Washington
Big second half lifts Washington State over Arizona, 78-57
The Washington State Cougars used a second half surge with five different Cougs recording double-digit points to get past the Arizona Wildcats 78-57.
Dealing with a handful of injuries, Arizona (10-9, 2-5 in Pac-12) played with only eight players but kept the game close for all but the final 15 minutes before the strong depth of WSU (14-5, 3-3) powered through. WSU outscored Arizona 35-15 in the final 15 minutes of the game to turn a game that could have gone either way into a dominant display from the Cougars. Tara Wallack led the game in scoring with 20, tying her career high while Bella Murekatete set another program record at tipoff with her 136th career game played.
The game began with a game of ‘anything you can do, I can do’ as the Wildcats and Cougars first traded five point runs, then traded nine point runs and finished the quarter going bucket for bucket as neither team could gain a true edge. Wallack bookended both of WSU’s first quarter runs with treys.
Ele Villa helped WSU create some separation with an and-one to begin the second quarter, putting WSU up four. Bella Murekatete and Beyonce Bea each tacked on a layup to push the lead up to six. As Arizona chipped into the deficit with a 5-0 run, Charlisse Leger-Walker answered with a trey. The Wildcats put together another 5-0 run to retake the lead, but Murekatete and Wallack teamed up to outscore the Wildcats 6-2 in the final two and a half minutes to go up three before half.
Early in the third period, Murekatete fell hard to the floor, face first, and would have to exit the game. Without their all-time leader in games played, offensive rebounds and blocks on the floor, Arizona began to threaten. While the Wildcats were able to slowly chip into the deficit, reducing it down to one, WSU drew together an answer for each Arizona run attempt at the lead.
After the Wildcats cashed a pair of free throws to make it a one point game, Murekatete returned to the game and immediately made an impact with an and-one that had the senior center fired up.
“That was a huge turning point in the game.” Leger-Walker said on Murekatete’s and-one. “It really pushed our momentum out and it started on the defensive end. We got a lot more aggressive and tried to make them really take hard twos and once they started missing those we had transition buckets and really got on a run.”
Having their frontcourt leader back on the floor sparked the Cougars for a 9-0 run finished off by a Leger-Walker steal and assist to Wallack on the fast break.
Jenna Villa added a trey after an Arizona bucket to put WSU up 11, their highest lead of the game thus far heading into the fourth quarter.
With all the momentum on the crimson side and the eight available players for the Wildcats start to wear down, WSU put together a game sealing 10-0 run to open the fourth quarter finished off — yet again — by Wallack. Wallack finished her big afternoon with two more buckets, including her third trey.
“Getting in extra shots during the week has helped me gain more confidence and not hesitating, just taking what’s given to me.” Wallack said.
Wallack (20), Murekatete (16), Ele Villa (11), Jenna Villa (11) and Leger-Walker (10) all finished with double digit point. Both Murekatete and Leger-Walker recorded double-doubles with 11 rebounds and assists respectively.
“When we have, five or at least four people in double figures every game we’ve won almost every game,” Leger-Walker said. “I think a lot of that is creating shots for people and especially with [Tuhuna] out, who is a big playmaker for us, that falls heavily on me and Ele, just being able to get our shooters open and let them knock down shots is a really good feeling.”
“I almost love celebrating a good assist rather than a bucket sometimes.”
The Cougars third straight win also gets them up to .500 in conference play after dropping their first three.
While it was a very successful homestand for WSU, they will now be seriously tested on the road next weekend with a trip down to Southern California to square off with two currently top-10 ranked teams. The Cougars will first square off against the No. 6 USC Trojans on Friday then play the No. 5 UCLA Bruins on Sunday.
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Crews are on the scene of a serious crash on I-95 South in Stafford, Virginia.
Virginia State Police confirmed the crash was fatal but has not yet confirmed how many fatalities there were.
All southbound lanes are closed at mile marker 146.
Traffic is being diverted to Route 1 at exit 148.
This is a developing story. Stay with News4 and nbcwashington.com for updates.
Washington
Sounders FC, Starbucks and Washington Youth Soccer launch Washington Youth Soccer Match Pass to celebrate the next generation of soccer across the Evergreen State | Seattle Sounders
RENTON, WASH. – Sounders FC, in partnership with Starbucks and Washington Youth Soccer, today announced the launch of the Washington Youth Soccer Match Pass, a first-of-its-kind statewide initiative designed to inspire the next generation of young athletes across the Evergreen State. As the sport reaches a defining moment across North America, the Washington Youth Soccer Match Pass invites every registered Washington Youth Soccer athlete aged 18 and under to receive a complimentary ticket to select home matches this season, connecting young players and their families across Washington to the heart of Sounders FC matchdays and Pacific Northwest soccer culture.
More than a ticket initiative, the Washington Youth Soccer Match Pass is rooted in a shared belief that soccer belongs to everyone who plays it. With over 90,000 registered Washington Youth Soccer athletes eligible for the program – which includes access to additional discounted tickets for friends and family members – the Washington Youth Soccer Match Pass celebrates those that continue to shape the sport’s strong foundation across the state. Coming at a significant moment for soccer in the region, with Seattle hosting six matches during the FIFA World Cup 2026™ this summer, Sounders FC and its partners are joining together to invest in the players, families, clubs and communities that fuel the game year-round.
