Recent content from Joel Rippel

Lynx-Atlanta preview: Home stretch beckons against standings rival
The Lynx return home to face a Dream team that is two games ahead of them in the WNBA standings.

Early August fishing report across the state is upbeat
Chasing catfish? They're active and moving on the Red River.

Series preview: Blue Jays vs. Twins at Target Field
Toronto is in second place in the AL East standings and leads the AL Wild Card race.

Lynx face Storm in game vital to pursuit of a playoff spot
The Lynx have not have had a lot of success in Seattle in recent years and lost the season opener there by 23 points.

Twins-Detroit series preview: New month, new slate in AL Central clash
The Twins return home for a seven-game homestand that begins with three games against the Tigers.

Gameday preview: Lynx, Sparks play rubber game of season series
The Sparks are moving ahead without Liz Cambage.

Twins-San Diego series preview: A visit to face Rogers
The Padres, featuring former Twins reliever Taylor Rogers, are in second place in both the National League West and N.L. wild-card.

Bite has slowed in Duluth and Ely area; elsewhere, reports are solid
Minnesota fishing report: Detroit Lakes area continues to report a solid bite from a variety of species.

Lynx play Dream in game crucial to playoff chances
Three-game road trip starts with stop in Atlanta.

Battle of Central Division leaders as Twins face Brewers
This will be the second two-game set for the teams after splitting a series at Target Field earlier this season.

Fowles out of lineup for Lynx vs. Connecticut rematch Sunday
The Lynx are trying to keep their playoff hopes alive but their veteran center will be sidelined by a knee injury.

Twins vs. Tigers series preview
The division-leading Twins return from a five-day break to play at Comerica Park, where they are 1-4 this season.

Title match preview: South Georgia brings star power to final vs. Aurora
Amy Andrews, the USL W League Golden Boot winner, has scored almost half of her side's goals. She'll be facing an Aurora defense that has yielded only eight goals in 12 games.

Lynx get Connecticut Sun for first time this season
The teams will play again Sunday at Target Center.
Northern are biting in Grand Rapids area lakes
Minnesota Fishing Report: St. Croix River has been giving up walleye, sheepshead and smallies.

Lynx-Washington game preview
The Lynx finish a busy stretch after the All-Star Game with a visit to our nation's capital.

Minnesota Aurora looks to extend its undefeated run in USL W League semifinals
The Aurora will face a McLean (Va.) Soccer team that had a streak of six straight shutouts earlier this season.

Lynx-Indiana preview: Back on the road again after six-game homestand
The Lynx play on back-to-back nights, traveling first to Indianapolis to face the Fever.

From Kabetogama to Mississippi River, the fishing is solid
Bemidji, Alexandria and Duluth areas all have positive reports this week.
Lynx set to face Dallas for third time this season
The Lynx play host to the Wings on Thursday night at Target Center. Each team has won once vs. the other this summer.

Aurora rides undefeated wave into USL W League playoff opener
It will be a playoff battle of the undefeated when the Aurora (11-0-1) play host to the Indy Eleven (10-0-2) on Wednesday night at TCO Stadium in Eagan.

Twins, Brewers play two-game series at Target Field starting Tuesday
The two teams are leading their divisions as the Twins open a six-game homestand.

Lynx vs. Phoenix gameday preview
It's the third meeting of the season between two teams fighting to stay in playoff contention.
Twins-Texas series preview: In Friday's opener, it's a Gray area
The first game of the series pits the Twins' Sonny Gray against the Rangers' Jon Gray.
Minnesota anglers are active and the fish are, too
Overall, the report is solid from Stillwater to Baudette

Lynx, on a roll, looking for turnaround vs. Chicago
The Sky has defeated the Lynx twice this season.
Lynx-Las Vegas Aces gameday preview
The teams meet at Target Center for the second time in three days.

Twins-Baltimore series preview: Orioles conclude long road trip
Baltimore will finish its 10-game, 11-day trip at Target Field. The Orioles are 4-3 on the trip and were 14-12 in June.

Las Vegas tied for WNBA's best record entering back-to-back against Lynx
The teams meet Friday and Sunday at Target Center.

Lynx-Dallas preview: Kicking off a six-game homestand
The Lynx have defeated the Dallas Wings six consecutive times at Target Center.

Twins-Cleveland series preview: Five games against AL Central challengers
The Twins visit the Guardians for the first time this season, and it's for a five-game series that includes a doubleheader on Tuesday.

Lynx coming off back-to-back wins, but defending WNBA champions are next up
Minnesota's next opponent, the Chicago Sky, on Tuesday staged the biggest comeback in WNBA history, 28 points, to defeat Las Vegas.
Reports are positive for walleyes in Alexandria and Baudette areas
Minnesota Fishing Report: Charters on Lake Superior have been dealing with strong winds recently

Lynx gameday: Minnesota look for first winning streak vs. Phoenix
Lynx seek can win two games in a row for the first time this season against the Mercury at Target Center.

Last-place Lynx set to face Diana Taurasi and struggling Phoenix
The Lynx and Mercury play a home-and-home series this week, with the first game Tuesday in Phoenix.

Twins face Cleveland with Guardians charging hard in second place
For the Twins to stay in first place, they'll need to hold off Cleveland, which faces them eight times in 10 days.

Lynx at Las Vegas preview: Facing off against WNBA's best record
The top and bottom teams of the Western Conference will face off in Las Vegas on Sunday.

