WATCH: Reign ‘Suffocate' Chicago, Grind Out 1-0 Win on Pride Night
SEATTLE, Wash. — The Seattle Reign managed their most dominant showing of the season on Friday night, compiling 3.3 expected goals thanks to a 24-5 shot disparity over the last-place Chicago Stars. But by full-time, Maddie Mercado’s 53rd-minute goal ended up being the decider in a 1-0 game that should have had every making of a blowout.
The result puts the Reign at 8-7-3, back into the playoff picture with 12 games left. Beyond helping their place in the table, it also marked a different kind of win for Seattle, which had scored multiple goals in its past five matches and had to defend leads by scoring more.
The younger Reign squad instead had to burn clock and keep possession on Friday night to ensure they earned a win on a night where they underperformed on the offensive end.
Emerald City Spectrum reporter Qasim Ali breaks down how the Reign looked so dominant despite the close scoreline.
Sounders Notebook: de la Vega Out For Season, Seattle Prepares for Tough Vancouver Side
For eight glorious minutes last Sunday at Lumen Field, Seattle Sounders fans finally got to watch their star winger Pedro de la Vega work the ball around the pitch with ease and finesse. He instinctively floated to the back post late in a 3-0 Leagues Cup win over Querétaro and, at one point, nearly tapped in a rolling pass from Jesús Ferreira before flicking his right leg up to magically keep the chance alive and show some of his much-needed quality.
But in the 85th minute, on a routine challenge, the 25-year-old Argentinian making his season debut after suffering a fractured kneecap last October went down. He didn't look to be in too much pain as the trainers checked on him, but he immediately went to the locker room with a left quadriceps injury. After the game, striker Danny Musovski said he saw the typically joyous de la Vega crying.
We now know why.
After training on Friday, head coach Brian Schmetzer revealed de la Vega's quadriceps "pull" is serious enough to end his 2026 campaign.
"Pedro has a very… significant left quad pull," Schmetzer said. "He is, you know, probably out for the remainder of the year."
Schmetzer confirmed surgery is on the table, but no final decisions have been made on that front as de la Vega comes to terms with his sixth distinct injury in three years with Seattle.
Rotated Sounders Fall to Chivas, Brian Schmetzer Motivated By Team Effort in Defeat
It was expected that iconic Mexican side Chivas de Guadalajara would bring in plenty of fans to rival that of the host Seattle Sounders in Wednesday's Leagues Cup Phase One finale.
You can say they did that, as the stands were chock-full of fans donning the classic red and white stripes, chanting "CHIIIIIVAS" as the Liga MX giant downed Seattle 2-1.
The result left both teams at 1-2 in the tournament, ending their respective runs in the competition, which Seattle won for the first time in 2025. But the Sounders, now losers of eight of their last nine games, had already prioritized a busy upcoming MLS stretch by rotating heavily against Chivas — head coach Brian Schmetzer started four Tacoma Defiance call-ups in the game and changed to an unusual 3-4-3 formation for this one.
Schmetzer knew his team would need a win of Biblical proportions plus outside help to advance, and instead rested key pieces like Albert Rusnak, Jackson Ragen and Nouhou for a Sunday bout with Western Conference-leading Vancouver.
Watching a team full of younger guys hang around with a quality opponent, however, made the longtime Seattle skipper emotional postgame.
"That's what it means to wear the jersey," Schmetzer said of his team's effort. "The way those guys fought was the best thing about this evening. Yeah, we didn't win, I get it."
Club legend and goalkeeper Stefan Frei, on duty for this tournament in place of MLS starter Andrew Thomas, saw Wednesday as a chance to keep crawling out of this team-wide slump.
"We're trying to find positives right now," Frei said. "Even though the tournament (was) essentially gone, we're trying to create something today that we can build upon for the weekend when we play Vancouver."
