M’s Take Close, Stable Pitcher’s Duel to Begin Road Trip in Kansas City
The Mariners have seen games take wild courses in Kauffman Stadium over the past few years, but on Friday night, it was remarkably stable. Both teams struggled quite a bit at the plate, leading to a low-scoring pitcher’s duel, but one home run for the visitors led to Seattle taking a 2-0 lead and the M’s bullpen went all according to plan.
Logan Gilbert threw nearly six shutout innings, recovering from his seven-run disaster against the Padres.
The last time Logan Gilbert had gone out to the mound, he had thrown 21 of his 27 first pitches for strikes, yet the San Diego Padres jumped on them for seven runs in total. Gilbert threw 15 of 21 first pitches for strikes on Friday, yet he kept the opposing Royals scoreless.
Talking with the media before the game, manager Dan Wilson downplayed concerns that the Mariners’ strike-throwing had allowed hitters to sit on and ambush early strikes.
“We do attack the zone, we do want to get ahead, and I think it’s a different at-bat when you do,” Wilson said before Friday’s game. “I think the good always outweighs the bad when it comes to that.”
Of course, the devil is in the details. Looking at a map of these first pitches, with those against San Diego on the left and those against Kansas City on the right, there are a couple things that are clear.
Gonzaga Baseball Loses Twice in Scottsdale, Eliminated From WCC Tournament
Despite cruising through the regular season conference slate by winning 22 of 27 games, Gonzaga baseball (35-19) sputtered during the WCC tournament in Scottsdale, falling twice in the double-elimination style bracket.
First punched in the mouth by Saint Mary’s, the Zags were defeated 13-4 on Thursday, but still had the security blanket of playing another game. But instead of taking advantage of its position as the No. 1 seed, GU lost again on Friday, unable to complete a comeback against San Francisco after falling behind early. Each of the team’s two first-team All-WCC starters didn’t provide the outings they’ve grown accustomed to logging, while the offense also lacked juice and cohesion, specifically in the power department.
The ramifications of the Bulldogs’ early departure from the conference tournament are severe: even as a top-50 team in the country per RPI heading into the postseason, the WCC was a one-bid league more likely than not. By not winning a game in Arizona, the Zags might’ve played themselves out of any shot at an at-large bid, which would mean their season is already over.
Instant Takeaways: Cooke, Johnson Fuel Storm to Decisive Win Over Sun
The Storm erased a sloppy first quarter and stonewalled the Sun the rest of the way in a 77-59 victory over the Connecticut Sun on Friday, May 22, at Climate Pledge Arena.
Zia Cooke (career-high 25 points) and Flau’jae Johnson (17) combined for 42 points in a landmark day for both players. The Storm shook off any memory of the home loss to the Sun on Wednesday, scoring consistently and thwarting any offense Connecticut tried to piece together.
The Sun shot just 37% from the field and rarely were uncontested after the opening period. Seattle rolled that defense into offense, which hasn’t been a consistent theme so far this season.
Even without Awa Fam, who was activated Friday, Ezi Magbegor and Dominique Malonga, the Storm got all the production it needed from other areas of the roster.
From Seattle to São Paulo: Inside the Passion of Seahawks Fans Abroad
Following a sports team from across continents and oceans is an exercise in pure devotion. For international NFL fans, there are no local broadcasts by default, no casual watercooler chats at work, and "prime-time football" often translates to either an early wake-up call or a bedtime ending in “AM.” Yet, the global reach of the NFL is exploding, and few fanbases showcase this border-crossing passion quite like the Seattle Seahawks' international community, particularly in Brazil.
Despite the NFL assigning official marketing rights for Brazil to other franchises like the Dolphins and Eagles under its Global Markets Program, the "12s" have organically grown into one of the country's top five largest NFL fanbases. Propelled by the legendary "Legion of Boom" era and a cultural grit that mirrors Seattle's own, Brazilian 12s are redefining what it means to be a hometown fan.
To understand how this connection bridges thousands of miles, I chatted with a dedicated Seahawks fan from Brazil, who shared her journey from navigating sparse TV coverage to losing her voice during a Super Bowl run, all while balancing her love for American football against a deeply rooted local soccer culture.
