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.
Growth of Sophomore Class Gives Seahawks Shot to Be Even Better in 2026
Like most Super Bowl winners, the Seattle Seahawks leaned heavily on their established stars on the way to hoisting the Lombardi Trophy last season. From quarterback Sam Darnold to defensive tackle Leonard Williams to linebacker Ernest Jones, the team had plenty of experienced veterans who stepped up with outstanding seasons to guide the team back to the top.
However, what made Seattle’s season truly a special one was the impressive contributions from young players in all three phases. Most notably, the 2025 rookie class played a massive role in taking the jump from a quality 10-win team that narrowly missed the playoffs one year earlier to winning the NFC West, earning the No. 1 seed, and capturing a Super Bowl title.
Continuing to be on a multi-year heater unearthing game-changing talent in the draft, Seahawks general manager John Schneider landed a Day 1 starting guard in Grey Zabel with the 18th overall pick, plugging the former North Dakota State standout into the lineup right away as a clear difference maker for a much-improved offensive line. Defensively, trading up to snag safety Nick Emmanwori with the 35th overall pick proved to be a huge steal for the franchise, as his Swiss army knife traits turned an already great defense into a juggernaut.
Coetzer Shines as Seawolves Wallop Anthem 57-21, Move into Second Place
TUKWILA, Wash. - Despite all the injuries and the early season losses, the Seawolves currently sit in a home playoff spot with three games remaining in the 2026 MLR season. Perhaps it goes to show that, even in a 10-match season, an early slump isn’t the be-all, end-all; perhaps it also shows that the five teams not named the Chicago Hounds have quite the dogfight to see who gets the second place home playoff game, who gets the other two playoff spots, and which two teams are left out in the cold.
Seattle’s 57-21 victory against Anthem Rugby Carolina was their most emphatic yet, building on a season-saving win against the Free Jacks and a second half comeback against Old Glory, both badly needed road wins before their triumphant (yet incomplete) homecoming.
Sunday afternoon marked the return of Davy Coetzer and Marno Redelinghuys to the starting XV, with André Warner playing at scrumhalf and JP Smith originally slated to play on the wing before being scratched late. Dorian Jones also returned from injury, ending up coming off the bench in the final quarter of the game.
Gonzaga Baseball Closes Historic Regular Season With Sweep of Seattle U
To cap off a truly historic regular season, Gonzaga baseball (35-17, 22-5) secured its ninth sweep of the season by taking all three games against Seattle U at Steve Herz Field. The result of the set makes 22 conference wins for the Zags, which is a program record and the most any WCC team has had since 2002, when Pepperdine won the same amount.
They finish the season 15-3 at the Patterson Baseball Complex, but their dominance on the diamond for the last two months has been consistent, no matter the venue. Since their first game of WCC action against San Diego, the Bulldogs have gone 28-6, as they surge into the conference tournament in Phoenix with as much momentum as could be hoped for.
More dominance ensured versus the Redhawks, as everyone in the lineup got involved throughout Senior Weekend while the team’s two frontline starters delivered quality outings once more.
Analysis: Cougars Balance Continuity With New Faces in Tight End Room
With new faces and returning experience at the position, the Washington State Cougars’ tight end room has a mix of size, athleticism, and versatility heading into the 2026 season.
The Cougars bring back proven contributors like Trey Leckner while also adding an experienced transfer and intriguing developmental player to the mix who could emerge over time in new coach Kirby Moore’s offense. Whether it’s as blockers in the run game or pass catchers in the red zone, this group has the potential to play an important role in WSU’s offense throughout the year.
Instant Takeaways: No Malonga Spells Doom for Storm in Loss to Fever
Stumbling out of the gates with sloppy offense and minimal-resistance defense, the Seattle Storm fell to 1-3 on the season with an 89-78 loss to the Indiana Fever on Sunday, May 17, at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis.