Derick Hall Rising Star for Seahawks Thanks to Screen Time on Hard Knocks
If Derick Hall wasn’t on the map for football fans before February, he certainly is now. He arrived in Seattle as a second round pick in 2023 to fairly little fanfare. That was the same draft where the Seahawks had two first round picks and used them to create what is now a Super Bowl-winning core of Devon Witherspoon and Jaxon Smith-Njigba. Hall was their next pick, early in the second round.
Once he got to the team, he was not on the same level as players like Boye Mafe, Darrell Taylor, Uchenna Nwosu, and Dre’Mont Jones. He was well down the depth chart to start his NFL career. After a quiet rookie season in 2023, the final season for former coach Pete Carroll, he seemed to click more in Mike Macdonald’s system the next year. He ranked second on the team with eight sacks and 20 quarterback hits. It looked like he was an ascending player.
During the 2025 regular season, however, Hall once again was rather quiet, with just two sacks to his name. Then, the playoffs started. In Seattle’s dominant 29-13 win in Super Bowl LX over the Patriots, few players had a better case to be named the game’s MVP than Hall. His pair of sacks and two tackles for loss were just the tip of the iceberg of just how dominant he was in that game. He included four quarterback pressures and a forced fumble on his resume that night.
NCAA Approves Skylar Wicks' Waiver, 6-6 Combo Guard Eligible For Gonzaga
Even when Skylar Wicks committed to the Gonzaga Bulldogs in late June, there was reasonable doubt about whether he would actually don a Zags uniform.
The Saint Francis transfer was seeking a seventh season of eligibility, with GU slated as the sixth school of Wicks’ career. But the 6-6 guard recently received great news concerning his status for another year of collegiate basketball.
First reported by Dushawn London of 247Sports.com, the NCAA approved the 26-year-old’s waiver last Tuesday, officially adding an experienced, shot-creating guard with rebounding prowess to the Bulldogs’ backcourt.
Nick Emmanwori Passes Physical, Seahawks Place Robbie Ouzts on Injured Reserve
Checking off the criteria for a mixed bag of news dropping at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center on Tuesday, the Seattle Seahawks received positive injury news for one of their biggest stars while also losing an offensive starter for the season.
As officially announced by the team via their website, second-year safety Nick Emmanwori passed his physical on Tuesday morning, clearing a major hurdle three weeks after undergoing arthroscopic ankle surgery. Unfortunately, while the Defensive Rookie of the Year runner up from a year ago looks poised to be ready for Week 1, the team won’t have fullback Robbie Ouzts available at all in 2026 after placing him on season-ending injured reserve.
In a corresponding move to fill Ouzts’ spot on the 53-man roster, Seattle signed linebacker Aaron Smith, who spent last season with the New York Jets on the practice squad after going undrafted out of South Carolina.
Mere days before training camp started, Emmanwori landed on the Physically Unable to Perform list, which came as a surprise to many considering the defender participated in OTAs and mandatory minicamp in full. However, he still had some discomfort stemming from an ankle injury suffered during the week of the Super Bowl, leading to the decision made mutually by the team and player to do a clean up procedure before the season started.
WATCH: Reign Split Points with Angel City in Thriller Battle For Last Playoff Spot
Emerald City Spectrum reporter Qasim Ali breaks down a 2-2 Sunday draw between the Seattle Reign (7-7-3, 9th in NWSL) and Angel City FC (7-7-3, 8th in NWSL).
Attacking midfielder Sally Menti and striker Mia Fishel each finished with a goal and assist as the Reign scored their two goals within two minutes of each other in the early second half. The result marks the second straight game Seattle has managed to change a result by scoring in the second half — something the Reign have struggled with in 2026. Fishel’s goal, a curling shot to the top-left corner in the 52nd minute, was a showstopper as the 24-year-old finds her footing with her third goal of the season.
Angel City substitute Prisca Chilufya scored a floating goal in the 72nd, however, to equalize before both teams missed out on late chances at a winner in stoppage.
Seattle remains out of the playoff picture with 13 games to play by virtue of Angel City having a better goal differential. The Reign will be back in action at Lumen Field at 7 p.m. on Friday against the Chicago Stars.
