Old Mariners Bugbears Continue Biting in Opening Day Loss to Guardians
The more things change, the more they stay the same. It’s hard to say there wasn’t an air of that feeling in T-Mobile Park after the Mariners dropped their Opening Day contest 6-4 thanks to some shoddy relief work, unimpressive defense, and one-trick offense.
Four solo home runs were all the production the M’s could muster, and in a lot of games against the Cleveland Guardians, that might be enough (they scored slightly less than four runs per game last year). But Logan Gilbert once again struggled to go deep, outfielders lacked urgency on fly balls with men on base, and Gabe Speier caught the bad end of some J-Ram magic with men on base.
But for all the lingering of long-lamented woes, the newest guy on the roster burst his way onto the scene in a big way.
Brendan Donovan made the best first impression possible as the M’s new leadoff man.
The Mariners franchise is entering its 50th season this year, having notched its first game in the books all the way back on April 6, 1977. In all that time, no leadoff Mariner had hit a home run in his first at-bat of Opening Day. Not Dave Collins all the way back in that first season nor Harold Reynolds in the late ‘80s nor Ichiro in his Hall-of-Fame Mariners career. Of the 49 season-inaugural batters, not one had left the yard in that first at-bat.
Huskies Receive Commitment from 4-Star Defensive Tackle Jon Ioane
Washington Huskies coach Jedd Fisch speaks often about getting bigger to compete in the Big Ten, and the Huskies tipped the scales toward that end with a commitment from Class of 2027 defensive lineman Jon Ioane on Thursday.
Iona, listed at 6-3, 295 pounds, plays on both sides at the line at Tustin (Calif.) High School. He chose UW over Penn State, UCLA, Stanford and Cal. Rated a 4-star “Athlete” recruit in 247Sports composite rankings because of his two-way abilities, Ioane is the 267th-ranked overall national recruit and No. 24 in California.
Sounders Trade Georgi Minoungou to Colorado for $2 million
The Seattle Sounders continue to stockpile money and assets, trading Burkina Faso national winger Georgi Minoungou to the Colorado Rapids for $2 million in general allocation money (GAM) on Thursday, per Niko Moreno of Sounder at Heart and confirmed by Tom Bogert of The Athletic.
Georgi, 23, is one of the most dynamic dribblers in the MLS. He came into the league by way of the team's MLS Next Pro side, Tacoma Defiance, before earning a contract through 2029 with the first team. In 34 MLS matches with the team, Georgi scored two goals and picked up 11 starts, usually manning a "super sub" role to add a punch to head coach Brian Schmetzer's offense.
Georgi has been dealing with a lingering foot injury, missing a few games for Seattle before returning to start in the team's 0-0 draw with Minnesota this past Sunday.
Three Questions About Future of the Seahawks After Jaxon Smith-Njigba Megadeal
Earlier this week, the Seahawks made NFL history. They made Jaxon Smith-Njigba the highest paid receiver in history, inking him to a four-year, $168.6 million extension (averaging $42.15 million per year with $120 million guaranteed).
While fans are excited to see the reigning Offensive Player of the Year staying in Seattle for the next half-decade at least, this megadeal raises some questions. Let’s dive into three.
Najee Harris Presents Intriguing Buy-Low Candidate for Seahawks’ Rebuilt Backfield
In the wake of Ken Walker III’s departure to join the Kansas City Chiefs in free agency and Zach Charbonnet’s recent surgery to repair a torn ACL, the Seattle Seahawks continue to take a look at veteran options to reinforce their backfield depth, and the latest visitor to the VMAC may be the most interesting one yet.
According to Adam Schefter of ESPN, the Seahawks brought former Pro Bowl running back Najee Harris to town on Wednesday, providing an opportunity to assess his recovery six months after suffering a torn Achilles tendon and undergoing surgery in an injury-marred lone season with the Chargers. Per the report, the ex-Alabama star also has a visit scheduled with the Raiders as he seeks a new home.
