Huskies Talented, Inexperienced Receivers Battle for Roles During Spring Ball
The Washington Huskies football game at Wisconsin last season served as the low point for many.
For receiver Rashid Williams, it was the lowest of the low.
After setting himself apart during 2025 spring and fall camps, Williams earned the starting “Z” receiver position and opened the season with four catches in a 38-21 win over Colorado State. A week later he caught a 27-yard pass on the offense’s first play against UC Davis that ultimately served as the beginning of the end when he broke his collarbone at the end of the play.
That was a low, but things would get lower. After two months of healing and rehab, Williams came back, ready to regain his place in the Huskies offense as the 6-2 team tried to get back into the College Football Playoff conversation. Williams never made it onto the field at Camp Randall, though. He suffered a second injury during practice when his hand got caught in a teammate’s facemask.
Season over.
Washington State Names Jon Harrlow as Permanent Athletic Director, Removes Interim Label
Washington State University athletics has officially named Jon Haarlow as its full-time athletic director, promoting him after he served in the interim role since November.
Haarlow stepped in as interim AD following the dismissal of former athletic director Anne McCoy. Prior to that, he had been serving as the university’s senior associate athletic director and chief financial officer since 2021, where he built a reputation for strong financial leadership and strategic planning.
Storm Core Ezi Magbegor, Extend Reserved Qualifying Offers to 2 Others
The Seattle Storm made a trio of qualifying offers on Tuesday as they attempt to retain Ezi Magbegor, Mackenzie Holmes and Zia Cooke, per the WNBA’s transaction wire.
Seattle extended a core qualifying offer to Magbegor, which is a one-year, fully guaranteed deal valued at the new supermax figure of $1.4 million. It does not guarantee Magbegor will sign for that amount, but it does give Seattle exclusive negotiating rights.
Meza, McCammon Shine For Reign as Products of Texas Youth Club Solar SC
Sam Meza and Ainsley McCammon have become a staple in the Seattle Reign's midfield this season. The duo has started three of four games for the upstart Reign (3-1-1), who have notched nine or more points over their first four games for the third time in club history (per OptaJack) in 2026.
Meza, 24, and McCammon, 18, however, are at very different points in their career. For one, Meza had a decorated four-year collegiate career at North Carolina, reaching as far as the NCAA tournament's quarterfinals in her All-American career. McCammon, on the other hand, decided to go pro at just 16 years old, passing on a collegiate career with the University of Virginia.
But the duo, as different as their paths and current situations have been, both joined the Reign in 2024, and both have become integral pieces to the future of a young organization. Through five games in 2026, the Reign are hitting their stride going into the current three-week international break, with Meza and McCammon bringing stability to a team dealing with injuries to stars like defender Jordyn Bugg.
Beyond joining Seattle at the same time, they share a background in both being from the Dallas-Fort Worth metro area and both spending time with the youth organization of Solar Soccer Club.
Analysis: Identifying Best Safety Fits for Seahawks’ 2026 Draft Picks
Despite watching Coby Bryant flee the nest to sign a big money contract with the Chicago Bears, the Seattle Seahawks should still be in fine shape at the safety spot both in terms of talent and depth rolling into the 2026 season.
Even without Bryant, the Seahawks have former Pro Bowler Julian Love returning under contract for two more years as well as budding star Nick Emmanwori, who emerged as a key catalyst in Mike Macdonald’s defense playing everywhere from the slot to defensive end. In addition, Ty Okada performed admirably in 11 starts subbing in for Love and Bryant, earning himself an opportunity to play significant snaps moving forward as the team’s third safety. In free agency, the team further bolstered depth by signing former Colts starter Rodney Thomas and bringing back veteran D’Anthony Bell.
Still, given Macdonald’s propensity for deploying nickel and dime packages with five or more defensive backs and often utilizing three or more safeties on the field at the same time, Seattle may be inclined to look for additional reinforcements with the 2026 NFL Draft featuring a rock solid class at the position. This includes in the first round, where as many as three or four safeties could hear their names called on April 23 in Pittsburgh.
Looking at this year’s latest crop of safeties, which players stand out as the best potential fits to succeed Bryant and further reinforce the Seahawks’ secondary for 2026 and beyond with each of their four selections?
Gonzaga’s Depth Takes Big Hit as Braeden Smith, Steele Venters Enter Transfer Portal
With the NCAA transfer portal officially opening on Tuesday, two more names from Gonzaga’s 2025-26 roster have thrown their names into the hat. Both falling out of the rotation’s favor by season’s end, Braeden Smith and Steele Venters are both headed to the portal, becoming the third and fourth Zags to do so at this point in the offseason.
