sports Archives - Northwest Public Broadcasting

Pasco’s Pride: Midfielder Chris Aquino helps U.S. National Team qualify for U-17 FIFA World Cup

By Johanna Bejarano March 8, 2023

Chris Aquino is a midfielder soccer player from Pasco. He is a source of pride among family and friends in the Tri-Cities. Aquino recently helped the Under-17 Men’s National soccer team qualify for the FIFA Under-17 World Cup. Now, he is a national example of Pasco’s talented soccer players. Read More

Tri-Cities soccer players share diversity through sports

By Johanna Bejarano December 20, 2022

Jugadores de futbol del equipo Autlán juegan en Pasco.

Autlan 1 faced Zamora 1 at a soccer house in Pasco. Credit: Annie Warren Listen (Runtime 1:14) Read As Argentina won the World Cup, Tri-Cities Soccer League players were having… Continue Reading Tri-Cities soccer players share diversity through Read More

Palouse roller derby returns! First match since 2020 scheduled for Saturday

By Lauren Paterson December 8, 2022

Several people on skates with pads and helmets in black and white gear play roller derby on a wooden floor.

Several Coyote Country players practiced for their upcoming bout at the Lilac City Roller Derby Scrimmage in Spokane on December 3. Listen The Palouse area has had a vibrant roller… Continue Reading Palouse roller derby Read More

World Track Championships Wrap Up With More Golds For USA, Praise For Host City Eugene

By Tom Banse July 26, 2022

Oregon native Ryan Crouser won the gold medal in shot put at the 2022 World Track and Field Championships in Eugene.

The first World Outdoor Track and Field Championships held on American soil sprinted to a joyful conclusion Sunday night in Eugene with back-to-back U.S. victories in the 4x400 relays. The full stadium was also treated to a new world record in the women’s 100-meter hurdles by Nigeria's Tobi Asuman and a new world record in men's pole vault by Sweden's Mondo Duplantis. The Read More

Track Star Aims To Win In Not One, But Two Pro Sports, Beginning At World Champs In Eugene

By Tom Banse July 12, 2022

Two-time Olympian Devon Allen has ambitions to win on the track and on the football field this year.

It's uncommon for athletes to compete and excel in two professional sports, especially ones as punishing as football or sprint hurdles. But a Seattle-born speedster who ran track and played football at the University Oregon is now attempting that rare feat. Read More

Getting All Kids Involved, The Richland School District Annual Field Day Returns

By Dori Luzzo Gilmour May 12, 2022

Getting All Kids Involved, The Richland School District Annual Field Day Returns Continue Reading Getting All Kids Involved, The Richland School District Annual Field Day ReturnsRead More

These Athletes From The Northwest Are Going To The 2022 Winter Olympics

By Tom Banse January 24, 2022

Washingtonians Corinne Stoddard of Federal Way (third from left) and Eunice Lee of Bellevue (third from right) punched their tickets to Beijing at the 2022 U.S. Olympic Short Track Speedskating Team Trials in December.

The presence of eleven skiers, skaters and sliders with ties to the Pacific Northwest should add intrigue to the 2022 Beijing Olympics, although the upcoming sports spectacle beset with extreme COVID precautions, a diplomatic boycott and scarce snowfall hardly needs more drama. Several late additions to the Team USA Olympic roster upped the regional representation at next Read More

Bohler Gym: The home for Washington State University Volleyball

By Murrow News - Ava Wainhouse December 8, 2021

More Murrow News Stories PULLMAN, Wash. – Long before Beasley Coliseum and Martin Stadium, there has always been Bohler Gym, nestled in the heart of Washington State University. Bohler Gym… Continue Reading Bohler Gym: The home for Read More

SuperSonics Star Places First Legal Sports Bet In Washington State

By Tom Banse September 10, 2021

Seattle SuperSonics legend Shawn Kemp placed the first legal sports bet in Washington at the Snoqualmie Casino on Thursday.

