Author: SPNW Staff

The season’s first College Football Playoff rankings are out and, to the astonishment of the known sports world, the Washington State Cougars are eighth. WSU at 7-1 has its highest ranking ever in the five-year history of the format, produced by a selection committee.

CB Austin Joyner, a former state high school player of the year from Marysville, had to to retire for health reasons, as did DE Jared Pulu of Federal Way.

Overshadowing a last-second, 20-17 victory over winless Arizona was the broken leg of Earl Thomas, who is done for the season and contemptuous of Seahawks management.

30 points from Breanna Stewart and 29 from Natasha Howard helped the Storm to a 98-82 win and a sweep of the Washington Mystics to capture Seattle’s third WNBA title.

The Seahawks defensive line took another hit Friday when end Marcus Smith, who had 2½ sacks and two forced fumbles in 14 games as a backup the past season, unexpectedly had his contract terminated Friday for personal reasons that coach Pete Carroll declined to specify after practice, ahead of Saturday’s 7 p.m. exhibition in Los

Ahead of his Aug. 14 return, 2B Robinson Cano begins prepping in Tacoma Monday night. The Mariners open in Texas having lost 18 of their past 25.

An over-amped Edwin Diaz blew the save nearly handed him by Mariners teammate Jean Segura’s three-run homer, but he still was the All-Star Game’s winning pitcher.

A social media blitz by the Mariners helped Jean Segura top the five-player field to be the 32nd player named to the American League All-Star team, a club first.

Lamenting of a sore back, Felix Hernandez is on the 10-day disabled list and will miss a start for the first time this season Thursday in Anaheim.

Raul Ruidiaz has scored 40 goals for his Mexico team the past two seasons, a trait desperately needed by the Sounders, who have MLS’s worst offense.