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MPR News Staff

The year's most memorable moments in Minnesota sports

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Lynx win WNBA title
The Minnesota Lynx's Lindsay Whalen, Maya Moore and Rebekkah Brunson celebrate their 69-52 victory over the Indiana Fever in Game 5 of the WNBA basketball finals in October.
Stacy Bengs | AP

John Moe joined MPR News host Tom Weber to recap the year in Minnesota sports. Moe is the host of the podcast "Conversation Parade," and an avid local sports fan.

The takeaway of 2015 for Minnesota sports was simple. When it comes to men's sports, "it's all about hope," Moe said. "The sports that women are playing — it's all about championships and being amazingly good."

Memorable moments in Minnesota sports

March 22: The Gophers women's hockey team beats Harvard for their third NCAA title in four years.

Celebrating a win
Minnesota's Shyler Sletta, left, cuts a piece from the net after Minnesota defeated Harvard 4-1 in the NCAA women's hockey tournament championship game in March.
Jeff Wheeler | Star Tribune via AP

April 26: The Minnesota Wild beat the St. Louis Blues for their first-ever playoff series clinched on home ice.

Minnesota Wild's Zach Parise (11) shoots the puck
The Minnesota Wild's Zach Parise (11) shoots the puck past St. Louis Blues goalie Brian Elliott for a goal in Game 6 of the first-round playoff series in St. Paul. The Wild won the game, 4-1, to win the series and advance to the second round.
Carlos Gonzalez | Star Tribune via AP

May 7: The Chicago Blackhawks complete their sweep of the Minnesota Wild.

Marco Scandella, Bryan Bickell, Patrick Kane
Minnesota Wild defenseman Marco Scandella (6) and Chicago Blackhawks left wing Bryan Bickell (29) chase the puck in front of Blackhawks right wing Patrick Kane during the second round of Stanley Cup playoffs in May in St. Paul.
Ann Heisenfelt | AP

"In those two moments, [April 26 and May 7], you have what I've gathered to be the situation with the Minnesota Wild," Moe said. "There's stuff to be optimistic about, you can see the bright future ahead, but you can also see that you are not at that bright future yet."

June 25: The Minnesota Timberwolves draft Karl-Anthony Towns.

Karl-Anthony Towns
Karl-Anthony Towns, pictured here playing for the Kentucky Wildcats, was drafted by the Minnesota Timberwolves this summer.
Andy Lyons | Getty Images

"It may prove to be a real turning point for that franchise," Moe said.

July 2: Miguel Sano makes his major league debut for the Minnesota Twins.

Miguel Sano
The Minnesota Twins' Miguel Sano follows through on a two-run home run in the sixth inning of a spring training game against the St. Louis Cardinals. He made his major league debut this July.
John Bazemore | AP

"It's signaled the arrival of the post-Joe Mauer world for the Twins," Moe said.

July 25: Adrian Peterson returns to the Minnesota Vikings.

Adrian Peterson
Adrian Peterson returned to the Minnesota Vikings this summer after a suspension.
Adam Bettcher | Getty Images file

The return ended a long speculative period about whether the team would welcome the running back's return after his suspension due to charges of child abuse.

Aug. 7: Norwood Teague resigns as the University of Minnesota's athletic director following allegations of sexual harassment.

Norwood Teague
University of Minnesota athletic director Norwood Teague speaksat a news conference in 2013. The university announced in August that Teague had resigned after three years on the job.
Carlos Gonzalez | Star Tribune file 2013 via AP

Oct. 14: The Minnesota Lynx win the team's third WNBA title.

Head coach Cheryl Reeve received a warm welcome.
Minnesota Lynx head coach Cheryl Reeve receives a warm welcome as she enters the Target Center arena during the team's championship celebration in October.
Matthew Hintz for MPR News

Oct. 25: Flip Saunders, coach of the Minnesota Timberwolves, dies of cancer.

Flip Saunders coaches
Minnesota Timberwolves head coach Flip Saunders, left, talks with guard Tyus Jones during a scrimmage in Minneapolis in July.
Ann Heisenfelt | AP file

Oct. 28: Jerry Kill retires as the University of Minnesota's men's football coach amid health concerns.

Ohio at Minnesota
University of Minnesota head football coach Jerry Kill watches during the first half of a September game against Ohio at TCF Bank Stadium in Minneapolis. Kill abruptly retired because of health reasons on Oct. 28, ending his efforts to rebuild the Golden Gopher football program during a tenure that included a series of game-day seizures.
Elizabeth Flores | Star Tribune via AP

To hear the full discussion of the year in Minnesota sports, use the audio player above.