Prior to the significant injury, the 6-1, 245-pound Harris enjoyed a stellar four year run with the Steelers after coming on board as a decorated first round pick, eclipsing the 1,000-yard mark in each of those seasons and scoring 26 touchdowns on the ground. He also caught 180 passes out of the backfield during that span, adding north of 1,000 yards and six touchdowns as a receiver, showcasing a well-rounded game for a bigger back.
Reign Bounce Back in Spokane, Revive Offense Against Current
The rearview mirror.
That's where the Seattle Reign put last Friday’s 2-0 loss to the nine-player their rival Portland Thorns with a 3-0 win over the defending NWSL Shield champion Kansas City Current on Wednesday night at ONE Spokane Stadium.
Angrahad James-Turner opened the scoring in the 18th minute with her first goal since 2024, while Brittany Ratcliffe found her second goal with the team, and Maddie Mercado netted her first goal of 2026. Sofia Huerta, the NWSL's all-time assist leader, had a hand in the last two goals to push her career assist tally to 33 as the Reign improved to 2-1-0.
Keeper Claudia Dickey also picked up the clean sheet, as her 14th career zero-spot moved her into first place in club history.
With Lumen Field nearing the end of its World Cup renovations, the team is spending its next two games east of the Cascades. It's safe to say this midweek shellacking of a rotating Current side (1-2-0) was a good way to get things rolling.
Mariners Release Opening Day Roster; Crawford, Miller Notably Absent with Injury
With opening day right around the corner for the Seattle Mariners - at 7:10 p.m. Pacific on Thursday against the Guardians - the team has released its first 26-man roster for the 2026 season. The top of the depth chart, of course, is very much all over the M’s roster, from returning superstars in Cal Raleigh and Julio Rodríguez to new additions like Brendan Donovan and Jose A. Ferrer.
But of course it is not all sunshine and roses for the defending AL West champions. Longtime shortstop J.P. Crawford is out for the beginning of the year with a shoulder injury while Bryce Miller is working through an injury of his own, leaving holes in the middle infield and the back of the rotation. Leo Rivas is going to get some playing time at short in the meantime (and perhaps Cole Young might swivel
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?”
NBA Expansion: Exploration Has Begun, So What’s Next For Potential Sonics Return?
It’s looking like it may only be a matter of time before the NBA is back in Seattle.
The NBA’s board of governors approved a vote — which got a yes from all 30 league owners — for the league to begin exploring bids for potential franchises in Seattle and Las Vegas on Wednesday, per ESPN’s Shams Charania, formally beginning a process that would bring back the SuperSonics if completed.
The first step is complete, and while the chances of the NBA’s return to the Emerald City are becoming more and more likely, it’s still not a certainty. However, for the first time since the Sonics left in 2008, there is hope.
The Montlake Report: Biggest Storylines for the Huskies Heading Into Spring Football
Looking to improve on last year's 9-4 season, the Washington Huskies will open spring football on Tuesday, March 31. What are some of the biggest storylines heading into spring ball?
We also wrap up the end of the UW women's and men's basketball seasons.
Top-30/Local Visits Tracker: Who Have Seahawks Met With Leading Up to 2026 NFL Draft?
With the 2026 NFL Scouting Combine in the rearview mirror and free agency well underway, the Seattle Seahawks and all 32 NFL teams are in the midst of scheduling and conducting their pre-draft top-30 visits.
In this process, each NFL team can bring in up to 30 players to their respective facilities for interviews and meetings with coaches as well as medical examinations and physicals. In addition, teams can also bring in local players for official visits, which do not count as one of the top-30 visits. While these on-site meetings are only part of the evaluation process leading up to the three-day event, they can play a critical role in determining where each player ends up on draft weekend.
Which players have already met with the Seahawks or are scheduled to come to town for top-30 visits and local visits before the 2026 NFL Draft?
