The Minnesota Timberwolves games won't be broadcast on their longtime flagship WCCO Radio this season, and it wasn't immediately clear where the games will be heard.
"We appreciated our partnership with WCCO and the radio broadcast opportunities we were able to accomplish with them," team spokeswoman Sara Perez wrote in a statement. "However, we are looking forward to announcing a new radio broadcast partnership in the weeks to come."
In a letter to radio staff, WCCO market manager and senior vice president Jeff Gonsales wrote the station worked hard to keep the NBA team and "offered more than what we delivered from our previous contract."
He said Timberwolves Chief Operating Officer Ryan Tanke told WCCO that the team is going to use a "super nontraditional" route for its broadcast partnership in a "one-year trial."
Longtime play-by-play man Alan Horton will remain a part of the team's plans for the new-look broadcast.
WCCO Radio program director Brad Lane confirmed the Timberwolves won't be on the station this season, but said he didn't know what the team's plans are for audio.
Wolves games have aired on WCCO since 2011. Games also aired on 102.9 FM, WCCO's sister station. There were also 30 radio stations in Minnesota, North Dakota and South Dakota that aired games as partners.
Absent Wolves games, WCCO will continue with on-air host Henry Lake and a show with more current events, pop culture and relatable nonsports topics. The Timberwolves and WCCO Radio have been long-time partners, broadcasting pregame and postgame shows. In 2021, they added Lake's podcast, "Life in the Pack," on the Audacy app.
