Recent content from Kent Youngblood

Lynx look to long homestand to show their improvement, boost playoff hopes
The Lynx played their best game in a very long time in a long time in crushing Dallas on Tuesday. Can they play as well in games against first-place Las Vegas tonight and Sunday?

History, drama: Jefferson gets Lynx' first triple-double in rout of Dallas
Tuesday's 92-64 victory was well in hand when the team turned its focus to making sure Moriah Jefferson knew she was on the verge of making team history.

Struggling on defense, Lynx at least has found its scoring touch
Over the past six games, the Lynx rank second in the WNBA in offensive rating at 109.2. But they've only won two of them as a long homestand begins tonight at Target Center.

Lynx lose to Sky on three-point buzzer beater by Vandersloot
The Lynx made nearly 60% of their shots, hit 38% of their three-pointers and rallied from 11 points down. But Courtney Vandersloot's three-pointer sent them to another loss.

Eight Minnesota women on what's next in the fight for gender equality in sports
Title IX's 50th anniversary is an opportunity to challenge current thinking and continue the fight for fairness in sports.

Fowles returns, Lynx win second in a row over Phoenix, 100-88
The Lynx used a 20-2 run from late in the first quarter into the second to take the lead for good, leading by as many as 16.

In her final season, Fowles named WNBA All-Star and co-captain
A'ja Wilson, Breanna Stewart, Brittney Griner among other players chosen for the midsummer classic.
Dismal first quarter aside, Lynx put it all together for win over Phoenix
After falling behind by 11 after the first quarter, the Lynx outscored Phoenix 73-49 the rest of the way to break a five-game losing streak.

Lynx score two at buzzer when they needed three, lose 96-95 to Aces
After playing a strong first half, the Lynx were overtaken by Las Vegas. Jessica Shepard had career highs in points and rebounds, but owned up to a key mistake at the end of the game.

Don't bank on a tank: WNBA lottery rules work against Lynx piling up losses
While Lynx fans might want the team to tank for Paige Bueckers given their current record, WNBA draft lottery rule changes from 2015 make success unlikely.

Gophers women's basketball team learns Big Ten opponents for next season
The Gophers will play five Big Ten teams twice, including Wisconsin, but just one game against Iowa.

Lynx can't hold double-digit lead, drop to 3-12 with loss to Seattle
After taking an 11-point lead in the first half, Minnesota couldn't hold on — losing its fourth game in a row and staying at the bottom of the WNBA standings.

Fab Four: Historic Gophers women's hoops recruits land on campus
The quartet of Minnesota natives started summer workouts and spoke about creating a team culture that inspires future Minnesotans to play for the U.

Former Hopkins star Hammond joins Gophers women's basketball team
Angelina Hammond, a 5-11 guard, was a three-time all-conference selection at Hopkins. Minnesota will be her fourth college.

Lynx lose to Indiana, drop to bottom of WNBA standings
The Lynx's game with Indiana on Sunday at Target Center began with yet another starter injured. It ended with them 12th in the league after a loss to the 11th-place Fever.

'We just can't find it': Frustrated Lynx set season-low for points in loss
Playing without injured center Sylvia Fowles, the Lynx fell behind 8-0 to start Friday's game against the Mystics and struggled throughout, shooting 32.8% in a 17-point loss.

Latest Lynx setback: Sylvia Fowles sidelined by more knee problems
Fowles aggravated a right knee injury during Tuesday's loss in New York and will miss tonight's game at Target Center. She could be out for a week or two.

Pierson leaves Lynx coaching staff to become Texas Tech assistant
The former Red Raiders star was a three-time WNBA champion as a player, including being a part of the 2017 Lynx championship team.

How Title IX shaped Cheryl Reeve's remarkable coaching life
Reeve was a 5-year-old kid playing baseball with the boys because there was no girls' softball to be found. That was life 50 years ago when President Richard Nixon signed Title IX into law.

Turnover-prone Lynx lose 84-76 at Atlanta, fall to 2-8 on season
Twenty points from Kayla McBride and 20 rebounds from Sylvia Fowles weren't enough to overcome 26 as the Lynx fell to the worst record in the WNBA.

Finch, new Timberwolves boss share a comfort level
Coach Chris Finch and Tim Connelly have known each other for years, and Connelly, the team's new president of basketball operation, says of Finch, "The trust is already there. I think the mind-set is already there."

Huge rally on special night falls short as Lynx are defeated by Sparks
The Lynx honored former star Seimone Augustus by retiring her jersey, then battled back from a 17-point first-half deficit to tie the score late — only to lose on Nneka Ogwumike's put-back of her own miss with 7.3 seconds left.

Augustus reflects on career: Lynx 'will always have a piece of my heart'
Former star Seimone Augustus, the face of the franchise as the Lynx won four WNBA titles in seven seasons, will have her number retired before Sunday's game against Los Angeles.

