USA Basketball studied every men’s basketball game it has played for about two decades and a clear trend eventually appeared. When the defense isn’t good enough, the Americans tend to get themselves into trouble. And the team for the Paris Olympics was built with that in mind. LeBron James, Stephen Curry, Kevin Durant, Bam Adebayo, Devin Booker, Joel Embiid, Jayson…
ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) — The Minnesota Wild signed goalie Marc-Andre Fleury to a one-year, $2.5 million contract extension on Wednesday, bringing back the veteran for his age-40 season. Fleury, who turns 40 on Nov. 28, has had a prolific season in which he passed Patrick Roy for second place behind Martin Brodeur on the NHL ‘s all-time list in…
PORT WING, Wis.- The eventful off-season continues for Port Wing Native Megan Gustafson. On Wednesday, Gustafson and the London Lions would win the EuroCup, taking down Besiktas 81 to 70. Gustafson had 18 points and seven rebounds in the game. London becomes the first British team to win the European title. The EuroCup title isn’t the only thing to happen…
GREEN BAY, Wis.- (AP) The Green Bay Packers will play the Philadelphia Eagles when the NFL holds its first regular-season game in Brazil on Sept. 6. The matchup in Sao Paulo will mark the first time since 1970 that the NFL has played a Friday night game on the season’s opening weekend. NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell already had said in…
DULUTH, Minn.- A 3rd UMD men’s player is heading to the pros. The latest being Quinn Olson, who signed a deal with the Ontario Reign of the AHL. The Reign are an affiliate of the Los Angeles Kings. Olson skated for the Bulldogs for the past five seasons. His best year wearing a UMD sweater came in the 2021-2022 season…
ARLINGTON, V.A.- Cohasset native and former UMD goaltender Hunter Shepard has once again gotten the call-up to the pros. The Capitals recalled Shepard from their AHL affiliate, the Hershey Bears on Thursday The move was made in order to help out with Darcy Kuemper’s ongoing back injury. Shepard has played in four games this season so far for Washington. In…
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Tanner Bibee and the Cleveland bullpen had 15 strikeouts to put the clamps on Minnesota’s bats, Steven Kwan had three hits and the Guardians spoiled the Twins’ home opener with a 4-2 victory Thursday. Bibee (1-0) matched his career high with nine strikeouts, allowing one run over 5 1/3 innings. Four relievers followed, with Emmanuel Clase working…
MILWAUKEE (AP) — Jackson Chourios became the youngest player in six years to hit a home run but it wasn’t enough for the Milwaukee Brewers, who lost to the Minnesota Twins 7-3 on Wednesday as Ryan Jeffers hit a tiebreaking three-run drive to cap a five-run seventh inning. Rhys Hoskins also went deep for the Brewers, who lost their first…
ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. (AP) — The Buffalo Bills are trading their top receiving threat, Stefon Diggs, to the Houston Texans in a deal that was agreed to on Wednesday. In announcing the trade, the Bills acquired the Texans’ second-round pick in the 2025 draft, which Houston acquired in a trade with Minnesota. Houston also acquired Buffalo’s sixth-round pick in this…
MILWAUKEE (AP) — Jackson Chourio singled in a run in his first American Family Field plate appearance, Christian Yelich homered and the Milwaukee Brewers beat the Minnesota Twins 3-2 on Tuesday to open a season with four straight wins for the first time since 2006. Chourio stepped to the plate with the bases loaded in the third inning after consecutive…
NEW YORK (AP) — Christian Yelich homered, Freddy Peralta pitched six splendid innings and the Milwaukee Brewers threw a one-hitter to beat the New York Mets 3-1 in their contentious season opener Friday. Tempers flared at Citi Field when Brewers newcomer Rhys Hoskins — a Mets nemesis during his days with the NL East rival Phillies — slid hard into…
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Pablo Lopez admitted to feeling some anxiety when the Twins ace stepped on the mound to face the Royals on opening day. It didn’t calm him down any when Maikel Garcia homered off him three pitches later. The All-Star right-hander eventually managed to get his nerves under control, holding Kansas City to just three more…
