Minnesota coach Niko Medved has received a one-year contract extension with a slight raise after a promising first season at his alma mater.

The university board of regents approved the contract amendment this week at its regular monthly meeting, giving Medved a $100,000 pay bump on top of the $100,000 annual increase in his initial six-year deal. Medved is now signed through the 2031-32 season and will make $3.2 million in 2026-27, which ranks 17th out of 18 head coaches in the Big Ten, according to university documents.

The Gophers went 15-18 overall and 8-12 in Big Ten play in Medved's first year, with a lineup depleted by injuries. The former student manager and assistant coach for the Gophers was hired last year after seven seasons at Colorado State. He's entering his 14th year as a head coach, including stops at Drake and Furman.

Dejan Joveljić scored in the first half, and Manu García found the net in the second to help Sporting Kansas City hold off Minnesota United 2-1 on Wednesday night.

Joveljić used assists from rookies Capita Capemba and Lasse Berg Johnsen to score his team-leading seventh goal of the season and give Sporting KC (4-10-2) a 1-0 lead in the 28th minute that stood through halftime.

Capemba's assist was his first in his 10th career appearance and Berg Johnsen collected his fourth in 13 matches.

Defender Jake Davis and Calvin Harris set up García's second goal of the campaign to give Sporting KC a 2-0 lead in the 54th minute. It was the third assist for Davis and a career-high fifth for Harris.

Minnesota United (6-6-4) cut it to 2-1 in the 75th minute when defender Devin Padelford took a pass from Joaquín Pereyra and scored with a header for his first goal this season and his second in 59 career appearances. Pereyra's helper was his sixth.

Stefan Cleveland had six saves for Sporting KC.

Drake Callender saved five shots for Minnnesota United.

Minnesota United entered with a 4-0-1 record in the last five matchups with Sporting KC, including back-to-back 3-0 victories at home in the two most recent.

Sporting KC leads the all-time series 13-10-5 in all competitions and had a 4-0-1 streak in the series prior to Minnesota United's run. Sporting KC is 11-2-1 in the series at home.

Sporting KC was coming off a 3-2 road loss to St. Louis City on Thursday, but the club has picked up three wins in its last five matches.

Minnesota United is 0-3-2 in its last five outings.

Minnesota: Hosts the Vancouver Whitecaps on Saturday.

Sporting KC: At Los Angeles FC on Saturday.

Napheesa Collier had 24 points and 10 rebounds in her season debut, Kayla McBride added 20 points and the Minnesota Lynx headed into the WNBA All-Star break with the best record in the league after an 86-76 win over the Seattle Storm on Wednesday afternoon.

Collier, who tore ligaments in her left ankle in a playoff game last September and had surgery on both ankles in the offseason, shot 9 for 20 with two 3-pointers in 24 minutes. The WNBA Defensive Player of the Year and runner-up in the MVP voting last season made three free throws after being fouled on a desperation 3-pointer as the shot clock was running out, just after Seattle had closed within 77-76 with 1:42 to play.

Collier then followed a Seattle miss with a turnaround jumper before the Lynx hit four more free throws to end the game on a 9-0 run.

Olivia Miles added 13 points and Natasha Howard had 11 for the Lynx (22-6). McBride came up just short of joining Diana Taurasi and A'ja Wilson with 23 points in eight straight games.

Dominque Malonga had 21 points and nine rebounds for the Storm (6-23), who have lost six straight and eight of nine. Flau'jae Johnson added 16 points, Natisha Hiedman had 12 and Awa Fam 10 points and 10 rebounds.

It was Fam who fouled Collier with 1:19 to play after Johnson had scored five points in 19 seconds to make it a one-point game.

Up next

Lynx: Home against Toronto on Tuesday.

Aces: Home against Indiana on Tuesday.

Austin Hedges and Petey Halpin hit sacrifice flies in the sixth inning as the Cleveland Guardians, a night after hitting seven homers, used small ball to beat the Minnesota Twins 5-2 on Tuesday for a third straight victory.

Cleveland starter Parker Messick allowed two runs — one earned — on four hits in 5 2/3 innings. He struck out six and didn't walk a batter before leaving with a runner on second. Colin Holderman (5-2) got the final out in the inning to qualify for the win.

Hunter Gaddis pitched a scoreless 1 1/3 innings before Cade Smith closed it out in the ninth for his 29th save — tops in the majors.

Ryan Jeffers hit his ninth homer, a two-out shot off Messick in the first for a 1-0 lead.

Hedges walked leading off the third against Kendry Rojas and scored on a double by Steven Kwan to tie it. Mike Paredes (0-3) replaced Rojas and surrendered an RBI single to Brayan Rocchio to put Cleveland up 2-1.

Josh Bell doubled and scored when Messick mishandled a comebacker from Royce Lewis to tie it 2-all in the fourth.

Cleveland loaded the bases in the sixth and Paredes yielded a go-ahead sac fly to Hedges. Taylor Rogers entered and surrendered a sac fly to Halpin after Travis Bazzana and Arias pulled off a double steal for a 4-2 lead.

Rogers also gave up a two-out RBI single to Bazzana in the seventh.

Rojas allowed two runs in 2 1/3 innings on a hit and two walks for Minnesota, which has lost four straight. Paredes gave up two runs on six hits in three innings. Rookie Jack Anderson pitched a scoreless 1 1/3 innings in his Twins debut.

Twins RHP Bailey Ober (7-3, 4.32) starts Wednesday opposite Guardians RHP Slade Cecconi (4-6, 4.55).

Five-time All-Star Napheesa Collier is listed as probable for Minnesota's game at Seattle on Wednesday, which would be her first action since injuring her left ankle in last year's playoffs.

The return of Collier, a four-time All-WNBA selection, is a major boost for a Lynx team that has more than coped with her absence. Led by All-Star rookie Olivia Miles, the Lynx are on a six-game winning streak and their 21-6 record is the league's best.

Collier was second last season to Las Vegas' A'ja Wilson in MVP voting for the second year in a row. She averaged 22.9 points, 7.3 rebounds, 3.2 assists, 1.6 steals and 1.5 blocks and became only the second player ever to making at least 50 percent of her field goals, 40 percent of 3-pointers and 90 percent of free throws in a season.

An injury to her right ankle in August forced Collier to miss three weeks. She tore three ligaments in her left ankle in Game 3 of the WNBA semifinals against Phoenix.

Collier underwent surgery on both ankles in the offseason.

She signed a one-year, $1.4 million supermax contract in April.

If there’s a World-Cup shaped hole in your heart this week, you might turn your attention to Minnesota’s professional soccer team.

This week, the Loons are headed to Kansas City, which is also getting back to the regular MLS season after hosting some World Cup games.

