Sounders Outclassed in Leagues Cup Opener vs. Toluca
The Seattle Sounders have lost in a variety of ways in the current seven-game losing streak they're on.
But Wednesday's Leagues Cup opener against Concacaf Champions Cup winner Toluca felt different, as Seattle lost 3-0 as a clearly outclassed squad. The Sounders, as defending Leagues Cup champions, were outshot 38-4, allowing an 18-2 shots-on-frame disparity as Toluca generated 3.5 expected goals to Seattle's 0.3.
The Sounders, still down key pieces like Cristian Roldan and Yeimar, struggled to institute their press against an uber-talented Toluca squad — which scored in the third minute. From there, 40-year-old Seattle keeper Stefan Frei, who is handling Leagues Cup duties in place of usual starter Andrew Thomas to give the club legend some minutes, was pushed to his limit with 15 saves. Thanks — solely at times — to Frei, the game stayed at 1-0 somehow despite a flurry of Toluca chances off set pieces and open-play chances alike.
Frei made multiple diving saves, even coming off his line to stop 1-on-1 chances to keep Seattle within swiping range of a team that was clearly better than it on this night.
But Toluca, the Liga MX 2024-25 second-half and 2025-26 first-half champions, kept the foot on the gas and found the second goal off a rebound in the mid-second half before similarly adding a third in second-half stoppage.
Despite the injuries, the eight-hour flight from Seattle to Toluca, the 8,000-plus foot elevation and the Sounders' recent form, the nature in which they lost was astonishing. Toluca playmakers like Jesús Gallardo and Alexis Vega broke Seattle's press with ease, making a team that started 2026 as one of MLS' great defenses look far below average with consistency.
Without the intervention of a vintage Frei, Seattle could have been on the wrong end of a remake of its 7-0 win over Liga MX powerhouse Cruz Azul last season, which propelled it to the Leagues Cup title.
Sounders skipper Brian Schmetzer, ever the competitor confident in his team’s ability to win big games, compared Seattle trying to take down Toluca to the most iconic "miracle" in American sports postgame.
"Could we have won the game? Maybe. I mean, the (U.S.) men's hockey team in 1980… beat the Russians," Schmetzer said. "We beat Miami last year in the Leagues Cup final; we were the underdogs. So things like that can happen, but this was going to be a heavy ask."
The Montlake Report: Huskies Gear Up for Fall Camp as 2026 Season Approaches
Closing in on the start of the 2026 college football season, the Washington Huskies hope to take the next step forward as a College Football Playoff contender in year three under coach Jedd Fisch.
Emerald City Spectrum reporter Aaron Coe breaks down what he heard from coaches and players at Media Day as the Huskies prepare for a new season with high expectations as Fisch returns with plenty of offensive firepower - including quarterback Demond Williams back under center - and intriguing defensive additions to the roster.
Instant Takeaways: Storm Fall to Liberty, Spoil Another Elite Malonga Performance
The New York Liberty spoiled Dominique Malonga’s second-career 30-point game in a 92-86 loss for the Seattle Storm on Wednesday, Aug. 5, at the Barclays Center.
Malonga scored 31 points and added 10 rebounds, three assists, two steals and a block to lead Seattle (6-27), which dropped its 10th straight game. No other player scored more than 13 for the Storm.
New York (19-13), which was led by 28 points and eight rebounds from Breanna Stewart, has won six of its last seven games. Jonquel Jones also posted a monster game with 14 points, 15 rebounds, seven assists and two blocks.
Even with a lineup shift that put Ezi Magbegor back in the starting lineup, momentum hasn’t shifted for the Storm in the last two games. Their last victory came nearly a month ago on July 6.
Camp Takeaways: Jaxon Smith-Njigba Continues to Amaze Fellow Seahawks in High Leverage Situations
Stop if you’ve heard this before: Jaxon Smith-Njigba is pretty damn good.
Stars don’t flash every single day in training camp, especially an established one coming off of winning Offensive Player of the Year honors like Smith-Njigba is for the Seattle Seahawks, with more reps dedicated to younger players and coaches prioritizing installing the offense over game planning to feature the best player as they would in the regular season. But there will always be practices this serve as a reminder of that star’s greatness and for the “Emerald City Route Artist,” Wednesday’s 10th camp practice proved to be just that.