Lynx forward Collier has baby girl, hopes to return before season's end
The Olympic gold medalist and former WNBA Rookie of the Year hopes to return to the team this season.

Lynx furious rally tops Liberty for second win this season
Down by eight points early in the fourth quarter, two things happened: Minnesota dug in and defended. And then Kayla McBride and Aerial Powers got aggressive.

'How many more kids?' Reeve talks about Texas school shooting
"I have a 7-year-old who goes to school,'' Lynx coach Cheryl Reeve said before Tuesday's game. "And I said to my wife, 'it's not if, it's when.' And it's nonsensical."

Lynx to retire jersey numbers of Seimone Augustus, Rebekkah Brunson
The ceremony for Augustus will be Sunday, the one for Brunson on July 3.

After 1-6 start, Lynx regroup by addressing 'falling apart' on defense
Coach Cheryl Reeve prepared for tonight game against the New York Liberty by trying to help her players regain their defensive passion.

Lynx come undone in second half in 94-78 loss at Dallas
Ahead by two at halftime, the Lynx allowed Dallas to take over. The Wings were up by 15 to start the fourth quarter and cruised to victory.

Whalen hires new assistant; adds transfer and high school commit
Marwan Miller comes to Minnesota after six years at Ohio University. The Gophers also added a center who grew up in France and got a verbal commitment for 2023 from a Maple Grove star.

First win for new-look Lynx marks some key changes
Kayla McBride's return and Moriah Jefferson's arrival give the Lynx another dimension as they won their first game of the season. They play first-place Las Vegas tonight.

McBride, Fowles guide Lynx to first win of season, 87-84 over L.A.
Kayla McBride (24 points including the game-winning bucket) and Sylvia Fowles (20 points, 12 rebounds) led the way in L.A., putting the Lynx in the win column.

McBride shakes off jet lag, returns from Turkey to play for Lynx
Veteran guard Kayla McBride joined the team in Los Angeles, where it hoped to win its first game of the season.

Kayla McBride to rejoin winless Lynx for Tuesday's game against Sparks
The veteran guard completed her season in Turkey over the weekend and will try to help the Lynx with their first game of the season on Tuesday.

Lynx sign Shepard to contract extension
Having recovered from knee surgery, forward Jessica Shepard is off to a strong start this season.

New-look Lynx improve but fall to 0-4 after loss to Chicago
Newly acquired Moriah Jefferson ran the offense smartly, and Aerial Powers, stuck in a shooting slump, scored 11 points with nine rebounds. But a balanced Chicago lineup was too much.

Lynx end week of upheaval with new plan, new point guard
The team signed former UConn standout Moriah Jefferson after realizing that the veterans they had surrounded Sylvia Fowles with were not going to work out.

After 0-3 start, Lynx shake up roster; release veterans McCoughtry, Sims
The Lynx announced they have bought out veteran Angel McCoughtry's contract, waived guard Odyssey Sims and released three others. More moves will need to be made.

Reeve benches two veteran starters as Lynx fall to 0-3 in loss to Indiana
Angel McCoughtry played less than seven minutes and Aerial Powers sat more than she played as the Lynx lost to a rookie-filled team that won only six games last season.

Lynx see offense go quiet to end first half, lose home opener to Mystics
The Lynx were outscored 29-6 over the final 12-plus minutes of the first half by Washington, which was playing without star Elena Delle Donne.

Lynx go cold in second half, lose season-opener 97-74 at Seattle
Tied at the half, Seattle opened the third quarter on an 18-2 run and never looked back against a disjointed Lynx team.

Excited for her final season, Fowles knows she's among the WNBA greats
The Lynx open the season tonight in Seattle with the goal of competing for another title, a goal that honors the career of retiring superstar Sylvia Fowles.

Seattle Storm leads the pack in WNBA 2022 power rankings
Seattle, Chicago and Connecticut could all make a serious challenge for the WNBA title in 2022.

Lynx add two players before Friday's season opener
Yvonne Turner and Nikolina Milic will join the team in Seattle.

Hoping to 'play with Syl' this season, Collier wants to be back after baby
There's extra incentive for Lynx star Napheesa Collier to return to the team this season after her baby is born: A final chance to play with superstar Sylvia Fowles.

Lynx 2022: Four keys to the season
Is Minnesota a playoff contender or pretender? Here is what has to work to make the Lynx a team with a title chance.

Signed on Tuesday, Sims likely to be in starting lineup for Lynx opener
Training camp ended on Wednesday as the team prepares for its first game of the season in Seattle.

Lynx sign 2021 All-Star Napheesa Collier to multiyear extension
The Lynx might have to wait a while for Collier to return this summer. But she'll be with the team long-term.

Reserves give Reeve plenty to consider after Lynx rally late to defeat Aces
A number of the reserve players who finished Sunday's 89-86 preseason victory over Las Vegas are fighting for a few spots. But can their performance land them on a crowded roster?