Minnesota Now sports contributors Wally Langfellow and Eric Nelson joined to talk more about this and much more.

Use the audio player above to listen to the full conversation.

Subscribe to the Minnesota Now podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts.

We attempt to make transcripts for Minnesota Now available the next business day after a broadcast. When ready they will appear here.

Spain is the winner of the World Cup 2026, defeating Argentina 1-0 in Sunday’s game that both delighted and frustrated many.

Here in Minnesota, hundreds of people gathered to watch the game at the North Loop Green. There, they sported jerseys for their favorite teams, even if they weren’t playing.

It wasn’t the climactic end to the World Cup many wanted, but it did draw the eyes of the world, and it introduced many Americans to the excitement of soccer.

Minnesota soccer reporter Jon Marthaler joined Minnesota Now to talk about the World Cup’s final game and its impact on Americans.

Use the audio player above to listen to the full conversation.

Subscribe to the Minnesota Now podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts.

We attempt to make transcripts for Minnesota Now available the next business day after a broadcast. When ready they will appear here.

Spain substitute Ferran Torres scored in the 106th minute to give his team a 1-0 win over defending champion Argentina in the World Cup final on Sunday.

Spain was absolutely dominant in terms of possession and shot attempts. Lionel Messi and Argentina found a way to hang on and force extra time — but barely.

And in the opening moment of the second 15-minute period of extra time, Torres pounced on a bouncing ball in the box and used his left foot to bury a shot just under the crossbar and into the back of the net.

Enzo Fernandez was sent off in second-half stoppage time after getting his second yellow card, meaning Argentina was forced to finish the match with only 10 players. Fernandez was carded for a reckless play that sent Spain defender Pau Cubarsi cartwheeling into the air, and the card came out immediately.

Another foul about two minutes after play resumed gave Lamine Yamal a chance to win it from about 22 yards out on a free kick. Yamal’s strike was curling toward the right post, and Martinez dived to knock it away for his 10th save of the afternoon — the most ever in a World Cup final.

He leaped to his feet, punching the air and imploring the crowd to get loud. Not long after that came the whistle, sending the game to extra time.

Spain took 15 shots in regulation, Argentina none. Spain took nine corners, Argentina one. And somehow, 90-plus minutes of that sort of dominance wasn't enough.

With its victory, Spain became the first nation to simultaneously hold the World Cup crowns in both men's and women's soccer.

It was the 104th and last match of the biggest World Cup ever, a 48-team event that played out over the U.S., Canada and Mexico. Because there were more matches than any previous World Cup, it was no surprise that there were more goals than all other editions — 308.

The spectacle was not limited to simply soccer.

Celebrities — from all walks of life — were there. Brad Pitt, Tom Cruise, Matt Damon, Will Ferrell, Cillian Murphy, Daniel Craig, Jennifer Connelly, Jennifer Hudson, Jon Hamm, Matthew Broderick and Sarah Jessica Parker were among the actors at the game.

The NBA had enough talent there for a full All-Star Game, with the list of players attending including Stephen Curry, Victor Wembanyama, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Bronny James, Cade Cunningham, Cooper Flagg, Devin Booker, Donovan Mitchell, Draymond Green, Jalen Brunson, Jalen Williams, James Harden, Jaylen Brown, Karl-Anthony Towns, Kevin Durant and Tyrese Haliburton.

Serena Williams and Carlos Alcaraz were among the tennis royalty watching, the NFL had names like Eli Manning, Patrick Mahomes, Odell Beckham Jr. and Saquon Barkley in attendance, two of the greatest U.S. skiers ever in Mikaela Shiffrin and Lindsey Vonn were at the match — and, of course, there were soccer royalty with the likes of Kaka, David Beckham, Didier Drogba and Zinedine Zidane.

Post Malone headlined the closing ceremony, which started about 90 minutes before the final was set to begin and just a few minutes after Messi and Argentina arrived at the stadium. The halftime show — a first for FIFA and part of a 27-minute break — featured Justin Bieber, Madonna, Shakira and BTS, along with Burna Boy, Venezuelan conductor Gustavo Dudamel, the PS 22 Chorus with Coldplay, and even characters from Sesame Street and the Muppets.

President Donald Trump was present as well, with plans calling for him to be part of the trophy presentation at the conclusion of the match.

“I won't pick sides,” Trump told Fox Sports in an interview released Sunday afternoon before the final. “I just think it's very hard to bet against Messi. He's great.”

Minnesota Lynx jerseys aren’t a rare sight in the Target Center, but you don’t expect to see one being repped by the opposing team’s bench.

Saturday night was an exception as former Lynx star center and current Portland Fire assistant coach Sylvia Fowles donned her old number.

Following the Minnesota Lynx’s 101-93 win, Minnesota honored Fowles by revealing a Hall of Fame banner on her retired number in the rafters.

Fowles broke into the WNBA in 2008 as the second-overall draft pick out of LSU for the Chicago Sky.

The 6-foot-6-inch Miami-native sat out the first half of the 2015 WNBA season, refusing a contract extension. The Sky deemed all trade offers insufficient, and Fowles held out until July that year for one specific reason: the opportunity to join Minnesota.

“She knew she wanted to play in Minnesota and was waiting for the opportunity to do that. She felt that strongly,” Lynx head coach Cheryl Reeve said before the game Saturday. “The choosing of us and the passion, the commitment that she has for this franchise, for the teammates that she played with, for the coaching staff, to this day remains one of the most special things that I've experienced.”

She was a key member of the Lynx for eight seasons before retiring in 2022.

During her time in Minnesota, she earned the nickname “Sweet Syl” for her nurturing off-the-court spirit that sharply contrasted her fierce on-court playing style, which earned her four defensive player of the year awards throughout her career, the second most in league history.

She was an eight-time All-Star and named the WNBA’s Most Valuable Player in 2017.

Reeve said Fowles’ commanding style is “non-existent” today.

“It was a dominance on the interior, defensively, rebounding,” Reeve said. “I mean, there's no one. No one in the league is like her.”

Fowles helped the Lynx win two WNBA Championships in 2015 and 2017. She played alongside greats like Lindsay Whalen, Rebekkah Brunson, Maya Moore and Seimone Augustus, four of whom have also become coaches in the WNBA or NCAA Division I colleges.

“None of us saw Syl coaching. I seen her crocheting some pillows or some blankets or something like that, but never coaching,” Augustus said, who also played with Fowles at LSU. “But if anybody's gonna coach, it would be someone like Syl, because she's so caring and nurturing. You know the intensity of basketball, you kind of need that happy mixture of intensity, but then that coddling to help players get through. So it's good to see her in there and coaching up these post players to be great, as great as she was.”

It’s a leadership role that started in Minnesota during her final years as the team entered a rebuild, Reeve said.

