athletics
Wazzu keeps athletics in one place: 19 stories so far. The section currently leads with “Kamie Ethridge and the Cougs break down 2026 WBB at Media Day”, “Coug Women Hold Steady at No. 13, Still Top of the West”, and “WSU hoops heads to Everett for a November neutral-court game”. Kamie Ethridge stood at the podium at Media Day and talked about the 2026 team like someone who has seen enough to know what she has. No. The unofficial read for people who left Pullman and stayed Cougs. The list below is every athletics story on Wazzu, newest first.
Kamie Ethridge and the Cougs break down 2026 WBB at Media Day
Kamie Ethridge stood at the podium at Media Day and talked about the 2026 team like someone who has seen enough to know what she has. That is the part that sticks. Not the hype. The honesty. She broke down where the Coug women are, and where they need to go, and she did not waste words doing it. This is a team that has earned the right to be direct. They have held steady at No. 13 in the national rankings, still the top of the West. That is not an accident. That is a program that has built something real in Pullman, the kind of thing you feel when you walk into Beasley and see the same faces in the stands year after year. Ethridge is not selling anything. She is telling you what she sees. That is the difference between a press conference and a conversation with another Coug. If you want to stay in the weeds on where this program sits nationally, we have you covered with "Coug Women Hold Steady at No. 13, Still Top of the West." It is a good companion piece for a long winter afternoon. For now, take Ethridge at her word. This team is not done. Go Cougs.
Coug Women Hold Steady at No. 13, Still Top of the West
No. 13 in the country, and still the top-ranked program west of the Mississippi. That is where the Cougar women sit in the latest national poll, and it is a spot that feels earned. Not flashy, not lucky. Just steady. While other programs wobble and reshuffle, WSU's women's team keeps proving that consistency is its own kind of flex. There is no drama here, just results. Being the best in the West means something when the West includes Stanford, Oregon, and UCLA. It means Pullman is on the map for more than just football talk. If you want to dig into how the rest of Cougar sports is shaping up, Kirby Moore broke down Boise State week on the Cougar Football Hour. That is worth a listen. But for now, the women have given us a reason to hold the phone and just be proud. No asterisks. No caveats. Just a ranking that says what we already knew: this program is built right. Go Cougs.
WSU hoops heads to Everett for a November neutral-court game
Everett is getting a real November treat. WSU hoops is bringing a neutral-court game to the city, and it's exactly the kind of matchup that makes you want to clear a Tuesday night. No home-court advantage, no familiar rafters, just basketball, plain and simple. Cougs in the stands will have to bring their own noise. This is a smart move. Pullman is home, but the program has alumni scattered everywhere. Everett is a good halfway point, a place where the Palouse feels close enough and the city feels far enough. Neutral-court games have a different energy. It's not hostile, but it's not cozy either. You have to earn every call. If you've been following the team through the early season, you already know the kind of intensity that's showing up. The roster is taking shape, and if you want to see how that work translates away from Beasley, this is the game to watch. For more on how the Cougs are building that identity, check out our coverage of fall ball and the early roster talk in "Riley and the roster speak, fall ball is next." It's good context for what you'll see in Everett. Mark the calendar. Bring a friend who forgot what Pullman feels like. And remember, when the ball goes up, it's just you, the Coug next to you, and the game. Go Cougs.
Hall of Fame Weekend Gets a Top-25 Test for the Cougs
The Cougs are about to find out exactly where they stand, and they're doing it in front of a packed house of alumni. Hall of Fame Weekend is already a special return to Pullman, but this year it comes with a top-25 test attached. That changes the feel of the whole thing. We know the women's team is sitting pretty at No. 13, still the top dog out West. If you missed that update, go find "Coug Women Hold Steady at No. 13, Still Top of the West" on the site. It pairs well with the weekend ahead. The men's side is the one with something to prove here. A ranked opponent coming to town during a weekend built for nostalgia? That is the kind of pressure that either breaks a team or shows you what it's made of. It is easy to get swept up in the pageantry of the Hall of Fame ceremonies. The stories, the faces, the memories. But the guys on the floor have to lock in and play their game, not the one the visitors want to play. A win here means more than a notch on the schedule. It says the program is back in the conversation. This is the kind of weekend that reminds you why you keep coming back to the Palouse. The town, the people, the big game under the lights. Go Cougs.
Cougs keep rolling on the Spokane River this season
You don't need a calendar to know it's spring on the Spokane River. The Cougs are back on the water, and the rhythm feels right. Rowing is one of those sports that doesn't shout for attention, but the results speak for themselves. Washington State's crew has been putting in the work, and this season is shaping up like they mean to make some noise before the last shell is racked. If you've been following along, you already know the defense has been setting the tone elsewhere. Trent Bray's squad brought the heat in Corvallis, and that kind of edge travels well. The crew team might not share a practice field with the football program, but the same competitive streak runs through Pullman right now. It's a good time to be a Coug who likes watching athletes earn it. For deeper coverage, check out "Bray's defense brings the heat, and a little revenge, to Corvallis." It's a good read on how that side of the ball is finding its teeth. For now, the river is the thing. No hype needed. Just oars hitting the water and a program that keeps showing up. That's the Coug way. Go Cougs.