Targeted far more than he has been in most of the practices in camp to this point, Smith-Njigba got rolling early in Wednesday’s hot, smoky session, starting with a 25-yard reception along the sideline with tight coverage from cornerback Nehemiah Pritchett that quarterback Sam Darnold dropped right into his hands. Moments later, he beat Pritchett again, this time on a fade down the left sideline with safety Ty Okada coming over a hair too late in supporting coverage, allowing the receiver to scamper 38 yards for a touchdown.
“It was great to see him come alive, some of those [in] high-leverage situations too, when there's defensive attention at where he's at at all times. ” Seahawks coach Mike Macdonald remarked after practice. “So for him to be able to make those plays is great for the Seahawks, great for him. And I think we're feeling like he can get open from wherever, doing whatever, doing all the things from all the places. But how do we optimize it? How do we move him around? Where is he in the progression? He's going to be number 1 in the progression on a lot of plays.”
Will Taylor Ward Be What M’s Offense Needs? 2026 Trade Deadline Analysis Part II
The Mariners’ 2026 trade deadline, all told, could be described as a “soft buy”. They didn’t make any big lunges for a true star (with the Padres on a roll and with a high asking price for Mason Miller, they didn’t go for him, and other teams snatched up other potential high-end reliever pickups) and they shed the Luis Castillo contract for a largely unremarkable return.
Seattle’s only true buy ended up being a rental, confirmed on the day of the deadline: right-handed outfielder Taylor Ward for Alex Hoppe, Brock Moore, and Harrison Kreiling. The return to the Baltimore Orioles was fairly light: Hoppe is a struggling rookie reliever with real future upside, Moore is about as intriguing a reliever as Boston Smith is a catcher, and Kreiling is a Low-A arm with little pedigree but solid numbers.
Ward fills out a niche that the Mariners had tried to occupy somewhat with Rob Refsnyder - who the Mariners gave an outright release in a corresponding move on Tuesday - that of a right-handed outfield bat. But where Refsnyder was incredibly platoony even before his horrid down year in 2026, Ward performs solidly against each side of the mound, though there is a platoon difference: he has a career .827 OPS against lefties and .739 OPS against righties.
But is Ward going to be the fix the struggling Mariners offense needs?
Taylor Ward has been a solid hitter in 2026, but for the M’s, there is a catch.
Battle-Tested Nehemiah Pritchett ‘Making Heck of a Case' for Expanded Role in Seahawks’ Defense
In the heat of a smoky eighth training camp practice on Monday, Seattle Seahawks cornerback Nehemiah Pritchett walked up towards the line of scrimmage on the left side of the formation tasked with one of the toughest assignments in the NFL: trying to cover Jaxon Smith-Njigba.
Smith-Njigba initially took an inside release, working his way down the hash before cutting back outside on a corner route. Staying with the reigning Offensive Player of the Year in phase, Pritchett hung in the receiver’s hip pocket out of Smith-Njigba’s stem, putting himself in solid position to be able to make a play on the football.
However, as Smith-Njigba seemingly did to every cornerback who tried to cover him last season, the All-Pro gained a couple steps of separation with his elite quickness out of his break, becoming more than open enough for Sam Darnold to pull the trigger from the pocket. After a subtle push off on Pritchett that may or may not have been flagged in a game situation, he hauled in a long pass from the quarterback and turned up the sideline for a 50-yard touchdown.
Such is life trying to contain the NFL’s receiving yardage leader, something Pritchett knows all too well from battling against him in practice during his two-plus seasons in Seattle, including getting torched in a one-on-one rep in Tuesday’s session. But for the third-year defender, who finds himself entrenched in a competition for the No. 3 cornerback spot this summer, learning to play the game with short-term memory has been critical, understanding that those experiences on the practice field against Smith-Njigba, speedster Rashid Shaheed, and others in a deep Seattle receiving corps will best prepare him for what he will face on Sundays.
Mike Macdonald Clear Star of Show for Seahawks’ First Episode of ‘Hard Knocks’
The much-anticipated first episode of the 2026 version of Hard Knocks dropped on Tuesday evening. This year, they are covering the reigning Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks as they begin training camp at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
The first episode opens with the Super Bowl ring ceremony (and a hilarious meme-worthy moment of Sam Darnold dropping his ring on the floor immediately). It was one last look at the 2025 team, and all that they accomplished.
It was a truly special run that led to the team’s second ever Lombardi Trophy. However, training camp is about resetting. Starting all over with a blank slate. And starting at the bottom of the mountain upon which the Seahawks were just on top. Based on what we saw from the first episode, it seems the Seahawks have the perfect man in charge to take on that challenge.
