The Minnesota Lynx have a chance to extend their dynasty of the 2010s into a new decade when they begin the playoffs on Sunday.

State of play: After starting the season 5-7, the Lynx won 17 of their last 20 games and finished with a 22-10 record, earning a No. 3 seed in the WNBA playoffs.

• They will take on the Chicago Sky on Sunday at 4pm in a single-elimination game.

Why it matters: Lynx coach Cheryl Reeve has already solidified herself as one of the great coaches of all time, but winning a fifth WNBA title with an almost completely new roster would be a feather in her cap.

• The core of Maya Moore, Lindsay Whalen and Seimone Augustus, who won four championships between 2011 and 2017, are long gone. Only Sylvia Fowles remains from those teams.
• But a new core, led by Napheesa Collier, Fowles, Layshia Clarendon and Kayla McBride, are hoping to run the table this fall.

What they're saying: The No. 3 seed Lynx are somewhat long shots to win the title. FiveThirtyEight gives Minnesota a 10% chance of winning it all.

• Regardless, the Lynx have a young team that should make noise for years to come. "The Lynx are my title favorites next season if they remain healthy," wrote Chantel Jennings, the Athletic's WNBA writer.

The bottom line: With the Twins out of the playoffs, the Vikings off to an 0-2 start and the Wolves in disarray, the Lynx are providing Minnesota sports fans something the other major teams in town aren't: Real hope.

• OK, maybe there's also some hope for the Wild, which this week extended phenom Kirill Kaprizov for five more years.

Vikings fans heading to U.S. Bank Stadium for the home opener Sunday will have no shortage of food options to fuel their cheers (and tears).

• The stadium debuted a revamped concessions program ahead of this weekend's game against the Seahawks, featuring delicious new menu items from some of the Twin Cities' hottest restaurants.

Take a peek at some of Audrey's top picks on the @AxiosTwinCities Instagram page.

• Warning: It'll leave you ready for lunch!

One of the Minnesota Senate's longest-serving lawmakers is facing a primary challenge.

Driving the news: Labor organizer Sheigh Freeberg announced a run this week for Senate District 65, the St. Paul seat held by DFL Sen. Sandy Pappas.

• "For too long status quo politics have ignored the voices of many of our neighbors," Freeberg said in a statement.

The intrigue: Primary challengers calling for new voices and a more aggressive approach to pushing progressive policies defeated four DFL incumbents in 2020, including three in the metro.

• Freeberg's bid could be the first in a new wave of intra-party fights in a year when all 201 legislative seats are on the ballot.

The other side: Pappas confirmed to Torey that she plans to run for reelection. She defended her record, citing her seniority and leadership posts on key issues such as bonding.

• "If Mr. Freeberg has a problem with how I have been representing the district, he has every right to make that case to voters and delegates," she said. "I'm up for the challenge."

What to watch: Open seats created by retirement and redistricting could also attract competitive primaries between progressive and more moderate Democrats.

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⚖️ Former MPD officer Derek Chauvin filed a new appeal of his murder conviction for George Floyd's death. (Fox9)

🦠 Yikes: The number of K-12 schools with COVID-19 outbreaks tripled, with 85 buildings reporting five or more cases this week. (Star Tribune)

🐢 Duluth-based band Trampled by Turtles will require spectators to present proof of receiving a vaccine or a negative COVID-19 test to attend its concerts. "You are adults. If you don't like the request then don't go to concerts for the time being," frontman Dave Simonett wrote. (Twitter)

Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport continues to rank near the top of North American airports for customer satisfaction.

Driving the news: JD Power released its 2021 airport rankings on a 1,000-point customer satisfaction scale based on surveys of 13,225 passengers.

• It measured satisfaction with terminal facilities, arrival and departure, baggage claim, security check-in, and restaurants.

State of play: MSP, in the mega category (more than 33 million passengers a year), ranked third with a score of 815, up from 10th in 2020 but down from 2019, when it ranked second.

Our take: Duh. MSP has great restaurants, clean facilities and flights that will take you all over the world. It's a huge amenity for this community.

Looking for things to do this weekend? Here's what's happening around the Twin Cities.

🥩 At the Improv Comedy Meat Raffle at Finnegans Brewing Co. tonight, members of Danger Boat Comedy will give away cuts of meat between improv sets. All proceeds from raffle tickets benefit Firefighters for Healing. Free to attend, $2-$3 per raffle ticket.

🚲 Want some bike-themed art? Artcrank has hundreds of pieces from local and national artists at Fulton Brewing tomorrow afternoon. Free.

🌽 Corn Fest 2021 at Centro tomorrow celebrates all things corn. Stop by for elote and corn ice cream, plus live performances and custom corn hole games. Free.

💵 The Pay Gap Festival takes over the State Fairgrounds this weekend with pay-what-you-can live entertainment, a marketplace, silent auction and food trucks. Free entry.

🎨 The Solidarity Street Gallery brings a three-day arts and cultural festival to St. Paul's East Side. This year focuses on Indigenous sovereignty and environmental justice.

🗓 Check out our full list here, including a North Loop block party and a Minneapolis mini-music fest.