GREEN BAY, Wis. (AP) — Veteran kicker Greg Joseph has signed with the Green Bay Packers after spending the past three seasons with the Minnesota Vikings. The Packers announced the Joseph signing on Thursday. His arrival provides competition for Anders Carlson, who struggled with consistency as a rookie kicker last season. Joseph, 29, went 24 of 30 on field-goal attempts…
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — The ownership transfer of the Minnesota Timberwolves slammed to a halt when Glen Taylor declared on Thursday he won’t take the final step of his drawn-out $1.5 billion deal to hand Marc Lore and Alex Rodriguez the majority stake because they didn’t meet all of the deadlines in the sale conditions. Lore and Rodriguez, who agreed to…
NEW YORK (AP) — Baseball openers in New York and Philadelphia were postponed a day until Friday because of rainy forecasts in both cities. Pete Alonso and the New York Mets were scheduled to host the Milwaukee Brewers on Thursday afternoon, a day featuring the first full slate of major league games this year. The Los Angeles Dodgers and San…
DULUTH, Minn.- 5th-year senior Connor McMenamin is already making the next step in his hockey career. McMenamin has joined the Reading Royals of the ECHL. The Royals are an affiliate of the Philadelphia Flyers. McMenamin would only skate in one season for the Bulldogs. In 35 games, he would have six goals and 15 assists for a total of 21…
GRAND RAPIDS, Minn.- After being selected by the Wild back in the 2021 NHL Draft in the 2nd round, Grand Rapids native Jack Peart is ready to join the team. On Tuesday, the defenseman signed a three-year, entry-level deal with the squad. Peart just finished up his third year at St. Cloud State. Before his time with the Huskies, he…
DULUTH, Minn.- With training camp set to begin in the next week, the Duluth Harbor Monsters showed off their new lids for the upcoming season over the weekend. The helmet is mainly yellow with a lighter blue and darker blue stripe on the top. It also features the team logo on both sides of the helmet. The Harbor Monsters first…
DULUTH, Minn.- After spending the last two seasons wearing a Bulldog sweater, UMD forward Ben Steeves will soon don a Florida Panthers jersey. On Monday, Steeves signed a two-year, entry-level contract with the NHL club. In 72 career games, he would have 45 goals and 17 assists for 62 total points. Steeves would also lead the Bulldogs in goals in…
ST. PAUL, Minn.- He may not be known for his softball skills but Duluth native C.J. Ham will get a chance to at least show fans what he can do. On May 30th, Ham is set to host the UNRL Charity Softball Game, put on by former Vikings wide receiver Adam Thielen and his foundation. The family friendly event will…
DULUTH, Minn.- A trio of St. Scholastica men’s hockey standouts are heading to the SPHL. Goaltender Jack Bostedt and Defenseman Bryce Johnson and Alec Severson have all signed with the Macon Mayhem. Bostedt finished his Saints career with 39 wins, the most by a goaltender in program history. He also won the 2022- 2023 MIAC Defensive Player of the Year…
ASHLAND, Wis.- Northland College senior forward Brendan Charlton is heading to the pros. Charlton has signed a deal with the Blue Ridge Bobcats of the Federal Prospects Hockey League. The 5th year senior just wrapped up his Lumberjack career, posting eight goals and seven assists in 77 games played. The Bobcats are in their first season in the FPHL and…
DULUTH, Minn.- A former Greyhound has signed his first pro contract. Ricky Lyle Jr. is a now a member of the Toledo Walleye of the ECHL. The Walleye are the farm team of the Detroit Red Wings. Lyle Jr. just wrapped up his four year collegiate career at Army. Over that time, he would tally 62 total points with his…
EAGAN, Minn. (AP) — The Minnesota Vikings acquired Houston’s first-round pick in a pre- draft trade Friday, giving them the 11th and 23rd overall selections as potential capital toward their next franchise quarterback. The Vikings sent their second-round pick and one of their sixth-round picks for this year and their second-round pick in 2025 to the Texans in exchange for…
HOUSTON, Texas.- The Houston Texans have agreed with four-time Pro Bowl edge rusher Danielle Hunter on a $49 million, two-year contract, a person with knowledge of the deal told The Associated Press. The person, who spoke on condition of anonymity because the contract can’t become official until the new league year begins Wednesday, said Hunter is getting $48 million guaranteed….