She goes under the name “Lumen Loud” on X. She is also a contributor for Rapinas do Mar (@rapinasdomar), a site created in 2018 “to provide and share news and content in Portuguese—in a more accessible format—for American football fans, a community that is steadily growing in our country, and especially for the "12s" in Brazil” (translated from Portuguese into English from their website.
She was kind enough to answer questions for us at Emerald City Spectrum (ECS).
Storm Activate Awa Fam, Sign Joyner Holmes to Hardship Contract
The Seattle Storm made two moves ahead of their second straight bout with the Connecticut Sun on Friday, May 22, at Climate Pledge Arena.
Seattle activated rookie No. 3 overall pick Awa Fam now that she has joined the team and also signed forward Joyner Holmes to a hardship contract on Friday.
The Storm have been without Ezi Magbegor since the season began, and Dominique Malonga has now missed two games due to a concussion. Her status for Friday’s game against the Sun is uncertain, but the signing of Holmes suggests she will still be on the sidelines.
Pre-OTAs Projection: Which Defensive Players Will Make Seahawks’ 53-Man Roster in 2026?
Edging the Houston Texans for the NFL’s defensive scoring title, the Seattle Seahawks used a stingy, aggressive attack to stymie opponents throughout the 2025 season and put a bow on a magical year dominating the New England Patriots in Super Bowl LX.
Now set to begin their title defense with OTAs kicking off next week, in news that won’t be so welcomed by the rest of the league, the Seahawks will have the vast majority of their starters from last year’s squad back in 2026. Though they lost cornerback Riq Woolen, safety Coby Bryant, and outside linebacker Boye Mafe this offseason, nine of the 11 players who logged at least 600 snaps in the regular season last year will return, and the team shrewdly attempted to replace those departed players in free agency and the draft.
With that said, coach Mike Macdonald and his staff have work to do at several positions finding the best personnel to offset the aforementioned departures, particularly in the secondary with noteworthy vacancies at cornerback and safety to address. And with four draft picks invested in the defensive backfield, the competition will be an intense one in Seattle vying for only a handful of spots on one of the most talented rosters in the NFL.
Rumbling into OTAs at the VMAC, which defensive players will survive cuts to make Seattle’s opening week roster?
Pre-OTAs Projection: Which Offensive Players Will Make Seahawks’ 53-Man Roster in 2026?
Lighting up scoreboards from start to finish, the Seattle Seahawks leaned on a potent offense that ranked in the top five in the NFL last season to finish with 17 wins and capture the second Lombardi Trophy in franchise history.
As they embark on their title defense with the final phase of the offseason program starting next week, the Seahawks will have most of the band back together from last year’s Super Bowl squad. All 11 players who logged at least 700 offensive snaps will return, and with the exception of running back Ken Walker III, every starter from last season remains under contract, presenting unprecedented continuity for a defending NFL champion.
With that continuity, however, few roster spots will be available on the offensive side of the ball as competitions heat up in coming weeks leading up to the start of training camp. Even for reserves who played snaps last season, with a new crop of rookies and free agent signees on board, there won’t be any guarantee of sticking around on the 53-man roster this time around on one of the NFL’s deepest teams.
Rumbling into OTAs at the VMAC, which offensive players will survive cuts to make Seattle’s opening week roster?
Gonzaga Boosts Frontcourt With Izan Almansa as Eligibility Concerns Remain
The Gonzaga Bulldogs made a major frontcourt splash with the reported commitment of 6-10 Spanish forward Izan Almansa, setting up one of the most intriguing big man rotations in college hoops.
Emerald City Spectrum reporter Howard Woodard spotlights Almansa’s journey from Real Madrid and G League Ignite to the NBL’s Perth Wildcats and now the NCAA and how his arrival potentially bolsters Gonzaga’s depth alongside Masamba Diop and Braden Huff, and coach Mark Few’s navigation of the NCAA eligibility maze as the Zags aim to build one of the nation's most formidable frontcourts for the upcoming 2026-27 season.
