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No. 18 Washington State goes into the final stretch with hopes for a rare Pac-12 title still alive

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No. 18 Washington State goes into the final stretch with hopes for a rare Pac-12 title still alive


The list of regular-season basketball champions in the Pac-12 record book has plenty of mentions of teams like UCLA and Arizona.

For 83 years, however, Washington State has been absent.

This year’s Cougars — ranked No. 18 in this week’s AP Top 25 — need some help, but they will go into Thursday night’s regular-season finale against Washington with a chance to end that long drought and claim the title in the final year of the Pac-12 with its current membership.

“To finish this thing with Washington on our home floor; there’s always something at stake,” Washington State coach Kyle Smith said. “It’s a rivalry but then, you know, we’re still in the hunt to win the league, which is just incredible.”

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There are plenty of storylines this week for the Cougars. It’s the last time they will face the Huskies in a regular-season game while both are members of the same conference. There’s also the broader NCAA Tournament implications, where one more win could help Washington State craft a resume that could help the Cougars land in nearby Spokane for the NCAAs.

Then there’s the Pac-12 title. The last time the Cougars won a conference regular-season title was 1941 — the year they reached the national championship game before losing to Wisconsin. They have finished second six times since 1941, the last coming in 2007.

The scenario for getting over the hump this year is straightforward. A win over Washington, plus one Arizona loss to either UCLA or Southern California, would hand the Cougars the long-elusive title. Washington State beat Arizona twice in the regular season, giving it the tiebreaker if the schools finish tied.

“It’ll be loud. It’ll be exciting. And I told our guys that I’ve been in coaching 31 years, not many, maybe a handful of times we’ve been in a game like this,” Smith said. “It’ll be exciting.”

Virtually every other long-time historical member of the West Coast’s top conference has been able to claim the regular-season title in men’s basketball during the Cougars’ drought.

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UCLA has done it, of course — 32 times to be exact. So have USC (seven), California (15), Stanford (11), Washington (12), Oregon State (12) and Oregon (eight). Arizona’s won 17 regular-season titles since joining the league in 1978.

Arizona State, which also joined in 1978, doesn’t have a regular-season title. Neither do Utah or Colorado, who both came on board when the conference expanded to 12 teams in 2011.

But Washington State’s drought is unmatched. The Cougars’ two regular-season titles – in 1917 and 1941 — are the same as the number of championships won by Idaho when it was a member of the conference.

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Get poll alerts and updates on AP Top 25 basketball throughout the season. Sign up here ___ AP college basketball: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-basketball-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/college-basketball

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Washington

Washington Capitals star T.J. Oshie announces retirement from NHL

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Washington Capitals star T.J. Oshie announces retirement from NHL



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North Hagerstown’s Rian Johnson headlines 2025 All-Washington County Girls Track & Field

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North Hagerstown’s Rian Johnson headlines 2025 All-Washington County Girls Track & Field


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Here are The Herald-Mail’s 2025 All-Washington County Girls Outdoor Track & Field selections.

Rian Johnson, North Hagerstown

Athlete of the Year

Johnson, a senior, emerged as the greatest distance runner in county history on the track. She set county records in the 800 (2:12.73), 1,600 (4:43.51) and 3,200 (10:25.74) and won Class 3A state gold in the 1,600 and 3,200 and silver in the 800. Her state-winning time of 4:45.88 in the 1,600 set a meet record for all classifications.

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All-Washington County First Team

Alaina Barnhart, Boonsboro

Barnhart, a junior, captured CMC Small School, county and 1A West region titles in the 100.

Madison Booth, Hancock

Booth, a freshman, won CMC Small School and 1A West region titles in the high jump before tying for second at states.

Anna Chamberlin, North Hagerstown

Chamberlin, a junior, ranked No. 1 in the county in the high jump (5-3), 100 hurdles (16.19) and 4×800 (9:35.59) and No. 2 in the triple jump (32-5 1/2). In Class 3A, she tied for second at states in the high jump.

Abigayle Fluharty, Boonsboro

Fluharty, a junior, ranked No. 2 in the county in the 200 (26.24) and 400 (58.81). In the 1A West region championships, she placed second in the 400 and fourth in the 200.

Cora Gentzel, Smithsburg

Gentzel, a senior, earned Class 1A state gold in the 4×800, silver in the 3,200 and bronze in the 1,600.

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Chloe Gietka, South Hagerstown

Gietka, a sophomore, ranked No. 1 in the county in the long jump (17-0) and triple jump (37-0 1/4). In Class 3A, she placed fifth at states in the triple jump and seventh in the long jump.

Lilian Hade, Smithsburg

Hade, a sophomore, placed first at the county championships and third in the 1A state meet in the pole vault. She also placed seventh at states in the 400.

Kayla Hawbecker, Smithsburg

Hawbecker, a senior, scored at states in five events in Class 1A, placing first in the 4×400 and 4×800, fourth in the 1,600 and 3,200 and eighth in the 800.

