WBIT semifinals: Minnesota vs. Florida

When: Monday, 4 p.m.
Where: Indianapolis, Hinkle Fieldhouse
Watch: ESPNU
Listen: KFXN-FM+ 96.7

How did we get here? Since missing out on the NCAA tournament, the Gophers (23-11) have won three straight tight games to get to the WBIT’s Final Four, the last an overtime victory over Gonzaga after trailing by eight in the final 5 minutes of regulation. … Florida (19-17) edged Texas Tech to get here. The 11th seed in the SEC tournament, the Gators won two games before losing to LSU and is 5-1 in postseason play this season.

Quote: Senior post Sophie Clark: “I feel like it’s kind of showing now this postseason, all the work we did, and we kind of trust ourselves. We’ve done the work to get here, and now we just get to play and have fun.”

Scouting report: Minnesota point guard Amaya Battle scored a career-high 35 points to go with 10 assists, five rebounds and a steal against Gonzaga. Sophomore off guard Grace Grocholski leads the Gophers in scoring (13.1 ppg) and Mallory Heyer is the leading rebounder (7.6 average). … Florida point guard Liv McGill is leading the Gators in scoring (16.5 ppg), assists (5.1) and steals (2.7) in her first season since graduating from Hopkins. She has scored in double figures in 33 of her 36 games. Ra Shaya Kyle, a 6-foot-6 center, is averaging 14.4 points and a team-high 8.8 rebounds.

Context: The Gophers advanced to the WNIT final last season and are now 6-1 in postseason games under second-year coach Dawn Plitzuweit. The Gators are playing in their first postseason semifinal since 2013. Belmont (25-12) and Villanova (21-14) play in the other semifinal. The championship is scheduled for Tuesday at 6 p.m.

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The pilot was the sole fatality and there were no other injuries after a plane crashed through the roof of a Brooklyn Park house on Saturday, officials said in a press conference.

One person inside the home was able to escape without injuries. A second resident was not home at the time, Brooklyn Park Fire Chief Shawn Conway said Sunday.

The pilot was the sole occupant in the plane.

The identity of the pilot will be released by the Hennepin County Medical Examiner’s office, said Dr. Jessica Campbell, a forensic anthropologist at the office.

However, a spokesperson with U.S. Bank said the pilot may be 63-year-old Terry Dolan, vice chair and chief administrative officer at U.S. Bank. 

“We are aware that the plane that crashed in Brooklyn Park on Saturday afternoon was registered to Terry Dolan, our vice chair and chief administration officer. At this time, the medical examiner’s office has not been able to confirm whether he was on board, but we believe he was. Our thoughts and prayers are with him, his family and friends, and anyone who may have been affected by yesterday’s tragic incident,” said Jeff Shelman, spokesman for U.S. Bank. “We are grateful that there were not any injuries to residents of the home that was impacted by the crash, and we thank all the first responders who have provided service.”

U.S. Bank has its headquarters in downtown Minneapolis.

The crash occurred about 12:20 p.m. Saturday near the intersection of 109th Avenue North and Noble Parkway. A house was completely destroyed by the plane landing on the roof and plummeting into the basement, starting a fire that consumed the house, Conway said.

A neighboring home suffered damage to its siding and some homes have debris from the crash in their yards, he said.

All utilities have been restored to the remaining homes in the neighborhood, Conway said, noting that crews will still be working in and around the neighborhood for some time.

The investigation into the crash has been formally turned over to the National Transportation Safety Board, he said.

The NTSB’s focus on Sunday was to document the accident site before removing the airplane, said Tim Sorensen, aviation accident investigator with the NTSB.

“We will recover the aircraft this afternoon and it will be taken to a location where a more detailed investigation can be done,” he said.

The damage to the aircraft was great. “Suffice it to say it’s severe, it’s significant,” Sorensen said.

The investigation is just getting started, he said, so “we don’t have a lot of answers right now.”

