How Do Sounders Stack Up in MLS All-Star Voting?
The MLS All-Star Game may not be the most popular among fans for its unusual place in international football culture, but it's an easy way for teams to get publicity for their highest-performing players.
Last season, now Atletico Madrid midfielder Obed Vargas was the only Seattle Sounder to make the squad. With the Sounders off to a much better start at 7-2-3 (4th in Western Conference) this time around, Seattle is generating buzz with one day of fan voting left before the July 29 All-Star Game in Charlotte.
This season, the Sounders are tied for the fewest goals allowed in league play (10), but are tied for the fifth-fewest scored (17). As such, solid offensive seasons for Paul Rothrock (5 G+A), Albert Rusnak (6 G+A) and Jesus Ferreira (5 G+A) simply don't stack up with the rest of a league that is oversaturated with ridiculous scoring lines this season. Instead, look for the pieces that are powering the elite defense performance to get some love in Charlotte.
Keeper Andrew Thomas, USMNT midfield prospect Cristian Roldan, center back Jackson Ragen, right back Alex Roldan and left back Nouhou were all top-five in fan voting at their respective positions as of May 18, according to MLS. The voting process will take fan, media and player votes into account for 11 of the players, while Charlotte coach Dean Smith will select 13 and MLS Commissioner Don Garber will pick the remaining two All-Stars.
Gonzaga Baseball Cleans Up at WCC Awards as Mark Machtolf, Nine Players Garner Accolades
When a team wins a conference by more than seven games, it figures that they’ll be notably represented when postseason awards roll around.
Of the 59 names listed across the various West Coast award categories, 14 of them are members of Gonzaga baseball, as nine different Bulldogs were honored at least once for their individual performance this season. That means nearly a quarter of the honorees were Zags.
GU nearly swept the five major awards, only missing out on Defensive Player of the Year. Mark Machtolf won his sixth WCC Coach of the Year honor, Mikey Bell went back-to-back in Player of the Year Voting, Karsten Sweum took home Pitcher of the Year, and Landon Hood won the Freshman of the Year award. Bell leads the slew of right-handed Bulldog sluggers recognition, while a senior pitcher got some shine as well in his final year in Spokane.
What was special about each of their seasons, and who else brought home the hardware?
Huskies Outclass Rivals, Sign Prized DT Tevita Nonu to 2027 Class
Keeping one of state’s prized 2027 recruits in town, the Washington Huskies made waves by landing O'Dea four-star defensive tackle Tevita Nonu, who selected UW over the likes of Big Ten rivals Oregon and UCLA among other Power 4 programs.
Emerald City Spectrum reporter Aaron Coe breaks down what sets Nonu apart as one of the top prospects in his class, including his sheer athleticism, relentless motor, and scheme versatility, while spotlighting the Huskies’ recruiting momentum under coach Jedd Fisch and the significance of building a pipeline from powerhouse in-state programs like O’Dea.
No Sophomore Slump: Seahawks’ Nick Emmanwori Set to Make Superstar Leap
The Seattle Seahawks being allowed by the other 31 NFL teams to trade up in the second round to steal away Nick Emmanwori in the 2025 NFL Draft might be something every single one of those franchises regrets for years to come.
Emmanwori to Seattle reeks of teams pulling their hair out and saying, “We let that guy go there?!”
Yes, the Seahawks, with their defensive wizard of a head coach in Mike Macdonald, were able to hand-pick the queen of his proverbial chess board. His next Kyle Hamilton, his former star pupil in Baltimore.
Honestly, the Hamilton comparison might be underselling what Emmanwori could become. The Notre Dame-turned-Raven star has three Pro Bowls and two First Team All-Pro bids to his name. Does anybody reading this think Emmanwori can’t exceed that in Seattle?
Kraken the Ice: Examining Potential Seattle Targets With No. 7 Pick in 2026 NHL Draft
Failing to make the playoffs for the fourth time in five years, the Seattle Kraken once again find themselves doing some soul searching as the franchise tries to find a way to consistently contend this offseason.
Emerald City Spectrum writer Nick Lee examines head coach Lane Lambert's role in the team's disappointing finish and why he deserves at least one more season to prove he can turn things around, dishes out end of year superlatives for Kraken standouts, as well as disappointments, and takes a close look at three potential targets for Seattle with the seventh overall pick in the 2026 NHL Draft.