“The Washington Youth Soccer Match Pass is about recognizing that every young player across Washington is already part of the story of this club,” said Sounders FC President of Business Operations Hugh Weber. “The Sounders are not just Seattle’s club – it’s Washington’s soccer club. Many of the players who wear our crest today, including Jordan Morris, Paul Rothrock and Jackson Ragen, grew up playing in Washington Youth Soccer. Their journeys are proof that the connection between local soccer communities and Sounders FC is real, lasting and deeply rooted.”
The program is available for the Rave Green’s final 12 MLS regular-season and Leagues Cup home matches of the 2026 campaign, beginning with Seattle’s first contest after the 2026 FIFA World Cup break against archrival Portland Timbers on Thursday, July 16 (7:30 p.m. PT / Apple TV, FS1, iHeartMedia Seattle, El Rey 1360 AM). Eligible Washington Youth Soccer athletes can access the offer through a **dedicated online portal** using their WYS Player ID.
With Seattle as its hometown, Starbucks is deeply rooted in communities across Washington and beyond. Starbucks serves as the initiative’s founding partner to make professional soccer more accessible for families throughout the season. A longtime Sounders FC partner, Starbucks joins the club in its commitment to creating meaningful opportunities for youth athletes and their families across Washington, reinforcing shared values of community, connection and access to the game.
“We are proud to partner with Sounders FC and Washington Youth Soccer to expand our support for youth soccer across our hometown of Seattle and communities across Washington,” said Starbucks Senior Vice President of Global Marketing Erin Silvoy. “At Starbucks, we believe sports are a powerful force for connection, that brings people together through shared rituals and moments of joy. By helping more youth experience soccer first-hand, we hope to inspire the next generation while supporting the athletes, coaches and families who make our communities stronger.”
Founded in 1961, Washington Youth Soccer is one of the region’s leading youth sports organizations, helping shape generations of players and families through recreational and competitive opportunities across the state for more than 60 years. Affiliated with U.S. Youth Soccer, U.S. Soccer and FIFA, Washington Youth Soccer works alongside nearly 200 member clubs and local associations to help grow and strengthen the game at every level, creating accessible pathways and enriching experiences for youth athletes and their families throughout Washington.
”We see this partnership as a catalyst to inspire the next generation of youth soccer players,” said Washington Youth Soccer Executive Director Roger Levesque. “There is something unique about attending a Sounders match at Lumen Field – the sights, sounds and world-class soccer all contribute to a goose bump-inducing experience. But the true inspiration comes from living the highs and lows of a match together, alongside family, friends and thousands of fans, who for 90 minutes, are all on the same team. We are grateful for the opportunity to work with Sounders FC and Starbucks to bring this experience and the joy of soccer to the Washington Youth Soccer community.”
MLS is currently amid an extended break from play for the FIFA World Cup 2026™, with Seattle returning to action on Thursday, July 16 against the Portland Timbers on the Emerald Queen Casino Pitch at Lumen Field (7:30 p.m. PT / Apple TV, iHeartMedia Seattle, El Rey 1360 AM).
ABOUT SEATTLE SOUNDERS FC
Born in 1974 and a member of Major League Soccer since 2009, Seattle Sounders FC is one of North America’s leading professional soccer organizations. The club has captured nine major trophies since its inaugural MLS season, and following its Leagues Cup victory in 2025, Seattle became the first team in U.S. soccer history to win every major competition (Concacaf Champions Cup, MLS Cup, Supporters’ Shield, U.S. Open Cup, Leagues Cup). Since the club’s MLS debut, Sounders fans have set the standard for soccer support in North America, leading the league in attendance for eight-consecutive seasons (2009-2016), routinely ranking in the global top 30 among all professional clubs and never finishing outside of MLS’ top three.
Since 1971, Starbucks Coffee Company has been committed to responsibly sourcing and roasting hi-quality arabica coffee. Today, with a global footprint of more than 41,000 company-operated and licensed coffeehouses and a growing presence in consumer-packaged goods, we are the world’s premier purveyor of specialty coffee. Through our unwavering commitment to excellence and our guiding principles, we bring the unique Starbucks Experience to life for every customer through every cup. To share in the experience, please visit us in our stores or online at about.starbucks.com or www.starbucks.com.
ABOUT WASHINGTON YOUTH SOCCER
Washington Youth Soccer (WYS) is the largest youth sports organization in Washington State, serving more than 90,000 players through a network of over 200 member associations and clubs statewide. WYS is committed to fostering the physical, mental, and emotional growth of youth through the game of soccer by creating opportunities for players of all backgrounds and ability levels to learn, compete, and thrive. Through leagues, tournaments, player development programs, coaching education, community partnerships, and initiatives supported by the Washington Youth Soccer Foundation, WYS works to grow the game and create meaningful experiences for young athletes across Washington.
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