Minnesota's biggest sports stories of 2025
In many ways, this year in Minnesota sports mirrored the most spectacular games. There were triumphs and trials, feats and foibles, delights and disasters.
Watch CBS News
In many ways, this year in Minnesota sports mirrored the most spectacular games. There were triumphs and trials, feats and foibles, delights and disasters.
Minnesota Lynx head coach Cheryl Reeve, the winningest coach in WNBA history, will join the Women's Basketball Hall of Fame next year.
Minnesota Lynx superstar Napheesa Collier earned her third consecutive All-WNBA First Team selection on Friday.
Two Minnesota Lynx players — Napheesa Collier and Alanna Smith — have been named to the WNBA's All-Defensive First Team.
Minnesota forward Napheesa Collier canceled a meeting with WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert expected to take place next week, a person familiar with the situation told The Associated Press on Saturday night.
Minnesota Lynx star Napheesa Collier turned her end-of-season interview on Tuesday into a passionate and bold critique of the WNBA leadership, and referees for losing control of games.
Minnesota Lynx's Napheesa Collier issued a scathing statement on Tuesday, saying that the WNBA has "the worst leadership in the world."
Sloane Martin tells the story of the game beyond what fans see on TV, and brings fans exclusive conversations with the standout player of each game — a role she treasures.
One woman who had a front row seat to all of this, and narrated the journey for fans, is Sloane Martin. In this week's women in sports, Marielle Mohs shares the unique story behind the "the voice of the Lynx."
Alyssa Thomas scores 23 points, and DeWanna Bonner hits clutch 3-pointers in the fourth quarter as the Phoenix Mercury rally from a 13-point deficit to beat the Minnesota Lynx 86-81 in Game 4.
Minnesota Lynx star Napheesa Collier will miss Game 4 of the WNBA semifinal series against Phoenix on Sunday, two days after injuring her left ankle late in Game 3.
The WNBA has suspended Minnesota coach Cheryl Reeve for one game for her conduct and comments during and following the Lynx's 84-76 loss to the Mercury on Friday night.
The top-seeded Minnesota Lynx were beaten by the Mercury 84-76 in Game 3 on Friday night, leaving Phoenix in control of their WNBA playoff semifinals series.
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.
Courtney Williams scored a game-high 23 points, Kayla McBride scored 21, and Napheesa Collier added 18 points and nine rebounds as the top-seeded Minnesota Lynx defeated the Phoenix Mercury 82-69 on Sunday in Game 1 of the best-of-five semifinal series.
DiJonai Carrington's season is over after spraining her left foot in the first round of the playoffs, the Minnesota Lynx announced Saturday night.
Each player received 29 votes from the 72 media members who participated. It's the first time the award, first given out in the WNBA's inaugural season in 1997, went to more than one player.
Napheesa Collier made a go-ahead 18-footer with 1:24 left on the way to 24 points, and the top-seeded Minnesota Lynx rallied from a 17-point third-quarter deficit to beat the Golden State Valkyries 75-74 and move on in the WNBA playoffs.
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.
Minnesota Lynx guard Natisha Hiedeman has scored at least 18 points in five of her last six games, including in Game 1 against the Valkyries, and is playing her best late in the year.
Natisha Hiedeman scored 21 points, Napheesa Collier had 19 and the Minnesota Lynx beat the Golden State Valkyries 72-53 to set a franchise record with 34 wins.
Kelsey Mitchell scored 18 points and the Indiana Fever wrapped up the regular season with an 83-72 win Tuesday night over the league-leading Minnesota Lynx, who were resting MVP candidate Napheesa Collier.
Moore and Fowles join Seimone Augustus and Lindsay Whalen in the Hall of Fame. This is the first time four players from the same WNBA team have achieved this high honor.
Natisha Hiedeman matched her career-high with 24 points to lead the Minnesota Lynx to a 78-72 win over the Golden State Valkyries on Saturday night.
Maya Moore and Sylvia Fowles helped lead Minnesota to WNBA greatness as part of the Lynx dynasty that won four titles in seven years.
Parents will be digging deeper into their wallets this back-to-school season.
Minnesota senators are backing a delay to a federal law that would bring major changes to the hemp industry.