Analysis: Investigating Seahawks’ Key Offensive Position Battles Entering OTAs
Set to kick off OTAs next week at the VMAC, the Seattle Seahawks will welcome back plenty of familiar faces from their Super Bowl squad. In fact, all 11 players who logged at least 700 offensive snaps in 2025 remain under contract heading into the new season, presenting rare continuity for a defending champion.
Thanks to the minimal changes, with running back being the lone exception to the rule after losing Ken Walker III to Kansas City in free agency and drafting Jadarian Price with the 32nd overall pick, Seattle will open the final phase of the offseason program without many starting jobs up for grabs on offense. All five offensive linemen who started last year will return, as will quarterback Sam Darnold and a dynamic receiving corps headlined by Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Rashid Shaheed, and Cooper Kupp.
But while few starting jobs may be on the line, the Seahawks should still have some enticing competitions on tap on the offensive side of the football when they hit the practice field next week, including a pair of fun depth contests looming at guard and receiver further bolstered by selections made in the 2026 NFL Draft.
Which battles offer the most intrigue with two months until the start of training camp?
Welcome to the Show: Colt Emerson Whacks Big Jack for First Career Hit, M’s Top White Sox 6-1
On Sunday morning, the Mariners brass was faced with a decision. Brendan Donovan had re-injured his groin during a game against the Astros, and with Leo Rivas’ struggles continuing unabated and an unclear timeline for Patrick Wisdom (though he was evidently taken off the IL the following day), the time was arriving for 20-year-old top prospect Colt Emerson. At least, that’s the decision that the front office made.
“We think he’s the best option,” Hollander said about Emerson on Sunday. “This period will give him some runway; this is not a 15 at-bat or a 20 at-bat tryout to see if he’s capable of taking the job and running with it for the rest of the year.”
One key homer does not a good player make, but when Emerson sent a low liner a hair’s breadth above the yellow crown of T-Mobile park’s right field wall in the bottom of the eighth - a shot that put the M’s up by the 6-1 score that would prove final - Seattle got a glimpse of things that may be.
Colt Emerson’s first major league hit was a three-run homer to turn a close lead into a comfortable one.
When Emerson went up to the dish, the momentum of the game had left a growing pit in many stomachs across the Northwest. Seattle had scored one run on a Julio Rodríguez bomb in the first, another on a third inning Randy Arozarena RBI double that was more memorable for what happened between second and third, and a run-scoring Josh Naylor single in the sixth.
But despite an electric double steal growing the inning into a second-and-third, one out opportunity, neither Cole Young nor Emerson had cashed in, and a homer followed by a bunch of stranded traffic had put the wind at the White Sox’ back.
Storm Waive Third-Round Pick Grace VanSlooten
The Seattle Storm are preparing for the arrival of No. 3 overall pick Awa Fam following her championship win with Valencia in Spain, and they waived third-round pick Grace VanSlooten on Monday to make space on the roster.
VanSlooten, who has played in all four regular-season games, was the 39th overall pick in this year’s draft out of Michigan State. She likely would have landed in a developmental roster spot initially if Fam was with the Storm to begin the campaign, but the second spot is now filled by Taylor Thierry. Of course, if she clears waivers, the Storm could always let go of Thierry and re-sign VanSlooten to a developmental contract.
Growth of Sophomore Class Gives Seahawks Shot to Be Even Better in 2026
Like most Super Bowl winners, the Seattle Seahawks leaned heavily on their established stars on the way to hoisting the Lombardi Trophy last season. From quarterback Sam Darnold to defensive tackle Leonard Williams to linebacker Ernest Jones, the team had plenty of experienced veterans who stepped up with outstanding seasons to guide the team back to the top.
However, what made Seattle’s season truly a special one was the impressive contributions from young players in all three phases. Most notably, the 2025 rookie class played a massive role in taking the jump from a quality 10-win team that narrowly missed the playoffs one year earlier to winning the NFC West, earning the No. 1 seed, and capturing a Super Bowl title.
Continuing to be on a multi-year heater unearthing game-changing talent in the draft, Seahawks general manager John Schneider landed a Day 1 starting guard in Grey Zabel with the 18th overall pick, plugging the former North Dakota State standout into the lineup right away as a clear difference maker for a much-improved offensive line. Defensively, trading up to snag safety Nick Emmanwori with the 35th overall pick proved to be a huge steal for the franchise, as his Swiss army knife traits turned an already great defense into a juggernaut.