Jenna Howe, Smithsburg

Howe, a senior, ranked No. 1 in the county in the 100 (12.58), 200 (25.70) and 400 (57.95) and was a member of three No. 1 relays — 4×100 (50.22), 4×200 (1:45.14) and 4×400 (4:04.41). She scored at states in all six events in Class 1A, highlighted by gold in the three relays and silver in the 400.

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Kailyn McCauley, Clear Spring

McCauley, a senior, ranked No. 1 in the county in the shot put (36-8) and No. 4 in the discus (95-7). In the shot put, she was the 1A state runner-up and the CMC Small School, county and 1A West region champion.

Sarah Mohler, Boonsboro

Mohler, a freshman, placed second in the state in Class 1A in the discus and seventh in the shot put. She was the 1A West region runner-up in both throws.

Alexandria Spithaler, Smithsburg

Spithaler, a senior, ranked No. 1 in the county in the pole vault (10-0) with her Class 1A state runner-up performance.

Lauren Stine, North Hagerstown

Stine, a senior, ranked No. 2 in the county in the 800 (2:19.58), 1,600 (5:02.23) and 3,200 (10:39.52) and was a member of the No. 1 4×800 (9:35.59). In Class 3A, she placed fourth at states in the 3,200 and fifth in the 1,600.

Sidney Turner, Boonsboro

Turner, a junior, ranked No. 1 in the county in the discus (123-4) and No. 3 in the shot put (34-6). She won CMC Small School and county titles in the discus.

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All-Washington County Second Team

  • Kiara Barker, Fr., Williamsport, throws
  • Dayanah Brunson, Fr., North Hagerstown, hurdles
  • Grace Ellis, Sr., Smithsburg, middle distance/hurdles
  • Hadley Elwood, So., Clear Spring, jumps
  • Ella Fisher, Sr., Smithsburg, distance
  • Ella Hajel, Sr., North Hagerstown, distance
  • Juliet Hodge, Fr., Clear Spring, sprints
  • Rhianna Ignasiak, Sr., South Hagerstown, hurdles
  • Emma Joyal, Sr., Smithsburg, jumps/hurdles
  • Taylor King, Sr., Smithsburg, hurdles/sprints
  • Katelyn Moffit, So., Clear Spring, throws
  • Brielle Morales, Jr., Clear Spring, hurdles
  • Alaina Pate, Sr., Smithsburg, sprints
  • Audrey Roberts, Fr., Clear Spring, jumps
  • Annabelle Schaberl, Jr., North Hagerstown, sprints/jumps
  • Olivia Smith, Jr., Clear Spring, jumps



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Commanders could trade $68 million disgruntled star

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Commanders could trade  million disgruntled star


The Washington Commanders have an unhappy star in wide receiver Terry McLaurin.

The former Ohio State wideout has one year remaining on his contract, and he wants a new deal before the start of the season.

Bleacher Report writer Kristopher Knox thinks the Commanders could trade McLaurin to the Arizona Cardinals for pass rusher Zaven Collins if a deal isn’t struck.

READ MORE: Commanders’ Dan Quinn shouts out Capitals coach for major honor

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Washington Commanders wide receiver Terry McLaurin against the Arizona Cardinals

Washington Commanders wide receiver Terry McLaurin against the Arizona Cardinals. / Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images

“The Arizona Cardinals might not seem like an obvious candidate for McLaurin because they added their No. 1 receiver when they drafted Marvin Harrison Jr, in 2024,” Knox wrote.

“What the Cardinals don’t have, however, is a top-tier receiver who can complement Harrison and help get more out of quarterback Kyler Murray. McLaurin could be that, and now could be the perfect time to add him.

“Murray and head coach Jonathan Gannon are both entering a pivotal season. Murray hasn’t performed at a Pro Bowl level since 2021 and may need help to get back to the form he had before his 2022 ACL tear. Gannon has delivered just 12 wins in his two seasons at the helm.

“Adding McLaurin could help Murray return to his pre-injury production and, potentially, help Arizona get over .500. To sweeten the pot, the Cardinals could include edge-defender Zaven Collins, who had five sacks last season but could be a potential 2026 cap casualty.

“The Cardinals could save $4.4 million this year by trading Collins, and they’ve added Calais Campbell, Josh Sweat and rookie first-round pick Walter Nolen III to their pass-rushing rotation this offseason.

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“Washington could be very interested in a little edge help.”

The Commanders will hope to get a new deal done with McLaurin in the near future.

READ MORE: Commanders coach eyes growth for second-year linebacker

Stick with CommanderGameday and the Locked On Commanders podcast for more FREE coverage of the Washington Commanders throughout the 2025 offseason.

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• Commanders linked to 4-time Pro Bowl RB in new report

 NFL insider says Commanders braced for beating vs Eagles in wild claim

• Former Commanders defender announces retirement after 10-year career



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