Professional Sports

Snell Spectacular and Dodgers Barely Hold On in 9th to Beat Brewers 2-1 in NLCS Opener

Game 2 in the best-of-seven series is Tuesday night.

MILWAUKEE (AP) — Blake Snell allowed one baserunner in eight shutout innings before Los Angeles’ bullpen barely held on in the ninth as the Dodgers opened the National League Championship Series with a 2-1 victory over the Milwaukee Brewers on Monday night. Blake Treinen struck out Brice Turang with the bases loaded to end the game. The Dodgers led 2-0…

Za’Darius Smith Abruptly Retires After 5 Games With the Eagles

Smith was a three-time Pro Bowl selection, in 2019 and ’20 with Green Bay and again in 2022 with Minnesota.

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Za’Darius Smith abruptly announced his retirement Monday, five games into his eighth NFL season and first with the Philadelphia Eagles. The 33-year-old pass rusher called it a career in a post on Instagram. The Eagles lost Thursday night at the New York Giants to fall to 4-2 and play at Minnesota on Sunday. Smith signed with the reigning Super…

Wilson Scores 31 and Aces Win Third WNBA Title in 4 Seasons, Beating Mercury 97-86 for 4-Game Sweep

Port Wing native Megan Gustafson played nine minutes and had a rebound in the title game.

PHOENIX (AP) — A’ja Wilson scored 31 points, Chelsea Gray and Jackie Young both added 18 and the Las Vegas Aces won their third WNBA championship in four seasons, beating the Phoenix Mercury 97-86 on Friday night for a four-game sweep of the Finals. The Aces made quick work of the league’s first best-of-seven Finals. It was another offensive onslaught…

Boyd and Happ Lead the Cubs Past the Brewers 6-0 to Send the NLDS to a Deciding Game 5

The Brewers, who went 97-65 this season for the majors’ best record, finished with three hits.

CHICAGO (AP) — Matthew Boyd pitched two-hit ball into the fifth inning, and the Chicago Cubs shut down the Milwaukee Brewers for a 6-0 victory Thursday night that pushed their NL Division Series all the way to a decisive Game 5. Ian Happ, Kyle Tucker and Michael Busch homered for Chicago, delighting a rollicking Wrigley Field crowd of 41,770. Busch went…

Cubs Use 4-Run 1st Inning to Top the Brewers 4-3 and Avoid NL Division Series Sweep

Game 4 of the best-of-five series is on Thursday night.

CHICAGO (AP) — Pete Crow-Armstrong hit a tiebreaking two-run single and the Chicago Cubs avoided a sweep by holding off the Milwaukee Brewers for a 4-3 victory in Game 3 of their NL Division Series on Wednesday. Crow-Armstrong’s two-out swing was part of a four-run first inning for Chicago — continuing a wild trend. Michael Busch kicked off the rally…

Jordan Addison’s Late Touchdown Gives Vikings 21-17 Win Over Browns in London

Wentz was 9 for 9 on the 10-play winning drive that started on the Minnesota 20-yard line.

LONDON (AP) — Jordan Addison came up big when his teammates needed him the most. The Minnesota Vikings wide receiver was benched for the first quarter of Sunday’s game against the Cleveland Browns for missing a team walk-through this past week. But he scored the game-winning touchdown in Minnesota’s 21-17 victory over Cleveland at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Sunday. “He…

Fast Start Propels Brewers to 9-3 Victory Over Cubs in NLDS Opener

Chourio became the first player to have three hits in the first two innings of a playoff game.

MILWAUKEE (AP) — Jackson Chourio went 3 for 3 and drove in three runs in the first two innings before departing with a hamstring injury as the Milwaukee Brewers trounced the Chicago Cubs 9-3 in their NL Division Series opener Saturday. Chourio became the first player to have three hits in the first two innings of a playoff game. But his availability for Monday’s…

Port Wing’s Megan Gustafson Looking to Add WNBA Champion to Resume

So far this postseason, the center has averaged three points per game on 46 percent shooting.

PORT WING, Wis.- It’s been quite the last 14 months for Port Wing native Megan Gustafson. In August of 2024, she suited up for Spain in the Summer Olympics. Then just two months ago, she released her first book. And now, she’s looking to add WNBA champion to her resume. Friday night, Gustafson and the Las Vegas Aces will host…

Micah Parsons’ Hyped Return to Dallas Ends with Cowboys and Packers in 40-40 Tie

Prescott and Jordan Love had three touchdown passes apiece in regulation.

ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — Micah Parsons and Dak Prescott both said winning was the only thing that mattered in the Green Bay pass rusher’s hyped return to Dallas to face the Cowboys and their franchise quarterback. Turns out neither star got what he wanted Sunday night. Brandon Aubrey and Brandon McManus traded short field goals in overtime, and Parsons’ only sack played…

Mercury Overcome 13-Point Deficit in 4th Quarter, Beat Lynx 86-81 to Advance to WNBA Finals

McBride led Minnesota with 31 points on 6-of-11 shooting from 3-point range.

PHOENIX (AP) — Alyssa Thomas scored 23 points, DeWanna Bonner made two late 3-pointers and the Phoenix Mercury overcame a 13-point, fourth-quarter deficit to beat the short-handed Minnesota Lynx 86-81 in Game 4 on Sunday to advance to the WNBA Finals for the first time since 2021. Phoenix will face the Indiana-Las Vegas winner. Indiana forced a Game 5 earlier…

Steelers Hold on for 24-21 Win Over Vikings in NFL’s First Regular-Season Game in Ireland

Rodgers was 18 for 22 for 200 yards and the touchdown to Metcalf, who had five catches for 126 yards.

DUBLIN (AP) — Even though he’s relatively new to the Pittsburgh Steelers, Aaron Rodgers fully understands the Rooney family’s connections to the Emerald Isle. They didn’t want to disappoint Sunday against the Minnesota Vikings in Ireland’s first regular-season NFL game. Kenneth Gainwell did his part by running for 99 yards and two touchdowns in the 24-21 victory at Croke Park,…

Mercury Snap Back from 20-Point Deficit to Beat Lynx 89-83 in OT and Even WNBA Semifinal Series

The Mercury, who played their fourth game in seven days, will host Game 3 of the best-of-five series on Friday night.

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Satou Sabally scored 11 of her 24 points in the fourth quarter and Alyssa Thomas had 19 points and 13 assists to help the Phoenix Mercury erase a 20-point deficit and beat the Minnesota Lynx 89-83 in overtime on Tuesday night, tying the WNBA semifinal series at one game apiece. Sami Whitcomb’s 3-pointer from the wing with…

Packers Suffer Heartbreaking Loss to Browns After Late-Game Collapse

Josh Jacobs also had his 11-game streak of having a rushing TD snapped.

CLEVELAND (AP) — The usual mention or flashback to something that happened in the Vince Lombardi era brings back fond memories for Green Bay Packers fans. That wasn’t the case after Sunday’s 13-10 loss to the Cleveland Browns. The last time the Packers lost a game where it was up by at least 10 points and had a shutout with four…

Isaiah Rodgers Races into Vikings Record Book with Pair of Defensive Touchdowns vs. Bengals

He is the 11th player since the Super Bowl era began in 1966 with interception and fumble return touchdowns in the same game.

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — There was no cooling off Isaiah Rodgers no matter how many towels his fawning teammates used to fan the white-hot Vikings cornerback on the sideline. Rodgers’ historic domination of the Cincinnati Bengals was so disruptive the Vikings’ offense had to shush the home crowd at U.S. Bank Stadium for serenading the one-man turnover machine too loudly on…

A’ja Wilson and Alanna Smith Share WNBA Defensive Player of the Year Award

Smith is the second Minnesota player in a row to at least share this award.

HENDERSON, Nev. (AP) — Las Vegas Aces star A’ja Wilson was voted WNBA Defensive Player of the Year on Thursday for the third time in four seasons, sharing the award this time with Alanna Smith of the Minnesota Lynx. Each player received 29 votes from the 72 media members who participated. It’s the first time the award, first given out…

Vikings Put RB Aaron Jones on IR with Hamstring Injury That Will Sideline Him More Than a Month

The Vikings also signed old friend Cam Akers to the practice squad.

EAGAN, Minn. (AP) — The ailing Minnesota Vikings placed running back Aaron Jones Sr. on injured reserve on Wednesday, requiring him to miss a minimum of four games with a hamstring injury suffered during what has become a costly defeat in the home opener. With quarterback J.J. McCarthy likely out for multiple weeks with a sprained ankle that occurred in that 22-6 loss to…

Vikings QB McCarthy’s Sprained Ankle Will Keep Him Out for Next Game vs. Burrow-Less Bengals

Carson Wentz, the 10th-year veteran who just joined the Vikings two weeks ago, will start against the Bengals.

