Redhawks Star Will Heimbrodt Focused on ‘Little Things’ to Take Next Step After Breakout Season
Remaining poised after taking a crash course as a key reserve during his redshirt freshman season, Will Heimbrodt understood a larger role would be in his grasp coming into his third season on campus with the Seattle Redhawks. He simply needed to capitalize on the opportunity.
Doing just that, Heimbrodt earned himself his first full-time starting gig rolling into his sophomore season, ready to take flight on a team with high aspirations entering the West Coast Conference. With several of his former teammates graduating, the Redhawks were counting on him to become a staple in their lineup, feeling like coach Chris Victor and the coaching staff had even more confidence in him than he did.
Heimbrodt played well in spring practices, staying consistent with his training throughout the summer and by Seattle’s first game against the University of Denver, Heimbrodt received the call as a starter for the first time. Helping lead his team to an 84-73 win, he finished the game with 24 points on 9-14 shooting, eight rebounds, and two blocks, putting the rest of the conference on notice early.
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.
‘I Love Winning More Than I Hate Losing’: Colt Emerson Looks to Take Situational ‘Winning Player’ Approach to Mariners
TACOMA, Wash. - Colt Emerson may not have yet seen a major league pitch in his 20 years on this earth, but he already has an almost nine-figure contract extension with the Seattle Mariners. And, it seems, he already has a two-word motto: “winning player”.
When Emerson comes to the bat, that’s the first thing that goes through his mind. In a minor league world where the process of prospect development and the results on the field for the team at hand must coexist, Emerson’s process is to try for the best result.
“Read the situation and what’s going to help the team win. What’s going to help score a run here or make a play here,” Emerson said about his approach. “Really just catered towards what’s going to help the team at the end of the day.”
Meet Peter Kingston, Sounders Midfielder and Son of the Seattle Soccer System
Some of the most impactful Seattle Sounders are from the Emerald City and its surrounding area.
The team's leading scorer this season, Paul Rothrock, hails from Seattle, while the club's all-time leading scorer, Jordan Morris, is from across the I-90 bridge on Mercer Island. With head coach Brian Schmetzer of Lake City and a former Sounder himself prioritizing local talent, the Sounders have become a beacon for all nearby talent to work toward.
"Any kid who probably grew up in the Seattle area that wanted to be a Sounder, like you don't want to just be a part of the team, you want to be a guy who's well-known amongst your peers," Peter Kingston, who splits time with the Defiance and Sounders, told The Spectrum after training on Friday morning.
Kingston, who comes from just across 520 and up the 405 in Kirkland, has worked through every local avenue possible to tab his first MLS minutes with Seattle in 2025. The 24-year-old has played for the two prominent collegiate programs in the state, Seattle University and the University of Washington.
In the midst of the rush of college athletics, Kingston had a unique experience. He had a daughter during his three seasons with Seattle U and son while at UW with his girlfriend, Shay.
Balancing pursuing his dream and being a local father led Kingston to USL League Two side Ballard FC, Tacoma Defiance and eventually back to the Sounders as the young player pushes for a roster spot.
Record Deal in Tow, Jaxon Smith-Njigba ‘Ready to Attack’ as Seahawks’ Foundational Star
Nearly three years ago to the day, with the team holding two first-round picks thanks to the blockbuster Russell Wilson trade from March 2022, Seattle Seahawks general manager John Schneider, former coach Pete Carroll, and several team scouts flew into Columbus to check out an Ohio State pro day loaded with a ridiculous abundance of future NFL talent.
Drawing the most spectators, including Schneider and Carroll watching closely with significant questions at the quarterback position, Heisman Trophy finalist C.J. Stroud threw in front of scouts after bypassing the opportunity to do so at the NFL combine. Projected top-10 pick Paris Johnson also had no shortage of suitors watching him like hawks, though the Seahawks themselves were set at the tackle position after drafting Charles Cross and Abraham Lucas one year prior.
But as Schneider took a close gander at Ohio State’s rich stable of pro prospects at the Woody Hayes Athletic Center, nobody shined on the field during athletic testing, on-field drills, and post-workout interviews more than receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba. Wowed by his skill set and character, the renowned executive left the building with the belief Seattle didn’t have a snowball’s chance in hell of him lasting on the board for the team to select with the 20th overall pick.
“I remember being at the Pro Day that day,” Schneider recalled. “And we were like, there's no way we're going to [draft him] - why are we meeting with this guy?”
Kraken GM Jason Botterill Breaks Down McMann Acquisition, State of Team After Trade Deadline
Striking at close to midnight - at least proverbially - the Seattle Kraken acquired Bobby McMann from the Toronto Maple Leafs in exchange for a 2027 second-round pick and a 2026 fourth-round pick right before the NHL Trade Deadline on Friday.
McMann, 29, is a forward on the final season of a two-year contract with a $1.35 million AAV. He has 19 goals and 32 points through 60 games this season, which ranks second-most on Seattle behind captain Jordan Eberle (42 points).
Of course, that production came with superstar Auston Matthews at center. According to Natural Stat Trick, McMann had 238:09 of 5-on-5 ice time on a line with Matthews and Max Domi, the most of any single line combination in Toronto this season.
