Stanzel’s Sports Takeout — BREAKING NEWS: 4.17.26
Napheesa Collier got paid, signing a one-year, $1.4 million contract with the Lynx last night. With the WNBA economics evolving daily, she’ll be eligible to be an unrestricted free agent next season and get paid even more.
The Gophers gymnastics team has reached the Final Four for the first time, while also becoming the lowest seed (10) ever to reach the exclusive event. It’s Saturday in Fort Worth (on ABC, yet another can’t-miss sporting event this weekend). Brooklyn Rowray became the second Golden Gopher in program history to win an individual national title, taking home the beam championship last night.
The Loons return home after three games in California to host Portland on Saturday.
Wild/Stars Game 1 on Saturday
We’ve known the Stars and Wild were going to face each other for months now, with only home ice at stake. The long anticipated series gets underway Saturday at 4:52 p.m. at American Airlines Center.
We all know the Wild has lost eight straight first-round matchups, and hasn’t won a series since 2015. This is, of course, the Wild team that’s built for May and beyond.
John Hynes isn’t showing his hand, but it’s clearly Jesper Wallstedt in Game 1. I don’t mind starting on the road in this situation, if you’re a little bit rattled early on, no one’s going to boo you.
There’s star power on both sides. This should be the best first-round series in the NHL, and it shouldn’t be a first-round series. Last year, Jake Oettinger was awful in the playoffs, and the Wild will need to hope the Minnesota kid isn’t at the top of his game here either.
Hate to do it, but Stars in seven.
Wolves/Nuggets Game 1 Also Saturday
What a Saturday for local sports fans, as the first main course is served Saturday at 2:30 p.m. - there’s for sure to be some fourth quarter/first period overlap with the Wild.
The Nuggets ended the regular season winning 12 in a row, and the Wolves rested everyone the final two weeks. Rest is good, but what kind of sharpness will they have come a Saturday matinee? Again, a reason why being on the road to start isn’t all that bad.
The Wolves haven’t done much this season to inspire confidence in this matchup.
Hate to do it, but Nuggets in five.
Twins’ Winning Streak Snapped
After whipping some Cy Young candidates/winners for the better part of a week, a little-known rookie pitcher silenced the Twins.
Connelly Early allowed one run on five hits in six innings, the longest of his eight major league starts, as the Red Sox beat the Twins 9-5 Wednesday in a game that wasn’t as close as the final score indicated.
Ryan Kreidler hit a three-run home run in the ninth for the Twins. Simeon Woods-Richardson dropped to 0-3 on the season.
The Twins host the Reds for three beginning tonight, with Joe Ryan opposite Brandon Williamson.
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