EAGAN, Minn. (AP) — Minnesota Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy will miss the next game with a sprained ankle, coach Kevin O’Connell said on Monday. McCarthy didn’t miss any time during Minnesota’s 22-6 loss to Atlanta, passing an initial medical evaluation and getting his foot taped up for extra support after the injury occurred late in the third quarter at the…

Falcons Trample J.J. McCarthy and the Vikings 22-6 Behind Bijan Robinson’s Running, Dominant Defense

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Bijan Robinson got back to work on the ground, and the Atlanta Falcons were back in business. Robinson ran 22 times for 143 yards, Georgia native Parker Romo made five field goals without a miss in his Falcons debut, and Atlanta smothered J.J. McCarthy for six sacks and three turnovers in a 22-6 victory over the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday….

Napheesa Collier’s 20 Points Lead Minnesota Lynx to Dominant 101-72 Win Over Golden State Valkyries

Golden State will host Game 2 on Wednesday.

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Napheesa Collier scored 20 points to lead five players in double figures and the Minnesota Lynx breezed to a 101-72 victory over the Golden State Valkyries on Sunday in Game 1 of the best-of-three first-round WNBA series. Collier hit 7 of 11 shots with a 3-pointer and all five of her free throws, adding six rebounds. Natisha…

Brewers Become First MLB Team to Clinch Playoff Spot this Season

This marks the seventh time in the last eight seasons that the Brewers have qualified for the playoffs.

MILWAUKEE (AP) — The Milwaukee Brewers have grown accustomed to outperforming forecasts every year, but this season might represent their most remarkable accomplishment yet. During a season in which they have built the best record in the majors, the Brewers reached their latest milestone by becoming the first team to clinch a playoff berth. According to MLB, the New York Mets’ 3-2…

Jordan Love and Tucker Kraft Lead the Way in Packers’ 27-18 Victory Over Commanders

Tight end Tucker Kraft caught six passes for a career-high 124 yards to help the Packers go 2-0 for the first time since 2020.

GREEN BAY, Wis. (AP) — Jordan Love and the Green Bay Packers have delivered a strong opening statement to the rest of the NFL. It helps that he’s not facing the kind of pass rush that his teammates are bringing to opposing quarterbacks. Love threw for 292 yards and two touchdowns and the Packers beat the Washington Commanders 27-18 on…

J.J. McCarthy Rallies the Vikings in the Fourth Quarter of His Debut for a 27-24 Win Over the Bears

McCarthy completed 13 of 20 passes for 143 yards.

CHICAGO (AP) — J.J. McCarthy’s long-awaited debut for the Minnesota Vikings was looking more like a nightmare. Even so, coach Kevin O’Connell could sense things were going to change. And he told his quarterback that at halftime. “You are going to bring us back to win this game,” O’Connell said he told McCarthy. McCarthy did just that in the fourth quarter, throwing…

Duluth Harbor Monsters Sign Former Minnesota Running Back Shannon Brooks

Brooks played for the Gophers from 2015 to 2019.

DULUTH, Minn.- In the Arena League, the Duluth Harbor Monsters have signed former Minnesota Golden Gophers running back Shannon Brooks for the 2026 season. Brooks played for the Gophers from 2015 to 2019. During his time with Minnesota, Brooks recorded 2,290 rushing yards and 20 touchdowns. Brooks joins a Harbor Monsters team that is coming off another championship season, defeating…

Jordan Love Starts Fast and Parsons Gets a Sack in his Green Bay Debut as Packers Defeat Lions 27-13

The Packers host the Washington Commanders on Thursday night.

GREEN BAY, Wis. (AP) — Micah Parsons’ arrival in Green Bay helped the Packers put their recent NFC North struggles behind them. Jordan Love threw a pair of touchdown passes and Parsons had a sack in his Green Bay debut as the Packers delivered an exceptional defensive performance in a 27-13 victory over the Detroit Lions on Sunday. Opening a…

Joe Pavelski, Zach Parise and Scott Gomez Headline the U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame Class of 2025

USA Hockey announced the quintet of inductees Wednesday.

Longtime NHL players Joe Pavelski, Zach Parise and Scott Gomez headline the United States Hockey Hall of Fame class of 2025. Olympic gold medal-winning women’s defender Tara Mounsey and photographer Bruce Bennett are also set to be enshrined at a ceremony in St. Paul, Minnesota. USA Hockey announced the quintet of inductees Wednesday. “The collection of talent that is part of…

Micah Parsons Traded to the Green Bay Packers After Contract Dispute, AP Source Says

Parsons, a two-time All-Pro edge rusher, becomes the highest-paid non-quarterback in NFL history.

Micah Parsons is headed to the Green Bay Packers after a blockbuster trade, leaving the Dallas Cowboys following a lengthy contract dispute. A person with knowledge of the details said Parsons and the Packers have agreed on a record-setting $188 million, four-year contract that includes $136 million guaranteed. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the trade hasn’t been…