“Syl poured into the next era. She was the one that, after everyone was gone, she was the one that was still here,” Reeve said Friday during practice.

At that point, Reeve spoke to Fowles telling her she understood if she wanted to go to a different team to compete for another championship.

“She shut the conversation down really fast, and she said, ‘This is home and this is where I'm going to finish,’” Reeve said.

Fowles nodded along recalling that story when it was shared during the ceremony and said the Lynx are part of her identity.

“I'll forever bleed this blue and green,” Fowles said in a pregame press conference. “This is home at heart forever.”

While at Minnesota, she was an advocate for youth health and wellness, hosting biking and gardening events to share her hobbies. She and the Lynx launched “Syl’s Final Ride” campaign, teaming with local nonprofit Free Bikes 4 Kidz MN to provide children in need with bicycles.

The Lynx named the Sylvia Fowles Altruism Award after her, recognizing a player who embodies kindness, selflessness and care for the well-being of others in the community. Lynx forward Napheesa Collier received the inaugural 2023 honor. Both Bridget Carleton and Natisha Heideman, who have both left the Lynx, were also recipients of the honor.

“She's just thoughtful to her core. Like that's her space, always giving.” Reeve said. “It's important as a Lynx player. In general, we like the selfless nature and doing things for others, but Syl just always took it to another level.”

Reeve recalled wanting to do something special to remember the high standard of selflessness Fowles set. Fowles said it was amongst her highest accomplishments.

“I am honored to be able to give an award every year, but it just speaks to who I am,” Fowles said. “Like basketball is the plus, and it has always been a plus. But who you are as a human, I think, comes first.”

Fowles grew emotional when she reminisced on Reeves laying a road map for successful coaching. Fowles now implements the same style at Portland with honed attention to detail and steadfast support for her players to build their confidence.

“Cheryl, I can't thank you enough for the things that you have done for my career,” she said. “Being here and wearing this jersey definitely prolonged what legacy looks like and I don’t think I could have done that without being a Minnesota Lynx.”

Fowles was the eighth Lynx player Inducted in the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame, preceding Reeve by a year. She’s also a four-time Olympic gold medalist with the USA Basketball Women’s National Team.

Beyond the court into fans’ heart: ‘She's just such a beautiful human’

Coming back just 74 days after giving birth, another fan favorite, Collier, said her goal in 2022 was getting to play with Fowles again before her retirement.

“It was just a handful of games, but it was really touching. It was amazing,” said Alex Schneider of Minneapolis, a fan of nearly 10 years wearing a t-shirt with Fowles and a squiggly font listing all of Fowles' accomplishments.

Phee’s return to join Fowles is a favorite memory for St Paul’s Michelle Fure because it solidified why Fowles’ character was so unique.

“She's just such a beautiful human and really offers so much joy and love in everything that she does to both her players and the people in her life,” Fure said in a retro Lynx blue-green Fowles jersey.

Fure has been a fan since before Fowles arrived to Minnesota. She remembered watching Fowles’ talent permeating the team. Fowles’ crispest shot-blocking moments play on rewind in her mind years later.

Sherry Gwegorryn of St. Paul called Fowles’ influence “groundbreaking.”

“It changed the whole team,” she said. “We had a great team before with Maya Moore and Seimone Augustus and all that, but then when Sylvia came in, it just took off, and it was really amazing to see. We had defense and offense.”

What Fowles added is undeniable. She averaged 15.7 points, 9.8 rebounds and 1.77 blocks per game. In the postseason, she added 14.9 points, 10.4 rebounds and 1.68 blocks per game in 41 contests.

But it was what she offered off the court that ultimately stole fans’ hearts. Fowles’ bike trips with kids and community-centered wellness events are why they’ll never forget her, Fure said.

“Justice and community, it's just really part of who they are. It's part of the fabric of Minnesota, but it is certainly a part of this franchise and this organization, and she embodied that.”

Kayla McBride scored 24 points to move into the top 20 on the WNBA career scoring list and the Minnesota Lynx beat the Portland Fire 101-93 on Saturday night for their fifth straight victory.

McBride was 9 of 14 from the field, making four 3-pointers to help Minnesota improve to a league-best 20-6. McBride topped 20-plus points for a sixth straight game and upped her career total to 5,846. She hit a 3-pointer to move past No. 20 Becky Hammon (5,841) and give the Lynx an 86-76 lead with 5:14 left to play.

Natasha Howard had 16 points for the Lynx, who finished off a four-game homestand. Rookie Olivia Miles added 14 points and 10 assists, Courtney Williams scored 15 points and reserve Dorka Juhasz had 12.

Bridget Carleton had 22 points and Carla Leite and Sarah Ashlee Barker both scored 21 to pace Portland (11-15).

Miles sank a 3-pointer for a 7-4 lead and the Lynx stayed in front from there.

Carleton hit a 3-pointer to cut it to 53-50 with 6:11 remaining in the third quarter, but Nia Coffey and McBride answered with back-to-back 3s and Portland got no closer.

Up next

Fire: Hosts Dallas Wings on Wednesday night.

Lynx: At Seattle Storm on Monday night.

The winner of the World Cup will hoist a trophy, receive championship rings for the first time and gain a lifetime of glory in what will be a defining moment in the country's sports history. It'll also lead to a significant payday.

The World Cup winner earns $51 million. The second prize is $34 million.

FIFA expanded the payout for the 2026 World Cup, setting a record with a combined $871 million paid to the 48 participating teams. That tally includes more than $100 million that was added in April after some federations in Europe lobbied for help to cover costs at a tournament across three countries that has required extensive travel and lodging costs.

The $51 million for either Argentina or Spain is a large sum, but it also pales in comparison to the fortunes that are spent on global soccer. It's also smaller than what last year's Club World Cup winner earned in a tournament also played in the U.S.

For perspective, the $51 million for the winner is less than the transfer fee paid Tuesday by English club Brighton for a 19-year-old defender who spent most of the World Cup on the bench, Croatia's Luka Vušković.

Here’s what to know about the World Cup prize money:

All teams get paid

FIFA pays money to the 48 national federations in two categories: Prize money bonuses based on how far each team advances in the tournament and across-the-board payments to cover training and preparation costs.

All 48 get at least $12.5 million for competing in the World Cup, including $10 million in prize money for qualifying and playing in the group stage. Each receives $2.5 million for pre-tournament training and expenses. That upfront money was agreed at past World Cups to help avoid pre-tournament tensions when it wasn't uncommon for players to claim that bonuses had not been paid by their federation.

The prize money goes up depending on how far the teams advance.

The higher amounts come after demands from federations

Some federations, especially from Europe, had told FIFA that the prize money structure and payments for preparation costs that had been set last year would see them lose money on the tournament unless their team went deep into the knockout rounds.