Mike Macdonald was the clear star of the show in episode one. Not because he wanted to be. That’s not who he is. But the culture he has established in Seattle is palpable. There were several moments where Macdonald’s skills as a leader and qualities as a man shone through.
How Do Washington State's Football, Basketball Programs Stack Up in New Pac-12?
Washington State enters the rebuilt Pac-12 as one of the conference's two cornerstone programs. Alongside Oregon State, the Cougars helped keep the Pac-12 alive through one of the most turbulent periods in college athletics before leading the conference's rebuild.
Now, with the league officially returning in 2026, Washington State once again finds itself at the center of Pac-12 football and basketball.
For the conference's new members, Washington State represents one of the league's most recognizable brands. The Cougars spent more than a century competing at the Power Conference level and have built a reputation as a tough, competitive program that consistently punches above its weight. While Pullman may be one of the smallest college towns in the country, it has produced some of the Pac-12's most memorable moments and one of the most passionate fan bases in college sports.
Analysis: Entering Rookie AHL Season, What’s Jake O’Brien’s NHL Future With Kraken?
Even though he missed 15 games due to injury, Jake O’Brien led the OHL in assists last season. As a 19-year-old, he is now eligible to make the jump to the AHL next season under the new NHL Collective Bargaining Agreement.
What does the Seattle Kraken’s 2025 first-rounder do at an elite level? How can he improve? Is he ticketed for the Coachella Valley Firebirds next season? His Brantford Bulldogs assistant coach Vince Laise and Dobber Prospects scout Alex Wyatt weighed in, taking a closer look at the prospect as he works to get closer to making his NHL debut.
In 53 games last season, O’Brien put up 28 goals and a team-leading 93 points. The last two seasons, O’Brien has had the OHL’s leading goal scorer on his wing. While that’s in part because Brantford built a talented roster that went deep in the OHL playoffs the last two seasons, it’s also because O’Brien’s a top-tier playmaker. Three-quarters of O’Brien’s assists were primary assists last season.
“He didn't look like he was trying to force something,” Wyatt wrote. “He wasn't playing the [video game] version of hockey where he's just whipping in these passes that end up losing possession. He played a more mature game. He slowed things down a little bit, and that gave the team time to get ready for those passes to mean something.”
Camp Takeaways: Jalen Milroe Continues to Impress, Seahawks Ready to Use Multitude of 2-Back Sets
Back in pads for the third time so far in training camp, the Seattle Seahawks once again saw a step forward from second-year quarterback Jalen Milroe, while the defense held serve after a couple of standout practices for the offense.
Reporter Corbin Smith teams up with Dan Viens of Seahawks Forever to dish out their thoughts on what they saw and heard in Seattle's ninth training camp practice, including Milroe's growing confidence playing the quarterback position, Brian Fleury's comments about implementing multiple two-back sets into his offensive scheme, and Rylie Mills' continued dominance in his first healthy NFL training camp.
Huskies CB Dylan Robinson Ready to Build on Strong Freshman Season
There was no soft landing for Huskies cornerback Dylan Robinson during his first start last season.
He arrived on campus in June after graduating from Bonita H.S. (La Verne, Calif.), where he was mostly known as a wide receiver. By September, he was lining up as a defensive back against soon-to-be, two-time All-American Heisman candidate Jeremiah Smith. In a one-on-one interview with the Emerald City Spectrum at Washington’s media day on Tuesday, Robinson said he felt ready for the moment.
“It's everything that I wanted,” said Robinson, who played in 12 games, starting five in his first college season. “I'm not a person that shies away from competition, and [Smith] is some of the best of the best. So it was always a goal to come in freshman year and play the best comp that I could, and that was the opportunity.
Instant Takeaways: Seattle Storm Lose Ninth Straight With Loss to Liberty
The Seattle Storm’s (6-26) losing streak was extended to nine games on Monday, as it fell 95-83 to the New York Liberty (18-13) at the Barclays Center.
It was a rough start for the Storm, and the Liberty went on several hot streaks throughout the game to nullify chances of a comeback. But Seattle managed to keep things competitive for the most part, primarily on the backs of Flau’jae Johnson, Natisha Hiedeman, and Dominique Malonga. Another New York run late in the third quarter proved to be the difference, as that momentum was enough to put the Storm away for good.