The Storm were without leading scorer Dominique Malonga, who suffered a concussion in Wednesday’s game against Toronto. Seattle’s remaining lineup, which was much smaller than normal, couldn’t minimize mistakes to keep up with a potent Fever attack.
Natisha Hiedeman had her best game as a member of the Storm, scoring a team-high 19 points while adding two rebounds, two assists one steal and one block. Flau’jae Johnson (14 points), Zia Cooke (13) and Jade Melbourne (12) also scored in double figures.
Indiana (2-2) was led by Caitlin Clark’s 21 points, seven rebounds and 10 assists. Kelsey Mitchell and Sophie Cunningham each added 17 points.
Despite Rocky First Year, Lane Lambert Still Could Be Man for the Job for Kraken
The NHL Draft is still over a month away. The Seattle Kraken will pick seventh, by virtue of the draft lottery. For the third straight season, Seattle missed the Stanley Cup Playoffs. They have only made the playoffs once in its five seasons of existence.
Last summer, Lane Lambert became Seattle’s third different head coach in those five years, after taking over for Dan Bylsma, who was one-and-done following the 2024-2025 season. Lambert came in from Toronto after being an assistant coach for a year. Previously, he was head coach of the New York Islanders for one and a half years, making the playoffs in his rookie season.
Even with his first season as Kraken head coach being a disappointment, Lambert still can be the correct head coach moving forward.
Storm Desperately Need Champion Awa Fam Ready to Roll
Awa Fam, the Seattle Storm’s No. 3 overall pick in this year’s WNBA Draft, will be joining her new team as a champion.
Fam and Valencia, the team she has played for in Spain since 2021, won the Liga Feminina Endesa Championship on Sunday, May 17, defeating Casademont Zaragoza 68-67 on a buzzer-beater layup.
It wasn’t her best game, but Fam totaled six points on two 3-pointers and added four rebounds, one assist and a steal.
Valencia’s season is what has been keeping Fam, 19, from joining the Storm, who are currently 1-2 ahead of Sunday’s matchup with the Indiana Fever (1-2). Fam will still have to get to Seattle and potentially get a short rest before she can get on the court for the Storm this season.
Sounders’ Home Unbeaten Streak Ends at 22, Pec Runs Riot for Galaxy
The Seattle Sounders had been through the wringer in a three-game week, but were facing an LA Galaxy team coming off a tough loss to Kansas City to close the stretch Saturday. Seattle, on the other hand, was riding high with a win over the top-ranked San Jose Earthquakes on Wednesday, and set their lineup to rotate against the 11th-place Galaxy.
Unfortunately for Seattle, LA found its footing in this one, as star winger Gabriel Pec had a goal and an assist in transition late to bury the Sounders in a 2-0 shocker. The loss meant the end of a 22-game home unbeaten run dating back to last summer against European champion Paris Saint-Germain in the Club World Cup.
Seattle, as it has for the past few matches, spent plenty of time in LA's box with 30 touches in the 18, but couldn't cash in on 1.4 expected goals on mostly half-chances. The Sounders also took 15 shots and got five on frame with 58% possession, but the Galaxy's counterattacks late buried Seattle as LA generated 1.7 xG on nine shots.
Should Seahawks Break Bank, Sign Devon Witherspoon to Record-Setting Extension?
The Seahawks face one more major pivotal offseason decision before training camp arrives in late July: Can they secure Devon Witherspoon’s future after making Jaxon Smith-Njigba the highest-paid non-quarterback in NFL history earlier in the spring? With Witherspoon’s elite coverage, hard-hitting run defense, and game-changing blitz ability, his contributions often out-weigh his overall production, which could complicate negotiations on a massive extension.
Emerald City Spectrum reporter Corbin Smith examines the complexities of Seattle building around young stars, weighing Witherspoon’s All-Pro impact and locker room leadership against concerns about durability and statistical production. Key topics include John Schneider’s contract strategy, the influence of Mike Macdonald’s defensive scheme, how Witherspoon’s unique skills set him apart from traditional corners, and whether the former top-five pick is worth $30-plus million per year.