France federation president Philippe Diallo told sports daily L'Equipe he had for several months drawn FIFA President Gianni Infantino's attention to World Cup teams not being properly rewarded, compared to what Club World Cup winner Chelsea got one year ago. That was $115 million, after FIFA had to promise a nine-figure reward that persuaded storied European clubs to play in the revamped competition.

World Cup teams playing games in the United States also faced some tax obligations that are exempted in Canada and Mexico.

World Cup champion gets the big bucks

The eventual champion receives $51 million, compared to Argentina’s federation $42 million for winning the 2022 tournament in Qatar. That 32-team edition had a total prize fund of $440 million.

Here is what the others are getting:

Runner-up: $34 million

Third place (England): $30 million

Fourth place (France): $28 million

Quarterfinalists (fifth to eight): $20 million each

Round of 16 (ninth to 16th): $16 million each

Round of 32 (17th to 32nd): $12 million each

Group stage (33rd-48th): $10 million each

Flights and hotels are covered

In addition to the payout sums and under World Cup regulations, FIFA is already obliged to pay for business‑class return flights for each federation to travel to the tournament plus board and lodging for a 50-person delegation, which includes the players. The hotel payments start five nights before a team’s first game and one night after it is eliminated.

FIFA also covers the cost of domestic travel for up to 50 delegation members, and “a dedicated fleet of vehicles, including an equipment truck.”

The soccer federations of World Cup teams must pay for “adequate insurance ... including but not limited to injury, accident, disease and travel,” plus “incidental hotel costs” and housing additional members of a delegation.

The World Cup trophy

The greatest honor, of course, is the World Cup trophy.

On Sunday, the champions will celebrate with it after the final whistle during an award ceremony. The original trophy is not awarded permanently. Instead, the winners will be presented with a gold-plated replica, which they get to keep.

As for World Cup prize money, that's paid by FIFA to the federations — not the players. It's up to each federation's rules how they handle the money.

For example: U.S. soccer will get to keep 20 percent of the prize money. The remaining 80 percent that the U.S. men’s national soccer team receives will be split evenly between the men’s and women’s national teams following a 2022 milestone agreement to pay its men’s and women’s teams equally, making the American national governing body the first in the sport to promise both sexes matching money.

Ryan Jeffers hit a go-ahead three-run homer, Bailey Ober struck out seven in 5 1/3 innings and the surging Minnesota Twins beat the Chicago Cubs 5-2 on Friday night.

The Twins got back to .500 for the first time since April 22. They have won three straight and 10 of 14.

Ober (7-3) allowed five hits and two runs in his second strong start since returning from the IL on July 9. He made his first start against the Cubs, giving him a start against every team in the majors except Minnesota.

Yoendrys Gómez worked a hitless ninth for his 12th save.

Colin Rea (7-6) struck out six in six innings for the Cubs. He allowed five hits, four runs (three earned), and walked one.

Michael Busch had an RBI single to right in the first for the Cubs. They threatened for more with runners at the corners and no outs, but Ober worked out of the jam.

Trevor Larnach tied it with an RBI single in the third, and Jeffers' eighth homer of the year put the Twins ahead for good two pitches later.

Seiya Suzuki scored on a sixth-inning wild pitch by Tommy Nance to bring the Cubs within one. The Twins got the lead back to three with Ryan Kreidler's RBI single in the seventh.

The Target USA Cup youth soccer tournament — held at the National Sports Center in Blaine — suspended all games for the remainder of Thursday due to record poor air quality.

Air quality has reached hazardous levels for much of eastern Minnesota — including the Twin Cities metro.

USA Cup organizers say they will notify teams of the schedule for the remainder of the week later today.

LeBron James may be ready to shed some light on his future plans.

The NBA's career scoring king — and free agent — is scheduled to speak publicly Thursday afternoon, meaning it's possible that James will be revealing where he plans to play this coming season or at least give some updates on where he is in the decision-making process.

James will be recording an episode of his “Mind the Game” podcast alongside guest co-host Tyrese Haliburton of the Indiana Pacers in New York on the opening day of Fanatics Fest, a four-day event featuring dozens of athletes, celebrities and sports legends. Single-day general admission tickets are sold out, organizers said.

That appearance has been planned for months; it was announced publicly in May.

James is the NBA’s oldest active player at 41 and the only player in league history to have a career spanning 23 seasons; this coming season will be his 24th. Speculation has been rampant for more than two months about his future, officially starting in May when the Los Angeles Lakers were eliminated from the NBA playoffs.

At that time, James said he didn’t know what he would be doing.

And the only developments that he’s revealed since came on June 30, when he said he would play this coming season and that he was leaving the Lakers after an eight-season run highlighted by the 2020 NBA title.

For more than two weeks, the NBA has been waiting to hear what comes next.

James’ resume is beyond compare in NBA history. He’s a 22-time All-Star, a 21-time All-NBA selection, a four-time Most Valuable Player, a four-time NBA Finals MVP, a three-time All-Star Game MVP, and was a member of the NBA’s 75th anniversary team.

He’s also coming off a season where he averaged 20.9 points, 6.1 rebounds, and 7.2 assists per game. For his career, he’s averaged 26.8 points, 7.5 rebounds, and 7.4 assists in more than 1,600 games.

The podcast is the first of two known speaking engagements for James in New York on Thursday.

He's also planning to appear at the Game Plan Summit, an invitation-only event presented by CNBC and Boardroom. James is slated to have a conversation with Boardroom co-founder Rich Kleiman — Kevin Durant's longtime business partner — about “how he’s built an empire beyond basketball, what’s ahead for him in business, and why the next generation of athletes is poised to wield more influence than ever before.”

James started his career in Cleveland in 2003 and spent seven seasons with the Cavaliers before heading to Miami for four seasons — where he won his first two titles. He then returned to Cleveland for four more seasons, leaving in 2018 to start an eight-season run with the Lakers.

Cleveland and Miami are believed to be on James' radar again as he weighs this decision, as are several other teams including Philadelphia, Minnesota and Golden State.

Lionel Messi sent in the cross that sent Argentina to the World Cup final after another improbable comeback.

Trailing 1-0 going into the last five minutes of regulation time, Messi fed a pinpoint ball to substitute Lautaro Martinez in the second minute of injury time to give the defending champions a 2-1 victory over England on Wednesday.

Messi also provided the assist to Enzo Fernandez in the 85th minute for the equalizing goal.

At the end of another exhausting match — another match in which Argentina was stretched to the final minutes — Messi dropped to his knees in celebration.

Argentina, which will play Spain in the final on Sunday in East Rutherford, New Jersey, is now one game away from becoming the first team to win back-to-back World Cups since Brazil in 1958 and 1962.

Anthony Gordon had given England the lead in the 55th minute but the team's other chances failed to find the back of the net.