As part of its investigation, the NTSB will look at the weather, the pilot’s experience, and the maintenance and status of the aircraft. A preliminary report on the accident will be released in 10 days to two weeks.

The report “will not have a cause associated with it but will have factual information we have determined at that time,” Sorensen said.

The fire the crash sparked has provided “additional challenges” to investigators, he said.

Sorensen said the NTSB has not confirmed the origin of the plane or its final destination.

However, the Federal Aviation Administration said Saturday that the SOCATA TBM7 crashed after leaving Des Moines International Airport in Iowa and was headed to Anoka County-Blaine Airport.

“There’s plenty of those types of aircraft out there and they fly safely every day, every accident is unique,” Sorensen said. “We look at the unique circumstances and document every accident. That is the process we are involved in right now.”

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WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. — Though the Vikings haven’t completely ruled out a scenario in which they reconnect with future Hall of Fame quarterback Aaron Rodgers, they appear content giving unproven quarterback J.J. McCarthy a chance to solidify himself as the starter this offseason..

That was the overarching theme from general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah last week at TCO Performance Center. It will be interesting to hear from head coach Kevin O’Connell this week at NFL Owners Meetings in West Palm Beach, Fla.

Will he leave the door open for Rodgers? Will he give a vote of confidence to McCarthy? Will he discuss other options at the position?

The best way for the Vikings to rid themselves of the rumors surrounding Rodgers once and for all is to sign somebody else. That might not come until after the draft, however, when free agents no longer impact the formula used to determine compensatory picks.

Which veteran quarterbacks (not named Aaron Rodgers) makes sense for the Vikings? Here are some still available signal callers.

Ryan Tannehill

After taking time away from the sport last season, Tannehill might be ready to return to action. If he’s indeed interested in making a comeback, the Vikings seem like a good fit for the 36-year-old.

Much has been made of Tannehill once saying he didn’t think he was his job to be a mentor to young quarterback Malik Willis. Those comments came when Tannehill himself was still the starter for the Tennessee Titans.

Now that Tannehill is at a different chapter in his career, he might relish the opportunity to help McCarthy reach his full potential.

Joe Flacco

If the Vikings are simply looking for somebody who knows their role, Flacco would come with very little drama. Would it be the sexiest signing? No. Would it bring words of wisdom to the locker room? Yes.

After serving as the backup with the Indianapolis Colts last season, the 40-year-old was a sounding board for maligned quarterback Anthony Richardson, and also showed the ability to come in and win a game in a pinch.

There’s already a connection in place as Flacco and O’Connell were prospects in the same draft class. That familiarity with each other could help bridge the gap when it comes to contract negotiations.

Carson Wentz

No longer viewed as a starter at this point in his career, Wentz most recently served as the backup to superstar quarterback Patrick Mahomes. That in and of itself could provide some value as the 32-year-old searches for his next destination.

Maybe the most appealing part about Wentz, however, is that he experienced the highs and lows of being a face of the franchise when he was with the Philadelphia Eagles. The lessons that Wentz learned on that roller coaster ride could help McCarthy navigate the process of stepping into the spotlight with the Vikings.

Kirk Cousins

It’s highly unlikely that Cousins ends up back with the Vikings based on everything that would have to happen.

It would require 1) the Atlanta Falcons cutting him, which, as of right now, they have said they don’t want to do, and 2) the Vikings having interest in a reunion that would be filled with awkwardness.

The only way this becomes a discussion worth having is if the 36-year-old hits the open market and is free to sign with whoever he wants.

Minnesota Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell, right, and Miami Dolphins quarterback Teddy Bridgewater (5) greet each other after an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 16, 2022, in Miami Gardens, Fla. (AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee)

Teddy Bridgewater

Let’s get weird.

After winning a state championship as the head coach at Miami Northwestern High School, Bridgewater came out of retirement and shockingly signed with the Detroit Lions towards the end of last season, and was called into brief duty during Detroit’s Divisional Round loss to Washington.

