One Clear Need Emerges for Mariners Ahead of Trade Deadline
Among the American League teams, it’s safe to say the Seattle Mariners are among the more complete squads. They have the star power in the lineup. They have a fearsome starting rotation. They have options off the bench to platoon. And they have a few elite arms coming out of the bullpen. They currently reside atop the AL West, two games ahead of the Texas Rangers.
However, over the last few weeks, it has become clear that they will need to make at least one addition at the trade deadline (certainly, more would be welcome).
Over the last week, the Mariners’ bullpen has hit a rocky patch. In their last 20 innings of work as a unit, they own a concerning 4.43 ERA, which ranks 20th in MLB in that timeframe. The biggest culprits in that span are Cooper Criswell (6.23 ERA in four appearances), Alex Hoppe (three earned runs in three innings), and a rough outing from closer Andres Muñoz.
Washington State Secures Commitments from Colton Richter, Jettson Gilliam for 2027 Class
Kirby Moore and the Washington State Cougars continue to build for the future of their football program on the recruiting trail, adding talent from across the West with the commitments of Colton Richter and Jettson Gillam.
Richter, an EDGE defender from Shadow Ridge High School in Nevada, chose Washington State over Boise State, Fresno State, and UNLV, among others. He is rated as a three-star recruit according to 247Sports. Standing at 6-3 and 235 pounds, Richter brings impressive size and versatility, offering the ability to not only drop into coverage but also rush the passer effectively.
For the Cougars, Richter's commitment represents more than just adding another talented player. It is another example of the program successfully reaching outside the state of Washington and landing a prospect from a state that sits in the heart of the recruiting pipeline for several conference rivals. As the coaching staff continues to reshape the roster, it will be interesting to see where the Cougars continue to target players and how they build the roster moving forward.
Instant Takeaways: Storm’s Best Offensive Performance Still Not Enough vs. Aces
A’ja Wilson erupted for a 34-point near-triple-double, and the Seattle Storm surrendered triple-digit points for the first time this season in a 101-91 loss to the Las Vegas Aces on Monday, June 8, at Michelob Ultra Arena.
Seattle (3-10) dropped its sixth-straight game as they are still struggling to string together consecutive quality quarters after fast starts. Dominique Malonga led the Storm with 19 points and five rebounds in her second game back from injury.
Las Vegas (8-3) continued to show why it’s among the WNBA’s best, and Wilson became the youngest player to surpass 6,000 career points. The Aces scored at least 22 points in every period.
The Storm bookended the game with their two best quarters, but fell too far behind in the middle periods to make up the difference. The Aces were simply too efficient from the field, shooting 50% as a team.
Seawolves Secure Home Playoff Spot, Resoundingly Best Legion 33-19
TUKWILA, Wash. - In the end, the 10-game MLR season was just long enough for the Seawolves to get into second place in the league and secure a home playoff spot. It will be déjà vu for both teams who played on Sunday night, as they will face off in the same venue and see who will go up against either the Chicago Hounds or Old Glory DC (but probably the Hounds).
Going into the match, the Seawolves trailed the Legion by three points in the standings, needing to either tie the team in the standings (and win the tiebreaker through having more wins) or move ahead of their West Coast rival.
No tiebreakers were needed. Despite a few vigorous bursts of energy from the visiting Legion, Seattle took advantage of plenty of mistakes from their opponent and showed some of the best defending they had all season, and when time ran out for the visitors, the Seawolves’ 33-19 victory was more than enough to leapfrog the Legion and secure hosting rights for next week’s semifinal.
Drive to Compete Still Fuels Cooper Kupp as Seahawks Chase Super Bowl Repeat
Almost seeming to break character like an actor caught off guard by an unexpected twist in a script, Cooper Kupp unleashed a stare that could have pierced through someone’s soul.
Moments after the Seattle Seahawks completed their final OTA practice on Thursday, the 10th-year veteran receiver fielded a question about whether or not he considered hanging up his cleats following a Super Bowl LX victory. Based on past precedent, especially after seeing his production dip to 573 receiving yards and two touchdowns in the regular season, he wouldn’t have been the first player to make such a decision to leave the game on top. It was certainly a valid question to ask.
But for Kupp, ideas of retirement never crossed his mind from the moment the confetti started to rain down on the field at Levis Stadium four months ago, and he promptly shot down the notion.
“No, never for a second. I'm loving playing this game too much,” Kupp briskly replied. “I love playing football, and so I'm enjoying it. No, that was never a thought.”
Storm Waive Lexie Brown Ahead of Bout vs. Aces
The Seattle Storm have waived guard Lexie Brown, the team announced on Monday.