Fernandez scored the equalizer with a long range effort as Argentina pressed desperately for a goal, and Martinez headed in the winner with time running out.

Argentina had to come through yet another tough match at this year's expanded 48-team tournament after surviving scares against Cape Verde and Egypt.

The game resumed one of the biggest rivalries in international soccer and there was a raucous atmosphere in the stadium even before kickoff as both sets of fans tried to drown out the other team’s national anthem.

That continued on the field in a first half that was repeatedly broken up fouls.

Leandro Paredes went in late on Jude Bellingham early in the game. Fernandez did likewise with Elliot Anderson soon after.

A tense first half ended goalless, with no clear chances, but the game opened up after the break.

England goalkeeper Jordan Pickford denied Julian Alvarez and Gordon found the breakthrough for England, converting a cross from Morgan Rogers.

Argentina pressed. Substitute Nico Gonzalez was denied by Pickford and Alexis Mac Allister came even closer with a header off the post.

Kayla McBride scored 24 for her fifth straight 20-point performance, Courtney Williams added 19 points, and the Minnesota Lynx beat the Los Angeles Sparks 96-87 on Wednesday for their fourth straight victory.

Minnesota went on a 19-3 run, scoring on 10 straight possessions, to take a 63-56 lead with 2:36 left in the third quarter.

McBride made her first 3-pointer with four minutes left in the fourth for an 84-74 lead. Nia Coffey banked in a 3-pointer on the Lynx’s next possession for an 11-point lead.

Minnesota went 8 of 14 from 3-point range in the second half after missing 11 straight before halftime. Six of those makes came from different players.

Minnesota rookie Olivia Miles had 18 points in 26 minutes for Minnesota (19-6). Miles went to the floor with 6:03 left in the fourth and she did not return after appearing to roll her ankle on a driving layup.

Rae Burrell scored 24 points, and Nneka Ogwumike had 23 points, 12 rebounds and five assists for Los Angeles (10-13). Cameron Brink scored 10 points in her first game since June 15. The Sparks turned it over 20 times, leading to 30 points for Minnesota.

Up next

Sparks: At Chicago on Friday.

Lynx: Host Portland on Saturday.

Minnesota Timberwolves President of Basketball Operations Tim Connelly said losing Naz Reid was the “hurtful part” of trading for LaMelo Ball and Josh Green.

The Wolves introduced Ball and Green on Tuesday at Target Center. Connelly addressed the loss of fan favorite Naz Reid.

“I mean the bigger loss was Naz, both as a player in person, if we could have done this without Naz, it would’ve been the biggest no-brainer,” Connelly said.

Ball said “the sky is the limit” with this Wolves team.

“I feel it could do a lot, I mean, I'm just coming here ready to play,” Ball said. “I'm here to learn.”

Ball joined the Wolves from the Charlotte Hornets and hasn’t made it to the playoffs yet in his career. The Wolves have made it to the playoffs for the past five years in a row – with two appearances in the Western Conference finals since Anthony Edwards was drafted in 2020.

Head Coach Chris Finch said Ball “is a player that elevates everybody.” He said once the team builds better habits, they will have the ability to hold up against the best teams in the Western Conference.

Green said he wants to be a player who makes “winning plays” for the Wolves.

“At the end of the day, I love winning and I’m competitive. So, you know, just kind of figuring it out and just be ready to go from day one,” Green said.

Connelly also addressed rumors of signing LeBron James.

“I think obviously he's an unbelievable player, whatever decision he's making is going to be the right one, there's a lot going on when you're as great as he is. You should have optionality,” he said. “We're kind of proud of who we are, and certainly wherever LeBron ends up is going to make that place much, much, much better.”

Ball was asked if he had made any phone calls asking James to join the Wolves. He laughed and said, “Yeah, whatever you’re thinking.”

The Timberwolves will be back in action in October.

Suni Lee is making a run at a third Olympics.

The America gymnastics star announced she is returning to the sport on Tuesday, about two years out from the Los Angeles Games.

Lee, the 2020 all-around champion and a six-time Olympic medalist, posted a video on Instagram saying she was back in the gym and ready to return to work.

The 23-year-old Lee has been on a break following the 2024 Paris Olympics, in which she helped the Americans win team gold while earning bronze in the all-around and uneven bars.

She’s the latest member of the 2024 Olympic team to announce she is eyeing a shot at LA. Jade Carey is among the gold medalists who already have returned to competition.

Kayla McBride scored a season-high 37 points, rookie Olivia Miles had a career-high 33 and the Minnesota Lynx beat the Phoenix Mercury 104-100 on Monday night for their third straight victory.

McBride's sixth 3-pointer gave Minnesota a 101-98 lead with 45.1 seconds left. Miles also had eight assists.

Miles drove into the lane and found Natasha Howard for a layup with 21.1 seconds left to make it 103-100. Courtney Williams had a steal at the other end, and Miles made 1 of 2 free throws for a four-point lead.

The game featured 23 lead changes and 13 ties — with both teams shooting 55% from the field. Minnesota (18-6) made 24 of 26 free throws.

McBride finished one point shy of her career high set in 2018. Miles became the fastest player in WNBA history to reach 400 points, 100 rebounds and 100 assists — doing it in 22 games.

Kahleah Copper scored 26 points, and Alyssa Thomas had 19 points, eight rebounds and 12 assists for Phoenix (8-17).

Mercury: Host Connecticut on Friday and Sunday.

Lynx: Host Los Angeles on Wednesday.

Kayla McBride scored 14 of her 25 points in the fourth quarter, Olivia Miles added 23 points after missing two games and the Minnesota Lynx edged the New York Liberty 90-85 on Saturday.

Natasha Howard scored 16 points for the Lynx (17-6), who lost by 13 to the Liberty eight days earlier. Courtney Williams added 12 points.

Sabrina Ionescu scored 25 points for the Liberty (13-10), who have lost four of five games. Breanna Stewart added 17 points, Jonquel Jones had 15 points and 12 rebounds, and Marine Johannes scored 14 off the bench.

Miles, coming back from a calf injury, had a steal with 1:21 to play and the Lynx up 86-83. Courtney and McBride snagged offensive rebounds before Miles hit two free throws to make it 88-83 with 53 seconds left. Miles missed a pair of free throws with 42 seconds to go.

New York answered with a basket from Jones basket before Williams put up a jumper just before the shot clock expired. She missed, but Miles grabbed the rebound and added two more free throws with eight seconds left to ice the win.

Minnesota used a 12-2 run to end the first quarter to take a 17-13 lead. Miles had 11 points in the second quarter and the Lynx led 42-32 at halftime.