Randolph overcomes Hayfield for Class 1A title in clash of league rivals
Starting pitchers dominated in Randolph's 2-1 victory, with Jacob Weckop striking out 13 and Nolan Klocke taking a loss despite striking out 15.

Series preview: Twins face Diamondbacks for first time since 2017
Arizona is slated to send Madison Bumgarner to the mound in Friday's series opener, opposite Devin Smeltzer.
Walleyes showing more activity on Leech Lake
Minnesota Fishing Report: Anglers have had success on east side of the lake.

Lynx welcome Seattle to Target Center for nationally televised game
Minnesota brings a three-game losing streak into second meeting this season with the Storm, currently second in the West.

Twins-Seattle series preview: Twins venturing west for six games
The Twins had scored 54 runs in the previous eight games and homered in eight consecutive games before being limited to five hits Sunday.

Gameday preview: Reeling Fever visit reeling Lynx
Indiana, which has lost five in a row, visits Target Center on Sunday night to take on a Lynx team that shot just 32.8% from the field in their last game.

Lynx-Washington game preview: Fowles injury hampers homestand
Team talisman Sylvia Fowles is out, while Damiris Dantas and Moriah Jefferson are likely to return from injury.

Fishing report: Anglers are finding fish, dealing with high water
Warmer bays have been good for panfish on Lake Minnetonka; Red River's high water is deterrent.

Twins-Yankees series preview: New York has best record in major leagues
The Yankees have won six in a row as they face the AL Central-leading Twins.

Lynx at New York preview: Familiar faces as road trip continues
On Sunday, the teams play the first of two games in three days in Brooklyn.

Reports are solid for panfish in Otter Tail area, walleyes in Chisago City area
Minnesota Fishing Report: It's catch-and-release month on Lake Mille Lacs.

Jefferson, Achonwa sidelined; Lynx sign two players to hardship contracts
Starting point guard Moriah Jefferson suffered a quadriceps injury in Sunday's loss to Los Angeles and Natalie Achonwa has a hamstring strain.

Prep athletes of the week: Schneider does it all for Edison baseball
When the Tommies went on a recent four-game winning streak, Sam Schneider was a major reason for it at the plate and on the mound.

Twins-Detroit series preview: Five games vs. Tigers
The Twins' first trip to Michigan this season is for a five-game series that includes a doubleheader on Tuesday.

Anglers have found walleyes on Cass Lake chain, Upper Red Lake
State fishing report: The trout bite also is good on parts of Lake Superior.

Gophers softball and baseball: Hopes and concerns about their future
Both teams ended their 2022 seasons last week under circumstances that were less successful than in previous seasons. Here's a look at what could be ahead for them.
Gophers baseball: Three reasons for hope, three reasons for concern
John Anderson's baseball squad finished 16-36 and last in the Big Ten Conference for a second consecutive year.

Gameday preview: Lynx vs. New York
Minnesota is 1-6 this season but has won eight consecutive home games in the series.

Series preview: Twins return home to face Detroit
Fresh off their 5-1 road trip and comeback from a six-run deficit Sunday, the Twins are back at Target Field beginning Monday to play the Tigers.

Gameday preview: Lynx at Dallas, seeking a second win
After a narrow loss in Las Vegas, Dallas is the Lynx's final stop on a three-game road trip.

Walleye bite was good opener weekend in Brainerd; wind limited action in Alexandria area
From Albert Lea to Baudette, the Minnesota Fishing Report.

Gameday preview: Lynx at Las Vegas
Kayla McBride scored 24 points in her first game back with the Lynx in LA - and the team's first victory - and will look to keep it rolling out west.

Lynx gameday: Los Angeles Sparks are next after 0-4 start
It's Los Angeles' home opener, and it will go in 2-2 against a winless Lynx team that played Chicago lose its last time out..

Twins-Oakland series preview: Kyle Garlick returns for series vs. A's
The Twins begin a six-game road trip with three games on the West Coast.

Fishing Opener report 2022
Colder water slowed the bite despite a good turnout reported on many lakes.

Gameday preview: Lynx take on Chicago, aiming for first win of season
The Lynx will try to end a three-game losing streak to open the season against the Chicago Sky, the defending WNBA champions.
Gameday preview: Minnesota Lynx at Indiana Fever
Both teams are 0-2 this season, and the Fever is rebuilding with four first-round draft picks.

Lynx-Washington game preview
The Lynx play their home opener against the Mystics, who won't have Elena Delle Donne here.

Lynx at Seattle preview: Season opener against Western Conference rival
Two of the Lynx's four consecutive losses to open last season were against the Storm.

Twins-Baltimore game preview: Twins hoping to improve away record
The Twins head to Camden Yards for four games beginning Monday.

Prep athletes of the week: Chisago Lakes pitcher pretty much perfect
Junior Ashley Mandell pitched a perfect game, went 6-for-6 on stolen bases and even hit the first home run of her career.
Longtime Vikings defensive tackle Doug Sutherland dies at 73
Sutherland played in three Super Bowls and joined the Purple People Eaters after Gary Larsen retired.

Longtime Vikings linebacker Roy Winston dies at 81
His 190 games played are second-most in Vikings history among the team's linebackers behind Scott Studwell's 201
Eagan's Jackson Kehler, back to varsity and away from club, finds satisfaction
A senior considered the state's No. 3 swimming recruit, he qualified for the 2A finals in three events.