Reign Scoreless Streak Hits Five, Seattle Falls to Gotham at Home
SEATTLE, Wash. — After the Seattle Reign failed to score in their fourth straight game in a 1-0 loss to Washington last Sunday, defender Madison Curry said goals would pour in if they could make it rain once.
Five days later, Seattle didn't even manage a drizzle, losing 2-0 to defending champion Gotham FC to drop to 3-4-2. Gotham (5-2-3) notched its fifth straight result as Jaedyn Shaw scored in the 24th, while Tierna Davidson scored in the 57th on Friday night.
Unlike in its last few showings, Seattle didn't create many real chances until late in the game, when veteran substitute Brittany Ratcliffe had a 1-on-1 chance that was kick-saved by Ann-Katrin Berger, and Maddie Dahlien was tripped up in the box with no penalty call.
Outside of those chances in the 85th and stoppage time, the Reign didn't threaten the defending champs on a 0.8 expected-goal night.
Key Storylines for All 17 of Seahawks’ Games on 2026 Schedule
After months of knowing opponents but not having any official game dates, the Seattle Seahawks unleashed their official 2026 schedule on Thursday, kicking things off with a much-anticipated Super Bowl rematch against the New England Patriots.
Overall, including the opener at Lumen Field, Seattle will play in six primetime games with five of them on its home turf. The franchise will also benefit from an atypical lack of travel, ranking just 10th in air miles with only three trips to the Eastern time zone and two 10 AM starts on the schedule. On the flip side, while they play nine home games compared to eight away, they will finish with three contests away from Lumen in the final four weeks, which features two games against the Los Angeles Rams.
Digging deeper into the ‘Hawks revealed schedule, there’s no shortage of questions or intrigue for each of their 17 games on the docket. Which storylines stand out as the biggest for each game?
Could Cal Raleigh’s Injured List Trip Be a Good Thing for Mariners Over Long Haul?
Batting barely over .160, Cal Raleigh's struggles at the plate have played a big role in the Mariners' sluggish start to the 2026 season, and now the team will be without him for at least a few weeks.
Emerald City Spectrum writer Nick Lee examines Raleigh's tough run at the plate thus far and why a break to get back to 100% health may be exactly what the player and team needs to be able to get back on track in time to start pushing for a playoff spot once the calendar flips to June.
The Montlake Report: Which Huskies' Running Backs Will Seize Opportunity in Wide Open Backfield?
The Washington Huskies face a backfield puzzle as Quaid Carr, Jayden Limar, Trey Cooley, and Jordan Washington jockey for carries under head coach Jedd Fisch’s historically committee-style approach. Can any of these running backs break through, or will health and spring performances keep the depth chart in flux? As Jonah Coleman heads to the NFL and Adam Mohammad joins Cal, competition heats up—especially with wild cards like Brian Bonner Jr. and Ansu Sanoe waiting for their shot.
On a new “The Montlake Report” podcast, Emerald City Spectrum reporter Aaron Coe breaks down what's at stake for Husky football, analyzing projected carries, injury uncertainties, and the role of each ball carrier for UW. He explores Fisch’s history of spreading opportunities, shares insider updates on Jordan Washington’s recovery, and weighs the potential impact of new transfers. One question drives the conversation: Will any running back emerge as a true difference-maker in Seattle this fall?
Mariners Win Series in Houston, Set Sail for Uncharted Waters with Raleigh Out
After their 8-3 victory against the Astros on Thursday, the Mariners are 7-1 with a +26 run differential against that team in 2026. They’re also 15-22 with a -7 run differential against every other team.
Thursday was something of a fulcrum for Seattle. It was the day the M’s officially sent Cal Raleigh to the 10-day IL, though this was an obvious development after his exit from Wednesday’s game with clear discomfort on the same oblique he had tweaked earlier. Mitch Garver caught Luis Castillo in the latter’s final full start for some time as the piggyback plan goes into effect the next time through the rotation. The cloud of these changes hung over the game’s activities, which saw the M’s take the bad Astros pitchers to task once more.