Ionescu owned the third quarter with 19 points as the Liberty outscored the Lynx 30-19. A McBride jumper pushed the Minnesota lead to 56-41 midway through the quarter, but Johannes had back-to-back 3-pointers as the Liberty stormed back for a 62-61 lead entering the fourth quarter.

Vaughn Grissom went 2 for 3 with a home run and two RBIs, and the Los Angeles Angels beat the Minnesota Twins 4-3 on Friday night to snap a five-game skid at Target Field.

Grayson Rodriguez (3-2) gave up three runs and six hits in 5 1/3 innings while Kirby Yates pitched a scoreless ninth for his third save this season.

Wade Meckler and Tyler Heineman also had two hits apiece for the Angels.

Brooks Lee and Josh Bell each went 2 for 4 with a double for the Twins.

The Angels, who have lost eight of their last 10 games, have the worst record in the major leagues.

Grissom hit the first pitch of the fourth inning over the wall in left field. Jorge Soler followed with a double and later scored on a balk by Twins starter Zebby Matthews (4-6) that gave LA a 2-1 lead.

Matthews allowed four runs and nine hits in six innings.

Meckler scored when Nolan Schanuel hit the last of four consecutive singles to lead off the fifth inning before Grissom followed with a sacrifice fly that made it 4-1.

Trevor Larnach doubled to lead off the first inning and scored on a sacrifice fly by Kody Clemens. Lee hit a run-scoring double and pinch-hitter Austin Martin had an RBI groundout in the sixth that made it a one-run game.

Larnach walked with one out and moved to third when Ryan Jeffers doubled in the seventh, but Samy Natera Jr. retired Clemens and Bell to end the threat and preserve Minnesota's 4-3 lead.

Minnesota is 10-4 with a plus-41 run differential in its last 14 against the Angels, dating to September 2023.

Confetti, cheers and a giant “got that dawg in me” chain was how the Minnesota Lynx team and head coach Cheryl Reeve celebrated the record-breaking win Wednesday in Connecticut that makes her the winningest coach in the WNBA.

“Suddenly there was confetti, et cetera, and the best party I've ever been to. So that was really exciting. It was lit,” she said in front of her players, sending laughter amongst the team. “It was great.”

It was a fierce battle Wednesday, when the Lynx came out on top with an 86-80 win over the Connecticut Sun. It marked Reeve's 380th win.

Days later and back in Minnesota, she reflected on the accomplishment to a crowd of her team, assistant coaches and other Lynx staff. Here are three key takeaways.

It wasn’t always easy, but she never gave up the ‘W’

Her career at the Lynx dates back over 15 years, but Reeve’s time as a coach in the WNBA goes back 25 years.

Before landing a head coach position, she was an assistant coach for other franchises for about 10 years, including the Charlotte Sting, Cleveland Rockers and Detroit Shock — all teams that she saw fold.

Regardless of the challenges at the beginning, including being with Cleveland when they folded. She said it tested their conviction, but being a part of the league is who she was then and is still to this day.

“I remember just vividly going, ‘I'm a WNBA person, and if this thing goes down, I'm going down with it, and I'm going to stick it out,” she said. “26 years later, it's become what I always thought it could be, if the men that were running it would see it the right way.”

She says changing societal norms have reshaped the league’s leadership, goals and public acceptance.

“We had to push, pull, drag, kick, all the things. It doesn't matter. The fight's been worth it,” she said.

The fight culminated in a new collective bargaining agreement reached before the 2026 season that fundamentally reshaped the financial landscape for players, raising maximum salaries to $1.4 million.

But for Reeve, the growth of the league has offered her something much more personal.

“I found me, and I found my voice in the WNBA, and this is incredibly special for me today here, and I appreciate all of you,” she said.

Minnesota is home for Reeve

Over her years as an assistant coach in the WNBA, she did not live in the markets the teams were in. She stayed in her home state of New Jersey and would come to town for six months, then go home.

She told reporters Friday that she was holding out on putting down any further roots until she landed a head coach opportunity.

“I sort of developed this feeling that when I got my opportunity, I wanted to make the market my home because I felt like that's the way that I could best connect and identify with the fan base and grow the fan base,” Reeve said. “It was obviously a terrific decision.”

Fans agree. Long-time season ticket holder Isetta Pierre became a Lynx fan when Maya Moore was on the team.

“There’s been ups and downs with Cheryl, but my goodness, she's a genius, right?” Pierre said at Monday's game against the Connecticut Sun. “She has had so many different teams, different iterations of the Lynx teams, and she has still been able to help them win. So, yes, she deserves all her flowers, and I'm very happy for her.”

Another fan who has joined the Lynx bandwagon in recent years is Jenny Bordon. She said Minnesota is lucky to have Reeve.

“The players love her, and I wish I knew how she did that, you know? Like to really get the best from people and for them to really want to play for you,” Bordon said. “I don't know, she pulls it out of them. I don't know how she does it, but she's amazing.”

Celebrating with her players and staff is the cherry on top

Lynx guard Kayla McBride was quick to acknowledge Reeve was not one to hold out for accomplishments like this.

“She doesn't want to talk about it. We don't talk about it,” McBride said Monday after the Lynx lost to the Connecticut Sun, denying Reeve her second chance at beating the record after tying the record against the Wings the week before.

“She likes to win, and she's on us for all the other reasons besides, you know, breaking records and things like that,” McBride said.

McBride joined Reeve and the Lynx in 2021. Before the 2026 season, she signed a two-year contract.

Reeve said she understood the significance of veterans like McBride and Courtney Williams choosing to stay with the Lynx during a free-agency period that offered the highest salaries in league history.

By having core Lynx veterans back, they created a foundation to build their success so far this season. Currently, the team is 16-6.

“People think that when you have the success of championships and wins, et cetera, that there's not those trials and tribulations along the way,” Reeve said. “That's what makes days like today so special. That we're celebrating something of this magnitude, but I know what went into it day by day, it's never as easy as these players make it look.

“I just appreciate being on the journey with these guys and sharing this special moment with all the special people here today.”

Mikel Merino scored in the 88th minute on a rebound yielded by backup Belgium goalkeeper Senne Lammens, and Spain advanced to the World Cup semifinals with a 2-1 victory on Friday.

Merino was the late hero for the second straight match for Spain, which will face tournament favorite France in the semifinals on Tuesday in the Dallas area.

“It will be a clash of giants,” Spain coach Luis De La Fuente said through a translator.

Merino came on in the 86th minute and scored on his second touch of the match, charging into the box and pouncing after Lammens spilled a rebound of Pau Cubarsí's long shot.

The Arsenal forward also scored as a substitute early in injury time to secure Spain's 1-0 victory over Portugal in the round of 16. This second clutch goal against an upset-minded Belgium sent La Roja to the semifinals for the first time since they won the World Cup in 2010.