What plagued Seattle this time?
Camp Takeaways: Big Plays Galore as Sam Darnold, Seahawks Torch Skies in Eighth Practice
Smoke descending upon the Virginia Mason Athletic Center on Monday afternoon came from the unfortunate Spokane fires raging on the other side of the state, with expectations air quality will continue to worsen over the next few days.
But putting the true serious nature of the flames in Eastern Washington aside, with Sam Darnold and company lighting up the skies all afternoon, an observer wouldn’t have been off basis for blaming a scorching hot passing game as the culprit for the increasingly hazy conditions in the Seattle Seahawks’ eighth training camp practice.
Coming out firing on all cylinders early in Monday’s session, Darnold zipped a 20-yard bullet to Cooper Kupp on his first throw against Seattle’s No. 1 defense, soon connecting with Jaxon Smith-Njigba on a 50-yard touchdown after he came loose working against Nehemiah Pritchett with a subtle push off at the top of the route. On the next series, he ripped a 20-yard completion to Tory Horton on a post route between two tightly converging defenders and then hit Kupp on a 25-yard in-breaking route in a three-play span.
Continuing to find success over the top against the normally stingy Seahawks defense in the next situational team drill, Darnold executed a play fake from under center and promptly set his back foot before launching a bomb down the middle of the field. Flying past rookie cornerback Michael Dansby and rookie safety Bud Clark on a skinny post, speedy receiver Rashid Shaheed had the pass land in his hands in strides for six points on a 55-yard touchdown reception.
Luis Castillo Sent to White Sox, M’s Get Middling Package: 2026 Trade Deadline Analysis Part I
The 2026 trade deadline has come and gone, and while the team sealed a Monday deal to bring righty stick Taylor Ward onboard as a rental, the bigger long-term move was on Saturday.
“The Rock” is no more. Well, at least in the Mariners clubhouse; not only is Dwayne Johnson still wrasslin’, but Luis Castillo is still playing baseball - just with the Chicago White Sox.
Seattle entered the trade deadline with six starting pitchers and two near-MLB ready hurling prospects tearing up Double-A more thoroughly than the family cocker spaniel handles little Timmy’s (previously completed, I’m sure) homework. The most obvious candidate for offload was Castillo, who has a 5.06 ERA, 4.57 FIP, and 1.395 WHIP over 20 games and 17 starts this season, not to mention around $30.3 million (the $7.178 million in prorated contract from this year and the $24.15 million for next year) in remaining guaranteed money until the end of 2027.
The team was in talks, evidently, about fellow starters George Kirby and Emerson Hancock, but with a standard five-man rotation after sending Castillo to Chicago’s South Side, there is a clear order of who’s going to pitch in these next few weeks.
The Sox sent the Mariners three players in return: right-handed relief pitcher Seranthony Domínguez, 28-year-old outfield project Nolan Jones, and Double-A catching prospect Boston Smith. Chicago also sent an undetermined amount of cash to the Mariners as part of the trade.
As for Castillo, while this perhaps isn’t the return the Mariners might have been hoping for (many mocks had been made about some sort of big MLB-impact return from the pitching-starved Cubs, for example), it makes sense that Castillo didn’t net a bat. His first year with the Mariners at age 29 was similar to his peak seasons with the Reds, but after that, his production began to decline year-over-year. The following chart from FanGraphs shows ERA, fielding independent pitching (FIP) and expected FIP (xFIP) in each of his big league seasons:
Analysis: What NCAA's New 5-for-5 Rule Means for Washington State Athletics
College athletics entered a new era this summer as the NCAA officially adopted its new "5-for-5" eligibility model. The rule is one of the biggest changes to college sports in decades, replacing the traditional four seasons of competition with a much simpler system. Student-athletes now receive five full seasons of eligibility, provided they enroll in college within the required age window. The change also eliminates redshirts and many of the waiver exceptions that had made eligibility increasingly complicated in recent years.
The rollout of the new model has already produced additional legal developments. On July 31, a federal judge in Colorado granted an extra year of eligibility to athletes who were part of the 2022 recruiting class. While those athletes are immediately eligible to compete, they cannot transfer to another school unless they entered the transfer portal during the spring transfer window.
Meanwhile, separate lawsuits in Ohio and Tennessee have resulted in temporary rulings allowing the named plaintiffs in those cases to enter the transfer portal through August 10. Those decisions currently apply only to the athletes directly involved in the lawsuits, but they illustrate just how quickly the college athletics landscape continues to evolve.