Analysis: Why Cole Young’s Spring Training Improvements Will Continue in 2026 Mariners Season
Cole Young had the second-lowest hard hit rate on the Mariners last year at 31.1%, about 10th percentile among major leaguers. He also hit the longest home run of any Mariner.
Well, not counting Cal Raleigh’s absolute tanks in the Home Run Derby. But even as the Mariner catcher hit 60 bombs in 2025, he never cracked 450 feet on any of them; his longest shot went 448 feet. Young, meanwhile, took poor Rangers starter Kumar Rocker 456 feet with a line drive to the second deck on the last day of July. It was one of just four home runs during Young’s rookie campaign, but it gave some indication that Seattle’s biggest prospect graduation of the year might have some serious pop in the tank.
But with 12 extra-base hits in 257 plate appearances, Young didn’t give much of an indication that he could do such things consistently. Indeed, while that exact nuke left the bat at 114.1 miles an hour - a maximum exit velocity in the 83rd percentile - Young hit so many weak grounders and lazy fly balls that the rest of his batted ball profile was markedly unimpressive.
Hitting six home runs in 63 plate appearances, however, is very impressive. That’s what Young did in Spring Training this year - but does that mean anything come Opening Day?
Top 5 Home and Road Series on Mariners’ 2026 Schedule
The 2026 baseball season is upon us. The Mariners kick off the slate by welcoming the Cleveland Guardians to Seattle, starting Thursday. Opening Day is always a special time as the saying goes, “hope springs eternal.” For the Mariners, that’s especially true. It’s not very often that the Mariners open a season with the thought process of “World Series or bust.”
With that in mind, the Mariners will certainly clash with the best of the best MLB has to offer as they hope to be considered in that group themselves. Let’s take a look at the marquee series of the 2026 schedule, including the top five series at T-Mobile Park as well as the top five series on the road.
The top series could mean a combination of playing the best teams in the league but also key promotions or events surrounding that series.
Longer Seasons Incoming For WNBA, Seattle Storm Fans
Longer WNBA seasons are on the near horizon for Seattle Storm basketball fans.
The WNBA board of governors unanimously ratified the new collective bargaining agreement between the league and the players union on Tuesday, per the Associated Press, leaving just the long-form document to be written up before the agreement is finalized.
Included in the new CBA, in addition to the landmark increases in salaries for players, is the framework for substantially longer seasons, per ESPN’s Alexa Philippou and Kendra Andrews.
Transfer Portal Strikes Early for Washington State Cougars
Even though the college basketball transfer portal doesn’t officially open until April 7 and the NCAA Tournament still has a ways to go before crowning a new champion, a couple of Washington State Cougars have already announced their intentions to explore other opportunities and depart Pullman.
With the portal closing on April 21, it remains unclear how the rest of the roster will shake out heading into next season, but it’s possible other Cougars could decide to at least test the waters before the portal opens next month.
Seahawks Maintain Present/Future Cap Flexibility Amid Receiver Spending Spree
Kicking off a busy Monday in late March with a bang, the Seattle Seahawks worked swiftly to reward Offensive Player of the Year Jaxon Smith-Njigba with a record-setting extension, making the superstar receiver the highest-paid player at his position in NFL history with a four-year, $168.6 million contract.
Only a few hours later, weeks after locking up speedy wideout/return specialist Rashid Shaheed a three-year, $51 million contract on the first day of free agency, general manager John Schneider dipped even more financial assets into the receiver group, as the Seahawks opted to match the Jaguars’ two-year offer sheet for special teams ace Jake Bobo. Between those three contracts, the franchise has shelled out north of $220 million at the position this month, including over $120 million in guarantees for Smith-Njigba’s market-setting extension.