“I’ve done this again, and it’s happened to me again, so it would seem that coincidence exists,” a smiling Merino said. “If you’re ready and you try, it can happen for you. I’m very, very pleased.”

Lammens, the capable Manchester United keeper, was forced into the match in the 71st minute after longtime Belgium keeper Thibaut Courtois left with an apparent thigh injury.

Courtois made four saves, but the Real Madrid keeper went down to the grass four minutes before his substitution. He received treatment during the hydration break, but he left the match in tears.

Only Germany's Manuel Neuer has played more World Cup matches than Courtois, while Lammens had not yet played at this year's World Cup.

Belgium desperately pressed for an equalizer in the final minutes with substitute forward Romelu Lukaku leading the effort, but Aymeric Laporte acrobatically volleyed the best chance out of the box in the second minute of injury time.

Fabián Ruiz scored in the 30th minute for Spain, but Belgium forward Charles De Ketelaere notched the first goal allowed by Spain in the entire World Cup in the 41st minute.

Spain remained unbeaten since March 2023 in a streak of 37 matches, while Belgium's streak of 18 straight unbeaten matches ended.

After a cautious start from both teams in the World Cup’s second quarterfinal match, Spain broke through when Lamine Yamal and Pedro Porro moved the the ball down the right side and got it to Dani Olmo, whose shot was stopped by Courtois. The rebound went straight to Ruiz, who hammered home his first goal of the tournament.

Ruiz was making his first start since Spain’s World Cup opener, replacing Pedri in the lineup in a mildly surprising tactical decision by De La Fuente — whose later substitute decisions paid off even more.

Spain didn’t allow a goal in its first five matches at this year's tournament, and goalkeeper Unai Simón hadn’t conceded in a World Cup-record 650 minutes dating to Qatar. The streaks abruptly ended when De Ketelaere muscled past Cubarsí and headed home a cross from Timothy Castagne for Belgium’s tying goal.

Belgium hadn’t generated anything close to a strong scoring chance before the latest big moment for De Ketelaere, the Atalanta forward who scored two goals in Belgium’s 4-1 rout of the co-host U.S. on Monday.

Belgium captain Youri Tielemans was removed from the starting lineup after getting injured during warmups. He joined injured defender Amadou Onana on the sidelines, although Kevin De Bruyne returned for Belgium and started the match.

The United States was feeling bleak in 1933.

People were still staggering from the economic fallout of the Great Depression. Drought and extreme heat baked much of the country, eventually leading to the Dust Bowl. Breadlines stretched for blocks in the city, and crime — including a notorious spree of bank robberies and kidnappings — was on the rise. In February, president-elect Franklin D. Roosevelt survived an assassination attempt, which killed Chicago Mayor Anton Cermak. Even baseball, “America’s national pastime,” was suffering. Attendance was dropping, owners slashed budgets, and Babe Ruth’s magic seemed to be fading.

It was against this backdrop that a sports editor in Chicago proposed the idea of a singular sporting event to anchor the World’s Fair — a baseball game featuring the best players, as decided by the fans.

Journalist Randall Sullivan details the whole story in his new book, “The First All-Star Game.” A few days before the current crop of All Stars gather in Philadelphia to play the game this year, he joins Kerri Miller on Big Books and Bold Ideas to talk about the extraordinary history surrounding the first game and how it galvanized the country during a dark time.

Guest:

• Randall Sullivan was a contributing editor to Rolling Stone for more than 20 years. He is also the author of many books, including his newest, “The First All-Star Game: Babe Ruth, FDR, and America at the Crossroads.”

Subscribe to the Thread newsletter for the latest book and author news and must-read recommendations.

Subscribe to Big Books and Bold Ideas with Kerri Miller on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, RSS or anywhere you get your podcasts.

Gavin Williams pitched seven dominant innings, Gabriel Arias, Chase DeLauter and Patrick Bailey hit home runs and the Cleveland Guardians beat the Minnesota Twins 5-2 on Thursday to avoid a three-game sweep.

Williams (10-4) moved into a tie with Boston’s Sonny Gray for the most victories in the AL with his first win since June 3. He gave up two runs on three hits with a walk, and he tied his season high with 11 strikeouts.

Hunter Gaddis pitched a scoreless eighth inning, and Cade Smith earned his 27th save with a perfect ninth.

Twins starter Bailey Ober gave up one run on three hits with a walk and five strikeouts in his first appearance since May 30. He was activated from the injured list on Thursday after recovering from right elbow inflammation.

The Twins saw their four-game winning streak snapped but still won seven of their last eight series.

Williams retired the first 13 batters he faced, eight of them by strikeout, before Royce Lewis dropped a soft line drive into short right field for the Twins' first hit.

Lewis' single seemed to fluster Williams, who walked Alan Roden and hit Luke Keaschall with a pitch to load the bases. Tristan Gray followed with an RBI single through a drawn-in infield to tie the game 1-1.

However, Williams got a force-out at home plate for the second out, then froze Trevor Larnach on a curveball for strike three to keep it tied.

DeLauter broke the tie in the sixth inning with a solo homer onto the right-field plaza off reliever Kendry Rojas (1-1) to give the Guardians a 2-1 lead.

Rojas walked two batters in the seventh, and both scored on Brayan Rocchio's two-out double just over the glove of a leaping Twins third baseman Brooks Lee.

Lewis led off the bottom of the seventh with a long homer to left.

Bailey homered in the ninth off reliever Woosuk Go, who was making his major league debut.

Six-time championship winning Hall of Famer Cheryl Reeve is new owner of a WNBA record.

She broke the record Wednesday with an 86-80 win over the Connecticut Sun. It marked Reeve's 380th win, which breaks the record for the all-time most regular-season wins for a WNBA coach.

“I am so glad this is over,” Reeve told reporters after the game.

It comes after the team’s first back-to-back defeat of the season Monday with a loss to Connecticut at home.

The record was formerly held by Mike Thibault, a Minnesota native who coached the Sun and the Washington Mystics. Now Thibault's son is an assistant coach for the Lynx.

Reeve said Monday that her and Thibault had “great battles” while she was an assistant coach for the Detroit Shock and he was at Connecticut. She called him a “tremendous coach.”

“I know he's happy for me,” Reeve said. “And somebody's going to pass me, and I'm going to be happy for them, too.”

This comes just weeks after Reeve's most recent accomplishment: being inducted into the Women's Basketball Hall of Fame.

Her WNBA career has spanned 25 years starting when she made her league coaching debut with the Charlotte Sting in 2001.

Her first season as head coach of the Lynx was in 2010. Since then, she has won 4 championships with the team.

Now, she’s in her fourth year in the dual role of head coach and president of basketball operations at the Lynx. And she's been named WNBA Coach of the Year four times and WNBA Basketball Executive of the Year two times.