Camp Preview: New Faces to Know on Washington State's Defense
With just under a month until Washington State opens the 2026 season, there are plenty of new faces on the Cougars’ defense.
Washington State enters the season with a new coaching staff led by head coach Kirby Moore and defensive coordinator Trent Bray. The Cougars also saw significant turnover on defense during the offseason, with several players entering the transfer portal and a number of veterans exhausting their eligibility.
That leaves Bray with the challenge of putting together a new-look defense in a short amount of time without much personnel that was in Pullman last season. While Washington State still has returning pieces such as linebacker Keith Brown, much of the defense will feature players who were not on the field for the Cougars last season.
Washington State brought in several experienced transfers to help fill those holes. Four players in particular could have a major impact on the Cougars’ defense this season.
Huskies Camp Day 3: Putting on the Pads, Uiagalelei Returns
Study hall is over, and the real classes have begun.
The Huskies put on the pads for the first time on Sunday, and 2026 University of Washington football school is officially in session.
“Today just felt so good getting the pads on,” second-year offensive lineman John Mills said. “Last time was a spring game, and that was it was kind of a tempo-down practice. But now we're just getting fall camp, getting ready for the season — being able to hit people is always fun.”
Sounders Snap 7-Game Skid, Down Queretaro 3-0 in Leagues Cup Group Stage
The Seattle Sounders finally got a result on Sunday afternoon, and they did it emphatically.
To snap a franchise-worst seven-game losing streak, the Rave Green took down Liga MX side Queretaro 3-0 in the second game of their Leagues Cup run, scoring in a variety of well-executed attacks.
Seattle's offense was fueled by Tacoma Defiance signee Sebastian Gomez, who made his first start on the right wing to total an early goal and an assist by the game's end. Designated player Albert Rusnak scored his first goal in three months late, while Danny Musovski scored one of two Paul Rothrock assists for the first goal by a Sounders starting striker in 2026.
Just as the good feeling peaked late in the second half, 2025 Leagues Cup MVP Pedro de la Vega made his season debut after rehabbing from a knee injury since last fall. After eight solid minutes in which he opened eyes with his individual quality on the ball, de la Vega went down with a non-contact left quad injury to put a dampener on the good vibes Seattle had meticulously accrued.
The Sounders, still on a six-game MLS losing streak at 7-7-3 and out of the playoff picture, out-possessed Queretaro at over 60% and put up over two expected goals, thanks in large part to an improved performance from a rejuvenated defending midfield.
All in all, Seattle addressed plenty of issues and filled in gaps caused by key injuries well, starting the path toward salvaging what's been a 2026 season gone awry.
"The focus was on (the team) believing that they could win," head coach Brian Schmetzer said postgame.
From all appearances, and a lighter locker room postgame, the Sounders have at least started the process of regaining that confidence.
Washington State Adds Final Commitment to 2026-27 Basketball Roster, Signs Mohamed Sankhe
Washington State has officially added the final piece to its 2026-27 men’s basketball roster.
The Cougars landed French big man Mohamed Sankhe, who committed to Washington State. According to CougFan.com, the addition had been in the works since April. The 6-foot-10 center becomes the final addition to head coach David Riley’s roster and gives WSU another option in the frontcourt.
Sankhe was the big man
Mariners Offense Continues Slumber, Wastes Strong Logan Gilbert Start against Rays
The cathartic excitement of 45 seconds prior meant nothing as a 39,468-strong crowd saw Josh Naylor take the final pitch of the game for strike three, capping off a 2-1 loss and the Mariners’ 11th defeat in their past 16 games. Those fans booed relentlessly, their patience broken by the continued ineptitude of the offense.
Logan Gilbert had hurled well for Seattle, going deep into the seventh inning, but thanks to the lack of batting, it didn’t matter. The M’s barely avoided the third shutout in four games, and though they managed a run at the very end, it was still just the fifth run since the trade deadline: a stark reminder that the struggles the team had were due to the shortcomings of the stars.
Seattle went scoreless for most of the game, helpless against Rays pitching.
