Reporter/Columnist | Sports

Rachel Blount is a sports reporter for the Star Tribune who covers a variety of topics, including the Olympics, Wild, college sports and horse racing. She has written extensively about Minnesota's Olympic athletes and has covered pro and college hockey since joining the staff in 1990. 

An Iowa native, Blount is a graduate of the University of Notre Dame and holds a master's degree in journalism from the University of Missouri. She has won numerous state and national writing awards. Her favorite stories to tell are those that convey the emotion and humanity of sports. She lives in Minneapolis with her husband, Pat Borzi, who also is a sportswriter.


PWHL Minnesota beats Montreal 3-2 in shootout before lengthy break

The team came back from a 2-0 deficit to win before taking a nearly monthlong break for the world championships.


Jessie Diggins says she really needs a break from skiing right now

After revealing last fall that she had a relapse of an eating disorder, Diggins roared to the best season of her career. Now, it's time for the Afton native to dial things down.


Diggins makes history, clinches second overall World Cup title

Afton's Jessie Diggins prevailed Sunday in a 20-kilometer mass start freestyle in Falun, Sweden, and became the first American to win two World Cup cross-country skiing crowns.


U women's hockey ousted by Clarkson in 4 OTs in NCAA quarterfinals

Dominique Petrie scored the tying goal at 18:09 of the third to send the game to overtime. She got the winner, too, a power-play goal at 5:44 of the fourth OT.


Gophers women at Clarkson: Winner to the Frozen Four

The Gophers are 1-8 against Ohio State Wisconsin, but they're 26-1-2 against everyone else, including 9-0-2 against other ranked teams.


Gophers women's hockey reaches NCAA quarterfinal with a new formula

The Gophers have emphasized playing better in close, low-scoring games, a strategy that might help at Clarkson for a trip to the Frozen Four.


Diggins clinging to World Cup overall lead entering closing weekend

Afton native Jessie Diggins is ahead of Linn Svahn by 102 points after leading by more than 300 points in early February, and the season's final races will be held on Svahn's home snow in Falun, Sweden.


PWHL Minnesota piles up points at home by shutting out Boston

Kendall Coyne Schofield, Michela Cava, Grace Zumwinkle and Taylor Heise provided the scoring, while goaltender Nicole Hensley earned her first shutout of the season with 20 saves.


PWHL Minnesota gets a rematch against Boston at home

Rachel Blount's breakdown: After failing to score against Aerin Frankel last time, Minnesota will have to find a way. And the sooner, the better, since Boston is 5-0 when scoring first.


Gophers women's hockey will play at Clarkson to open NCAA tournament

The Gophers received the No. 5 overall seed and will advance to the Frozen Four with a victory