
Minnesota puts home win streak on the line against Las Vegas
Las Vegas Aces (12-12, 6-6 Western Conference) at Minnesota Lynx (21-4, 14-2 Western Conference)
Minneapolis; Friday, 7:30 p.m. EDT
BOTTOM LINE: Minnesota Lynx hosts Las Vegas Aces looking to extend its five-game home winning streak.
The Lynx have gone 14-2 against Western Conference teams. Minnesota leads the WNBA allowing just 74.7 points per game while holding opponents to 41.2% shooting.
The Aces are 6-6 against Western Conference opponents. Las Vegas has a 3-1 record in games decided by 3 points or fewer.
Minnesota scores 84.9 points per game, 3.3 more points than the 81.6 Las Vegas allows. Las Vegas averages 5.8 more points per game (80.5) than Minnesota allows to opponents (74.7).
The teams meet for the second time this season. In the last meeting on June 18 the Lynx won 76-62 led by 20 points from Courtney Williams, while Jewell Loyd scored 12 points for the Aces.
TOP PERFORMERS: Napheesa Collier is averaging 23 points, 7.6 rebounds, 3.4 assists, 1.7 steals and 1.7 blocks for the Lynx. Williams is averaging 15.2 points over the last 10 games.
Chelsea Gray is averaging 11.8 points and 4.5 assists for the Aces. A'ja Wilson is averaging 21.3 points over the last 10 games.
LAST 10 GAMES: Lynx: 8-2, averaging 86.0 points, 34.4 rebounds, 23.2 assists, 8.8 steals and 5.6 blocks per game while shooting 44.7% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 74.4 points per game.
Aces: 5-5, averaging 80.4 points, 32.8 rebounds, 17.5 assists, 6.4 steals and 4.7 blocks per game while shooting 44.1% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 82.1 points.
INJURIES: Lynx: Karlie Samuelson: out for season (foot).
Aces: Cheyenne Parker-Tyus: out (personal).
___
The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
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New York Times
2 hours ago
- New York Times
4 burning questions for the Wild as the Kaprizov, Rossi contract situations remain unresolved
ST. PAUL, Minn. — The Minnesota Wild's two biggest offseason objectives were to extend the contract of superstar Kirill Kaprizov and resolve the Marco Rossi contract stalemate. As we near August, neither has been accomplished. The Wild and Rossi's camp haven't had talks since early June, per league sources. President of hockey operations and general manager Bill Guerin has said he likes Rossi and wants to re-sign the restricted free agent. But with no offer sheets coming, at least for now, this might be a waiting game until the next pressure point in negotiations — the start of training camp in mid-September. Advertisement The Wild and Kaprizov's camp are taking a breather, with the next step likely coming in a face-to-face meeting with Guerin when the Russian winger arrives in the Twin Cities next month. With a deal this big, you have to imagine the team wants to make sure nothing is being lost in translation while Kaprizov is in Moscow. Last week, NHL forward Vasily Podkolzin posted pictures of Kaprizov and himself at Marat Khusnutdinov's wedding reception, and Kaprizov has been training this offseason with Evgeni Malkin. He looks ready and motivated to put last season's injury-plagued year behind him. Last fall, owner Craig Leipold told The Athletic that the team was actually in Year 2 of a five-year plan. But make no mistake, there's no two-, three- or five-year plan that doesn't involve re-signing Kaprizov, the best player in franchise history. That's what makes this negotiation, as complicated as it might be, so important, despite the fact that Leipold made clear no team can or will be able to offer Kaprizov more money than the Wild. That said, there are burning questions involved that could impact what happens with Kaprizov and, frankly, Rossi. Kaprizov has offered no public statements to the contrary. In fact, at his exit interview with local media, he seemed happy to be here — expressing appreciation for his teammates and his role as a leader. When asked about negotiations, Kaprizov smiled and said, 'We'll see. I love everything here. It should be all good.' But until there's a contract signed, any public platitudes are just that. Guerin has often expressed confidence in getting a deal done with Kaprizov; Leipold has also voiced optimism. The Wild have an advantage, especially with the new CBA, that they can offer Kaprizov eight years. Advertisement Under the current CBA, unless he's traded, the other 31 teams would be able to sign him for a maximum of seven years. In the next CBA, the max term is six years for a player signed in free