Brown appeared in 10 of the Storm’s 12 games this season, but she missed the last two games after reportedly being “not with the team.” She averaged 3.8 points (46.2% FG), 1.3 rebounds, 1.1 assists and 0.5 steals in 14.8 minutes per game.
Following a 17-point outing in the Storm’s second game of the season, Brown’s minutes had steadily decreased. Her next-highest scoring game was just seven points against the Washington Mystics on May 24.
Brown was originally acquired by the Storm in an offseason trade that included draft compensation before the 2025 season. The former 2018 No. 9 overall pick was in an even smaller role last season, averaging just 9.5 minutes per game and 2.1 points, 0.7 rebounds, 1.0 assists and 0.4 steals.
Should Kraken Trade Up in 2026 NHL Draft to Snag Chase Reid?
The 2026 NHL Draft is now in the same calendar month in which we currently reside, taking place on June 26 and 27 at the KeyBank Center in Buffalo, New York. That is a two-day period that could alter the trajectory for the Seattle Kraken, if they do it right.
General manager Jason Botterill has plenty of firepower to make a big move on draft night. Indeed, it was disappointing to watch Seattle draw the seventh pick, dropping a slot in the lottery. However, the Kraken still hold three picks in the top 38, including another first rounder at 25, which they received from the Oliver Bjorkstrand and Yanni Gourde trade to the Lightning. If there was a team that had the capital to make a big move in the first round, it’s Seattle.
It’s likely unrealistic to expect the Kraken to trade all the way up to the top pick to snag the super-prospect Gavin McKenna. They likely would need to trade all the way up to No. 1. It seems tough to try and pry that spot from Toronto’s clutches.
Gonzaga Baseball Products Making Waves in Professional Circuit
Ahead of the 2025 MLB campaign, only two former Gonzaga baseball players found their way onto Opening Day Rosters – right-handed relievers Alek Jacob and Eli Morgan. But that number could increase in the coming years.
Although the pipeline for Gonzaga baseball products to the major leagues isn’t extremely rich historically, several players who suited up in Spokane are showing signs of life in 2026, including a lefty hitter solidifying himself as an above-average MLB bat, and a slew of relievers on varying tracks in their respective professional paths, including three from the same draft class.
These GU products might not have as tenured careers as former Zags Jason Bay and Mike Redmond, but the tools and production they’ve displayed in the early stages of their career create promise for the future.
Can Consistency, Aggression Realize High-A Infielder Felnin Celesten’s Elite Ceiling for M’s?
EVERETT, Wash. - The word that kept escaping the lips of AquaSox coaches was perhaps the exact one that a 25-game hitting streak would evoke, or perhaps the opposite. But it was indeed consistency that Felnin Celesten’s coaches talked about and that the young infielder himself brought up as his guiding value. It’s something that he admires in his own baseball idol.
“Really, since I was little, Francisco Lindor was 100% my favorite player, and what I may be able to bring is the consistency, and the consistency that he has with both hands,” Celesten told Emerald City Spectrum. “But I do think that we’re each our own players, I am Felnin and he is Lindor, you know? But like I said, it’s the consistency.”
The switch-hitting shortstop has plenty to work on, but there are glimpses of a potential five-tool player in the way he has played for the High-A Everett AquaSox in 2026. Through Saturday’s game, Celesten has slashed .317/.430/.473 in 228 plate appearances. This production has been quite the leap from his 2025 season with the Low-A Modesto Nuts, even considering the hitter-friendly park Celesten now plays in. The Athletic’s Keith Law recently made a big swing by ranking him 17th all-MLB (gift article), putting him behind only Kade Anderson and Ryan Sloan in terms of Mariners prospects.
Culture Fuels Derick Hall’s Desire to Re-Up With Seahawks, Stay With ‘Pristine Organization’
Given how short NFL careers tend to be, nobody would have batted an eye if Derick Hall wasn’t interested in signing a new contract with the Seattle Seahawks before starting the final year of his rookie deal.
After all, former Seahawks teammate Boye Mafe - who signed with the Bengals less than three months ago - provided 60 million reasons why it would have made financial sense for Hall to wait out the process and become a free agent next March. Taking a deal in early June during the midst of OTAs likely wouldn’t present the best deal he could receive to maximize his value, whether staying in the Pacific Northwest or playing for another team, and pass rushers tend to be coveted above most positions once they hit the market.
But contractual desires will always be unique for every player, and in the case of Hall, he didn’t have interest in taking his talents elsewhere by virtue of chasing top dollar. Valuing the pursuit of championships and the culture established by general manager John Schneider and coach Mike Macdonald above seeking a bit more green for his bank account, once the Seahawks started the negotiation process in earnest last month, the two sides didn’t need much time to negotiate a three-year, $42 million deal to keep him with the only organization he wants for play for.
