Pat Borzi

Pat Borzi

@borzmn.bsky.social

Journalist at MinnPost.com & journalism advisor at U of St. Thomas. Past MSP BBWAA chapter chair. Ex-pat New Yorker, though you’d never know it by the way I talk. (Yeah, right.) Pizza folded, scotch neat. Hail Fordham.

208 followers58 following340 posts

Pat Borzi reposted

Cassidy Hettesheimer
@cassidyhett.bsky.social

INBOX: Not a shock w/ the MVP runner-up finish, but Olivia Miles is named to the All-WNBA First Team w/ Wilson, Clark, Mitchell and Stewart. Sixth rookie, and seventh Lynx player to earn First Team honors.

Pat Borzi reposted

Cassidy Hettesheimer
@cassidyhett.bsky.social

Really tough blow for Gophers WBB, which announced this a.m. that Tori McKinney suffered a season-ending knee injury at practice. The junior guard was coming off a huge FIBA U23 3x3 performance and was the team's leading scorer (12.7 ppg last year) w/ Big Ten All-Defense honors.

Pat Borzi
@borzmn.bsky.social

Didn’t know someone actually kept a list of this. Policare and Piepert play for St. Thomas, out of the Pioneer Football League. Tommie QBs pooch punt often on 3rd and long.

Sickos Committee@sickoscommittee.org

THE QB POOCH PUNTING LEADERS IN DIVISION I - Through Week 6.

Pat Borzi
@borzmn.bsky.social

Per @wnba.com: Cheryl Reeve of #Lynx voted league Executive of the Year for a record-tying third time. Voting panel made up of fellow club execs, one from each club. Fifteen voters, she appeared on 13 ballots (not allowed to vote for yourself).

Pat Borzi reposted

Pat Borzi
@borzmn.bsky.social

Let parsing season begin: Did Napheesa Collier tip her hand last week about whether she's staying with the #Lynx or testing free agency? Everyone's got an opinion. That, and other key questions, face the Lynx in an off-season that began much earlier than expected. @wnba.com

Pat Borzi
@borzmn.bsky.social

Let parsing season begin: Did Napheesa Collier tip her hand last week about whether she's staying with the #Lynx or testing free agency? Everyone's got an opinion. That, and other key questions, face the Lynx in an off-season that began much earlier than expected. @wnba.com

Pat Borzi reposted

Cassidy Hettesheimer
@cassidyhett.bsky.social

I'm thinking about our winter women's sports coverage (Frost/PWHL, Gophers sports, pro volleyball teams debuting, etc.) — any particular stories folks want to see? I'm hoping to really spend some thoughtful time with deeper/more complex stories, and am curious what people are curious about!

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Pat Borzi
@borzmn.bsky.social

Kaelen Culpepper seems set at shortstop, though #Twins probably need a veteran glove behind him for insurance. Shelton said club needs better overall defense and more athleticism. Keaschall and Lewis had to learn new positions on the fly, which wasn't optimal.

Pat Borzi
@borzmn.bsky.social

Re #Lynx, look for that one Monday. Lots of randos parsing Collier and Reeve quotes from yesterday's season-ending availability. Glad so many people care, but some of this stuff is wild. 🤷‍♂️

Pat Borzi
@borzmn.bsky.social

Probably should have delved more into the #Twins defensive issues, moving infield starters around at midseason because the defense was horrible by every measure. Luke Keaschall figures to remain a corner outfield with Brooks Lee at third, and Royce Lewis at 1st and 2nd.

Pat Borzi
@borzmn.bsky.social

#Lynx held their end-of-the-season availability today. In case you haven't seen it elsewhere, Napheesa Collier, now a free agent, remained non-committal about re-signing with the Lynx.

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Pat Borzi
@borzmn.bsky.social

Collier did say she would be willing to change positions — say, from undersized power forward to small forward -- if it helped her next team win and extended her career. "I would go wherever a coach wants to put me," she said. #Lynx

Pat Borzi
@borzmn.bsky.social

Cheryl Reeve on Collier: "Whatever she decides, we're both going to be OK ... She knows what's here. If she lands on being here, great. If there's something better for her, that's life." #Lynx @wnba.com 4/

Pat Borzi
@borzmn.bsky.social

#Lynx held their end-of-the-season availability today. In case you haven't seen it elsewhere, Napheesa Collier, now a free agent, remained non-committal about re-signing with the Lynx.