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — The Minnesota Vikings stayed aggressive in free agency Tuesday by adding former Green Bay running back Aaron Jones and 2018 third overall draft pick Sam Darnold as a temporary replacement at quarterback for Kirk Cousins. Jones, who was released Monday by the Packers after they landed 2022 All-Pro Josh Jacobs, gets a one-year, $7 million contract with…
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — The Minnesota Vikings said goodbye to quarterback Kirk Cousins and quickly began building up their depleted defense as the free agent negotiation window opened Monday in the NFL, agreeing to contracts with edge rushers Jonathan Greenard and Andrew Van Ginkel and inside linebacker Blake Cashman. Greenard will get a four-year, $76 million deal with $42 million guaranteed,…
GREEN BAY, Wis.- (AP) The Green Bay Packers got off to a busy start in free agency, agreeing to deals with running back Josh Jacobs and safety Xavier McKinney, and releasing longtime running back Aaron Jones. Two people familiar with the deals said Monday that the Packers will sign Jacobs and McKinney at the start of the new league year…
EAGAN, Minn.- (AP) Kirk Cousins is leaving Minnesota for Atlanta, landing another big contract with a well-timed foray into free agency. Cousins agreed Monday to a four-year deal with the Falcons, his agent Mike McCartney announced on social media. Atlanta had a glaring need at quarterback after cycling through Tyler Heinicke and Desmond Ridder last season, and Cousins’ wife, Julie,…
DULUTH, Minn.- Former Bulldog Gabbie Hughes has been named to the U.S. National Team Evaluation Camp. Hughes, who currently plays for PWHL Ottawa, is one of 39 players invited to the camp. This won’t be her first time donning the red, white, and blue though. Hughes won a 2023 World Championship medal and has also skated in 13 games with…
SUPERIOR, Wis.- A trio of UWS men’s hockey players have already started their pro careers. Forwards C.J. Walker and Ty Proffitt, and defenseman Troy Quinn all signed pro contracts with the SPHL. Walker, who led the Yellowjackets in scoring, is with the Birmingham Bulls. Quinn joined the Roanoke Rail Yard Dawgs. And lastly, Proffitt is now a member of the…
ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) — Joel Eriksson Ek and Kirill Kaprizov each had hat tricks and tied the franchise record with six points for the Minnesota Wild, who faced a three-goal deficit in the second period before storming back with six unanswered goals in a record-filled 10-7 victory over the NHL-leading Vancouver Canucks on Monday. “You could feel the way…
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — The Minnesota Timberwolves and point guard Mike Conley agreed Monday to a two-year contract extension worth about $21 million that would last through his 19th season in the NBA, according to a person with knowledge of the deal. The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the contract had not yet been finalized….
DULUTH, Minn.- A Duluth curler is up for a prestigious award. Corey Thiesse has been named a semi-finalist for the 94th AAU James E. Sullivan Award. The award has been presented annually to the most outstanding athlete at the collegiate, Olympic, or other similar elite level in the United States. Last year, Thiesse won the U.S. Women’s National Championship with…
DULUTH, Minn.- Less than a year after finishing his college basketball career at St. Scholastica, Nick Carlson will now play overseas. Carlson has signed to play with the Keysborough Cougars of Australia’s Big V League. The semi-pro league was founded in 2000 and features 12 men’s teams and 10 women’s teams. Carlson last played for St. Scholastica in the 2022-23…
PORT WING, Wis.- South Shore High School Graduate Megan Gustafson will add to her already impressive resume when she plays in the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris. Gustafson will represent Spain on their women’s basketball team. She and the Spanish National Team qualified for the Summer Games on Sunday when they defeated Hungary 73-72. Gustafson scored 12 points, including two…
ST. PAUL, Minn.- (AP) Minnesota Wild general manager and three-time U.S. Olympian Bill Guerin will be responsible for overseeing the building of the United States teams competing in the NHL’s 4 Nations Face-Off tournament next year and the 2026 Winter Games, USA Hockey announced on Thursday. The hiring of Guerin as GM is a carryover from three years ago, when…