agency. That doesn't go into effect until September 2026, but a league source said Thursday that it is still being decided if the new rule (six vs. seven) will be implemented next July 1. If so, it could strengthen the Wild's position — if Kaprizov wants to sign long-term. The money, especially from the Wild's end, shouldn't be a big issue, with an eight-year, $15 million average-annual-value contract not something that would be out of the question. Leipold has also insinuated he'll break his long-standing policy when it comes to being willing to hand out signing bonuses. This is the only franchise Kaprizov has known, with the 2015 fifth-round steal playing the first five years of his career in Minnesota. Kaprizov conducting multiple calls with Vladimir Tarasenko late last month to help convince the fellow Russian to waive his no-trade clause is encouraging. But arguably the biggest factor is whether he's convinced Guerin and his staff can make the team a contender. 'It's always, every time — it's about winning,' Kaprizov said in May. The last time the Wild were in a contract dispute with Kaprizov was on the eve of training camp in 2021. Guerin flew to Miami to sit down face-to-face with Kaprizov and his agent, Paul Theofanous. They ironed out his five-year, $45 million contract, and Guerin and Kaprizov returned to the Twin Cities on a private jet in time for camp. Now, if Guerin sits down with Kaprizov and Theofanous again as camp gets close and gets the impression that Kaprizov isn't willing to sign now, it may be incumbent on the GM to inquire on teams Kaprizov would be willing to be traded to. Advertisement Kaprizov wields all the power here by virtue of a no-move clause. In the summer of 2008, Marian Gaborik turned down a 10-year, $80 million contract, immediately got hurt that season, became untradable and left as a free agent the following summer for nothing. That was devastating to the franchise, and Guerin can't let that happen again. Everyone assumes the Wild are going to sign Kaprizov to an eight-year deal, and to be sure, they want to sign him to an eight-year deal. But what if Kaprizov would prefer to go on a shorter term? With the cap set to rise in the coming years, star players might opt for deals in the three- to four-year range to maximize their value. In the case of Kaprizov, who will turn 29 at the start of his next contract, he could also be considering whether he's ready to commit the rest of his career to Minnesota. Why not sign a shorter-term deal, which would allow him to see what kind of moves Guerin makes with the shackles off in terms of the dead cap hits of Zach Parise and Ryan Suter? If winning is the most important thing to Kaprizov, a shorter deal could put more pressure on the organization to build a better roster around him. When asked before the NHL draft whether he'd be open to a shorter-term deal with Kaprizov if the star preferred it, Guerin said, 'I'm not going to comment on stuff like that. That's too much info.' Leipold set the bar high at the beginning of last season in his comments about re-signing Kaprizov: 'I will tell you nobody will offer more money than us, or longer. So all we have to do is prove to him that we want to win.' Leipold's point was mostly that Minnesota is the only team that can offer Kaprizov eight years. But the Wild won't penny-pinch when it comes to an offer with their franchise player, who currently carries a $9 million AAV. Kaprizov is arguably a top-10 player in the world. He's irreplaceable. So the price tag is going to be high. An eight-year, $120 million deal ($15 million AAV) would put Kaprizov in line to be the league's highest-paid player once the contract kicks in for 2026-27 — although Connor McDavid needs a new deal starting the same season and figures to come in even higher. Advertisement Now, what if Kaprizov wants McDavid money? McDavid, currently at $12.5 million AAV, is also heading into the final year of his contract. We don't know what McDavid will command, but $16 million-plus is not unreasonable. The max either would be able to sign for prior to July 1, 2026, is 20 percent of next year's $95.5 million salary cap ($19.1 million). Would there be a point where Guerin and Leipold aren't comfortable reaching, even for Kaprizov? As Guerin has repeated, especially during the Rossi contract stalemate, he's 'running a business,' too. Remember, Kaprizov was an early-season frontrunner for the Hart Trophy last season before injuries caused him to miss 41 games. Even though the Wild need Kaprizov more than Kaprizov needs the Wild (he's going to get