Pat Borzi
@borzmn.bsky.social

Collier: "I love it here. I love the organization. I love my team and everything like that, but I just haven't had time to give that any thought." Collier said she never felt 100% coming back from double ankle surgery, but feels confident she'll eventually get there.

Pat Borzi
@borzmn.bsky.social

This is really, really good, and props to Miles for her honesty and accountability. A must read for every #Lynx fan.

Cassidy Hettesheimer@cassidyhett.bsky.social

Wrote about Olivia Miles’ playoff debut — not b/c the series was all about Miles, like Reeve noted — but because of after, when Miles offered up nearly 10 minutes of subdued reflection on her season, and its end. For @stribgoingout.startribune.com www.startribune.com/olivia-miles...

startribune.comOlivia Miles learned a painful lesson on playoff stage: ‘Now there’s no excuse.’After a record-setting season, the playoffs showed what the Lynx star still has to learn. And the WNBA Rookie of the Year owned it: “I have to give myself some grace.”

Pat Borzi reposted

Cassidy Hettesheimer
@cassidyhett.bsky.social

"I just know we have some work to do." The No. 1 Lynx fall, in a historic sweep, to the No. 8 Liberty after a season of overperforming, building, then falling short of expectations. Here's how they got there. For @stribsports.startribune.com www.startribune.com/minnesota-ly...

startribune.comLynx’s league-best season ends with historic first-round exitThe No. 1-seeded Lynx went from unexpected contender to championship hopeful, only to see their season end without a playoff win against the No. 8 Liberty.

Pat Borzi reposted

Alexa Philippou
@alexaphilippou.bsky.social

Cheryl Reeve on Minnesota’s past three years of strong regular seasons but no championship: “What we're doing is maybe exceeding expectations in the regular season, & then when it comes playoffs, maybe we don't quite have the right group to be effective.” www.espn.com/wnba/story/_...

espn.comReeve laments Lynx 'don't quite have right group' after latest playoff flopThe Lynx became the first No. 1 seed in league history to be swept in its opening series, marking another heartbreaking playoff exit for the third straight year.

Pat Borzi reposted

Cassidy Hettesheimer
@cassidyhett.bsky.social

Reeve postgame: "I can't foresee the future. I just know we have some work to do. I have to help us. I have to get us the appropriate help to do it. Make the, you know, hard decisions to do that ... I couldn't get us there in this series, and so it's on me...

Pat Borzi reposted

Cassidy Hettesheimer
@cassidyhett.bsky.social

The Lynx’s season is over. Fall to NY in Game 2 87-71. Williams leads with 18/7/5, shares a long hug with Collier and McBride as the seconds wind down. Howard and Miles limited minutes.

Pat Borzi reposted

Cassidy Hettesheimer
@cassidyhett.bsky.social

Liberty lead 68-56 heading into the third quarter. Lynx cut it to as few as nine w/ McDonald and Brodie off the bench, but Ionescu has hit some timely three-pointers (4-of-9) and the Liberty have 10 second chance points off 9 ORB. Miles, Howard have played just a combined 29 min.

Pat Borzi reposted

Bobby Nightengale
@nightengalejr.bsky.social

GM Jeremy Zoll didn’t have an announcement about extending a qualifying offer to Ryan Jeffers today (decision is due 5 days after the World Series). But he said “undoubtedly” that was part of their thinking when they didn’t trade him at the deadline, and the money is there to do it.

Bobby Nightengale@nightengalejr.bsky.social

Ryan Jeffers isn’t ruling out a return to the Twins as he enters free agency. Josh Bell hopes to return, but he’s used to working on one-year contracts. Derek Shelton on Bell: “He’s had more impact on our hitting group then just about anybody I’ve ever seen.” www.startribune.com/ryan-jeffers...

startribune.comTwins’ Ryan Jeffers is headed for free agency. But he isn’t ruling out a return.The Twins are set to lose Ryan Jeffers, Josh Bell, A.J. Minter and Taylor Rogers to free agency, with Jeffers expected to draw plenty of interest.

Pat Borzi reposted

Bobby Nightengale
@nightengalejr.bsky.social

Tom Pohlad again vowed to increase payroll and said his family is committed for the long haul. “Our goal this offseason is to field a roster next spring where making the playoffs isn’t a hope; it’s the expectation that everybody in this room agrees is realistic.” www.startribune.com/minnesota-tw...

startribune.comTwins owner Tom Pohlad vows to increase payroll, understands fans’ patience has ‘run out’The Twins fell short of their goals with a 77-85 record, putting added pressure on the organization to build a playoff-caliber roster for 2027.