Now healthy, Aerial Powers looks to step up as part of Lynx's big three
Lynx coach Cheryl Reeve is looking for more than just scoring and rebounding from Powers, who signed as a free agent last year and was sidelined by injury for a chunk of it.

Heise among eight seniors coming back to Gophers women's hockey
Taylor Heise won the Patty Kazmaier Award this past season, which goes to the nation's top player.

Throughout their series win, the Grizzlies never gave up
Memphis, as it did often in the first-round playoff series, dominated the fourth quarter Friday night against the Timberwolves.

Dangerfield trying to fit in quickly with Lynx
Third-year point guard Crystal Dangerfield arrived from Israel on Tuesday but expects to play in an exhibition game Sunday.

After hot start, Wolves' Beasley searches for his three-point stroke
The guard scored a combined 30 points in Games 1 and 2, but only 19 points in Games 3 through 5 in the series with the Grizzlies.

Wolves' Beverley critical of Memphis coach blasting refs in Game 4
Taylor Jenkins was fined $15,000 after saying it was "one of the most poorly officiated games I've ever seen in my NBA career.''

Strong Lynx camp faces first test against Mystics this week
Natalie Achonwa is back to full health after dealing with lingering effects from last year's MCL sprain.

Locking down Morant critical to Timberwolves' playoff success
Grizzlies All-Star Ja Morant shot 4-for-13 on Saturday night, struggling against the Timberwolves' "high wall" defensive strategy.

Banham no longer a Lynx wild card: point guard is her home
Rachel Banham has bounced between shooting guard and point until this season, where the Lynx have given the former Gophers star a "clear path."

With focus on stopping Morant, Grizzlies bash Wolves with depth
Players like Desmond Bane, Brandon Clarke and Tyus Jones "deserve more respect," Ja Morant says of teammates.

Carleton hopes her Lynx season combines best of both worlds
A strong offensive season in 2020 was followed by a strong defensive season in 2021. Now, Bridget Carleton is seeking both in 2022.

Ex-Holy Angels star Destinee Oberg transfers to Gophers from Arkansas
Oberg was rated among the nation's top recruits when she picked Arkansas out of high school, and now she's coming back to Minnesota.

New recruits know that making Lynx roster will be tough task
Angel McCoughtry and Layshia Clarendon returned from injuries, while Crystal Dangerfield, Kayla McBride and Jessica Shepard will arrive late due to overseas play.
After 0-4 start in 2021, Lynx poised for a better beginning
Short of players and fitness, last year's team sank, then regrouped. Cheryl Reeve plans no repeat of the sinking.

Lynx training camp roster: From zero to 14 seasons' WNBA experience
The list includes five rookies and two players, Sylvia Fowles and Angel McCoughtry, with more than a decade in the WNBA.

Whalen's top assistant taking Fairfield coaching job
Thibault-DuDonis played an instrumental role on Lindsay Whalen's Gophers women's basketball staff for four seasons, including handling recruiting.

Rhyne Howard goes No. 1 in WNBA Draft; Lynx add two picks
Kentucky guard Rhyne Howard went No. 1 overall to Atlanta while the Lynx drafted N.C. State's Kayla Jones and former Rogers and South Dakota star Hannah Sjerven.

A look at the two 2022 Lynx draft picks
The Lynx drafted Kayla Jones in the second round and Hannah Sjerven in the third.

Former Gophers standout Sara Scalia decides to play at Indiana
Scalia, who had been in the NCAA transfer portal, is one of three key transfers the Hoosiers added over the weekend. She was Minnesota's leading scorer last season.

Lynx trade away two of their four picks for Monday's WNBA draft
The team picked up 2023 first- and second-round picks from Las Vegas but no longer has a first-round selection for this year.

Lynx facing embarrassment of riches as draft day looms
Coach and general manager Cheryl Reeve has four picks to play with and an overfull roster to balance.

Whalen savoring Hall of Fame, looking for ways to rebuild Gophers
The Gophers women's basketball team is down to three holdover players, and coach Lindsay Whalen vows to better identify players who fit in — both with their skill and their approach.

Is South Carolina the next dynasty in women's college basketball?
Star forward Aliyah Boston said another championship is next year's goal, but coach Dawn Staley isn't ready to compare her program to UConn, with its 11 titles.

No. 1 all the way. South Carolina overpowers UConn for NCAA title
The Gamecocks started the season as the No. 1 team in women's basketball, held that ranking all season and show off their excellent with a dominate performance Sunday night at Target Center.

Dream teams: Final Four finishing with 'best rivalry in women's college basketball'
Two coaches who have won titles, the game's No. 1 players for the past two seasons and two marquee names — UConn and South Carolina — meet tonight at Target Center for the women's Final Four championship.