paid in any scenario), the higher this AAV goes, the more it becomes a risk for the Wild, especially if they want to afford complementary players around him. Work ethic has never been an issue with Rossi, who scored 24 goals and 60 points in only his second full season in 2024-25. He's a gym rat, and if you follow him on social media, you've seen that he's putting in exhaustive work this offseason despite the stress of a contract squabble. The guy basically climbed a mountain last week, then afterward got to work with soon-to-be Hall of Famer Joe Thornton, who's helping him improve in the faceoff circle. Rossi wasn't eligible to elect salary arbitration earlier this month, but he can sign an offer sheet with another team. The Wild would then have seven days to decide whether to match or accept draft pick compensation and walk away. But we're 28 days into July, and that offer sheet hasn't come. It's almost like Guerin, who vowed to match any offer sheet, was playing a game of chicken to show Rossi's camp that he didn't buy that this threat was a real threat. And to this juncture, at least, he's been right. That means at this point Guerin could make Rossi sweat and slowplay this until we get closer to camp. Rossi obviously wants to play and must be signed to do that. Advertisement Of course, from Rossi's standpoint, he knows how thin the Wild are up the middle and how much they need him in the lineup by opening night as well. This is a huge season for the Wild, and Rossi's got to know his importance. The GM is entering his seventh year. They have yet to get past the first round during that tenure. Kaprizov and No. 1 goalie Filip Gustavsson are entering the final year of their contracts. And free agency was largely a whiff with Brock Nelson and other top centers re-signing with their current teams. So while the Wild may think they have all the leverage because Rossi has no 'rights,' Rossi's got significant leverage as well. But unless a trade or offer sheet materializes, the only solution is a compromise on a contract, which means bridging a chasm between the team's valuation and the player's. Rossi has already turned down a five-year, $25 million deal and a two-year deal at less than $5 million per. On a long-term deal, he wants in the $6 or $7 million range. On a short-term deal, he's hesitant to sign what he sees as an under-market-value contract, fearing it would make him easily tradeable (since he isn't yet eligible yet for no-trade protection) or leave him buried in the lineup if the Wild acquire a top-six center or a youngster like Danila Yurov emerges during the life of his contract. It feels like the only solution is a short-term deal in the $5 million range — unless Guerin changes his tune and suddenly accepts some of the recent comparables in this growing-cap world, signing him to a longer-term deal north of $6 million. That seems unlikely if the Wild aren't sold on committing to him long-term. Nothing appears imminent, but with both Kaprizov and Rossi, that can always change with one phone call. (Photo of Joel Eriksson Ek, Marco Rossi and Kirill Kaprizov: Dennis Schneidler / USA Today)


New York Times
4 hours ago
- New York Times
Vikings training camp: J.J. McCarthy's early progress and 5 key takeaways
EAGAN, Minn. — We're told not to make too much out of one training camp throw, but this one might be the exception. Saturday. Early in the team period. Quarterback J.J. McCarthy faked a handoff, eyed the defense and curved a pass into a small area near the right sideline where only the receiver, Jalen Nailor, could make the catch. Advertisement There wasn't any hooting or hollering. Sure, the fans cheered, but they didn't react as loudly as they did when McCarthy connected on a deep ball. No social media frenzy ensued; in fact, it's hard to find a video clip. But it exists. Cameras captured what is one of the most critical signs that has surfaced for the Minnesota Vikings. But why? Why would a seemingly unspectacular sequence matter so much? Coach Kevin O'Connell had the answer. 'That's probably the biggest difference between college football and the NFL,' O'Connell said earlier Saturday. 