Elijah Scott

Minnesota United hosts FC Cincinnati on MLS opening weekend as the World Cup break looms. Early points are worth double in a compressed 2026 schedule.

Andrew Mangiapane snapped a 21-game drought and Connor McDavid stayed scorching, but the Oilers’ comeback was undone by late-period lapses as the Minnesota Wild pulled away for a 5–2 win to cap Edmonton’s road trip. Minnesota’s timely goals — including a controversial third-period insurance marker — sealed a seventh straight victory and left the Oilers with effort but no points.

Macklin Celebrini’s overtime goal lifted the San Jose Sharks to a 6–5 road win over the Minnesota Wild in a back-and-forth thriller, highlighted by five lead changes and standout performances from William Eklund and Michael Misa. Despite Joel Eriksson Ek and Kirill Kaprizov keeping Minnesota in the fight, the Sharks’ young stars proved unstoppable down the stretch.

Minnesota dropped its second straight to UMD in a 4–1 loss, undone by special teams struggles and costly mistakes despite outshooting the Bulldogs. The Gophers fall to 2-5-1 and head into the Border Battle searching for answers as Big Ten play begins.

The Phoenix Mercury erased a 20-point deficit to stun the top-seeded Minnesota Lynx 89-83 in overtime, tying the semifinal series 1-1. Alyssa Thomas’ 19 points and 13 assists fueled the comeback, while Phoenix’s bench outscored Minnesota’s 22-3 to flip momentum heading into Game 3.

The Minnesota Lynx shook off a sluggish first half and clamped down defensively to beat the Phoenix Mercury 82-69 in Game 1, fueled by Courtney Williams’ 23 points and five steals plus clutch shooting from Kayla McBride. Phoenix dominated early in the paint, but Minnesota’s second-half surge proved why they’re the No. 1 seed.

Courtney Williams scored a season-high 26 points and Kayla McBride hit a clutch three-pointer in the final seconds to lead the Minnesota Lynx past the New York Liberty 86-80, extending their win streak to six. Despite missing MVP candidate Napheesa Collier, the Lynx improved to 28-5 and remained undefeated against the defending champions this season.

Despite playing nearly 100 minutes with ten men, Chicago Fire FC fell 3-1 in extra time to Minnesota United FC in the U.S. Open Cup quarterfinals, ending a gutsy cup run. Minnesota advances to the semifinals behind Kelvin Yeboah’s decisive brace.

Minnesota United’s reserves held German side Holstein Kiel to a 0-0 draw in a friendly that showcased the club’s depth, defensive discipline, and commitment to developing a cohesive playing identity throughout the squad. While goals were scarce, promising performances from young players highlighted a bright future for the Loons.

The Chicago Sky fell just short in an 80-75 loss to the league-leading Lynx but showed real signs of growth and resilience, highlighted by Rachel Banham’s hot shooting and Angel Reese’s historic rebounding streak. Despite some costly turnovers and missed opportunities, the Sky’s improving defense and emerging identity suggest they’re on the rise.

Guatemala shocked Canada with a dramatic penalty shootout victory after a 1-1 draw, advancing to their first Gold Cup semifinal since 1996 and highlighting their resilient, opportunistic style. Meanwhile, Canada’s early exit exposes lingering discipline and consistency issues ahead of the 2026 World Cup.

The USMNT outlasted Costa Rica in a dramatic Concacaf Gold Cup quarterfinal, winning 4-3 on penalties after a 2-2 draw, thanks to heroics from young players like Damion Downs and goalkeeper Matt Freese. The victory sets up a semifinal clash against Guatemala as the Americans aim to build momentum with their emerging talent.