Would the 32-year-old be open to the idea of signing with the team that drafted him once upon a time? If the Vikings are looking for somebody off the wall to pair with McCarthy, they might want to at least consider making Bridgewater say, “No.”

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HEALTH CARE

Jennifer DeCubellis

Hennepin Healthcare System announced that Chief Executive Officer Jennifer DeCubellis plans to step down effective May 10. DeCubellis has been in the position since 2020. The HHS board will name and announce an interim CEO on April 3. Hennepin Healthcare operates HCMC in Minneapolis, a Level I Adult Trauma Center, Level I Pediatric Trauma Center and acute care hospital, as well as a Hennepin County-wide clinic system.

AIRPORTS

The Metropolitan Airports Commission announced the hire of Aaron Call as chief information security officer. He previously served as deputy chief information security officer for Old Republic Title in Minneapolis. MAC owns and operates Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport and six general aviation airports in the Twin Cities.

CONSTRUCTION

Morcon Construction, a Fridley-based commercial builder, announced the promotion of Tony Peterson to president. Peterson has been with the company for over two decades.

FINANCIAL SERVICES

Wolters Kluwer, a Netherlands-based international business services firm, announced it has named Lisa Nelson as CEO of its Financial & Corporate Compliance division, working out of its Minneapolis office. Nelson most recently was at Equifax, where she was president, international. … Securian Financial, St. Paul, announced that Susan (Sue) Reibel, previously chief executive officer of John Hancock Retirement, and James (Jim) Kolar, previously the central market managing partner for PwC, have been elected to its board of directors.

HONORS

The Minnesota Entrepreneur Network announced David and Sara Russick as the recipients of this year’s Lifter Award, recognizing their founding and leadership of Gopher Angels, an investment group that has infused over $27 million into more than 85 startups across Minnesota and the Midwest. … The U.S. Small Business Administration announced Beth Anne Benike, owner of Busy Baby in Oronoco, Minn., as its 2025 Minnesota Small Business Person of the Year.

LAW

Attorney Anupama D. Sreekanth has been named a 2025 Fellow by the Leadership Council on Legal Diversity, offering leadership training to mid-career attorneys from diverse backgrounds at LCLD Member organizations. Sreekanth is at Fredrikson, Minneapolis, which made the announcement.

MANUFACTURING

nVent Electric, a electrical supply company headquartered in London and St. Louis Park, announced the following appointments to its executive leadership team: Sara Zawoyski, president of Systems Protection; Gary Corona, executive vice president and chief financial officer; Robert van der Kolk, president of EMEA and APAC, and Brian Coleman, president of electrical connections. … Sleep Number Corp., a Minneapolis-based maker and retailer of specialty beds and mattresses, in agreement with with Stadium Capital Management, its largest shareholder, announced the following retirements from the board of directors: Michael J. Harrison,  Shelly R. Ibach, Barbara R. Matas, Brenda J. Lauderback and Stephen L. Gulis, Jr. 

MEDIA

The Minnesota Star Tribune newspaper, Minneapolis, announced the following editorial changes: Aaron Brown joins the Strib Voices editorial board; Rochelle Olson becomes editorial writer and columnist; David Banks becomes commentary editor, and editorial writer Denise Johnson to retire.

NONPROFITS

Move Minnesota and Move Minnesota Action, St. Paul-based organizations that advocate for public transportation, announced MJ Carpio as executive director. She previously served as the organizations’ political director and campaign manager from 2022 to 2024.

SPONSORSHIPS

Infios, formerly Körber Supply Chain Software, a Bloomington-based provider of supply chain software for business, announced professional golfer Keegan Bradley as its brand ambassador. …  Uponor, a maker of plumbing technology for residential and industrial use, announced a multi-year partnership with the Minnesota Twins Major League Baseball franchise with a focus on sustainability and community impact missions. Uponor’s North American headquarters are in Apple Valley.

TECHNOLOGY

Hiawatha Broadband Communications, a Winona-based internet service provider, announced Dan Wigger as president and general manager, succeeding Dan Pecarina, who has retired after more than 25 years with the company.

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