Coetzer Shines as Seawolves Wallop Anthem 57-21, Move into Second Place
TUKWILA, Wash. - Despite all the injuries and the early season losses, the Seawolves currently sit in a home playoff spot with three games remaining in the 2026 MLR season. Perhaps it goes to show that, even in a 10-match season, an early slump isn’t the be-all, end-all; perhaps it also shows that the five teams not named the Chicago Hounds have quite the dogfight to see who gets the second place home playoff game, who gets the other two playoff spots, and which two teams are left out in the cold.
Seattle’s 57-21 victory against Anthem Rugby Carolina was their most emphatic yet, building on a season-saving win against the Free Jacks and a second half comeback against Old Glory, both badly needed road wins before their triumphant (yet incomplete) homecoming.
Sunday afternoon marked the return of Davy Coetzer and Marno Redelinghuys to the starting XV, with André Warner playing at scrumhalf and JP Smith originally slated to play on the wing before being scratched late. Dorian Jones also returned from injury, ending up coming off the bench in the final quarter of the game.
Gonzaga Baseball Closes Historic Regular Season With Sweep of Seattle U
To cap off a truly historic regular season, Gonzaga baseball (35-17, 22-5) secured its ninth sweep of the season by taking all three games against Seattle U at Steve Herz Field. The result of the set makes 22 conference wins for the Zags, which is a program record and the most any WCC team has had since 2002, when Pepperdine won the same amount.
They finish the season 15-3 at the Patterson Baseball Complex, but their dominance on the diamond for the last two months has been consistent, no matter the venue. Since their first game of WCC action against San Diego, the Bulldogs have gone 28-6, as they surge into the conference tournament in Phoenix with as much momentum as could be hoped for.
More dominance ensured versus the Redhawks, as everyone in the lineup got involved throughout Senior Weekend while the team’s two frontline starters delivered quality outings once more.
Analysis: Cougars Balance Continuity With New Faces in Tight End Room
With new faces and returning experience at the position, the Washington State Cougars’ tight end room has a mix of size, athleticism, and versatility heading into the 2026 season.
The Cougars bring back proven contributors like Trey Leckner while also adding an experienced transfer and intriguing developmental player to the mix who could emerge over time in new coach Kirby Moore’s offense. Whether it’s as blockers in the run game or pass catchers in the red zone, this group has the potential to play an important role in WSU’s offense throughout the year.
Instant Takeaways: No Malonga Spells Doom for Storm in Loss to Fever
Stumbling out of the gates with sloppy offense and minimal-resistance defense, the Seattle Storm fell to 1-3 on the season with an 89-78 loss to the Indiana Fever on Sunday, May 17, at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis.
The Storm were without leading scorer Dominique Malonga, who suffered a concussion in Wednesday’s game against Toronto. Seattle’s remaining lineup, which was much smaller than normal, couldn’t minimize mistakes to keep up with a potent Fever attack.
Natisha Hiedeman had her best game as a member of the Storm, scoring a team-high 19 points while adding two rebounds, two assists one steal and one block. Flau’jae Johnson (14 points), Zia Cooke (13) and Jade Melbourne (12) also scored in double figures.
Indiana (2-2) was led by Caitlin Clark’s 21 points, seven rebounds and 10 assists. Kelsey Mitchell and Sophie Cunningham each added 17 points.
Despite Rocky First Year, Lane Lambert Still Could Be Man for the Job for Kraken
The NHL Draft is still over a month away. The Seattle Kraken will pick seventh, by virtue of the draft lottery. For the third straight season, Seattle missed the Stanley Cup Playoffs. They have only made the playoffs once in its five seasons of existence.
Last summer, Lane Lambert became Seattle’s third different head coach in those five years, after taking over for Dan Bylsma, who was one-and-done following the 2024-2025 season. Lambert came in from Toronto after being an assistant coach for a year. Previously, he was head coach of the New York Islanders for one and a half years, making the playoffs in his rookie season.
Even with his first season as Kraken head coach being a disappointment, Lambert still can be the correct head coach moving forward.
Storm Desperately Need Champion Awa Fam Ready to Roll
Awa Fam, the Seattle Storm’s No. 3 overall pick in this year’s WNBA Draft, will be joining her new team as a champion.
Fam and Valencia, the team she has played for in Spain since 2021, won the Liga Feminina Endesa Championship on Sunday, May 17, defeating Casademont Zaragoza 68-67 on a buzzer-beater layup.
It wasn’t her best game, but Fam totaled six points on two 3-pointers and added four rebounds, one assist and a steal.