The Republican Party of Minnesota has asked the state's top election official to clarify constitutional residency rules for gubernatorial candidates, citing concern over Mike Lindell's domicile status.
Two people from Illinois were found dead on Monday after they went missing while kayaking in Lake Michigan near Door County, Wisconsin, over the weekend.
It's been 18 months, but the pain is as fresh as ever for the Twin Cities community of West Tonka. Lilyana "Lily" Loycano, 11, was killed while riding to school with her family. A distracted driver was charged in that crash.
It's been 18 months, but the pain is as fresh as ever for the Twin Cities community of West Tonka. Lilyana "Lily" Loycano, 11, was killed while riding to school with her family. A distracted driver was charged in that crash.
Toddrick Barnette will leave his role as interim commissioner of community safety for Minneapolis at the end of the year, a city spokesperson told WCCO Monday evening.
The system uses light tracing and more than 1,500 data points to create a personalized treatment plan.
The Hennepin County attorney is asking the governor of Texas to sign the extradition paperwork for the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent accused of shooting a man in the leg in north Minneapolis in January, according to a letter sent by Mary Moriarty.
The Minnesota Twins have joined fellow Major League Baseball teams like the Mets and the Brewers by adding an official dance team.
A 62-year-old motorist is injured after a train crashed into a vehicle that stalled on the tracks in Randall, Minnesota, early Friday, according to the Morrison County Sheriff's Office.
A judge on Monday sentenced a Minnesota school bus driver to three years in prison for possessing child sexual abuse material, court records show.
A 42-year-old man is accused of stealing a law enforcement camera that reads license plates in Faribault, Minnesota, and trying to break it, according to a court document filed in Rice County.
Police in Austin, Minnesota, have lifted a shelter-in-place order issued Monday morning.
Mike Lindell, MyPillow CEO and Republican gubernatorial candidate in Minnesota, is accused of violating campaign laws by giving away pillows promoting his campaign at a July Fourth parade.
Two people were injured when a small plane crashed in western Wisconsin early Sunday afternoon, according to authorities.
According to the Eau Claire Fire Department, Bryce Jungbluth, 27, suffered a medical emergency after his shift on July 26.
A judge sided with the Wisconsin Elections Commission Wednesday, ruling that state law does not allow absentee voters to change their ballot after it has been returned — a setback for Democrats amid a scrambled governor's primary field.
Barnes withdrew from the Democratic primary less than two weeks before the Aug. 11 election, on the same day a newspaper reported it had asked him about allegations of inappropriate behavior reviewed by the state party.
Passing trains and scenic bluffs are a big part of Buffalo County, Wisconsin, but in the middle of it all is a garden where creativity and flowers grow together, all courtesy of a man named Herman Rusch.
After officials in Minnesota's capital city announced they would shut down encampments for those experiencing homelessness, the City Council approved more than $1 million to expand capacity at local shelters.
The city of St. Paul, Minnesota, is taking a stand and closing encampments amid growing concerns.
Baseball fans might remember the Metrodome's iconic blue seats, and now in Atwater, Minnesota, spectators can once again grab a blue seat and watch a game.
Tucked away in the Midway neighborhood in St. Paul is a community treasure many have come to love and respect.
What started as a small fundraiser following one of Joe's surgeries at Gillette Children's has grown into a community tradition that has raised nearly $100,000 for the hospital.
Minnesota senators are backing a delay to a federal law that would bring major changes to the hemp industry.
The push to preserve the $180 million THC beverage industry may be getting new life. Ashley Grams shows why a delay of only a few weeks, being pushed by Minnesota Sens. Amy Klobuchar and Tina Smith, could make a big difference.
There are new concerns about the legal Minnesota residency of Mike Lindell, the leading Republican candidate for governor of the state. Esme Murphy breaks down the concerns and speaks with Lindell about them.
The Republican Party of Minnesota has asked the state's top election official to clarify constitutional residency rules for gubernatorial candidates, citing concern over Mike Lindell's domicile status.
Mike Lindell, MyPillow CEO and Republican gubernatorial candidate in Minnesota, is accused of violating campaign laws by giving away pillows promoting his campaign at a July Fourth parade.