Brendan Donovan and Mitch Garver stood out on both sides of the ball on the day Cal Raleigh went to the IL.
There were two individual performances in particular that echoed Raleigh’s absence in a way. Garver, obviously, moved into the primary catching role upon his addition to the IL, while for Brendan Donovan, his performance was a lesson in the virtues of caution around early injuries.
Who’s Going to Carry the Running Back Load for the Huskies in 2026?
When the Washington Huskies football team opens the 2026 season with the Sept. 5 Apple Cup, quarterback Demond Williams Jr.’s first handoff to a running back will likely invoke a question from casual fans.
“Who is that guy?”
The answer at the end of spring football appeared easy: That guy was Quaid Carr. Who it will be in September, and how carries are distributed among a new-look running back room, may still be a question Washington coaches are asking each other a few games into the season.
Well-Traveled Spanish Forward Izan Almansa Commits to Gonzaga
Continuing to sink its teeth into the international player pool, the Gonzaga Bulldogs reportedly received a commitment from 6-10 forward Izan Almansa, who, at just 20 years old, has already played at several competitive levels in his basketball career.
The Spaniard’s stops range from Overtime Elite to the Australian league to sitting in the NBA Draft green room last summer. Because of this, Almansa’s eligibility is still a question mark heading into the fall, and there’s a chance his commitment to the Zags is all for naught if the NCAA doesn’t distribute him a waiver. GU had a messy eligibility situation as recently as last year when Tyon Grant-Foster needed an injuction hearing to finally get on the court. But for the time being, Almansa is GU’s third new addition this offseason, joining Massamba Diop and Houston transfer Isiah Harwell. If he is cleared to suit up for the Bulldogs, Almansa becomes a considerable addition to the roster, bringing valuable depth behind Diop and Braden Huff in the frontcourt, which was something the team did not have last season.
Seahawks 2026 Schedule: Primetime Games Galore, Plus Other Takeaways
Ready to begin their title defense, the NFL announced the Seattle Seahawks’ 2026 schedule on Thursday, which will kick off with a rematch from Super Bowl LX against the New England Patriots at Lumen Field.
Digging deep into Seattle’s schedule, which features seven primetime games and matchups against every team from both the NFC East and the AFC East divisions, what stands out about the 17-game docket? And where may the Seahawks encounter the most trouble as they aim to get back to the top of the NFC West and compete for another Lombardi Trophy?
Sounders Down Western Conference Front-Runner San Jose in Heritage Cup Classic
Emerald City Spectrum reporter Qasim Ali breaks down a 3-2 barn-burner between the Seattle Sounders (7-1-3, 3rd in Western Conference) and San Jose Earthquakes (9-2-2, 2nd in Western Conference).
Osaze De Rosario netted an 89th-minute game-winner as the game swung back and forth after an early Sounders mistake led to a second-minute San Jose goal. Albert Rusnák scored off a penalty kick late in the first half to equalize before Jesús Ferreira went coast-to-coast in a spectacular individual effort to give Seattle the lead.
The goals come at good times for Ferreira and De Rosario, who have both been lacking on the scoring edge as Seattle finally met its expected-goal mark after two frustrating draws against Kansas City and San Diego.
The win also meant history for the Sounders, who swept San Diego in the regular season for the first time.
Instant Takeaways: Mistake-Prone Storm Stumble Against Tempo
A healthy dose of turnovers doomed the Seattle Storm in an 86-73 loss to the Toronto Tempo on Wednesday, May 13, at Coca-Cola Coliseum.
Toronto earned its first win in franchise history after losing its opener, dropping the Storm to 1-2 overall. It was far from Seattle’s best performance, with a lack of contributions across the lineup, sloppy play on both ends of the court and simply a lack of resilience to battle back.
Storm head coach Sonia Raman, just a few days removed from her first win, was a victim of Tempo head coach Sandy Brondello’s first win with Toronto.
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