Just in time for the kickoff of the NFL regular season, the first legal sports betting operation in Washington state has opened for business. On Thursday, a line of bettors queued behind a sports celebrity to place their first bets at a tribal casino in the eastern suburbs of Seattle. Read More

‘Dangerously Hot’ Temps Force Schedule Changes At Olympic Trials In Eugene

By Tom Banse June 25, 2021

The women's 5000 meters went off under the hot sun at Hayward Field in Eugene Monday during the U.S. Olympic Track and Field Team Trials.

The broiling heat in the weekend forecast is forcing changes at the U.S. Olympic Track and Field Team Trials underway in Eugene. Distance races are being shifted earlier in the day, but shorter events are staying put on the schedule in the peak afternoon heat. Read More

Carl Nassib Is The First Active NFL Player To Come Out As Gay

By NPR News June 21, 2021

Raiders defensive end Carl Nassib said on Monday that he would not have been able to publicly come out as gay without the support of the NFL and his teammates. CREDIT: Jeff Bottari/AP

Raiders defensive end Carl Nassib came out in a personal Instagram post on Monday, saying he has "agonized over this moment for the last 15 years." Continue Reading Carl Nassib Is The First Active NFL Player To Come Out As GayRead More

The Supreme Court Sides With NCAA Athletes In A Narrow Ruling

By NPR News June 21, 2021

Faced with the prospect of reshaping college athletics, the U.S. Supreme Court issued a narrow but potentially transformative ruling Monday in a case that pitted college athletes against the NCAA. Continue Reading The Supreme Court Sides With NCAA Read More

Big Names In Northwest Running Bow Out Of Olympic Team Trials, Creating Room For New Stars

By Tom Banse June 17, 2021

Donavan Brazier breaks the tape in an 800 meter tune-up race in Portland on May 29, ahead of the U.S. Olympic Track and Field Team Trials, which begin later this week.

Some of the biggest names in American running have bowed out of the U.S. Olympic Track and Field Team Trials as the 10-day competition moves into the starting blocks in Eugene. The scratches open a lane for a new generation of stars to earn spots in the delayed Tokyo Olympics. Read More

An Olympic Hopeful Says Her Pork Burrito Is To Blame For Her Positive Drug Test

By NPR News June 16, 2021

Shelby Houlihan, the middle-distance runner who currently holds two U.S. records, says she's been banned from the Tokyo Olympics after testing positive for the steroid nandrolone. Houlihan says she's clean and is blaming the test result on a pork burrito she got from a food truck. Read More

Congress Urged To Act As States Start Allowing Outside Cash For Student Athletes

By NPR News June 10, 2021

Cameron Brink #22 of the Stanford Cardinal and Cate Reese #25 of the Arizona Wildcats fight for the opening tipoff during the National Championship game of the 2021 NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament at the Alamodome on April 4 in San Antonio, Texas. The Stanford Cardinal defeated the Arizona Wildcats 54-53 to win the national title. CREDIT: Elsa/Getty Images

College sports are about to change dramatically and Congress needs to act quickly in order to ensure fairness. That was the message Wednesday on Capitol Hill, at a lengthy senate hearing about new state laws that'll allow college athletes to make money off the use of their name, image and likeness. Read More

Seattle Athlete To Sprint At Tokyo Olympics, But In A Canoe Instead Of On The Track

By Tom Banse June 3, 2021

Seattle native Nevin Harrison will compete at the Tokyo Olympics in canoe sprint.

Later this month, Olympic team trials and Team USA coaches will fill out the roster for the delayed Tokyo Olympics. Some familiar names in women's soccer from Portland and Seattle, as well as the WNBA Seattle Storm's biggest stars and a pack of Pacific Northwest-based distance runners are likely Tokyo bound. Read More

Washington Says Events Like Sports And Concerts Can Increase Capacity With Vaccinated Sections

By NWPB News May 3, 2021

Galen Rupp of Portland qualified for his fourth Olympics by winning the U.S. Olympic Marathon Team Trials last year. Here he is at the 2016 Olympic Track and Field Team Trials. CREDIT: Tom Banse/N3

More people will be allowed at indoor and outdoor spectator events and indoor religious services if there are designated COVID-19 vaccination sections, under new guidance issued by Gov. Jay Inslee Monday. Continue Read More

