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.

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.

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.

Just when it seems college athletics couldn’t get any crazier, they somehow find a way.

On Friday, Judge Charlotte Sweeney granted a preliminary injunction for the entire high school class of 2022, while handling a Colorado lawsuit that originally involved 11 student-athletes. The ruling declared all vying players eligible for a fifth collegiate season, making them available to play in the upcoming 2026-27 season.

It all seems like a perfect storm for the Gonzaga Bulldogs, which has experienced several unpredictable roster developments this offseason. So with this wave of experienced, decorated players back in the talent pool, what are the next steps for the Zags, who still have clear personnel holes as the calendar flips to August?

With the trade deadline just two days away, the Seattle Mariners’ season seemingly hinged on Saturday's game against the Minnesota Twins. With the contest tied 3-3 in the bottom of the ninth, Cal Raleigh delivered, driving home the winning run in walk-off fashion.

Seattle has struggled to put teams away all season, and that trend continued during the second game of the series. The Mariners scored three runs across the first two innings but were held scoreless the rest of the way until the ninth. This allowed the Twins to claw their way back, ultimately tying it up in the seventh inning.

The Mariners need to start stacking wins to make the playoffs, and Saturday's victory showed how they can do that.