Former Hennepin County chief public defender Mary Moriarty is running to be the county's top prosecutor.

What she's saying: Moriarty announced her campaign to succeed retiring County Attorney Mike Freeman on Twitter Monday, calling for "transformational reform in the criminal legal system."

State of play: Expect a crowded race next year. Several other candidates, including House Majority leader Ryan Winkler, are weighing a run.

Background: Moriarty, the first woman to serve as the county's chief public defender, received a $300,000 settlement this year after a clash with leadership resulted in her contract not being renewed.

• Her public profile rose during the trial of former Minneapolis officer Derek Chauvin, when she provided legal analysis for local and national TV coverage.

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 TK on Sunday at TK time 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.

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. Friday night, 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.

🎶 Friday's Minneapolis miniFEST is a small(ish) version of a music festival, featuring over a dozen artists in a socially distanced space. $20 at the door.

🍸 Listen to live music all day at The Borough Block Party in North Loop Saturday. Plus, plenty of food & drinks from Borough & Parlour. Free.

🎴 Board game lovers, unite! The Tabletop Market Saturday has plenty of gently used board games, RPG books, miniatures and more for sale, plus hourly giveaways. Free.

🚲 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. Free.

We're experimenting with an extended version of our weekly events calendar. Let us know what you think and send future events our way! Email Audrey at audrey.kennedy@axios.com.

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 calling for a "strong voice advocating for working people at the capitol.”

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 2022, when all 201 legislative seats are on the ballot.

The other side: Pappas, first elected to the state House in 1984 and the Senate in 1990, confirmed to Torey that she's running 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.