Trailing by a seemingly insurmountable deficit with a couple of minutes left, it looked like it was all over for the Hawkeyes women’s basketball team.

Not enough time to mount a comeback. Thanks for coming out. Goodnight.

Then the superstar that is Caitlin Clark woke up.

She nailed a nasty stepback jumper to cut into the deficit to get the crowd back into it, assisted on a fastbreak layup to Hannah Stuelke, then found Kate Martin in the corner for a shot from long range. As the clock ticked away in the final minute — 50 seconds, 40 seconds, 30 seconds — Clark went into attack mode knowing she needed a bucket. She fought her way into the paint, muscled up a contested layup, and tied the game to force overtime

The extra session served as Clark’s coronation.

With the Hawkeyes trailing once again, she went back to the stepback jumper, sinking the shot to give her team a lead it would relinquish. She intercepted a pass on the next possession and knocked down a pair of free throws. She finished the game with another steal for good measure, then chucked the ball into the crowd as the final buzzer sounded and confetti rained down.

Iowa guard Caitlin Clark celebrates as time expires during the overtime win of an NCAA college basketball game against Nebraska in the final of the Big Ten women’s tournament Sunday, March 10, 2024, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr)

For the third straight year — with Clark leading the charge — the Hawkeyes are Big Ten Tournament champions. No. 2 seed Iowa earned a 94-89 win over No. 5 seed Nebraska in a game for the ages on Sunday afternoon at Target Center. A heavy emphasis on the word earned.

It was the latest master class from Clark as she finished with 34 points, 7 rebounds, and 12 assists. She shook off a rough shooting performance to start the game and proved she’s undoubtedly the best player in the country. Maybe the best player that’s ever played women’s college basketball.

That said, Clark couldn’t have done it without her teammates, as Stuelke finished with 25 points, Martin chipped in with 13 points, Sydney Affolter recorded 11 points and with 11 rebounds, and Gabbie Marshall played incredible defense on the perimeter down the stretch.

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There will soon be resolution for the Vikings when it comes to the future of quarterback Kirk Cousins.

The legal tampering period in the NFL begins at 11 a.m. Monday. That’s the earliest Cousins and his agent Mike McCartney can start talking to new teams, even though no deal with anyone other than the Vikings can become official until free agency begins at 3 p.m. Wednesday. That said, if Cousins is going to move on from Minnesota, the word will likely get out before then.

There’s a hard deadline for the Vikings to agree to terms with Cousins. His contract voids at 3 p.m. Wednesday, and as soon as that happens, the Vikings will be on the hook for $28.5 million in dead cap. The only way to get that number down is to renegotiate before the contract voids.

The conversation this week will stretch beyond Cousins with many players in search of a new contract.

Here’s a look the pending free agents the Vikings potentially stand to lose (ordered by current average per year):

Kirk Cousins, quarterback

This is the first domino that needs to fall. The rumors have tied Cousins to the Atlanta Falcons, and if they come in with the highest offer, there’s a good chance that’s where he signs. Maybe the biggest thing the Vikings have going for them is that Cousins has continuity with head coach Kevin O’Connell. Would he be willing to take less money to keep that going?

Danielle Hunter, edge rusher

The word on the street is that edge rusher Danielle Hunter wants to stay with the Vikings if the price right. The issue is that his services will be in high demand, with the Chicago Bears, Jacksonville Jaguars and Arizona Cardinals, among a handful of others, all interested in and capable of offering a lot of money. This will come down to dollar signs.

Marcus Davenport, edge rusher

It would be surprising to see the Vikings reach a new deal with edge rusher Marcus Davenport. He played very sparingly last season as he battled through a host of injuries. It was a bad marriage from the start, and there’s no point in trying to make it work.

Jordan Hicks, linebacker

This is something the Vikings would likely be interested in if linebacker Jordan Hicks is willing to sign for a bargain. He is a revered leader in the locker room and his presence would help with the continued development of fellow linebacker Ivan Pace Jr.

Dalton Risner, offensive guard

After sliding into a starting role last season, offensive guard Dalton Risner should be a candidate to return. It’s worth noting that Risner played hardball the last time he was a free agent. It will be interesting to see how things play out this time around.

Oli Udoh, offensive tackle

It wouldn’t be a shock if the Vikings moved on from offensive tackle Oli Udoh. He suffered a torn quad last season, and he might be looking for more money than the Vikings are willing to offer.

Greg Joseph, kicker

How much will kicker Greg Joseph want? That is the question. As much as special-teams coordinator Matt Daniels is a big fan of Jospeh, it’s hard to imagine the Vikings breaking the bank to keep him around.

Josh Dobbs, quarterback

The rise and fall of journeyman quarterback Josh Dobbs was certainly memorable. He probably won’t be back with the Vikings after getting benched down the stretch last season.

Cam Akers, running back

If the Vikings are willing to invest in running back Cam Akers, they will be banking on him being able to recover from another torn Achilles tendon. He already has gone through the recovery process once in his career. Can he do it again?