Instant Takeaways: Storm Fumble Double-Digit Lead in Blowout Loss to Lynx
An efficient start quickly faded to memory for the Seattle Storm as they were held to 25 second-half points in an 88-68 loss to the Minnesota Lynx on Saturday, June 6, at the Target Center.
Minnesota (9-2) was led by a combined 46 points from Natasha Howard and Olivia Miles, shaking off a slow start to dominate the Storm like they have the entire WNBA this season.
Seattle (3-9) crumbled in the second half to drop its fifth straight game. Natisha Hiedeman and Jade Melbourne each scored 14 points to lead the Storm. Flau’jae Johnson added 10 points and a team-high six rebounds.
Hand Injury Sidelines Crawford as Mariners Drop Detroit Opener
The ultimate meaning of Friday’s game in the Motor City will depend quite a bit on the health of J.P. Crawford: if he is out for a significant stretch of time (or if his abilities get all out of goose should he try to play through something serious), then an errant - it may have been Framber Valdez, but it certainly seemed to have been an accident in this case - full count sinker may end up being more pivotal than an otherwise unremarkable 7-3 loss would indicate. Should the Mariners recover to put some more wins back together and Crawford recover back to the way he had been playing, then the game might truly become a footnote.
Of course, if a veritable skid begins for the Mariners, with or without Crawford, then the momentum of Friday’s action may end up important for much larger reasons.
The M’s went back to familiar ways with runners in scoring position, with runs drying up in Detroit.
Friday was Valdez’ 20th career appearance and 18th start against the Seattle Mariners, during which he had gone 7-4 with a 3.50 ERA and 1.320 WHIP. The M’s, of course, were codivisional with Valdez during his eight years with the Astros, but the team he faced on Friday was one that had spent most of the year flailing against lefties.
Huskies Add Another Blue Chip Receiver Commit to Class of 2027
Washington Huskies receivers coach Kevin Cummings strikes again.
The UW caught its second blue chip receiver this week with the commitment of Dontay Tyson, a 6-3 four-star Class of 2027 recruit out Peoria (Ariz.) High School. Tyson is the second four-star receiver to commit to Cummings and head coach Jedd Fisch this week, joining Tre Moore, a 6-4 pass catcher out of Pluegerville, Texas, who made his choice on June 2.
It’s two additional big wins for Cummings, who already reeled in four-star Braylon Pope (Sumner, Wash.) and three-star Zerek Sidney (Desert Edge H.S., Goodyear, Ariz.) during the winter.
Storm’s Dominique Malonga Off Injury Report After 8-Game Absence, Lexie Brown Out
Seattle Storm forward Dominique Malonga has been removed from the injury report following an eight-game absence due to a concussion, per The IX Sports reporter Bella Valeriano Munson.
Malonga is expected to play in the Storm’s road game against the Minnesota Lynx at 10 a.m. PST on Saturday, June 6.
In a corresponding move, the Storm waived Joyner Holmes, whom they signed to a hardship contract on May 22. Holmes appeared in one game for the Storm against the Connecticut Sun on the same day she was signed, totaling two points, five rebounds, and three blocks.
Lexie Brown, who is currently “not with [the] team,” per Munson, has been ruled out for against the Lynx. Brown also did not play in the Storm’s 72-68 loss to the Phoenix Mercury on June 3.
Graham Ike, Jalen Warley Aiming to Join Gonzaga Alums in the NBA
Already one of the better-represented programs in the NBA, the Gonzaga Bulldogs have a chance to add at least two more players to that group next season.
Buzz continues to swirl around outgoing seniors Graham Ike and Jalen Warley, who each played huge roles in the Zags’ 31-4 campaign, and now look to join 13 former Bulldogs on active NBA rosters by breaking into the professional circuit themselves.
Ike has been the busier of the two, which should be of no surprise. The 6-9 big man received third-team All-American honors last season as a dominant scorer down low. Invited to the NBA G League Draft Combine in May, Ike first took part in the three-day event in Chicago before participating in team workouts with the Atlanta Hawks, Boston Celtics, Orlando Magic, and Minnesota Timberwolves. Meanwhile, Warley competed in pre-draft sessions with the Golden State Warriors and Indiana Pacers following a season where he showcased his versatility on both ends for GU.
WATCH: Recapping an Up-and-Down Start for Reign in 2026
Emerald City Spectrum reporter Qasim Ali breaks down a rocky start to the Seattle Reign’s 2026 season. Seattle is 4-5-2 at the World Cup/CBA break with 19 games to play, leaving the Reign in 10th place in the NWSL and out of playoff positioning — down from a fifth-place finish in 2025. Seattle has managed a win in just one of its final seven games before the break.
