Minnesota sports fans continue to face a generally grim landscape. The Twins have for the last three years proven themselves to be among the weakest teams in major league baseball. The NFL Vikings have stumbled out of the gate in their first four games. The collegiate Golden Gophers football team seems likely to remain one of Big Ten's premier bottom-feeders for at least another year, and there is little expectation that the basketball Gophers will accomplish much in their upcoming season. The NBA Timberwolves appear to be a much improved team (last year they improved from pathetic to pedestrian, a minor triumph) and are generating some buzz, but this is Minnesota so don't hold your breath. One bright spot has been the dominant Gopher's women's hockey team, which in its last season was undefeated—a singular achievement.
And the other gem of Minnesota sports is the Lynx, who last evening
won their second WNBA championship in three years. After their third outstanding season in succession, the Lynx won seven straight games in the postseason without a loss, itself a notable achievement in professional sports of all kinds, to nail down their second WNBA title. Until three years ago, the Lynx had been a piece with the rest of the Minnesota sports scene, but no more. The word
dynasty is being bandied about more and more, and that is possible. Their five starters and top reserve are all excellent players, and there is no reason for 2014 to be any different from 2013—except, well, we better take this one season at a time because, after all, it is Minnesota sports. In the meantime, it is fun to win big for a change. Thank you, Lynx!