Smith began the year as GU’s starting point guard before getting lapped by freshman Mario Saint-Supéry midway through the season, as the Spaniard brought more to the floor offensively and defensively. The 6-0 redshirt junior continued to get into each game, but his minutes both dwindled and became inconsistent.
Venters entered the season healthy for the first time in three years after suffering a torn ACL and Achilles, respectively, before each of the two previous seasons kicked off. The 6-7 graduate student was meant to be a sniper from the outside, and even though he shot 36.7% from the outside – the second-highest mark on the team – it wasn’t enough to make up for his deficiencies defensively, even for a Bulldogs group that was devoid of three-point shooting.
Seattle U’s Offseason Begins with Trio of Redhawks Entering Transfer Portal
Since the Seattle Redhawks season ended two weeks ago at the hands of the Auburn Tigers in the NIT, the program has had three players enter the transfer portal looking for new teams for the 2026-27 season.
Senior guard John Christofilis became the first Redhawk to officially enter the portal Tuesday. Still with one year of eligibility remaining, he appeared in 35 games and averaged 6.5 points on 38% from three-point range in 16 minutes per game.
This season, Christofilis saw a decrease in playing time from the previous two seasons. In both his sophomore and junior seasons, he started 25 games and played averaged over 25 minutes per game. While he served as a spark off the bench, scoring double digits in nine games, the senior lost opportunities to Jojo Murphy, who became the first guard off the bench for coach Chris Victor.
Bats Go from Quiet to Silent, Mariners Drop Third Straight to Open Texas Series
Sometimes, when a good team is in a rut of bad performance, it only takes one good break to open the floodgates and turn things around.
But when the M’s put up eight against the Guardians, or walked off the Yankees, or stole a theretofore scoreless match in extras from the Angels - or when Cal Raleigh launched one halfway into the upper deck on Monday night in Arlington, Texas - it was less like the great floodgates opening and releasing an overpowering torrent and more like little droplets of water gathering on the collection surface of a solar desalination plant: the tiny pellet of hydration was followed by yet more aridity.
Cal Raleigh finally found his stroke in his first at-bat of the game, torching a middle-middle Jacob DeGrom fastball 418 feet to right field.
What’s that old saying about the darkest time of the night? Well, the sun only shone for one at-bat in the top of the first and then quickly went away again (what’s the inverse of an eclipse?), but at least Cal Raleigh got himself into the .500s in OPS (talk about scarce droplets of water!) by the end of the night.
Analysis: Could Seahawks Make a Run at Trading for Giants Star Dexter Lawrence?
During the heat of the first round of the 2019 NFL Draft, with six picks until the team’s No. 21 overall selection, Seattle Seahawks general manager John Schneider, then-coach Pete Carroll, and every other staff member in attendance in the war room sat on pins and needles.
As if often the case during draft weekend, Schneider and company found themselves sweating things out with a coveted prospect still on the board in Clemson defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence, who they hoped would fall to them to become the cornerstone of a rebuilt ‘Hawks defensive line. In several instances, including with receiver Jaxon Smith-Nijgba under similar circumstances in 2023, the franchise has lucked out with the desired prospect remaining available once they were on the clock.
But on this April day in 2023, good fortune would not be on Seattle’s side. The New York Giants prevented Schneider from landing his top target, selecting Lawrence 17th overall to abruptly end the dream. Two picks later, Denver selected Iowa tight end Noah Fant, another player that Schneider had a high grade on who would have been in play with pick No. 21.
Eight years later, just as Schneider previously did acquiring Fant as part of the blockbuster Russell Wilson deal with the Broncos in 2022, the Seahawks may now have a chance to rectify that ill-fated turn of events. Per Adam Schefter of ESPN, Lawrence has requested a trade from the Giants and will not report to the team’s offseason program after multiple years of failed attempts to negotiate a new contract.
Emmanuel Innocenti Enters Transfer Portal, Leaves Gonzaga Devoid of Defense
With the Gonzaga Bulldogs leaning heavily into the defensive side of the ball entering the 2025-26 season, they had two impactful players in mind that were already on its roster. One was Jalen Warley, who transferred in from Virginia midway through the previous season and is now graduating after a stellar season as the team’s versatile chess piece.
The other was Emmanuel Innocenti, who transferred to the Zags after playing his freshman year with Tarleton State, and was limited to more of a reserve role with GU during the 2024-25 campaign. But after emerging as a key starter for the Bulldogs this past year, Innocenti’s agency, “THE·TEAM”, surprisingly told DraftExpress that the incoming senior intends to enter the transfer portal with one year of eligibility remaining, leaving a larger hole in Gonzaga’s defensive personnel.