GREEN BAY, Wis. (AP) — The Green Bay Packers have chosen the members of the selection committee to find a successor to Mark Murphy, who will retire as the team’s president and CEO next year. Murphy is required to retire when he turns 70 in July 2025. Susan Finco, the Packers’ executive committee vice president and lead director, will chair…
SUPERIOR, Wis.- A hall of fame women’s basketball player will soon be heading to Superior. Former Minnesota Head Coach and Lynx Guard Lindsay Whalen is set to speak at UWS on April 3rd. Whalen will tip-off the official start of the Cenovus Women in Leadership program. Tickets for the April 3rd event are $25 and will go on sale March…
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — The Minnesota Twins finalized their $5.25 million, one-year contract with first baseman Carlos Santana and added to their bullpen Wednesday by signing right-hander Jay Jackson and claiming right-hander Zack Weiss off waivers. Jackson, a late bloomer who had a strong 2023 season with Toronto, got a $1.5 million, one-year contract. The switch-hitting Santana and the Twins agreed…
DULUTH, Minn.- On Sunday, two Duluth Curling Club-based skips would go head-to-head in the USA Curling National Championship men’s final. In the end, it took a comeback from the 2018 Olympic Gold medalist to decide a winner. Team Shuster would put up a five on the scoreboard in the seventh end to take down Team Dropkin 11 to 6, to…
PROCTOR, Minn.- The Duluth Harbor Monsters are still looking for the players that will make up their roster when they begin play in June. That continued on Friday when the team held their 2nd official tryout at the Rails Indoor Sports Complex in Proctor. 40 athletes showed up in hopes of making an impression and some were even added to…
MILWAUKEE, Wis.- (AP) The Milwaukee Brewers traded All-Star right-hander Corbin Burnes to the Baltimore Orioles on Thursday night for left-hander DL Hall, infield prospect Joey Ortiz and a competitive balance draft pick. It’s a blockbuster for the Orioles, who had a quiet offseason but remained hopeful they could add more pitching as they prepare to defend their AL East championship….
PORT WING, Wis.- Thursday marked the start of Free Agency for the WNBA. One of the players looking for a new home was Port Wing Native Megan Gustafson. It wouldn’t take long for the South Shore all-time leading scorer to put pen to paper. Gustafson is taking her talents to Vegas to play for the two-time defending champions, the Las…
GREEN BAY, Wis.- (AP) Jeff Hafley is leaving his job as Boston College’s head coach to become the Green Bay Packers’ defensive coordinator. The Packers announced Wednesday night that Hafley will take over for Joe Barry, who was fired last week after three seasons as Green Bay’s defensive coordinator. Hafley went 22-26 at Boston College in four seasons, including a…
SEATTLE (AP) — The Seattle Mariners acquired second baseman Jorge Polanco from the Minnesota Twins on Monday for pitchers Anthony DeSclafani and Justin Topa, two minor leaguers and cash. The prospects going to the Twins are outfielder Gabriel Gonzalez and pitcher Darren Bowen. The 33-year-old DeSclafani was traded to the Mariners earlier this month from San Francisco. He had a…
EAGAN, Minn.- The Vikings may or may not have had a rooting interest in Sunday’s conference championship games. But, Vikings fullback and Duluth native C.J. Ham sure did. With the 49ers advancing to the Super Bowl, that means their starting fullback Kyle Juszczyk will be unable to compete in the Pro Bowl Games this upcoming weekend in Orlando. Ham, who’s…
DULUTH, Minn.- After an electrifying 2023 season, Twins fans in Duluth were eager to see players in-person Sunday night as part of the Twins Winter Caravan. Fans at The Garden in Canal Park had the unique opportunity to ask the players questions, as well as receive autographs and take part in several giveaways. This year’s Winter Caravan included current players…
DULUTH, Minn.- Former Bulldog Gabbie Hughes won’t be the only skater with UMD ties participating at the Rivalry Series in February. Defender Maggie Flaherty has now joined her on the roster. Flaherty is currently with PWHL Minnesota and has played in all six games. The rivalry series against Canada begins February 7th. With another game set in Canada on February…
MILWAUKEE (AP) — Doc Rivers is finalizing a deal to take over as the Milwaukee Bucks coach a day after the firing of Adrian Griffin, a person with knowledge of the negotiations told The Associated Press on Wednesday. Rivers and the Bucks were still negotiating on Wednesday, according to the person who spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity…