Valencia’s season is what has been keeping Fam, 19, from joining the Storm, who are currently 1-2 ahead of Sunday’s matchup with the Indiana Fever (1-2). Fam will still have to get to Seattle and potentially get a short rest before she can get on the court for the Storm this season.
Sounders’ Home Unbeaten Streak Ends at 22, Pec Runs Riot for Galaxy
The Seattle Sounders had been through the wringer in a three-game week, but were facing an LA Galaxy team coming off a tough loss to Kansas City to close the stretch Saturday. Seattle, on the other hand, was riding high with a win over the top-ranked San Jose Earthquakes on Wednesday, and set their lineup to rotate against the 11th-place Galaxy.
Unfortunately for Seattle, LA found its footing in this one, as star winger Gabriel Pec had a goal and an assist in transition late to bury the Sounders in a 2-0 shocker. The loss meant the end of a 22-game home unbeaten run dating back to last summer against European champion Paris Saint-Germain in the Club World Cup.
Seattle, as it has for the past few matches, spent plenty of time in LA's box with 30 touches in the 18, but couldn't cash in on 1.4 expected goals on mostly half-chances. The Sounders also took 15 shots and got five on frame with 58% possession, but the Galaxy's counterattacks late buried Seattle as LA generated 1.7 xG on nine shots.
Should Seahawks Break Bank, Sign Devon Witherspoon to Record-Setting Extension?
The Seahawks face one more major pivotal offseason decision before training camp arrives in late July: Can they secure Devon Witherspoon’s future after making Jaxon Smith-Njigba the highest-paid non-quarterback in NFL history earlier in the spring? With Witherspoon’s elite coverage, hard-hitting run defense, and game-changing blitz ability, his contributions often out-weigh his overall production, which could complicate negotiations on a massive extension.
Emerald City Spectrum reporter Corbin Smith examines the complexities of Seattle building around young stars, weighing Witherspoon’s All-Pro impact and locker room leadership against concerns about durability and statistical production. Key topics include John Schneider’s contract strategy, the influence of Mike Macdonald’s defensive scheme, how Witherspoon’s unique skills set him apart from traditional corners, and whether the former top-five pick is worth $30-plus million per year.
Reign Scoreless Streak Hits Five, Seattle Falls to Gotham at Home
SEATTLE, Wash. — After the Seattle Reign failed to score in their fourth straight game in a 1-0 loss to Washington last Sunday, defender Madison Curry said goals would pour in if they could make it rain once.
Five days later, Seattle didn't even manage a drizzle, losing 2-0 to defending champion Gotham FC to drop to 3-4-2. Gotham (5-2-3) notched its fifth straight result as Jaedyn Shaw scored in the 24th, while Tierna Davidson scored in the 57th on Friday night.
Unlike in its last few showings, Seattle didn't create many real chances until late in the game, when veteran substitute Brittany Ratcliffe had a 1-on-1 chance that was kick-saved by Ann-Katrin Berger, and Maddie Dahlien was tripped up in the box with no penalty call.
Outside of those chances in the 85th and stoppage time, the Reign didn't threaten the defending champs on a 0.8 expected-goal night.
Key Storylines for All 17 of Seahawks’ Games on 2026 Schedule
After months of knowing opponents but not having any official game dates, the Seattle Seahawks unleashed their official 2026 schedule on Thursday, kicking things off with a much-anticipated Super Bowl rematch against the New England Patriots.
Overall, including the opener at Lumen Field, Seattle will play in six primetime games with five of them on its home turf. The franchise will also benefit from an atypical lack of travel, ranking just 10th in air miles with only three trips to the Eastern time zone and two 10 AM starts on the schedule. On the flip side, while they play nine home games compared to eight away, they will finish with three contests away from Lumen in the final four weeks, which features two games against the Los Angeles Rams.
Digging deeper into the ‘Hawks revealed schedule, there’s no shortage of questions or intrigue for each of their 17 games on the docket. Which storylines stand out as the biggest for each game?
Could Cal Raleigh’s Injured List Trip Be a Good Thing for Mariners Over Long Haul?
Batting barely over .160, Cal Raleigh's struggles at the plate have played a big role in the Mariners' sluggish start to the 2026 season, and now the team will be without him for at least a few weeks.
Emerald City Spectrum writer Nick Lee examines Raleigh's tough run at the plate thus far and why a break to get back to 100% health may be exactly what the player and team needs to be able to get back on track in time to start pushing for a playoff spot once the calendar flips to June.
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