Jonathan Bullard, defensive tackle

It’s people like defensive tackle Jonathan Bullard who can help the Vikings win on the margins. He might have earned himself a raise with his solid effort. That could make him too expensive for the Vikings given the holes elsewhere.

Chris Reed, offensive guard

There is always a need for depth up front on the line. Perhaps offensive guard Chris Reed can fill that role.

Brandon Powell, receiver

It’s a good bet that receiver Brandon Powell will be back. He made some big plays last season, and O’Connell always had good things to say about him.

Anthony Barr, linebacker

As fun as it was to see linebacker Anthony Barr return last season, he probably isn’t a part of the long-term plan.

Nick Vigil, linebacker

The need for bodies on special teams would be the only reason to bring back linebacker Nick Vigil. He won’t be a top priority by any means. If he’s still available toward training camp, the Vikings could pounce.

Austin Schlottmann, center

There’s no reason not to bring center Austin Schlottmann back. He provides some insurance as a backup to No. 1 center Garrett Bradbury.

David Quessenberry, offensive tackle

Whenever he was thrust into action last season, left tackle David Quessenberry proved he’s up to the task. He makes sense as a depth piece up front.

Sheldon Day, defensive tackle

If the Vikings need to move on from some defenders in the trenches, defensive tackle Sheldon Day could be somebody to keep an eye on. He should be pretty cheap, and he played well last season in a limited role.

D.J. Wonnum, edge rusher

There should be quite a few suitors for edge rusher D.J. Wonnum. He stepped up last season and should get rewarded for it. If the Vikings lose some stars on defense, they would prioritize Wonnum with how he seemed to click with defensive coordinator Brian Flores.

Hakeem Adeniji, offensive tackle

As an inactive player in most games last season, offensive tackle Hakeem Adeniji could be looking for a fresh start.

James Lynch, defensive tackle

There was hope last season defensive tackle James Lynch would make a splash. Then he tore his anterior cruciate ligament. That could make him pretty affordable.

Troy Dye, linebacker

There is something admirable about leaning into special teams the way linebacker Troy Dye has throughout his career. That could pave the way for him to return to the Vikings, unless he’s looking for a bigger role elsewhere.

Khyiris Tonga, defensive tackle

There likely won’t be a huge market for defensive tackle Khyiris Tonga. He didn’t make much of an impact last season in his time on the field.

Blake Brandel, offensive guard

As a versatile player up front, offensive guard Blake Brandel has made himself valuable. He will likely be retained.

K.J. Osborn, receiver

No doubt looking for a bigger role — and a pay raise — receiver K.J. Osborn will probably move on from the Vikings. He certainly earned his stripes during his time in Minnesota.

T.J. Smith, defensive tackle

The fact that defensive tackle T.J. Smith still hasn’t signed as an exclusive rights right agent probably speaks volumes.

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President Joe Biden’s team looks to Taylor Swift for a touchdown. Considering the obvious ability that pop star Taylor Swift and her NFL star boyfriend, Travis Kelce, have shown for stealing the limelight, it comes as little surprise that, without even trying, they have generated their own conspiracy theory, too.

Long-standing conspiracy theories about the NFL and the “deep state” and other far reaches of the fever swamps produced a photo on the Twitter account @NFL_Memes that claimed a connection between Super Bowl logo colors and the teams playing in the big game itself. In response, faster than you could say “touchdown,” right-wing conspiracy theorists were claiming Swift’s involvement with Kelce of the Kansas City Chiefs is really part of a plot to gin up support for Biden in the 2024 election.

Considering the lackluster state of Biden’s campaign, the president needs all the help he can get. Besides, the success of Swift and her record-breaking Eras Tour have made this such a successful time for the pop star that it is not surprising to see the Biden campaign dream of sharing some of the glory and good fortune.

After all, it didn’t hurt Biden to have Swift’s endorsement in 2020. Last year a single Instagram post from her led to 35,000 new voter registrations. Even if old-timer football personalities disparage the couple’s star appeal as a big distraction, as retired coach Tony Dungy did recently, the entertainment industry known as the NFL has to be delighted with the publicity, merch sales and other revenue that the fun couple has brought to the sport.

Just as John F. Kennedy enlivened the White House with Frank Sinatra and his “Rat Pack” of pals and began a long-running tradition of Hollywood hobnobbing with presidents — mostly Democrats, as it turned out — today’s campaigns seek their own stars and welcome those who come along. As it struggles to hang onto such core constituencies as young liberals and people of color, at least according to polls, the Biden campaign has begun discussions with celebrities and social media stars about promoting Biden on Instagram and TikTok.

Old-school pols made good use of TV ads. Given today’s sensibilities, Biden’s campaign has enlisted “influencers” with a following on Instagram and TikTok — which I’m going to figure out one of these days.

Biden’s plan, insiders say, leans toward direct assaults on Trump and a big emphasis on abortion rights — an easy issue to contrast with sound bites of Trump boasting about picking Supreme Court justices who overturned Roe v. Wade. Democratic success at restoring abortion rights in red states that have put the issue to a referendum justifiably encourages the Biden campaign, but it’s likely not enough by itself to defeat Trump.