Seawolves Players, Coaches Discuss American Rugby at Preseason Town Hall
SEATTLE, Wash. - One of rugby's most enduring traditions is that, when all is said and done and the 80 minutes are played, the sides mingle with each other over beer and pizza. The Seawolves' usual post-match stomping ground is Watershed FC, a pizza bar within the Starfire Sports complex where players can be found after a match, win or loss, chatting with each other and with the fans.
That same kind of environment existed in the Hall on Occidental on Wednesday evening as the Seawolves hosted their season ticket member town hall. Doors opened at 6:00 pm and it was not long before the fans began to stream through into bench seats beside wooden tables. The chats were cordial as always between the Seawolves and their fans to begin the evening as they waited for the main festivities to begin - those being, of course, a series of Q&A sessions emceed by Seawolves chief operating officer Drew Dambreville and some surrounding announcements.
Among all the festivities ran a through-line: that of developing the game of rugby in the United States.
‘It’s an Honor’: Brian Fleury Ready to Tackle First Play Calling Role as Seahawks’ New Coordinator
Selecting his third offensive coordinator in as many offseasons since taking over as head coach of the Seattle Seahawks, Mike Macdonald has learned a thing or two about trusting the process, sticking to his core principles and philosophies in the search for a new play caller as much as Xs and Os.
While some skeptics may question hiring a coordinator who has never called plays at any level, Macdonald isn’t in that camp, seeing far more to the job than simply turning plays into the quarterback. Looking at the entire picture while seeking a candidate with a diverse coaching background and a shared vision offensively post-Klint Kubiak, Brian Fleury checked off every other box on the checklist, landing himself the opportunity to be a coordinator for the first time in Seattle.
Now, Fleury plans to pay it forward rewarding by Macdonald for his faith in him, taking his career path to the next level as one of the few non-head coach play callers in the NFL with the defending Super Bowl champions.
‘Surreal Moment’: Ken Walker III Caps Off Historic Run for Seahawks With Super Bowl MVP
Long before he took his talents to the NFL, Ken Walker III torched his local brethren on the gridiron in the Pee Wee league in Arlington, Tennessee, leaving more than just a host of helpless defenders in his wake.
With each step explosive step he took, Walker’s cleats lit up, leaving a glowing, blurred trail as he rocketed down the field. Racing past the opposition with his speed and quicks while his feet emulated a Lite Brite, he earned the nickname “Thunder Shoes,” which stuck with him all the way up through his prep career at Arlington High School.
Fast forwarding nearly a decade later, Walker harkened back memories of such Pee Wee dominance, only managing to do so on the biggest stage in Super Bowl LX at Levis Stadium. Zigging and zagging through a Patriots defense that struggled to get him to the ground all night as he racked up 135 yards and five yards per rush, all that was missing was the light up cleats as he starred in the Seahawks’ 29-13 victory and garnered MVP honors, becoming the first running back in 28 years to accomplish the feat.
Sam Darnold Completes Redemption Arc as Seahawks Secure Super Bowl Title
Sam Darnold, Super Bowl-winning quarterback.
A few years ago, the phrase sounded absurd. Once considered a draft bust in the city where quarterbacks never seem to succeed, Darnold felt blue and green confetti rain down on his red hair on Sunday at Levi’s Stadium, where his Seattle Seahawks defeated the New England Patriots 29-13 to win Super Bowl LX.
‘Battle Tested’ Seahawks Suffocate Patriots, Cement Place as All-Time Great Defense in Super Bowl Win
Approaching kickoff for Super Bowl LX, there wasn’t cloud in the sky as temperatures hovered around the low 70s, presenting idealistic conditions for the ultimate event in sports.
But then, the Seattle Seahawks’ “Darkside” defense took the field, bringing with them a violent storm that the New England Patriots simply weren’t prepared for and couldn’t weather.
It started with a flash in the form of a Derick Hall sack on the opening series, forcing a punt, followed by thunder as Devon Witherspoon came in unabated to hit Drake Maye and coax an ugly throwaway downfield, again forcing a punt. Lightning struck on the next possession as the cornerback got home this time with teammate Nick Emmanwori also collapsing the pocket, corralling the quarterback after shooting the B-gap untouched for a 10-yard sack that led to a third consecutive punt.
‘The Time is Now’: How Nick Emmanwori’s Versatility, Rapid Growth Powered Seahawks’ Super Bowl Run
Out of all the traits that an NFL player can bring to the table in terms of value, for superstars, starters, reserves, and journeymen alike, versatility may be the crown jewel.
While the Seahawks have their share of players on the roster who can play multiple positions or at least move around to different spots along the offensive or defensive line, rookie safety Nick Emmanwori has made the term versatile obsolete. Starring in coach Mike Macdonald’s defense, he has played a vital role in the franchise advancing to Super Bowl LX as a true jack of all trades.
‘Everything You Want in a Head Coach’: Seahawks Eager to Earn Mike Macdonald Historic Super Bowl Win
Winning 24 regular season games in his first two seasons at the helm for the Seattle Seahawks, Mike Macdonald has carved out one of the most successful runs to open a head coaching career in NFL history.