Where Gilbert was effective, Rays starter Drew Rasmussen was brilliant. Or perhaps the Mariners offense was once again lethargic; in truth, it was probably both.
Looking for any way to wake up the sluggish bats, Mariners manager Dan Wilson shook up the lineup. Taylor Ward led off the game with Cole Young batting second and Julio Rodríguez batting fifth. It didn’t work. Ward - whose struggles at T-Mobile Park continued in his fourth game with the M’s - went 0-4 with two strikeouts, while Young’s one hit didn’t come with anyone on base.
Seattle’s chances were relatively few and far between. Rodríguez knocked a one-out single and stole second before Naylor walked to put two men on. Brendan Donovan struck out and Cal Raleigh walked in turn to load the bases, but with Colt Emerson at the plate, Rasmussen knew what to do.
Florida State Forward, "5-in-5" Transfer Chauncey Wiggins Commits to Gonzaga
Landing their second commitment from a “5-in-5” player in as many days, the Gonzaga Bulldogs made an intriguing addition to their frontcourt late on Thursday.
6-10 forward Chauncey Wiggins, who played his senior year at Florida State, will transfer to the Zags for his fifth and final collegiate year. He brings an interesting dynamic to GU’s frontcourt as a floor stretcher, while also possessing outlier length akin to some wings on the Bulldogs’ roster last season. Wiggins’ announcement makes the program’s fourth transfer portal addition of the offseason, and it follows Dayton guard Javon Bennett committing to the program, leaving four official spots open in Spokane.
On Wednesday morning, a Georgia judge granted an injunction to 30 student-athletes from the Class of 2022 seeking a fifth collegiate season, one of them being Wiggins. Less than 48 hours later, he committed to Gonzaga, placing another dynamic piece in one of the best frontcourts in the country.
New Faces to Know on Washington State's Offense
With about a month until the Washington State Cougars kick off the 2026 season, it's time to take a look at some of the new faces on the offensive side of the ball.
A new coaching staff usually brings plenty of roster turnover in today's college football landscape, but the Cougars did an impressive job retaining most of their offensive core following the hire of Kirby Moore. Washington State returns its top three running backs, its leading returning receiver, and the majority of its offensive line despite the presence of the transfer portal. Still, the coaching staff brought in several talented additions who could make an immediate impact this fall, including a projected new starter under center.
Gonzaga Adds Fifth-Year Guard Javon Bennett From Dayton to Fortify Backcourt
There will be plenty of movement in college basketball over the next several weeks as more “5-in-5” NCAA lawsuits get settled.
Although some cases across the country that the Gonzaga Bulldogs are monitoring are still active, an Ohio judge granted an injunction for 15 players back on July 9. One of the players involved in the Ohio lawsuit was 5-10 Javon Bennett, who spent the last three seasons at Dayton, committed to the Zags on Wednesday, first reported by On3’s Joe Tipton.
Facing severe turmoil in their backcourt over the last few months, the Bulldogs add an experienced, productive guard who should give them solid minutes this upcoming season.
Seahawks Add Fullback Depth With Robbie Ouzts’ Status Uncertain
Awaiting further updates on injured starter Robbie Ouzts midway through training camp, the Seattle Seahawks added some insurance to the fullback position, reuniting running backs coach Thomas Hammock with a former pupil.
As announced by the team before a walkthrough practice on Thursday, the Seahawks have signed former Northern Illinois fullback Brock Lampe to their 90-man roster. In a corresponding move, the team released tight end Lance Mason, one of a handful of initial undrafted free agent signings made by the team in April.
While most of the NFL continues to skip out on having traditional fullbacks on their roster, the Seahawks have zigged back into the minority over the past two seasons with former offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak and new play caller Brian Fleury coming from the coaching tree of 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan. Last season, Seattle finished fifth in 21 personnel usage (11%) with two backs and one tight end on the field, while San Francisco finished first at a remarkable 36% clip, 12% more than any other team in the league.
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."
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.
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.
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.
Explore our latest Seattle sports content by clicking on your favorite team(s) below!
