Over its life as a franchise, NSC has consistently punched above its weight. But as of press time, they're on the outside looking in and increasingly facing questions as to how and why they seem so underwhelming playing at home. Meanwhile the Loons are in fourth place, jousting with reasserting FC Dallas for third. And they have a measuring stick Game tonight/Saturday night, as they host the team in second place in the West, second-Year club Austin FC, featuring MVP contender Sebastian Driussi and ex-Loon -- and One Of Us -- Ethan Finlay. MNUFC has made some moves over this Transfer Window, including picking up Benitez and Midfielder Jonathan Gonzalez. Will AFC make United FC regret that it didn't pick up someone on Defense?
#-2: Twins (Last Week: -2). Yeah, they're on a four-Game winning streak which includes a three-Game sweep of the hapless Royals in which they outscored Kansas City, 17-2 (and the last two Games were Shutouts). But they started off the Week losing a pair, and the series, to the Angels, and as of right now, they remain a Game back of Cleveland for a division lead they had most of the season and 1/2 Game back of Tampa for American League Wild Card 3. Furthermore, despite shoring up relief pitching over the Trade Deadline, the Bullpen still remains shaky. Take, for example, last/Friday night's 2-1 Win in The Battle Over The Bastard Washington Senators at Target Field. Recently acquired Closer Jorge Lopez was charged to shut the door in the Ninth, and he did, but only after a pair of Walks and a Game-ending Double Play. This is an organization that will not let its Starting Pitcher face a Lineup a third time, and so will regularly use four, five Pitchers each outing, and I'll be damned if at least one of them has a bad performance on the mound.
They play Texas the next three Days. On Tuesday they visit Houston for three, then they have a three-Game home series vs. The Bastard New York Giants starting Friday.
#-3: Gopher soccer (Re-Entry!). I've been so busy and/or in my head lately that I didn't notice that the college sports season started on Thursday with the kickoff of top-flight women's soccer. (Last Week's WMNSS was the last one of the Year to feature only three entries; it's only going to get more numerous from here on out.) I have no idea what to expect from this side this Year, but I give credit to Head Coach Erin Chastain for not shirking from challenges and starting her charges on the road against BcS schools. Thursday night they were in Waco, Tex., taking on Baylor in a Match that was delayed by about 90 Minutes because of the weather. Khyah Harper broke through for the Gophers in the 52nd Minute, but the Bears' Haven Terry knotted it up in the 80th, and the first Game of the Season goes down as a 1-1 Draw.
Their second Game is also in Texas: TCU tomorrow/Sunday night. They then go back to Elizabeth Lyle Robbie Stadium to play their first home Match versus Cal Poly Thursday evening.
#-Infinity: Lynx (Last Week: -3). I didn't think they had a chance. And, despite having one final Game against a very good Connecticut club that had nothing to play for while they had everything to play for -- they would have made the playoffs instead of Phoenix if they won -- and showing a dead-cat bounce to cut the deficit to four late, the Jynx lost the final Game of the regular season at the Sun, 90-83. Thus, the Lynx miss the playoffs for the first time since 2011. That Loss also ends the illustrious career of one Sylvia Fowles, who, in another player profile/retrospective, will take steps in becoming a mortician now that she's retired from the WNBA. A mortician?!
As happens after the season ends for a team that fell short, the secrets to the shortcomings of the Lynx started to spill out into the open this Week. Head Coach and General Manager Cheryl Reeve revealed that she couldn't "get through to this group," and her squad "didn't have great buy-in." Star Tribune columnist Jim Souhan pointed fingers in his post-mortem posing as a column: Kayla McBride plays hard, but Natalie Achonwa didn't do enough, Rachel Banham isn't a starting lineup Point Guard, and possibly most glaring of all, Aerial Powers is a shoot-first ne'er-do-well. If there is any one player that takes the fall for this past season, it'll be Powers.
Souhan says it's time to rebuild. With only a dozen teams and too many really good players who can't play in the WNBA due to too few spots and not enough money, you don't need Years to rebuild, and with Napheesa Collier back full-time and the new nucleus around which the team rallies, the Lynx certainly could be back as a title contender next Year. I don't doubt that. But while this league probably is a league where you can turn over the roster over an offseason and still be good and even improve, I think this team could use some turnover. Let's face it: The Minnesota Lynx weren't very good. You are what your record says you are, according to asshole Hall Of Fame Head Coach Bill Parcells, and the Jynx finished the season 14-22.
Meanwhile, I think I'll ask a question too few are asking: Is Cheryl Reeve safe? There are new owners coming in (Marc Lore and Alex Rodriguez) who did not hire her. And many Lynx observers and fans point out that while her coaching is unquestioned, she hasn't done so well acquiring talent ever since she took on the GM role. Finally, if it's time for a rebuild, wouldn't that go for the Head Coach, too?
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