Parents will be digging deeper into their wallets this back-to-school season.
Get ready to watch movies and television with clarity like never before. That's how industry experts are describing the latest TV technology now on sale exclusively at Best Buy.
A lottery player in Minnesota won a jackpot of more than $34 million last week, a record for the Lotto America game in the state.
The lawsuit accuses Loon of using "kid-friendly characters" to promote its vapes in flavors such as Cotton Candy, Strawberry Popsicle, Banana Taffy and Blue Razz Slushy.
A Wisconsin family lost their ten-month-old daughter after she swallowed a water bead. They blame Target and the water bead manufacturer for her death.
It's been 18 months, but the pain is as fresh as ever for the Twin Cities community of West Tonka. Lilyana "Lily" Loycano, 11, was killed while riding to school with her family. A distracted driver was charged in that crash.
The Hennepin County attorney is asking the governor of Texas to sign the extradition paperwork for the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent accused of shooting a man in the leg in north Minneapolis in January, according to a letter sent by Mary Moriarty.
A judge on Monday sentenced a Minnesota school bus driver to three years in prison for possessing child sexual abuse material, court records show.
A neighbor is accused of harassing Minnesota Sen. John Hoffman after the lawmaker called police to report that illegal fireworks were going off next door on July Fourth.
A 42-year-old man is accused of stealing a law enforcement camera that reads license plates in Faribault, Minnesota, and trying to break it, according to a court document filed in Rice County.
The system uses light tracing and more than 1,500 data points to create a personalized treatment plan.
Two Michigan residents who had "significant underlying health conditions" have died after contracting cyclosporiasis, the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services said.
Researchers are studying whether GLP-1s could help veterans living with alcohol use disorder. The Minneapolis VA Health Care System is one of 18 VA sites across the United States participating in the new clinical trial testing semaglutide as a potential treatment for AUD.
Since May, more than 11,000 cases of illness caused by the parasite cyclospora have been reported in 41 states. This comes after the Trump administration drastically cut FDA and CDC staff, prompting one expert to call this summer's outbreaks "a national wake-up call."
The CDC will not renew a federal grant that provided the Aliveness Project roughly $450,000 a year for HIV testing, PrEP referrals and community outreach across Minnesota.
Ariana Grande had been due to star alongside her "Wicked" co-star Jonathan Bailey in a production of "Sunday in the Park with George" in 2027.
Vincent Pastore played Salvatore "Big Pussy" Bonpensiero on all six seasons of "The Sopranos," which aired from 1999 to 2007.
WWE's SummerSlam will have two nights of bouts and matches inside U.S. Bank Stadium on Saturday and Sunday. But before that, SummerSlam is setting up shop inside the Minneapolis Convention Center.
It's another action-packed weekend in Minnesota, with wrestling, county fairs, beagle races and more on the schedule.
Academy Award-winning Irish singer-songwriter Glen Hansard has died in a motorcycle crash.
The Minnesota Twins have joined fellow Major League Baseball teams like the Mets and the Brewers by adding an official dance team.
Rookie Olivia Miles spearheaded an efficient offense with 28 points, Courtney Williams added 27, and the Minnesota Lynx won their 10th-straight game with a 108-100 win over the Indiana Fever.
A crowd of supporters and critics of Indiana guard Sophie Cunningham's stance on transgender participation in women's sports gathered around and inside Target Center as the Fever faced the Lynx in Minnesota.
![Kody Funderburk]](https://assets2.cbsnewsstatic.com/hub/i/r/2026/08/02/4ca17593-2fa0-44a1-a5b5-2511f8453adf/thumbnail/640x360/9d98f4a7a74ce2640d8fd90bf7333223/ap26213838236507.jpg#)
Randy Arozarena scored in the ninth inning on a groundout to first base from Cal Raleigh, and the Seattle Mariners snapped a three-game losing streak with a 4-3 victory over the Minnesota Twins on Saturday.
Anders Dreyer scored from the penalty spot in the 64th minute as San Diego FC drew Minnesota United 1-1 on Saturday.
Minnesota's ban on AI "nudification" became law and Elon Musk isn't happy about it. He is suing the State of Minnesota, claiming the law violates free speech laws.