The Zags have typically done an admirable job of retaining players year-over-year in this era of frequent player movement, but Innocenti will be headed elsewhere after an impactful season spearheading the Bulldogs’ stout defense, announcing his departure from Spokane four days after redshirt freshman Cade Orness did the same.
Kraken Need a Shake-Up to End Era of Passive Mediocrity
The Seattle Kraken are in a tailspin. It seems their season is circling the drain, destined to sink to the bottom of the Pacific. At least metaphorically, as the Vancouver Canucks will finish in last place in the division.
MoneyPuck.com has the Kraken’s playoff chances, as of Sunday night, at 0.7%. They are all but eliminated. They had every opportunity to grab a spot in a historically bad Pacific Division and Western Conference. Yet they failed.
With the current Pacific Division leaders at 87 points with five games to play, this was a weak division. 87 points would be outside of a playoff spot altogether in the Eastern Conference. In short, the Kraken let a golden opportunity to make the Stanley Cup Playoffs for just the second time in the franchise’s first five years slip away.
So, what now? Who is to blame?
Mariners Waste Lucky Breaks that Angels Take, Drop Series with 8-7 Loss in Extras
There’s always a strange air around games between the Angels and Mariners. Any divisional rivalry series will have an edge to it, but for the Halos and M’s, it just feels a bit different.
It probably has something to do with this: the modern Perry Minasian Angels are a mirror of the Jack Zduriencik-era Mariners: both teams stuck in the doldrums of mediocrity, wasting the career of two generational players (one Japanese superstar each), but each doing it in the opposite way.
Where the 2010s M’s caromed between 95-loss disasters and missing the playoffs by a game or two, the 2020s Angels hover around 70-75 wins year-in and year-out. The Zduriencik Mariners failed to shore up generational pitcher Felix Hernández, while the Minasian Angels have left future Hall of Fame center fielder Mike Trout out to dry. Ichiro was the first Japanese position player to light up the MLB (doing so with an old-school Wee Willie Keeler-style approach), but was nearing the last few years of his career by the time Zduriencik sent him to the Yankees. Shohei Ohtani, a much more homer-focused modern great (who, by the way, can also pitch) was a few years into his pro career before going to Anaheim.
Sounders Steal One in H-Town, Rothrock Stars Again
The Seattle Sounders are rolling.
Even as a lightning delay derailed the beginning of the game and the Houston Dynamo gave Seattle's offense fits all night, the Sounders refused to stop rolling.
Paul Rothrock scored his fifth goal in all competitions to break a scoreless deadlock in the 83rd, turning a solid draw into a stolen 1-0 road win on Saturday night, as Seattle carries its road warrior persona through early April with a six-game unbeaten streak in all competitions.
"It's not easy to win on the road, it's not easy to even get points on the road, a draw. But we came out with a gritty performance because the guys just grinded it out," Seattle head coach Brian Schmetzer said.
Indeed, the Sounders earned the points despite the first leg of their Concacaf Champions Cup quarterfinals matchup with Mexican giant Tigres looming on Wednesday. As such, Schmetzer rotated and leaned on a roster that has well over 11 starters, by his account, to get it done on a soggy night in Houston.
Kraken Buried in ‘Unacceptable’ Loss to Blackhawks
The Seattle Kraken’s odds to make the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs were slim entering Saturday night’s matchup against the Chicago Blackhawks at Climate Pledge Arena.
However, facing the team with the second-worst record in the league provided Seattle an opportunity to at least extend its hopes. The Kraken can’t control the other bubble team’s results, but they can control the effort and urgency required to put themselves in the best position possible.
Even then, there wasn’t enough on Saturday night. With a 4-2 loss to a bottom-feeding Blackhawks, the Kraken all but solidified their place among them.
“I would just use one word,” Seattle coach Lane Lambert said. “I’m disappointed.”
Reign Close Spokane Fixture Trio with Draw to Expansion Denver
The Seattle Reign stayed perfect in their Spokane closer on Saturday, tying expansion side Denver Summit FC 0-0 on Saturday night to move to 3-1-1.
The Summit, fresh off their home opener, which drew over 60,000 fans in Colorado, have built a reputation of being tough to break down. Paired with a true scorer on the left wing in Melissa Kössler and a chance generator in striker Yazmeen Ryan, Denver was always on Seattle coach Laura Harvey's mind as a threat.
Indeed, the Summit burdened Seattle with 18 shots, but the Reign's active backline pressured many of those attempts. In the end, Denver produced just three shots on target and 1.2 expected goals on a day where the teams shared possession almost evenly.
Which ‘Wild Cards’ Could Seahawks Select With No. 32 Overall Pick in 2026 NFL Draft?
Coming out of a free agency period where they managed to retain most of their Super Bowl roster, the Seattle Seahawks did lose multiple starters such as running back Ken Walker III and cornerback Riq Woolen, leaving a few significant holes to fill heading towards the 2026 NFL Draft on April 23-25.