Pat Borzi reposted

Cassidy Hettesheimer
@cassidyhett.bsky.social

Cheryl Reeve spoke with media at Lynx shootaround this morning. A 🧵 of key takeaways ahead of Game 2: On Game 1: "It's not anything that we didn't anticipate in terms of the matchup. If you look through the season, there's a reason why people are talking about teams [being] ...

Pat Borzi reposted

Cassidy Hettesheimer
@cassidyhett.bsky.social

To little surprise, Olivia Miles is this year's WNBA Rookie of the Year. The sixth Lynx with the honor, and the sixth unanimous Rookie of the Year in league history. Led the Lynx in points (19.8) and assists (6.0), becoming the first rookie to do so for the No. 1 team.

Pat Borzi
@borzmn.bsky.social

A five-timers club of one for Reeve. Guessing the Miles ROY announcement will follow shortly. #Lynx #WNBA

Cassidy Hettesheimer@cassidyhett.bsky.social

The WNBA announces this a.m. that Lynx coach Cheryl Reeve wins a record fifth COTY nod; no other WNBA coach has won the award more than three times.

Pat Borzi
@borzmn.bsky.social

#Lynx hosting “special announcement press conference” tomorrow. Best guess? Miles for Rookie of the Year and/or Reeve for Coach of the Year. These announcements usually come during the playoffs, and Lynx facing elimination Tuesday. @wnba.com

Pat Borzi reposted

Cassidy Hettesheimer
@cassidyhett.bsky.social

Reeve on Game 2, postgame: "It’s a 120 minute series. We said it before the game. Nothing’s decided in the first 10 minutes, or the first 40 minutes." "We still got work to do ... These next 40 being extremely vital to be able to get to the 120, but we have the ability to do it.”

Cassidy Hettesheimer@cassidyhett.bsky.social

"Too much grinding." The Lynx got "sticky" in Game 1 vs New York, plus had trouble defending the "tall task" of the Liberty and Breanna Stewart without fouling. They face win-or-go-home Game 2 on Tues. in Brooklyn. @stribsports.startribune.com postgame blog ⬇️ www.startribune.com/minnesota-ly...

startribune.comLive: Breanna Stewart and Liberty punish Lynx defense in Game 1 playoff winThe top-seeded Lynx couldn’t keep up with the eighth-seeded Liberty and face a must-win Game 2 in Brooklyn on Tuesday night.
Pat Borzi
@borzmn.bsky.social

Unlike their fans, neither #Lynx Coach Cheryl Reeve nor her players blamed the Game 1 loss on the officiating. Instead, they cited the obvious: Lack of flow on offense, and inability to move Breanna Stewart off the spots where she dominates. #Liberty @wnba.com

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Pat Borzi
@borzmn.bsky.social

@minnesotalynx shot 34.4% in the 2nd half to New York's 63%, in case you're wondering how things got so out of hand. Libs hit 8 of 12 threes in the half as well. Fiebich and Stewart combined to shoot 10-for-11 with five 3s.

Pat Borzi
@borzmn.bsky.social

Unlike their fans, neither #Lynx Coach Cheryl Reeve nor her players blamed the Game 1 loss on the officiating. Instead, they cited the obvious: Lack of flow on offense, and inability to move Breanna Stewart off the spots where she dominates. #Liberty @wnba.com

Pat Borzi
@borzmn.bsky.social

FWIW, #Lynx were 18-4 on the road, breaking the @WNBA record for road victories. And #Liberty remain mindful of last year's 1st round, where they won Game 1 in Phoenix in OT, got blown out at home in Game 2, then lost the decider in Phx thanks to Alyssa Thomas's triple double.

Pat Borzi
@borzmn.bsky.social

McBride: "I don't have any doubt inside my body that we can't go to New York and bring this shit back to here, excuse my language." Reeve: "We've been a terrific road team. This is the time to be that terrific road team."

Pat Borzi
@borzmn.bsky.social

Done: NY Liberty 91, #Lynx 75. Holding home court has been a problem all season for the #Lynx, and it manifested again today, with Liberty smoking the #Lynx 51-31 in the 2nd half. Stewart 34p/12r/6a. Brodie 16p off bench to lead Lynx.

Pat Borzi
@borzmn.bsky.social

#Lynx haven't defended Stewart well all season, so what's happening today (34p, 11r, 6a) isn't exactly a shock. But #Liberty getting four 3s from Leonie Fiebich and shooting 50% behind the arc as a team just a killer. @wnba.com