'How do we occupy defenders and throw in behind them? Versus, with the wider hashes in college, a lot of times you're throwing through open voids to a target.' Letting it riiiiiiiiiip 🎯🎯@jjmccarthy09 📺: Back Together Weekend on @nflnetwork — Minnesota Vikings (@Vikings) July 26, 2025 McCarthy's velocity has never been a question mark. One of his college teammates, Jack Tuttle, a former four-star recruit who had seen Trevor Lawrence and Justin Fields at quarterback camps, believed J.J. McCarthy threw with more RPMs (revolutions per minute). But in the NFL, that only matters so much. In previous practice sessions, O'Connell hollered for McCarthy's attention, then motioned his hand like he was sprinkling seasoning on food. The teaching point? Add some air, feel the ball leave your fingertips. The Nailor pass might be the best example, but two other times on Saturday, McCarthy also bent the ball over defenders into the intermediate area for tight end T.J. Hockenson. The Vikings are fortunate that defensive coordinator Brian Flores' unit simulates the need for angled throws more than most. Defenders positioned on the line of scrimmage often drop, and safeties regularly step down from depth. The changing picture provides a textured feel, which forces McCarthy's hand. Advertisement Any in-depth evaluation would be foolish until Monday, when players don pads and the pass rush speeds McCarthy up even further. However, the 22-year-old has checked critical boxes early on. The Vikings have gotten in and out of the huddle on time, and the operation at the line of scrimmage has been smooth. McCarthy used cadences Saturday to create a free play, and quarterbacks coach Josh McCown patted him on the helmet afterward. Processing the defensive picture hasn't been an issue either. McCarthy executed Saturday's red zone period as well as anyone could have hoped. Here are five other takeaways from training camp so far. What does the Vikings defense sound like before the snap? O'Connell offered a snippet on Saturday. 'They're commenting on splits,' O'Connell said. 'It's, 'Who's on? Who's off? This guy was late to line up. This guy is light in his stance.' I said, 'Is anybody just going to play football?' I mean, because everybody out there was just making noise. But they're saying such high-level stuff.' Recently extended safety Josh Metellus joked last week that Minnesota's defense is entering its master's stage. What that means in terms of new coverages and stunts will be revealed in time. But Metellus' point makes sense with how the defense has looked over the first three days. Defenders don't look confused or out of position, not even new additions, like cornerbacks Isaiah Rodgers and Jeff Okudah or defensive linemen Jonathan Allen and Javon Hargrave. They're disguising themselves on the back end. They're hopping around on the front. The Vikings haven't toyed with many of their creative personnel groupings yet. Saturday provided a potential snapshot, though, when Flores put edge rushers Jonathan Greenard, Andrew Van Ginkel and Dallas Turner on the field together. It was but a glimpse at the next phase. Advertisement To achieve that, to continue to confound offenses the way they have the last few seasons, they must be on the screws when it comes to the basics. They have been. Sam Howell has taken the majority of the backup QB reps. This makes sense. How can O'Connell and the Vikings assess what they have if they don't throw him into the fire? And, to be clear, it is the fire, as most of Howell's reps have been against the first-string defense. The best way to sum up Howell's performance is a beat too slow. Without the post-practice film, it's impossible to assess each rep accurately. Is Howell taking a hitch because he's not seeing the picture correctly, or is he waiting a split second extra because the receiver was rerouted by a cornerback? Whatever the case, it feels fair to say that Howell hasn't consistently pulled the trigger promptly. More time against Flores' defense should help. Howell now understands the challenge he faces. Also worth mentioning are Sam Darnold's early struggles in training camp last year. These are but tiny data points. As for the other quarterbacks, Max Brosmer's accuracy is noticeable. Brett Rypien, who knows the offense better than the other quarterbacks, has been limited to a few reps. The Vikings' decision-makers telegraphed their plan at cornerback for months. General manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah, O'Connell and Flores said they believed Rodgers could play an every-down role, and that they had a vision for Okudah. It's no surprise, then, that those two have played alongside Byron Murphy Jr. with the first-team defense. Third-year corner Mekhi Blackmon has also mixed in, but Okudah has commanded most of the snaps. The No. 3 pick in the 2020 draft is with his fourth team in four seasons. An Achilles injury and other health issues have affected his trajectory, but he watched the Vikings defense from afar last year and was intrigued. Advertisement 'Me and Flo spoke when I came in for my visit,' Okudah said last week. 