The Northwest Was A Ski-Jumping Hotbed. A New Book And Museum Exhibit Share The History

By Tom Banse April 22, 2021

Olav Ulland, Gustav Raaum, Alf Engen, and Kjell Stordalen perform a four-person simultaneous ski jump at Sun Valley, Idaho, in December 1948. Courtesy of National Nordic Museum

Few among us have tried our luck at competitive ski jumping, and there is no shame in that considering these skiers can reach speeds around 60 mph before they take flight. But there's something riveting about the daring sport even for casual onlookers. The Northwest was once a "hotbed" for Nordic jumping as detailed in a new book and a parallel museum exhibit. Read More

The Debate on Student-Athlete Compensation – Murrow News 8

By Murrow News - Allen Leister April 16, 2021

More Murrow News Stories PULLMAN – For student-athletes like WSU women’s soccer player Kelis Barton, the discussion around compensation is less about what the university is providing and more about… Continue Reading The Debate on Read More

100-Day Countdown To Tokyo Olympics Begins, And Northwest Athletes Are Ready To Go

By Tom Banse April 13, 2021

The 100-day countdown to the opening ceremony of the rescheduled 2020 Tokyo Olympics begins Wednesday. Yes, the summer games are proceeding amid an ongoing global pandemic. Olympic hopefuls and Pacific Northwest athletes already picked for Team USA invariably said they are eager to go. Read More

Washington Lawmakers Approve Ban On Native American Mascots With Some Exceptions

By NWPB News April 13, 2021

The Chieftains mascot at Columbia River High School in Vancouver, Washington, is on the way out following a unanimous vote of the school board. CREDIT: Molly Solomon/OPB

The Washington Legislature has approved a measure to ban the use of Native American names, symbols and images as school mascots, logos and team names at most public schools in Washington. Continue Reading Washington Lawmakers Read More

Tiger Woods Crash Caused By Unsafe Speed, LA County Sheriff Says

By NPR News April 7, 2021

A crane is used to lift a vehicle driven by golfer Tiger Woods following a rollover accident in February in the Rancho Palos Verdes suburb of Los Angeles. CREDIT: Ringo H.W. Chiu/AP

Tiger Woods crashed in February because he was driving at an unsafe speed and was unable to negotiate a curve on the road, the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department said Wednesday. Continue Reading Tiger Woods Crash Caused By Unsafe Speed, LA Read More

NCAA Women’s Final: Stanford Wins Championship With Victory Over Arizona

By NPR News April 4, 2021

Haley Jones #30 of the Stanford Cardinal celebrates a win against the Arizona Wildcats in the national championship game of the 2021 NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament on Sunday in San Antonio. CREDIT: Carmen Mandato/Getty Images

Stanford defeated Arizona Sunday night 54-53 in the women's NCAA finals, securing their third-ever championship title. The Cardinal's victory in San Antonio gives the Pac-12 its first national women's championship since Stanford last won in 1992. Read More

To The Bank! Gonzaga Beats UCLA In Buzzer Beater, Advances To Men’s NCAA Final

By NWPB News April 3, 2021

Gonzaga guard Jalen Suggs (1) celebrates making the game winning basket against UCLA during overtime in a men's Final Four NCAA college basketball tournament semifinal game, April 3, 2021, at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis. Gonzaga won 93-90 in overtime. CREDIT: Michael Conroy/AP

Jalen Suggs took the inbounds pass and saw nothing but clear sailing. Three dribbles. Past the half-court line. A little stutter-step. And straight into history. The Gonzaga freshman banked in a shot at the buzzer from near the Final Four logo for a 93-90 overtime win over UCLA on Saturday night that vaulted the Bulldogs to within one win of an undefeated season and the Read More

Supreme Court Weighs Whether NCAA Is Illegally ‘Fixing’ Athlete Compensation

By NPR News March 31, 2021

As March Madness heads into its final days, college athletes are playing on a different kind of court: the Supreme Court. On Wednesday the justices heard arguments in a case testing whether the NCAA's limits on compensation for student athletes violate the nation's antitrust laws. Read More

