In a surprising turn of events, the potential sale of the Minnesota Timberwolves and Minnesota Lynx has taken a dramatic twist. Team owner Glen Taylor announced on Thursday that the franchises are "no longer for sale," citing the failure of prospective buyers Marc Lore and former MLB star Alex Rodriguez to meet the deadline for closing the deal. However, Lore and A-Rod have vehemently disagreed with Taylor's claim, asserting that they fulfilled their obligations and remain committed to finalizing the purchase.

The agreement between Lore, Rodriguez, and Taylor included a reported $1.5 billion majority stake acquisition that was set to be paid in installments. The scheduled closing date for the transaction was Wednesday. Nevertheless, Taylor released a press release expressing his surprise at Lore and Rodriguez's failure to meet the required deadlines. According to Taylor, the NBA's advisory/finance committee has not yet reviewed the final part of the sale, the board of governors has not given approval, and no funds have been exchanged.

In response to Taylor's statement, Lore and Rodriguez's spokesperson conveyed disappointment. They affirmed that they have fulfilled all obligations, secured the necessary funding, and are fully committed to completing the purchase once the NBA completes its approval process. They criticized Taylor's stance as an unfortunate case of "seller's remorse," describing it as short-sighted and disruptive to the team and its fans during a remarkable winning season.

The disagreement over the validity and completion of the deal has now escalated to a personal dispute. Rodriguez expressed their unwavering determination to fight for ownership, stating, "We can be in this [fight] for five years, 10 years, whatever. We're not going to let go." Lore added on a podcast that Taylor seemingly decided the team's value had significantly increased since the deal was made, and he no longer wished to honor their agreement.

Lore and Rodriguez had initially acquired a 40% stake in the Timberwolves and Lynx, with plans to increase their ownership to 80% this week. Earlier this month, a reported $300 million investment from the Carlyle Group fell through. However, Lore and Rodriguez successfully secured the backing of Dyal Capital Partners, another private equity firm, by submitting financial documents to the NBA in a last-minute attempt to meet the deadline.

The intensifying ownership dispute comes as the Timberwolves are enjoying an impressive season with a record of 51-22, fiercely competing for the top seed in the Western Conference. The team recently signed guard Mike Conley to a lucrative contract extension, and their payroll is expected to skyrocket next season with the looming extensions of star players Anthony Edwards and Karl-Anthony Towns.

As the conflicting parties prepare for potential mediation and arbitration as outlined in their agreement, the future ownership of the Timberwolves and Lynx hangs in the balance. Fans and players alike anxiously await the resolution of this high-stakes battle that could have far-reaching implications for the franchises' future.