx never trailed in overtime, but the game was tied when Collier, who will surpass all those Lynx greats as the best player in team history, hit a 12-footer with 9.1 seconds left.

Williams had 23 points, five rebounds and five assists. I don’t always love her shot selection but she was big time when the Liberty took Collier away. Kayle McBride scored 22 points, including four three-pointers. Collier had 21 points, eight rebounds, six blocks, three steals and two assists.

Minnesota would have won in regulation had it even done an average job on the defensive glass. New York had 20 offensive rebounds. At one point in the fourth quarter, the Liberty had more offensive rebounds (17) than defensive (16).

Games 3 and 4 (if necessary) are at Target Center October 16 and October 18.

Wild’s Season Opens In Win

Matt Boldy started his rebound year off on the right skate. Boldy had a goal and two assists, and he and linemates Joel Eriksson Ek and Marcus Johansson had themselves a night in the Wild’s season-opening 3-2 win over Dean Evason’s Columbus Blue Jackets at The X.

Boldy wasn’t even a sure thing to start the season after an injury coming into training camp. He was subpar in 2023-24 after signing a seven-year, $49-million contract. But his line carried the Wild last night, with Minnesota’s first and third lines an absolute mess in the season-opener.

Filip Gustavsson got the start and made 31 saves. I assume we’ll see Marc-Andre Fleury’s debut in his final NHL season Saturday when the Wild hosts Seattle.

Gophers at UCLA Saturday Night

Sure, you thought two months ago the Gophers would be favored to beat UCLA at The Rose Bowl this week.

Minnesota must avoid the dreaded letdown after beating USC at home, against a Bruins team that has played Indiana, LSU, Oregon and Penn State the last four weeks. They weren’t close in any of those games against ranked teams.

This seems like the kind of game the Gophers often lose, although I think P.J. Fleck going for it on fourth down in a tie game with time winding down against the Trojans really showed his team that he thinks they can go places.

GWH at Ohio State; Men Open Season in Vegas Tournament

An early season WCHA matchup with major implications, as the second-ranked Gophers play at No. 4 Ohio State. The defending champion Buckeyes were already swept by UMD last month.

The Gopher men are at The Orleans in Las Vegas - former home of the ECHL’s Wranglers - to take on Air Force tonight and either UMass or Omaha on Saturday in their first regular season games.

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