NFL Expands Regular Season To 17 Games Per Team In Long-Expected Revenue Boost

By NPR News March 30, 2021

National Football League owners voted Tuesday to approve an enhanced schedule that will bring the number of regular-season games to 17 per team starting this year. The long-discussed change is expected to bring additional revenue to the NFL, which finalized a new round of broadcast rights agreements earlier this month. Read More

School Sports Make A Comeback In The Northwest, With Mask Rules Adding Level Of Difficulty

By Tom Banse February 10, 2021

Ellensburg High School coach Jeff Hashimoto, in orange, leads masked cross-country team members on a long training run on February 8. CREDIT: Tom Banse/N3

Rescheduled fall sports seasons for high school athletes are kicking off this month in large parts of Washington state and Oregon. The general happiness this brought came with a dose of consternation among some coaches and families over strict COVID-19 safety guidelines set down by state health authorities. Read More

MLB Corrects ‘Longtime Oversight’, Now Recognizes Negro Leagues As ‘Major League’

By NPR News December 16, 2020

Negro Leagues baseball veteran Jim Robinson, left, and ESPN/ABC correspondent Ryan Smith, seen in New York in February. CREDIT: Donald Traill/AP

"All of us who love baseball have long known that the Negro Leagues produced many of our game's finest players, innovations and triumphs against the backdrop of injustice," said the MLB commissioner. Continue Reading MLB Corrects Read More

New York Yankee Hall Of Fame Pitcher Whitey Ford Dies At 91

By NPR News October 9, 2020

Ed "Whitey" Ford, New York Yankees, pitching in the fourth game of the World Series against the Philadelphia Phillies in Oct.1950. John Rooney/AP

The southpaw was dominant during his 16-year career, winning six World Series titles in the 1950s and 1960s. Nicknamed "Chairman of the Board," Ford holds the team record for most wins by a pitcher. Continue Reading New York Yankee Hall Of Fame Read More

NFL Hits 3 Coaches And Teams, Including Seahawks, With Large Fines For Not Wearing Face Masks

By NPR News September 22, 2020

The NFL has fined San Francisco 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan and two other coaches for not following rules about keeping their faces covered. Here, Shanahan walks off the field after his team's Sept. 13 game against the Arizona Cardinals. MSA/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

The coaches include Pete Carroll, Kyle Shanahan and Vic Fangio. League rules state that anyone in the bench area "shall be required to wear masks at all times." Continue Reading NFL Hits 3 Coaches And Teams, Including Read More

‘A Most Beautiful Thing’ Tells Of The First U.S. All-Black High School Rowing Team

By NPR News June 28, 2020

A Most Beautiful Thing: The True Story of America's First All-Black High School Rowing Team, by Arshay Cooper. CREDIT: Flatiron Books

In A Most Beautiful Thing, Arshay Cooper shares the story of how he, and others from rival gang neighborhoods on Chicago's West Side, found their way to crew — and each other. Continue Reading ‘A Most Beautiful Read More

WNBA To Return In July With Shorter Season, No Fans

By NPR News June 16, 2020

The Washington Mystics play in Game 5 of basketball's WNBA Finals in October. The league, which postponed the start of its season due to the coronavirus, announced plans to reopen in July. CREDIT: Alex Brandon/AP

The WNBA has announced plans for a shortened season to be held in Florida, a neutral site. It's the first time that all teams' players will train and play in the same location. Continue Reading WNBA To Return In July With Shorter Season, No FansRead More

After Idaho Transgender Ban, Athletes Ask NCAA To Move Tournaments Out Of State

By NWPB News June 13, 2020

Chris Mosier, a Team USA athlete and transgender activist, kneels as he listens to speakers at a rally at the Statehouse on Tuesday, March 3 against Idaho’s HB500 banning transgender athletes from participating in women’s sports.

