Stanzel’s Sports Takeout — BREAKING NEWS: 9.02.25

Sep 2

Welcome back to school. Hug a school communicator.

There’s meaningful NFL football every week until February, although we have to wait until a week from tonight for the Vikings’ opener at Chicago on MNF.

Gophers host Northwestern State on Saturday. Tommies at No. 12 Idaho.

The best story at the U.S. Open is Venus Williams (two years younger than me) into the women’s doubles quarterfinals.

Two Takeouts this week - be back Friday.

Regular-Season Champ Lynx Beat Bueckers’ Wings

Having clinched the WNBA’s regular season title and home court throughout the playoffs, the Lynx didn’t rest on their laurels.

Minnesota gradually pulled away for a 96-71 win over Dallas last night at Target Center, behind 25 points in just 23 minutes from Napheesa Collier. DiJonai Carrington left the game with a shoulder injury and didn’t return.

Paige Bueckers had 17 points in a losing effort for the 9-32 Wings.

Minnesota lost just two home games in the regular season. Its last four are on the road, starting Thursday in Las Vegas. The Aces have won 12 straight to move into second in the WNBA.

Loons Tie Portland to Quality for Post-Season

The Loons have qualified for the post-season in their 29th game - a 1-1 tie against Portland on Saturday on a late goal by Robin Lod. That’s the earliest Minnesota has ever qualified for the playoffs.

Minnesota visits San Diego FC late Saturday in what’s shaping up to be one of the biggest regular season games in franchise history. The Loons trail San Diego by five points with four games left. A win, and first place in the West is still possible.

The MLS then breaks for two weeks - U.S. Open Cup semis - with a month left in the regular season.

Twins Win Series Versus Padres, Drop Opener to White Sox

If I’d have told you in April that Joe Ryan is having the type of year he’s having, and that Byron Buxton could be a 30 homer, 30 steal guy, you’d have thought you needed to be buying playoff tickets right about now.

The first two happened; not so much the latter.

The Twins did win their first series in almost a month - two of three against the Padres at home, before a 6-5 loss to the White Sox at Target Field in a holiday matinee yesterday. That kicked off a four-game homestand.

Bailey Ober, who lost Monday’s game, has yielded three or more runs in nine of 11 starts since June 1.

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