While the law is in effect, this issue is not over. The judge has set a preliminary injunction hearing for Aug. 19.
Earlier this month, Ramsey County Sheriff Bob Fletcher prompted backlash when he said the Twin Cities has a Somali youth gang violence problem. Among his critics: Minneapolis City Council Vice President Jamal Osman.
Earlier this month, Ramsey County Sheriff Bob Fletcher prompted backlash when he said the Twin Cities has a Somali youth gang violence problem. Fletcher played videos of what he said were Somali gunfights at a July 7 news conference and on his "Live on Patrol" Facebook page, which has over 140,000 followers.
In the past few years, one of Minnesota's fiercest primary battles has been in the 5th Congressional District, which has been held since 2018 by Rep. Ilhan Omar.
Passing trains and scenic bluffs are a big part of Buffalo County, Wisconsin, but in the middle of it all is a garden where creativity and flowers grow together, all courtesy of a man named Herman Rusch.
Thousands of pictures of Split Rock Lighthouse are taken each year. And oftentimes a little island appears in those photos. Ellingsen Island has developed a following of its own.
There's a scenic, nearly century-old spot in St. Cloud, Minnesota, where right now you'll find thousands of flowers in bloom.
Baseball fans might remember the Metrodome's iconic blue seats, and now in Atwater, Minnesota, spectators can once again grab a blue seat and watch a game.
It's a lake cruise in the middle of town, and there's more than pelicans on the Pelican Breeze tour in Albert Lea, Minnesota.
Minnesotans have become quite familiar with drought in recent years. Not only how it affects the water supply, but also the rules that can come with it.
The issue is a major talking point ahead of the midterm elections. Do gas prices actually impact elections?
The U.S. House just voted to make daylight saving time permanent. In Good Question, Jeff Wagner explains how that could impact Minnesota and why our last attempt at getting rid of it failed.
Get ready to watch movies and television with clarity like never before. That's how industry experts are describing the latest TV technology now on sale exclusively at Best Buy.
When you get home from work in the evening, your first thought may be dinner. You might fire up the stove or oven, you could also start a load of laundry. Not long after that, you're running the dishwasher. You may think you're being efficient, but your house during this heat wave disagrees.
The Minnesota State Fair has unveiled its new foods for 2026.
A look back at the esteemed personalities who've left us this year, who'd touched us with their innovation, creativity and humanity.
Minnesotans got a great view of the northern lights Tuesday night.
A look at the newest addition to the polar bear population at St. Paul, Minnesota's Como Zoo.
From food shelves to school programs, our team is proud to serve where it matters most.
Residents across parts of northern and southern Minnesota may see scattered showers early Tuesday, NEXT Weather meteorologist Chris Shaffer said. The Twin Cities may only get a few drops during that time.
In Minnesota, weather can be all over the place. Here at WCCO, we want to give you what you need to prepare for what's happening next.
Rain and thunderstorms are moving through northwestern Minnesota on Monday evening, according to NEXT Weather meteorologist Chris Shaffer. Parts of the Twin Cities may see showers early Tuesday.
WCCO meteorologist Chris Shaffer says there will be some scattered showers overnight, bringing less humid and cooler air.
A cold front passes through the metro Monday night, triggering some scattered showers, says meteorologist Mike Augustyniak.
Residents across parts of northern and southern Minnesota may see scattered showers early Tuesday, NEXT Weather meteorologist Chris Shaffer said. The Twin Cities may only get a few drops during that time.
Parents will be digging deeper into their wallets this back-to-school season. Supplies are getting more expensive, forcing some tough budgeting decisions. In this Good Question, Jeff Wagner learned what's fueling the sticker shock on the shelves.
The push to preserve the $180 million THC beverage industry may be getting new life. Ashley Grams shows why a delay of only a few weeks, being pushed by Minnesota Sens. Amy Klobuchar and Tina Smith, could make a big difference.
Law enforcement considers Flock cameras, which read license plates, to be an important extra set of eyes. As Ubah Ali reports, agencies across Minnesota are reporting that people are tampering with the technology.
There are new concerns about the legal Minnesota residency of Mike Lindell, the leading Republican candidate for governor of the state. Esme Murphy breaks down the concerns and speaks with Lindell about them.