Dozens of advocacy organizations and hundreds of athletes are asking the NCAA to move college sports events out of Idaho in response to a state law that bans transgender women from participating in women’s sports. Continue Reading Read More

Japan, IOC Jostle Over Who Will Pay Billions To Delay 2020 Olympics Over Coronavirus

By NPR News April 22, 2020

The Olympic rings displayed outside the National Stadium

The cost of moving the summer games to 2021 is expected to be massive. The International Olympic Committee said on Tuesday Japan would pay. Japanese officials said they didn't agree to foot the bill. Continue Reading Japan, Read More

Idaho Gov. Brad Little Signs Bill Banning Transgender Women And Girls From School Sports

By NWPB News March 30, 2020

Idaho Gov. Brad Little signs into law legislation to make the overdose reversal drug naloxone more readily available. CREDIT: Keith Riddler/AP News

Gov. Brad Little signed the bill Monday, March 30, with no explanation for his vote — governors occasionally, but do not always, post transmittal letters outlining their decision. No letter was posted. The most hotly debated education bill of the 2020 legislative session, House Bill 500 would ban transgender girls and women from participating in girls’ and women’s sports. Read More

Idaho Attorney General Says Proposed Transgender Athlete Ban Could Be Unconstitutional

By NWPB News February 25, 2020

The Idaho state flags hangs in the rotunda of the statehouse in Boise

The Idaho Attorney General’s office says a bill that would ban transgender women from competing on sports teams that align with their gender identity could be “constitutionally problematic” and “likely vulnerable to a court challenge.” Read More

Idaho Rep., A Former Basketball Player And Coach, Seeks To Bar Transgender Girls In School Sports

By NWPB News February 13, 2020

Rep. Barbara Ehardt outlines her “Fairness in Women’s Sports Act,” designed to ban transgender women from participating in women’s sports. The House Education Committee introduced the bill Wednesday. CREDIT: Sami Edge/Idaho Education News

On Feb. 12, the Idaho House Education Committee gave its initial approval to a bill designed to keep transgender students from competing in girls’ sports. That means the bill could come back at a later date for a full hearing. Read More

Odds Improving That Washington May Legalize Sports Betting, But Not Like Oregon

By Tom Banse February 11, 2020

At least in the near term, Washington state lawmakers do not want to have online sports betting as offered by the Oregon Lottery.

A couple of years ago, the U.S. Supreme Court cleared the way for states beyond Nevada to have sports betting. Oregon dove in last year. Idaho, Washington and California have held back. Now, Washington state lawmakers are taking a hard look at legalizing sports betting. But they do not seem inclined to copy much from Oregon's playbook. Read More

Amid Nike Controversy, Track’s Governing Body Sets New Rules For Shoes

By NPR News February 1, 2020

Concerns have swirled for years over whether Nike's Vaporfly line of shoes gives athletes an unfair advantage. The new rules appear to ban one Vaporfly model, but another will reportedly qualify. Continue Reading Amid Nike Controversy, Read More

Kobe Was ‘More Than An Athlete’: The Sports World Mourns A Basketball Legend

By NPR News January 27, 2020

Valerie Samano, left, places flowers at a memorial near the Staples Center in Los Angeles, after the death of Laker legend Kobe Bryant on Sunday. CREDIT: Michael Owen Baker/AP

The retired Los Angeles Lakers star died at age 41 in a plane crash on Sunday. Former teammates, peers and other sports legends expressed their grief and shock on social media. Continue Reading Kobe Was ‘More Than An Read More

After Days Of Resignations, The Last Of The Deadspin Staff Has Quit

By NPR News November 2, 2019

The entire writing and editing staff of Deadspin quit after being told to "stick to sports." The Washington Post via Getty Images

Staffers at the sports and culture website began to leave en masse earlier this week following a directive from executives to "stick to sports." The future of the site is up in the air. Continue Reading After Days Of Resignations, The Last Of Read More

Kenyan Brigid Kosgei Smashes Women’s World Record At Chicago Marathon

By NPR News October 13, 2019

Kenya's Brigid Kosgei won the 2019 Chicago Marathon on Sunday with at time of 2 hours 14 minutes and 4 seconds. Kosgei's time also marks a new world record marathon time. Quinn Harris/Getty Images

The 25-year-old runner finished in a time of 2:14:04 on Sunday, beating the previous record set by Britain's Paula Radcliffe in 2003 by 81 seconds. Continue Reading Kenyan Brigid Kosgei Smashes Women’s World Record At Chicago Read More