'It was cool to have him reach out and say that he envisions me coming into this defense and contributing.' Behind those four, questions abound. Dwight McGlothern, an undrafted corner last year who made the roster, has not taken reps with the starters. Zemaiah Vaughn, an undrafted rookie, had a stellar spring and is having a good camp. Relying on him for meaningful snaps in 2025, though, would be a big ask. Wide receivers Justin Jefferson, Jordan Addison, Jalen Nailor and Tai Felton are shoo-ins to make the team. Behind them, it's anyone's guess. Rondale Moore and Tim Jones are more experienced, but one name to keep an eye on is second-year player Jeshaun Jones. The Maryland product impressed during training camp last year. Minnesota kept him on the practice squad, and he took advantage. The most significant change for him between this year and last? 'Having an understanding of what we're trying to do offensively,' Jones said. 'There's a lot of formations and plays. It's trying to slow things down.' Competition for roster spots will be fierce, and they may hinge on special teams. Undrafted receiver Silas Bolden has an edge as a returner, but Jones' route-running ability (especially for a room that may lose Jordan Addison for part of the early season) could be significant. • The No. 3 running back spot appears to be up for grabs. Ty Chandler's special teams experience matters, but Zavier Scott has flashed in recent days with his pass-catching ability out of the backfield. • Levi Drake Rodriguez, Jalen Redmond and Tyrion Ingram-Dawkins have occupied interior defensive line spots for the No. 2 defense. • Third-year safety Jay Ward broke up a pass Saturday. He looks more comfortable than ever in Flores' defense. Advertisement • Rookie linebacker Kobe King has taken snaps alongside Eric Wilson with the No. 2 defense. Where that leaves Brian Asamoah II, who is in the final year of his rookie contract, is a fair question. • Undrafted safety Mishael Powell deflected a pass in the red zone Saturday. He could wow fans in the preseason. • The No. 3 tight end position is still a question mark. Gavin Bartholomew, whom the team drafted in the seventh round, hasn't practiced because of a serious back injury. Undrafted Ben Yurosek is the leader in the clubhouse for the job, unless the Vikings acquire a tight end.

Yahoo
5 hours ago
- Yahoo
Twins host the Red Sox to begin 3-game series
Boston Red Sox (57-50, third in the AL East) vs. Minnesota Twins (50-55, fourth in the AL Central) Minneapolis; Monday, 7:40 p.m. EDT PITCHING PROBABLES: Red Sox: Richard Fitts (1-4, 4.86 ERA, 1.27 WHIP, 32 strikeouts); Twins: Simeon Woods Richardson (5-4, 4.14 ERA, 1.37 WHIP, 64 strikeouts) BETMGM SPORTSBOOK LINE: Twins -117, Red Sox -102; over/under is 9 1/2 runs BOTTOM LINE: The Minnesota Twins host the Boston Red Sox to begin a three-game series. Minnesota has gone 29-22 at home and 50-55 overall. Twins hitters are batting a collective .242, which ranks 10th in the AL. Boston has gone 23-29 in road games and 57-50 overall. The Red Sox have the ninth-best team batting average in MLB play at .251. The matchup Monday is the fourth time these teams meet this season. TOP PERFORMERS: Byron Buxton leads the Twins with 41 extra base hits (14 doubles, four triples and 23 home runs). Royce Lewis is 10 for 37 with four doubles, three home runs and seven RBIs over the past 10 games. Jarren Duran has 26 doubles, 12 triples and nine home runs while hitting .259 for the Red Sox. Alex Bregman is 10 for 34 with a double and two home runs over the past 10 games. LAST 10 GAMES: Twins: 3-7, .247 batting average, 5.22 ERA, outscored by 12 runs Red Sox: 5-5, .208 batting average, 3.34 ERA, outscored by four runs INJURIES: Twins: Byron Buxton: day-to-day (side soreness), Anthony Misiewicz: 15-Day IL (shoulder), David Festa: 15-Day IL (shoulder), Bailey Ober: 15-Day IL (hip), Pablo Lopez: 60-Day IL (shoulder), Luke Keaschall: 60-Day IL (forearm) Red Sox: Aroldis Chapman: day-to-day (back), Marcelo Mayer: 10-Day IL (wrist), Hunter Dobbins: 15-Day IL (acl), Nick Burdi: 60-Day IL (knee), Liam Hendriks: 60-Day IL (hip), Zack Kelly: 15-Day IL (oblique), Justin Slaten: 60-Day IL (shoulder), Luis Guerrero: 15-Day IL (elbow), Josh Winckowski: 60-Day IL (elbow), Triston Casas: 60-Day IL (knee), Kutter Crawford: 60-Day IL (knee), Tanner Houck: 15-Day IL (flexor), Patrick Sandoval: 60-Day IL (elbow) ___ The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.