Considering the loss of Walker, Woolen, safety Coby Bryant, and edge rusher Boye Mafe, conventional wisdom would suggest Seattle intends to plug those gaps early in the draft, particularly at the cornerback and EDGE spots that feature quality talent and depth in the 2026 draft class. However, with the exception of Walker and possibly Mafe, the Seahawks have quality succession options already on the roster to help fill those voids and the continuity on the roster as a whole gives general manager John Schneider and coach Mike Macdonald flexibility to draft the best player available rather than chase needs, particularly with the No. 32 overall pick in the first round.
Under the guise of picking the best player on the board, which prospects from “wild card” positions could the Seahawks potentially pursue with their first selection later this month?
Danny Sprinkle, Huskies Back to Drawing Board for Another Rebuild
It looks like Danny Sprinkle and his Washington Huskies men’s basketball will be starting over.
Again.
As Sprinkle heads into his third season at UW, it would appear that another massive roster shakeup is coming after Zoom Diallo, JJ Mandaquit and Courtland Muldrew all have announced intentions to enter the transfer portal when it opens on Tuesday.
‘Greatest News Ever’: Gonzaga’s Mark Few Inducted Into Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame
In just his second year on the ballot, Gonzaga head coach Mark Few has been inducted into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame as part of the Class of 2026. Officially announced on Saturday, the 63-year-old will be enshrined in basketball immortality.
“This is the greatest news ever. It's just such a thrill to be elected to the Hall of Fame, something I never would have imagined happening in my life,” Few said in a statement. “I'm so grateful and so proud of everything our players were able to accomplish here at Gonzaga. It's a credit to having incredible people around you: incredible players, incredible staff members, an unbelievable wife and family, and God directing me through this crazy life. I can't thank everybody enough at the Hall of Fame. I'm just thrilled to be part of this phenomenal class."
Becoming eligible in 2024 for the first time, Few was a Hall of Fame finalist for the last two years. Active coaches must be at least 60 years old and have 25 years of service time under their belts. He joins fellow coaches Mike D’Antoni and Doc Rivers, former players Amare Stoudemire, Candace Parker, Elena Della Donne, and Chamique Holdsclaw, official Joey Crawford, and the 1996 United States Women’s National Team as this year’s inductees, who will have their induction ceremonies scheduled for August 14-15 in Springfield, Massachusetts.
Cougars Leading Scorer Ace Glass Enters Transfer Portal as Roster Shakeup Continues
The biggest domino of the offseason has fallen for coach David Riley and the Washington State Cougars, as WCC All-Freshman Team selection and Second Team All-West Coast Conference guard Ace Glass has announced his intention to enter the transfer portal.
The Rancho Cucamonga, California native was a breakout star this past season, averaging 16.4 points, 3.0 rebounds, and 2.3 assists per game. Glass shot an efficient 45.5% from the field, 36.4% from three-point range, and 88.2% from the free-throw line. He quickly established himself as one of the most dynamic and reliable scorers in the conference, emerging as a centerpiece of the Cougars’ offense.
Known for his ability to score in bunches, Glass brought a skill set that was largely unmatched on the roster — the ability to consistently create his own shot. He was equally comfortable scoring off the dribble or catching and firing, making him a constant threat in both half-court sets and transition.
Davy Coetzer, Seawolves Overcome Late Front Row Red in 33-16 Win over Old Glory
TUKWILA, Wash. - Before the 2026 season began, it wasn’t clear at all how the Seawolves stacked up against their five opponents. All the teams in the MLR consolidated talent from the folded teams, but as to the strength of each team as compared to each other, there wasn’t a whole lot to go off of besides conjecture. It was clear Anthem were majorly improved while the defending champion Free Jacks lost a grand total of 13 Canadian-eligible players and had a heap of general turnover. But with all the chaos, last year’s point totals, win totals, and point differentials weren’t the biggest thing weighing in the preseason projections.
In the first week, however, the team with a positive-38 point differential last year beat the team with a minus-40. Both sides had to work past some early season jitters, but with a new elite flyhalf in tow and the home turf grit to battle past a late red, the Seawolves logged the opening win under the Friday night Starfire lights.
Davy Coetzer had an excellent first match with the Seawolves, scoring 18 of Seattle’s 33 points.
A couple of Old Glory penalties in the early minutes led to offseason-acquired flyhalf Davy Coetzer’s first penalty kick of the season in the fourth minute. It was a relatively easy shot in windless conditions, but Coetzer shanked it a bit to the left and it bounced off the post into the visitors’ hands. That, along with a couple half-fumbles, was the only real mistake Coetzer made all match.
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