Want to note that this is the nadir to the Twin Cities sports calendar. The college season starts with women's soccer Thursday, and it'll just be more teams from here until April or so.
And by far the best vibes/aura is coming from the Lynx who, even without talisman Napheesa Collier, are acting like the Borg and conquering anything getting in their way. They've run their winning streak to five Games, going 2-0 this screening Week with Wins over Washington Friday (albeit by four at home to a spunky club that has a foundation in place) and at New York Sunday afternoon in a much-anticipated Finals rematch from a Year ago that lost its luster because both Collier and the Liberty's Breanna Stewart weren't playing. That showdown turned into a blowout as the Lynx once again used the Third Quarter to turn a Halftime deficit into a 83-71 laugher. Best of all, with Indiana losing at home to The Bastard Detroit Shock last/Tuesday night, the Lynx have clinched their (inevitable) playoff spot.
Everybody's contributing to their success right now. Alanna Smith in particular had a ridiculously even stat line in the victory over New York City. But Dijonnai Carrington seems to have unlocked everything with this squad. Her Defense is already impressive, but it's her Offense (both slashing into the paint and jacking up threes) is that other weapon that will help when the others either are getting doubled up or are having a bad shooting day. I don't want to hex the Lynx because they haven't won diddly-squat yet, but Carrington might be the missing piece.
The final two of three straight contests with the Liberty happen Saturday afternoon (at Target Center) and Tuesday evening (back in Brooklyn). Note that even though Minnesota plays the Liberty three times in a row, New York does not play the Lynx three times in a row -- after Sunday they went out west to play (and beat) Los Angeles last/Tuesday night and will play in Las Vegas tonight/Wednesday night before visiting the Lynx on Saturday.
#-2: Twins (Last Week: -3). Meanwhile, the vibes/aura around the Twinks ... well, if you want to be charitable, it's been a rollercoaster. While they were skidding a bit after their fire sale, they started off the week winning the series at Division-leading Detroit, then came home to win two-of-three versus Kansas City. Sunday's 5-3, 11-Inning Win was a highlight. First, Ryan Fitzgerald, a Minor League lifer, was finally called up to The Show and, in his first Major League at-bat, hit a Home Run. Then, Luke Keaschall, who is becoming the life force Twins fans who are still believing might rally around, ended the Game with a two-Run home to right-center.
The Twins have been playing well since the Trade Deadline. But then, they went to the Bronx to play The New York Yankees and, alas, they once again assumed the role of Yankees' bitches, losing 6-2 Monday and 9-1 last/Tuesday night. The Twinks were no-hit after scoring their solitary Run in the First Inning. Goddamn, is this organization going to do something against this form of systemic oppression?
The Yankees will finish them off tonight/Wednesday night, then Minnesota heads off to four for the weekend before a three-Game set with the (Sacramento but you're not supposed to say that) Athletics beginning Tuesday.
#-3: United FC (Last Week: -2). And while the vibes/aura might be worse with the Twins, I think that surrounding the Loons is just stinky. After flying high for so long throughout the season, MNUFC are now on a three-Match losing streak encompassing all competitions. The more dispiriting Loss came last/Wednesday in Leagues Cup Group Stage play. All United FC had to do was win (hopefully in regulation so they could bag all three Points) vs. Atletico de San Luis, a franchise I consider to be The Pittsburgh Pirates of Liga MX. They were eliminated from Knockout Stage play, so I assume they rotated in guys off the bench to give them some experience. Well, they experienced kicking the Loons' asses because they made their opportunities count, defeating MNUFC 2-0 and eliminating them from the glory of winning an astro-turfed tournament.
The scoring constipation continued Sunday evening. The Colorado Rapids are merely a good team fighting to stay in playoff contention. But due to blown defensive assignments and Dayne St. Clair not being the uber-Goalkeeper he has been at some points during the Year, Colorado fired two in before registering this upset at Allianz Field, 2-1. All of a sudden United FC appears to have trouble putting Goals in the net, and while the sky isn't truly falling yet (they're still third in the West and could have catapulted past Vancouver into second if they won on Sunday), both defeats this past Week were blown chances to take a step toward achievements of some worth.
Host nemesis Seattle Saturday night.
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