But when Seattle takes the field to face New England on Sunday for Super Bowl LX, unbeknownst to many of his own players, the 38-year-old Macdonald has a prime opportunity to carve out a unique piece of history all to himself as the first head coach in NFL history who calls defensive plays for his team to win the Lombardi Trophy in 60 tries.
Sam Darnold, Seahawks Aiming to Stay Step Ahead of Patriots’ Evolving Defense in Super Bowl LX
Playing the quarterback position in the NFL has long been viewed as the most difficult job in professional sports, a fact that only has been magnified in recent years by the increasing complexity of defensive schemes around the league.
For decades, signal callers leaned heavily on half field reads post-snap to identify and attack coverages, providing a simplified approach that worked quite effectively against static defenses. However, in the modern NFL, while that approach has not been completely discarded and still has a time and place, the proliferation of well-disguised coverages has put a lot more on quarterback’s plates, making it far trickier to gauge whether an opposing defense is in man coverage, split-zone coverage with the middle of field open, or closed-zone coverage with the middle of the field occupied.
Early on his career, like all young quarterbacks who have to adapt and learn how to successfully attack complicated NFL defenses built around the art of - or at least the guise of - deception, Sam Darnold endured plenty of growing pains coming out of USC as a highly-touted top-five draft choice.
Nick Emmanwori Exits Practice, Seahawks Seeking ‘Next Steps’ as Super Bowl LX Approaches
Just four days before taking the field for Super Bowl LX, the Seattle Seahawks could potentially be down one of their top playmakers on defense against the New England Patriots.
Hours after speaking with reporters during Wednesday’s media scrum, per PFWA pool reporter Kalyn Kahler, Seahawks safety Nick Emmanwori left midway through practice after injuring his ankle while attempting to defend a pass. The report indicates coaches and teammates came over to console the rookie defender as he walked off the field on his own and he did not return, receiving a limited designation on the practice report.
“He had an ankle today, we brought him in to look at it,” Macdonald told Kahler. “And we’ll kind of go from here and figure out what are the next steps?”
Seahawks’ Abraham Lucas Livin’ the Super Bowl Dream
One of Abraham Lucas’ first football memories comes from almost exactly 20 years ago.
At seven years old, he watched the Seattle Seahawks play in Super Bowl XL in Everett, wishing — like many kids — he could play in the big game someday.
People often say “Livin’ the dream” with sarcasm when asked how their work days are going.
Now a 6-6, 322-pound right tackle for the Seahawks, the Archbishop Murphy High School graduate truly is leaving that dream. On Sunday, “someday” arrives, and Lucas will start on Seattle’s offensive line against the New England Patriots in Super Bowl LX at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California.
Riq Woolen, Seahawks’ Underdogs Aim to ‘Finish Off’ Success Stories Hoisting Lombardi Trophy
Returning to the Super Bowl for the first time in 11 years, the Seattle Seahawks have assembled the perfect blend of experience and youth in all three phases, assembling a roster full of star power with veteran stalwarts and high-upside rookies alike.
But as is often the case for teams that manage to advance to the NFL’s biggest stage, the Seahawks didn’t make it this far simply because of All-Pro talents such as Jaxon Smith-Njigba and Leonard Williams. Or off of the backs of former top-five picks in Sam Darnold and Devon Witherspoon. To win 14 games in the regular season and defeat a pair of division rivals in the playoffs, they needed contributions from players who didn’t come from such heralded beginnings.
‘I’m a Seahawk, Damnit’: Could John Benton Stick Around Post-Super Bowl With Young O-Line Nucleus?
With Seattle Seahawks offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak expected to take the Las Vegas Raiders vacant head coaching job, it has been widely speculated that the play caller will bring offensive line coach John Benton along with him to the Sin City.
But with such decisions not to be made until after Super Bowl LX on Sunday, even considering his previous connections working with Kubiak both in New Orleans and Seattle as well as coaching under Kubiak’s father Gary in Houston, Benton staying put in the Pacific Northwest should not be ruled out.
Speaking with the Emerald City Spectrum during Thursday’s media scramble at the San Jose Convention Center, when asked about whether or not he could provide an answer on the possibility of following Kubiak to Las Vegas on the heels of speaking glowingly about his current offensive line group, Benton emphatically responded, “I’m a Seahawk, damnit!”
Kraken’s Silent Enforcer: Why Jacob Melanson Matters More Than You Think
Jacob Melanson’s stat sheet might not immediately give you a sense of the importance he plays on the 2025-26 Seattle Kraken, but his aggressiveness and tone-setting plug up a key weak spot in Seattle’s game.
‘It’s Been Dope’: Quandre Diggs Blessed to Ride Shotgun in Seahawks’ Super Bowl Run
For half a decade, Quandre Diggs terrorized quarterbacks as a ball-hawking weapon in the Seahawks’ secondary. Now on the practice squad in his second stint with the team, he’s relishing the chance to win a Super Bowl ring with the team that has been his family.
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