Adding those three deals with veteran Cooper Kupp’s remaining two years with base salaries of $12.9 and $12.4 million, per Spotrac, Seattle has a league-high $83 million in combined average annual value (AAV) at the receiver spot in 2026 and nearly equaling that total at $78 million in 2027. In both seasons, they sit at least $6 million ahead of the next team behind them, illustrating tremendous investment in the position compared to the rest of the NFL.
Gonzaga Baseball Battles For Series Win Over San Diego to Open WCC Play
The WCC schedule makers definitely cooked this time. Picked to finish first and second in the conference, respectively, the San Diego Toreros (8-14, 1-2 WCC) and Gonzaga Bulldogs (9-12, 2-1 WCC) met over the weekend for a three-game set that opened West Coast Conference play for the two teams, and to say the series delivered would be an understatement.
Highlighted by rallies, lead changes, and plenty of emotion, the Zags managed to take two out of three on the road despite dropping the series opener and the Toreros scoring first in all three games. Nearly everyone in GU’s lineup contributed throughout the weekend, with clutch hits being provided to stage several comeback efforts.
How did the Bulldogs’ resiliency show in a big series win?
Seahawks Reward Jaxon Smith-Njigba With Record-Breaking Extension
Striking a deal early in free agency with a contract extension being a top priority for the organization, the Seattle Seahawks have locked up one of their biggest foundational pieces for the next half decade.
According to Adam Schefter of ESPN, the Seahawks and superstar receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba have agreed to terms on a four-year, $168.6 million mega deal worth a record-setting $42.15 million per year. Under the terms of the contract, he will also receive more than $120 million in guarantees, the most ever for a wideout in NFL history.
Enjoying a historic breakout in his third season with the Seahawks and more than earning his market-setting contract, the 24-year-old Smith-Njigba emerged as one of the league’s best weapons for the eventual Super Bowl champions, snagging 119 receptions for an NFL-best 1,793 yards and 10 touchdowns from quarterback Sam Darnold. Per TruMedia, he finished with 42 explosive receptions, seven more than any other receiver in the league, while posting a remarkable 35.3% explosive reception rate on a whopping 163 targets.
Mariners Reportedly Go with Garver for Backup Catcher; Right or Wrong Move by Dipoto?
Mitch Garver already returned to the Mariners organization thanks to some advice from Cal Raleigh, but with Spring Training nearly in the rear-view mirror, it’s being reported that he’s going to make the jump back to the bigs for another year. With this decision, it’s likely that Andrew Knizner - who signed a $1 million guaranteed contract in the offseason - will be designated for assignment, though he can be outrighted to Triple-A if he clears waivers. Jhonny Pereda, who is on the 40-man roster, will probably also return to Triple-A to start the season, though this would mark his last minor league option.
Garver was quite appreciative of Raleigh’s efforts to bring him back, according to MLB.com’s Daniel Kramer.
“It means a lot that he would want me to come back and be there for him whenever he needs to take a breather,” Garver said. “So, I'm happy to do it. Happy to just put on the gear and catch guys when they need me the most and couldn't be [happier] to be where we're at.”
Bringing Garver up was a $2.25 million dollar decision, financially, as that’s what Garver was guaranteed to make if he made the MLB roster at any point. So what went into the decision to bring him back for another year?
Huskies WBB Stopped Short of Sweet 16 in Overtime Heartbreaker vs. TCU
The No. 6-seeded University of Washington women’s basketball team was on the precipice of a massive upset before surrendering its 10-point lead, allowing No. 3 TCU to force overtime and eventually end the Huskies’ season in a 62-59 second-round loss to the Horned Frogs on Sunday, March 22, at Schollmaier Arena in Fort Worth, Texas.
Had the Huskies won, they would’ve advanced to their first Sweet 16 since the 2016-17 season and just their second since 1994-95.
Fresh off a dominant first-round victory over No. 11 South Dakota State, the Huskies were hoping to pursue a historic season. Instead, UW finished its season 22-11 overall in heartbreaking fashion.
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