Accolades aside, veteran guard Kayla McBride said on Monday after their loss to Connecticut that the record didn't matter to Reeve when it came to getting out there on the court.

“Cheryl's not that type of coach. She doesn't want to talk about it. We don't talk about it,” McBride said. “She likes to win, and she's on us for all the other reasons, besides breaking records and things like that. And that's what makes her so great."

The Lynx have a 16-6 record. The Lynx face the New York Liberty at home Saturday.

"You never dream it's going to happen,” Reeve said. “I set out to just try to take it day by day, and you know, win games, and I just, what I feel is an overwhelming sense of feeling blessed for all the people that made me, me.”

The Minnesota Timberwolves have shaken up their roster over the last few weeks — trading fan-favorite Naz Reid for all-star guard LaMelo Ball and Josh Green from the Charlotte Hornets.

Now, the Wolves are pursuing one of the biggest names in the league: LeBron James.

MPR News host Clay Masters speaks with Jon Krawczynski of The Athletic about the Wolves' chances in this pursuit and what it could mean for the upcoming season.

Use the audio player above to listen to the full conversation.

Lionel Messi did it yet again at this year’s World Cup.

The Argentina great scored once while inspiring his team to an improbable 3-2 victory over Egypt on Tuesday despite trailing by two goals with only 11 minutes to play.

The defending champions will next face either Switzerland or Colombia in quarterfinals on Saturday in Kansas City, Missouri.

Messi, who was in tears after the final whistle, scored his eighth goal of this year's tournament in the 83rd minute to level the score at 2-2. It was his record-extending 21st at the World Cup.

Enzo Fernandez scored the winning goal in stoppage time to complete one of the great World Cup comebacks. Cristian Romero started the rally in the 79th minute.

Argentina had trailed 2-0 on goals from Yasser Ibrahim and Mostafa Zico.

Messi also missed a chance in the first half when his penalty kick was saved by Egypt goalkeeper Mostafa Shobeir. He later hit the post when the score was 1-0.

Argentina is bidding to become the first team to win back-to-back titles since Brazil did so in 1958 and 1962.

The Twin Cities Marathon is moving to later in the season, as the warming climate has caused problems for the early-October race in recent years.

Starting in 2027, the race will move to mid-October, with marathon dates falling between Oct. 10 and 17. Other races in the event, including the 10-mile, will move with it. It’s a change from the 45-year tradition of holding the race the first Sunday in October.

In a statement, organizers with Twin Cities in Motion said the move follows a years-long review of weather patterns, runner safety and race logistics.

“We made this move with our runners and local resources in mind,” race director Ed Whetham said. “Shifting the date gives us a much better shot at ideal weather, which keeps participants safe and helps them accomplish the finish line experience they worked for."

The marathon was canceled in 2023 amid humidity and high temperatures near 90 degrees. Race officials said it was too risky to run in that weather, with the potential for runners to overwhelm medical facilities. Temperatures have been above-normal in years since then, too, though not high enough to cancel the race.

Organizers said in recent years that they were considering moving the race. But it took some time. The race is a hard event to shift quickly, with 30,000 runners across the weekend’s races and more than 4,000 volunteers. Organizers wanted to avoid conflicting with other major marathons, too.

Organizers said the data pointing to better weather outweighed those logistical complications. They cited the difference in average overnight temperatures between early and mid-October over the last decade. According to their research, the average high temperature is about 10 degrees lower in mid-October; the average overnight lows drop even more, making for a cooler race morning.

As a bonus to runners and spectators, organizers said the new dates will also line up better with average peak fall colors. That’s moved later in recent years, as temperatures drop later in the season.

“Safety comes first, but experience matters too,” Twin Cities in Motion president Dean Orton said. “Cooler conditions and peak fall color are part of what makes marathon weekend special.”

This year’s marathon is still set for the first weekend in October. In 2027, it’ll be on Oct. 17.

Each of the three All-Star selections of Byron Buxton's major league career has naturally brought him a deep sense of appreciation.

This one was undoubtedly the most satisfying.

Voted in as a starter by fan balloting for the first time, Buxton reveled in the fact that he landed on the American League squad with Minnesota Twins teammate Joe Ryan for the second straight summer.

Playing on market-value contracts for a team in transition with a bottom-third payroll that conducted a big selloff before the deadline last year, Buxton and Ryan have been prominently included on just about every baseball pundit's list of trade candidates for months on end.

Yet they're both still wearing Twins uniforms and going back to the All-Star Game this season while representing a plucky club that has shown plenty of competitiveness for all of its roster imperfections.

Buxton, a two-time Gold Glove award winner in center field, ranks fifth in the majors with 25 home runs with a robust .904 OPS mark that's his best since 2021. Ryan, one of the pitchers elected by the players, leads baseball with 19 starts and is seventh in strikeout-to-walk ratio.

“It means a lot to be able to represent the Twins but also to be able to start out the season good,” Buxton said in New York on Saturday when MLB unveiled the All-Star teams. "To be able to run it back with Joe is a little bit more special to me.”

The second overall pick in the 2012 draft, Buxton has deftly persevered through his well-documented history of injuries to become not only the five-tool player the Twins long envisioned but a vital leader in a clubhouse of mostly younger players who revere him.

Despite a threadbare bullpen and a series of injuries that have diluted a strong group of starting pitchers, the Twins have so far hung around in both an AL Central division that's there for the taking and a wide-open race for three wild-card spots. They won a road series against the Yankees over the weekend for the first time in 12 years.

“I truly think this is the most fun I’ve ever had playing baseball,” Buxton said. “With the support that we have in here, the resilience that the team has, everything that makes this group us. I know I wouldn’t be here without them.”

Buxton was removed from the game on Sunday as a precaution after feeling discomfort in the right hip that has given him problems from time to time this season, putting his All-Star Game appearance in question with the event approaching on July 14. The Twins were off on Monday, giving him a bonus day to rest before starting a three-game series against division rival Cleveland on Tuesday. But so far, Buxton has not had to go on the injured list at all this year, another point of pride for the 32-year-old.

“I don’t want to set myself back farther, just in case I was trying to push through it or whatever the situation was,” Buxton said after the game on Sunday. “I don’t want to put the team in a bad spot by me trying to go out there and be Superman by trying to play one game and I end up missing a month.”

During the team's most recent homestand, general manager Jeremy Zoll began an interview session, unprompted, by declaring that Buxton has never been on the trade block and won't be now. Buxton, for his part, has a no-trade clause that he has consistently and emphatically alluded to anytime his status comes up with reporters. Buxton's contract, which pays him a little more than $15 million per year, expires after the 2028 season.

“We have no plans to trade Byron,” Zoll said. “It's not something we're exploring. It's not something we plan to explore.”