We celebrate Coco Gauff’s first grand slam title, the Minnesota PWHL free agent signings and suspected first overall draft pick, and preview the WNBA Playoffs.
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Coco Gauff, 19, Wins First Grand Slam Singles Title
- After dropping the first set, Coco Gauff came back to beat new No. 1, Aryna Sabalenka, to win the U.S. Open Women’s Singles Championship
- She thanked her haters in the post-match interview, which everyone seemed to love
- What does it mean?
- She could go on to dominate for decades and challenge Margaret Court’s record of 24 slam championships.
- There are very few holes in Coco’s game, which is incredible given her age. She’s one of the best net players in the WTA thanks to her commitment to playing doubles. Daniil Medvedev could learn plenty by playing doubles, and he also beat the number one player in the world this week, only to lose in the final to Novak Djokovic. She already has as many major titles as Medvedev, who is 27.
- She could burn out, and likely will. Tennis has basically been her life since before she started turning heads as an eight-year-old prodigy. Over 40 years ago, Bjӧrn Borg retired at 26 to live a life away from tennis. Andre Agassi revealed in his memoir, Open, that he hated the game for much of his professional career.
- Gauff would likely step away from the game like Naomi Osaka did if she did need a break, and she has plenty of time to do so. Osaka will return from having her first child next season at the age of 26. The first slam of the 2024 season is the Australian Open in January.
- She could get hurt, which to me, is less likely than burn out, because she’s seldom shown physical pain on the court despite doing things I’ve seen no woman do.
- She did appear to have some shoulder fatigue in her last doubles match of the US Open, but shrugged it off to win four straight games. Her and Jessica Pegula didn’t get the comeback win, but their mentality never wavered.
- What’s most impressive about Coco is that mental fitness. You’d expect a 19-year-old to fold under pressure, but that hasn’t been the case.
- In 17 majors, she’s had just three first-round exits and two second-round exits, and over the last two years she’s made two finals and two quarterfinals.
- She could go on to dominate for decades and challenge Margaret Court’s record of 24 slam championships.
Minnesota Women’s Pro Hockey Team Scores Schofield, Stecklein in Free Agency; Heise Next?
- Two of the players we told you to expect in Minnesota signed with Minnesota.
- Top-five player in the world and fastest woman on skates, Kendall Coyne Schofield, and reigning PWHPA Defender of the Year, Lee Stecklein, will anchor the Minnesota PWHL team.
- Kelly Pannek was the first free agent Minnesota signed, and the first in league history.
- She’s from just down the road from my house and is a Team USA veteran.
- Minnesota will make more league history with the first overall pick in the draft on Sept. 18 at noon.
- Ian Kennedy of The Hockey News expects Minnesota to make former Gopher and Team USA star, Taylor Heise, the first overall pick in the PWHL Draft.
- I’ve seen her play, and she’s a real problem. She scored that goal right after I yelled “shot” in that video on our TikTok.
- Game-tying goal against Wisconsin to get a draw in front of the largest crowd ever in Ridder Arena
- I’ve seen her play, and she’s a real problem. She scored that goal right after I yelled “shot” in that video on our TikTok.
- Minnesota’s next selections will be made with picks 12 and 13 overall.
- Ian Kennedy of The Hockey News expects Minnesota to make former Gopher and Team USA star, Taylor Heise, the first overall pick in the PWHL Draft.
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- The verdict? Anthony’s getting season tickets unless he somehow manages to become their public address announcer.
- This team is fast as fuck, even on defense, and is going to be a lot of fun to watch, especially on the power play.
- Richfield Ice Arena, former home of the Minnesota Whitecaps, isn’t nearly big enough to hold all the people who’ll want to see this star-studded, locally-grown roster.
- Ian Kennedy says Xcel Energy Center is being considered.
Lynx Kick Off the WNBA Playoff Schedule on ESPN
- WNBA Playoffs begin Wednesday, Sept. 13, with the Lynx visiting Connecticut at 7 p.m. Central
- Game will air on ESPN2; all games can be found on an ESPN channel or ABC
- Do the Lynx have a chance?
- The Sun won three of four against Minnesota this year, but the Sun’s one loss came at home, which the Lynx will have to replicate in order to force a Game 3 in Minnesota
- Beyond that, the Lynx and every other team besides Las Vegas and New York have no chance.
- Unless either team loses a star, and Vegas could still win it all without one of its stars
- But an Aces/Liberty championship series would be a banger
- The Liberty beat the Aces twice this year, but only one counted toward the regular season record
- The other was for the Commissioner’s Cup Championship
- Semifinals and finals are best of five games
- They really need to make the finals a best-of-seven series
Brian Flores’ Defense was the Only Vikings’ Unit Prepared to Play, Sunday
- Minnesota lost to Tampa Bay at home, 20-17.
- Kirk Cousins was less than clutch, the game plan didn’t change when two starting offensive linemen were sidelined, resulting in two turnovers, and an offside penalty turned a field goal attempt into a touchdown.
- Vikings will probably start 0-3 and be 2-5 when they visit Green Bay in Week 8
- It’ll be a bloodbath in Philadelphia on Thursday night
- A 10-win season will require one helluva run
Minnesota Amateur Sports Stars of the Week
Vote for the best high school sports performance in Minnesota at SBLive. Our vote goes to Brett Salmonson of Park of Cottage Grove. The senior had 35 carries for 226 yards and three touchdowns in a 41-39 win over Burnsville. He also had seven tackles (one solo), scored the game-tying touchdown and converted the game-winning two-point attempt.