For Washington State, the new rule presents both opportunities and challenges as the Cougars prepare for life in the rebuilt Pac-12.
Colt Emerson, Mariners Overcome Bullpen Collapse for Second Straight Walk-Off Win vs Twins
The Seattle Mariners raced out to an early 6-0 lead before their bullpen imploded in the eighth inning, allowing the Minnesota Twins to rally to inexplicably tie the game. But after blowing a save in the ninth, the Mariners redeemed themselves for their second walk-off win in as many days.
Rookie Colt Emerson’s hard-hit walk-off single capped another outstanding offensive performance by a club that has struggled with consistency swinging the bats this season. Combined with a scoreless seven innings from George Kirby, it looked like a blowout in the making, but these M’s like to give fans cardiac trouble.
The bullpen had other plans, with several top arms giving up timely home runs to allow their fellow wild-card contender back into the game. How did they squander a six-run lead before managing to survive with the win?
WATCH: Timbers Strike Late, Extend Sounders' Streak of Misery to 6 Games
Emerald City Spectrum reporter Qasim Ali details a 2-1 Seattle Sounders loss at the Portland Timbers on Saturday night, dropping the Rave Green into a franchise-worst six-game losing streak and to a 7-7-3 record. Portland also leapfrogged Seattle in the standings, occupying the eighth and final spot in the MLS playoff picture with three months to play.
Anthony Bradford ‘Blocks Out Noise,’ Opponents as Seahawks’ Bullying Guard Finds His Rhythm
In the social media era where anyone can make their opinions known and accessible to everyone with the instantaneous click of a mouse or tap of the touch screen, NFL players face the near-impossible task of avoiding their critics and the vitriol spewed on X, Instagram, Tik Tok, and other platforms.
For fourth-year guard Anthony Bradford, his first three seasons with the Seattle Seahawks have tested that fortitude trying to weather a constant barrage of criticism sent his way by fans and to a lesser extent, analysts. Selected in the fourth round of the 2023 NFL Draft, he stepped into the starting lineup early in his rookie season, enduring plenty of ups and downs as he acclimated to trying to block the best defenders in the world.
Along the way, Bradford has seen his fair share of posts and videos, including short clips that went viral highlighting a few missed blocks and using those miscues to create a narrative about his overall play for barn-storming 12s to grab their virtual pitchforks and torches and rally around. But as he has matured under the guidance of coach Mike Macdonald and offensive line coach John Benton, he has been able to drown out that static and maintain a clear, level head, leading to vastly improved performance last season as he helped Seattle march to a Super Bowl LX victory.
While the laid back Bradford doesn’t see it as vengeance or redemption per se, he admitted it felt pretty damn satisfying to hoist the Lombardi Trophy and eventually receive a Super Bowl ring to silence the naysayers.
Will Ezi Magbegor Be More of a Factor For Storm to Conclude Season?
Ezi Magbegor is the Seattle Storm’s longest-tenured player and the fifth-highest-paid player in the WNBA by average annual value ($1.25 million). She’s the last remaining player on the roster from the 2020 championship-winning team and has been one of the league's best defensive anchors since 2022.
Magbegor is now in her seventh season, and it’s been the roughest of her career. She entered the 2026 season with a foot injury that held her out half the season. A facial fracture in her fourth game back knocked her out for another stretch.
The veteran made her return in the Storm’s 98-89 loss to the Atlanta Dream on July 31. Magbegor logged 12 points, one rebound, one assist and two steals — the most she’s scored in a WNBA game in nearly a year.
Jess Fishlock Saves Reign From Bay FC Comeback Bid
She did it again.
With precious seconds ticking off a blown lead and a 2-2 ball game in San Jose against expansion Bay FC on Saturday night, veteran midfielder Jess Fishlock, in her final season for Seattle Reign, took the field.
A team marred by streaky performances in terms of holding onto leads put their faith in the 39-year-old to bring what they had been unable to attain in 2026: A goal past the 80th minute of play.
Mere seconds into her time on the field, Fishlock scored off a fast-break opportunity to cap off a 3-2 win in which winger Maddie Dahlien scored, and striker Mia Fishel found her first goal in the run of play for Seattle. The result places Seattle at 7-7-2 and ninth in the NWSL — tied with their next opponent in Angel City for the final playoff spot at the midway point of the season.
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