Biden’s campaign reportedly believes that the more the public sees and hears Trump brag about wanting to be “a dictator on day one,” the more voters will be brought to their side on issues like abortion and health care. Such a reversal won’t come easily. No one seems to thrive as much off of criminal indictments as Trump does.

But it’s still early in the campaign calendar and there’s still hope, according to longtime supporters. One who knows how that works is Rep. James Clyburn, a South Carolina Democrat and key Biden ally, who was credited with Biden’s crucial turnaround in 2020. He told The New York Times that Democrats needed to make an affirmative case and remind voters of tangible changes to their lives — like capping insulin costs, infrastructure cash for roads and bridges and other important promisesBiden kept.

But those “promises kept” have not mattered enough to younger and more progressive voters who have not given the administration much credit for itsaccomplishments — or harbor, in many cases, resentment toward Team Biden’s support for Israel’s war against Hamas. Complex issues like that are not easily debated in the midst of a presidential campaign, but campaigns are, after all, a nation’s sometimes ungainly debate over issues determining its future.

Politics often look like a game, but now it’s time to get serious.

cpage@chicagotribune.com

Twitter @cptime

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OF NOTE

Peter Diessner

Kraus-Anderson Cos., Minneapolis-based multi-disciplined real estate developer, announced that Peter Diessner has been named chief executive officer.  Diessner has been chief operating officer of KA Cos. since 2023. He succeeds Bruce Engelsma, who has been CEO since 1997. Engelsma remains chairman of KA Cos. The firm also announced the appointments of John Huenink to national director of the K-12 Education Group, Mark Kotten to national director of the Public Sector Group, and Dustin Phillips to construction executive of the Public Sector group.

AIRPORT

The Metropolitan Airports Commission, announced the hire of Michael Schommer as assistant director of strategic communications. Schommer’s previous government communications role was with the state of Minnesota. The Metropolitan Airports Commission owns and operates the Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport and six suburban reliever airports in the Twin Cities.

CONSTRUCTION

Greiner Construction, Minneapolis, announced the appointment of Josh Helgesen as president/CEO. Helgesen’s career with Greiner began in 2001 as an apprentice carpenter.

DEVELOPMENT

Urban3, a North Carolina-based land-use economics and geoanalytics consultancy, announced the appointment of Heather Worthington as principal, overseeing the company’s work on Minneapolis and Hennepin County development policies. Worhtington previously was director of long range planning for the city of Minneapolis, deputy county manager for Ramsey County, and managing consultant for the Center for Economic Inclusion in St. Paul.

EDUCATION

Groves Learning Organization , a St. Louis Park -based educational organization for students with learning disabilities, announced the following additions to its board of trustees: Carly Broderick, Miles Consumer Products; Emily Cooley Dobbins, Nova Education Consultants; Frankie Lenzmeier, Stickney Hill Dairy, and Nneka Sederstrom, Hennepin Healthcare.

FINANCIAL SERVICES

National bank Chase announced that it will open more than 30 additional branches in the Twin Cities metro area, doubling its current footprint to over 60 locations by the end of 2027 and hiring more than 300 employees locally; Patty Gilman is regional director for Chase in Minnesota. … Nepsis, a Savage-based financial adviser and investment management firm, announced the addition of Ed Stober as senior wealth adviser. Stober has held executive positions at Choreo, Charles Schwab, and Thrivent Financial.

FOOD

General Mills, Golden Valley, announced the following executive changes: the pending retirement and transition to an advisory role of Shawn O’Grady, group president, North America Foodservice (NAF); Jon Nudi, currently group president, Pet and International, will add NAF to his oversight; Pankaj Sharma, president, U.S. Meals & Baking Solutions, will be promoted to segment president, NAF.

GOVERNMENT

The state of Minnesota announced it has selected Lisa Harrison-Hadler to serve as ombudsman for Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities. Harrison-Hadler has been leading the agency during the appointment process and previously served as regional ombudsman for southeast Minnesota and the southwest metro.

HEALTH CARE

St. Cloud Orthopedics, St. Cloud, announced the appointment of CEO Ed Kelly, succeeding Bill Worzala who has retired.

HOSPITALITY

Radisson Blu Mall of America, Bloomington, announced that Executive Chef Dinesh Jayawardena has been appointed corporate chef of upscale brands for Choice Hotels International, effective April 1.

MEDIA

Comcast, the Twin Cities’ dominant cable TV and internet provider, announced the opening of an Xfinity Store at 8266 Commonwealth Drive, Eden Prairie, its 15th retail location in the Twin Cities.

MILESTONES

J&F Reddy Rents, a family-owned, women-run equipment rental store in St. Louis Park, is celebrating 60 years in business.

RETAIL

Best Buy, Richfield, announced the retirement of Board Chairman J. Patrick Doyle effective in June; he will be succeeded by David Kenny, executive chairman of Nielsen, who has been on the Best Buy board since 2013.

SERVICES

SEV Laser, a national chain offering laser hair removal and med spa treatments, announced the opening of its Minnesota location at 218 N. First St., Minneapolis.

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EMAIL ITEMS to businessnews@pioneerpress.com.