Seattle’s offense is tied for the second-least productive group in the league, while the defense is tied for the fourth-fewest goals allowed as head coach Laura Harvey's young squad struggles to find consistency in the face of key injuries and growing pains. Still, with such a young squad, the Reign can’t be counted out yet.
Ready for ‘Next Chapter,’ Rylie Mills Poised to Capture Bigger Role on Seahawks’ Defensive Line
In their 50 seasons as a franchise, the Seattle Seahawks have appeared in four Super Bowls, with unexpected stars from Kelly Herndon to Malcolm Smith to Chris Matthews shining in every single one of those games regardless of the final outcome.
Helping the Seahawks claim their second Lombardi Trophy in franchise history in February, Super Bowl LX proved to be no exception. Playing in just his sixth NFL game, Rylie Mills emphatically etched his name in the history books, picking the perfect time to record his first career NFL sack by bringing down Patriots quarterback Drake Maye - as well as bullied guard Jared Wilson - in the backfield after unleashing a menacing bull rush that steered his blocker into the pocket faster than the blink of an eye.
Teammates mobbed the rookie defensive end out of Notre Dame as he rose from ground howling in delight, with linebacker Ernest Jones accidently managing to knock him over during the post-play celebration. The electric sack put a positive finish on a challenging first season for Mills, who overcame a lengthy recovery from a torn ACL that cost him most of his first season in the Pacific Northwest to make an unexpected impact on the biggest stage in sports.
Kirby Moore, Cougars Land Three West Coast Recruits for 2027 Class
Washington State head coach Kirby Moore and his staff continue to build momentum on the recruiting trail, landing three notable commitments for the Cougars' future over the past several days. The additions of tight end Owen Yurosek and wide receiver Adrian Barnett strengthen WSU's 2027 class, while three-star receiver Malachi Garlington adds another talented playmaker to the group.
The first commitment came from Yurosek, a 6-4, 215-pound tight end from Bakersfield Christian High School in California. Yurosek chose Washington State over a growing offer list that included Nevada, Fresno State, Hawaii, San Jose State, UNLV, and several other programs. Although he remains unranked by 247Sports, Yurosek possesses the size and frame that college coaches covet at the tight end position. During his junior season, he recorded 13 receptions for 153 yards and a touchdown while showcasing his ability as both a receiving threat and blocker.
Yurosek also comes from a football family, as his older brother, Ben Yurosek, starred at Stanford before signing with the Minnesota Vikings organization. His commitment gives Washington State its first tight end pledge in the 2027 recruiting class and adds another California prospect to the Cougars, a pipeline that Washington State has gone to in the past.
Top Five Moments of Russell Wilson’s Career With Seahawks
In the modern era of sports, it’s hard for iconic athletes to have truly storybook endings. They constantly change teams. Athletes are hard-wired to never know when to quit, which makes it harder for them to end their careers on the same team they started with. Typically, their careers end after bouncing from team to team, trying to hold on to the last bit of glory.
For Russell Wilson, that was what it turned into. In an alternate universe, he is finishing his 14th season with the Seahawks, well on his way to Canton and the Seahawks’ Ring of Honor. As we all now, life does not always go according to plan. After a solid decade in Seattle, the two sides parted ways. Seahawks general manager John Schneider swung perhaps the biggest trade in franchise history, dealing Wilson to the Denver Broncos along with a 2022 fourth round pick in exchange for two first round picks (2022 and 2023), two second rounders (2022 and 2023), a 2022 fifth round pick, Drew Lock, Noah Fant and Shelby Harris.
By now, we all know this was one of the most lopsided trades in recent NFL history. His Broncos career was short-lived, going 11-19 in two seasons as the starter. It was something of an ugly divorce between Wilson and the Sean Payton-led Broncos, leaving some burnt bridges behind. Wilson bounced around, earning starts for the Steelers and Giants over the last two seasons before finally announcing his retirement this week.
When fans think of Russell Wilson the football player, they likely will forever picture him in a Seahawks uniform. He rewrote the passing record books in Seattle. Changed the entire complexion of the franchise. Truly, he is one of the greatest Seahawks of all-time. Let’s look back at the best five moments of his career in Seattle, which likely earned him a spot in the franchise’s Ring of Honor. These are in chronological order.
Cooper Kupp, Seahawks Aiming to Keep Championship ‘Standard’ in Brian Fleury’s Offense
Learning a new offense for the third straight season under a new coordinator in Brian Fleury during the heat of OTA workouts, Seattle Seahawks receiver Cooper Kupp discusses how the new play caller has done a fine job of meshing his system with the team’s personnel and upheld the lofty standards set by the defending Super Bowl champions so far.
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