Hot Corner J.P? Crawford Aims to Prolong Mariners’ Career With Position Change
Colt Emerson is in the big leagues, hopefully to stay as a centerpiece for the Seattle Mariners. He’s a hotshot 20-year-old shortstop who bats left, throws right, and stands about six feet tall, coming to the show as one of the top prospects in the sport.
Interestingly, that’s exactly how you could’ve described J.P. Crawford when he debuted with the Philadelphia Phillies a decade ago. Back in 2016, MLB Pipeline ranked him as the No. 5 prospect in all of baseball and seemed like the next big thing at shortstop.
It wasn’t a linear climb for Crawford, however. In Philadelphia, he never realized that potential and fell out of favor with that front office. After the 2018 season, he was traded by the Phillies with Carlos Santana to the Seattle Mariners for Juan Nicasio, James Pazos, and Jean Segura.
It wasn’t an immediate success in Seattle, either. In parts of two seasons, he batted .237 with a .680 OPS and below average 88 OPS+. However, he won his first career Gold Glove at shortstop in 2020. 2021 is where things began to click for Crawford in a Mariners uniform, collecting 169 hits and posting 3.7 WAR. From there, he has been the franchise’s staple at shortstop.
Arozarena, Mariners Gut Out Series Win vs. White Sox
It would be quite an understatement to say a Wednesday win was badly needed after the gut-punch the Mariners had suffered on Tuesday.
Luckily for Seattle (with luck indeed on the team’s side more often than not), the M’s gutted out the afternoon rubber match, defying even a no-outs, bases loaded miss to put up five runs and win the game 5-4. It was their first one-run win since May 4 and 24th win on the whole year, though they still sit three games under despite heroics from Randy Arozarena and Jhonny Pereda.
Emerson Hancock pitched an uneasy five innings but avoided extra damage.
Wednesday’s game gave Mariners starter Emerson Hancock the chance for revenge on the only team to yet put up a crooked number on him in 2026. Results were mixed innings-wise, but the hurler kept the White Sox to far less runs than the five he had given up in Chicago.
The strangeness of the sport was on display in the second and third innings for the Mariners starter. Despite a whistle-clean first inning, Hancock lost his control in the second, unable to figure out the release point on his fastball. One heater after another flew high and away to the lefty Colson Montgomery for a leadoff five-pitch walk, followed by four straight up and in to Chase Meidroth. He tried to get his feel back with a sweeper to Jarred Kelenic, only for it to bounce out of Jhonny Pereda’s reach and advance the runners - but the wild pitch scarcely mattered since Kelenic walked anyway.
O’Dea’s Tevita Nonu Latest Win as Huskies Look to Load Up on the Defensive Line
After three years of playing catch-up to build a defensive front capable of holding up in the Big Ten, the Washington Huskies appear to be loading up for the long term.
While head coach Jedd Fisch and defensive line coach Jason Kaufusi look far and wide for tall and wide bodies, the latest recruiting win is just a few miles from Huskies Stadium. Tevita Nonu, a 6-4, 270-pound Class of 2027 defensive lineman from O’Dea High School, committed to Washington on Tuesday.
Nonu chose Washington over Michigan, Notre Dame, Oregon and Arizona. This was a crucial win for UW.
Analysis: Investigating Seahawks’ Key Defensive 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. Even with Riq Woolen, Coby Bryant, and Boye Mafe gone, 11 of the 13 players who logged at least 700 defensive snaps in 2025 remain under contract heading into the new season, presenting rare continuity for a defending champion.
Thanks to the minimal changes, Seattle will open the final phase of the offseason program without many starting jobs up for grabs on defense, leaving rotational reserve roles as the main competitions to play out over the summer. The entire interior defensive line and linebacker corps will return from last year’s Super Bowl squad along with the majority of key starters back in the secondary, headlined by All-Pro Devon Witherspoon and rising star Nick Emmanwori.
But while few starting jobs may be on the line, the Seahawks should still have some enticing competitions on tap on the defensive side of the football when they hit the practice field next week, including a pair of significant openings to replace Woolen and Bryant in the secondary that will be buoyed by using four draft picks at the two positions last month.
Which battles offer the most intrigue with two months until the start of training camp?
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.
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