![The Minnesota Lynx bench, including forward Plenette Pierson, center, celebrated a 3-point basket by guard Renee Montgomery in the first quarter. ] AARON LAVINSKY ï aaron.lavinsky@startribune.com The Minnesota Lynx played the Los Angeles Sparks in game four of the WNBA Finals on Sunday, Oct. 1, 2017 at Staples Center in Los Angeles, California.](https://arc.stimg.co/startribunemedia/ESHSEXWEM65DO4MGMJET6IW4QY.jpg?&w=1080)
October in Minnesota is an incredible convergence of the last gasps of summer weather, the definitive transition to fall with leaves changing colors before tumbling to the ground and the first few biting mornings of wintry chill. Sometimes it feels as if it's all happening at once.
It's no wonder, then, that the sports we associate with summer, fall and winter also can converge in a manner that's equally overwhelming.
That's what is about to happen this week in Minnesota, giving us what should be the most intense sports week we've had here in almost a decade.
The last memorable convergence happened around this exact same time in 2009, but it really centered on two teams and one venue: the Twins and Vikings in the Metrodome.
The Twins played their regular-season finale Oct. 4, a must-win at the Metrodome against Kansas City. The next night, the Vikings with Brett Favre hosted the Packers on Monday Night Football at the Dome in his first revenge game. And the day after that, it was Game 163 at the Dome between the Twins and Tigers. Oh, and the Wild had its home opener that same night. And the night after, the Twins started the ALDS in New York. That Oct. 4-6 was about as memorable a three-day run as I can remember here.
This year's convergence is more far-reaching and has the potential for just as much drama. Consider:
• Tuesday: Twins at Yankees in the one-game wild card playoff at Yankee Stadium. For all the heartbreak of 2003, 2004, 2009 and 2010 the Twins experienced in getting knocked out of the postseason by the Yankees in the ALDS, they never even managed to force a decisive Game 5. This is like skipping right to Game 5.
• Wednesday: Sparks at Lynx in Game 5 of the WNBA Finals at Williams Arena. These teams played an epic five-game series last year, with the Sparks defeating the Lynx in Minneapolis in the final seconds of the decisive game. Minnesota gets another chance this year thanks to its strong effort Sunday in a Game 4 victory in Los Angeles. So yeah, this is the second consecutive night of must-win games for Minnesota teams in the playoffs.
![Minnesota Twins left fielder Eddie Rosario (20) follows threw with a solo homer in the second inning at Target Field Sunday September 17,2017 in Minneapolis, MN. ] JERRY HOLT ï jerry.holt@startribune.com](https://arc.stimg.co/startribunemedia/U4K5MRF2Y3XBTZHVNWIDCYTNZ4.jpg?&w=1080)
![Minnesota Wild center Charlie Coyle (3) tried to knock down the puck being cleared by Winnipeg Jets goalie Connor Hellebuyck (37) in the first period. He was defended bythe Jets' Julian Melchiori (71). ] JEFF WHEELER ï jeff.wheeler@startribune.com The Minnesota Wild faced the Winnipeg Jets in an NHL preseason game Thursday night, September 21, 2017 at Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul.](https://arc.stimg.co/startribunemedia/QJI5PV2XFA77TJXSQ26ACLEUSI.jpg?&w=1080)
djoles@startribune.com North Dakota at at the University of Minnesota Gophers ORG XMIT: MIN1611042207121251](https://arc.stimg.co/startribunemedia/62SH6XTZADVZBBFS2C7NCPRMXY.jpg?&w=1080)