American Simone Biles Becomes The Most Decorated Gymnast In World Championship History

By NPR News October 13, 2019

U.S. gymnast Simone Biles poses with her five gold meals at the 2019 World Championships in Stuttgart, Germany. With her wins, she becomes the most decorated gymnast ever at the world championships, with 25 total medals. Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images

Combining skills of unprecedented difficulty with flawless execution, the 22-year-old surpassed Vitaly Scherbo's record 23 world medals won in the 1990s. Biles copped five golds at the championships. Continue Reading Read More

Seattle Storm Ask ‘What About Us?’ As Women’s Soccer Rides High On World Cup Win

By NPR News August 9, 2019

Seattle Mayor Jenny Durkan, center, wears a T-shirt honoring Megan Rapinoe, right, of the U.S. women's World Cup champion soccer team and the Seattle Storm's Sue Bird, left, before a WNBA game on July 12. Elaine Thompson/AP

Will the latest U.S. victory in the Women's World Cup lead to a surge of popularity in other women's pro sports leagues? Executives and players hope so. Continue Reading Seattle Storm Ask ‘What About Us?’ As Read More

MLB’s Yankees And White Sox To Play At ‘Field Of Dreams’ Farm In 2020

By NPR News August 8, 2019

In Iowa, a temporary ballpark will be built to host a game between the New York Yankees and Chicago White Sox next summer. Major League Baseball

For one night, big leaguers will play baseball at the Iowa farm that was made famous in the beloved film Field of Dreams. Continue Reading MLB’s Yankees And White Sox To Play At ‘Field Of Dreams’ Farm In 2020Read More

U.S. Wins Women’s World Cup, Beating Netherlands 2-0 In Final

By NPR News July 7, 2019

Netherlands' Anouk Dekker, left, walks past as United States' Rose Lavelle, right, celebrates with teammates after scoring her side's second goal during the Women's World Cup final soccer match between US and The Netherlands at the Stade de Lyon in Decines, outside Lyon, France on Sunday. Alessandra Tarantino/AP

The U.S. Women's Soccer team is still the world's best after dominating the Netherlands in the Women's World Cup final and winning 2-0. Throughout the tournament, the U.S. brushed aside criticism, complaints of arrogance and calls for the team to tone down their goal celebrations. Read More

Alaska Or Bust! Racers Set Out On Paddleboards, Canoes, Skifts From Port Townsend

By Tom Banse June 3, 2019

Supporters of Team Sail Like A Girl held a dockside blessing ceremony in Port Townsend Sunday for the defending champions before racing started Monday.

The starting horn echoed bright and early Monday morning across Port Townsend Bay to launch the fifth annual running of a madcap maritime marathon. The 750-mile Race to Alaska has been compared by its organizers to the Iditarod sled dog race, but with a chance of drowning or getting eaten by a bear. Read More

WSU Swimmer Takes This Season By Storm

By Murrow News - Canara Heinke April 29, 2019

More Murrow News Stories PULLMAN – Sophomore Mackenzie Duarte not only broke several records this year, but was also able to compete in the 2019 NCAA Championships in Austin texas.… Continue Reading WSU Swimmer Takes This Season By StormRead More

‘We Don’t Have Enough Women In Power,’ Says Notre Dame Basketball Coach Muffet McGraw

By NPR News April 7, 2019

Comments about sexism by head coach Muffet McGraw of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish went viral this week. Tim Clayton/Corbis via Getty Images

The Notre Dame head coach, who's heading to the championship game Sunday against Baylor, has said she won't hire male coaches. Continue Reading ‘We Don’t Have Enough Women In Power,’ Says Notre Dame Basketball Coach Muffet Read More

Ring The Bell: Regional Pro Wrestling Brings Out Crowds And Nostalgia

By T.J. Tranchell March 26, 2019

In the Northwest, promotions such as Seattle-based Defy, Thrash out of British Columbia, and Prestige Wrestling in Hermiston, are out to remind fans of wrestlings roots and its future. While not as many promotions are running in the region as in places such as the South and Mid-Atlantic regions, indie wrestling is growing. Read More