Cougs hit the road and left an impression on Boise State
Boise State fans might have expected an easy tune-up. Instead, they got a reminder that Cougs travel well. Wazzu hit the road and left an impression on the blue turf, showing up with the kind of grit that doesn't quit when the stadium noise turns against you. It wasn't pretty every snap, but that's not the point. The point is that this team walked into someone else's house and didn't back down. That matters. You can feel the season turning. The confidence is building, and it's not just on the gridiron. Over on the women's golf side, the Cougs closed out their fall season with a trip to Hawai'i, tough duty, but someone has to do it. And if you want to see where that same poise shows up in a different sport, find the piece on Owen Eshelman. That kid walked into a meeting asking "why," and the coaches noticed immediately. That's the kind of Coug we're talking about. No flash. Just substance. So yeah, Boise got a taste of what Pullman produces. Not the flash. The fight. That's the take you text your buddy. Go Cougs.
Reverse Sweep Complete: Volleyball Punches Back at Boise
Boise State had the Cougs on the ropes. Wazzu volleyball dropped the first two sets on the road Wednesday night, staring down what looked like a clean sweep the other way. Then they decided they weren't done. The Cougs punched back, hard, rattling off three straight to complete the reverse sweep and walk out of Boise with the win. That kind of grit is what you remember when the schedule gets long. You can catch the full travel details and what the team had to say in our earlier piece, "Cougs hit the road and left an impression on Boise State," for the drive-by-drive. For now, just know this: they got punched, they stood up, and they finished it. That matters more than the final line score ever could. It is exactly the kind of fight you want to see before the Pac-12 slate tips off, speaking of which, keep an eye out for the women's basketball tip times we published, because the whole athletic department seems to be finding its stride right now. This volleyball squad is playing like they know something we don't. Go Cougs.
Cougs get their tip times for Pac-12 women's hoops slate
Tip times are out. That means we can finally start planning our February weekends around the Beasley Coliseum instead of pretending we'll get anything done on a Saturday afternoon. The Pac-12 women's hoops slate is here, and the Cougs have actual times to circle. No more guessing. No more refreshing the conference site like it's a job. We know when to show up. The schedule itself is what it is. Conference play is always a grind, and the Pac-12 is not going to hand anyone an easy path. But there's something about having the tip times locked in that makes it real. You can look at a Tuesday night in January and know exactly where you'll be. That's the stuff. That's the rhythm of a season. And sure, we've been through a lot lately. The Beavers and Cougs made their rivalry official, which still feels like the right kind of weird. There's also been plenty of talk about the new Pac-12 and who's rising while others slide. That's all fair. But for now, this is about the women's team and the road ahead. They've got a slate. We've got a calendar. The rest will sort itself out on the court. So mark the dates. Set the reminders. Grab the crew. Cougar basketball is coming back, and we know exactly when to be there. Go Cougs.
Jane LaRiviere on Gonzaga Week and what's next for WSU rowing
Jane LaRiviere doesn't sugarcoat Gonzaga Week. She knows what it means for WSU rowing, and she's not shy about saying this is the kind of test that tells you what you're made of. The Cougs have been putting in the work on the Snake River, and now they get to see if that translates against a program that doesn't take days off. LaRiviere is the kind of coach who will tell you the scoreboard matters, but she'll also tell you the process matters more. That's a good thing, because Gonzaga doesn't roll over. What comes next for WSU rowing is the part that should get Cougs paying attention. This isn't a one-week blip. LaRiviere is building something that lasts, and the depth she's talking about suggests the program is past the point of hoping for a good race. They expect to be in it. If you're looking for more on what's ahead for Cougar sports, our piece on Korey Schroeder behind the mic for Boise State and Fresno State gives you a different look at what game week prep sounds like from the booth. Two sports, same kind of focus. For now, the oars are in the water and Gonzaga is on the schedule. That's enough. Go Cougs.
Cougs set the tone early with a solid Head of the Snake opener
The Head of the Snake opener isn't just a nice way to start a tournament. It's a statement. Cougs came out and set the tone early, which is exactly what you want when the matches stretch across multiple days and the margins get thin. You don't win these regionals in one afternoon. You win them by stacking good days, and starting with that kind of punch makes everyone else in the bracket take notice. It's the kind of start that carries weight. When you're grinding through day three and day four, that early momentum is what keeps the energy up. We've already seen the payoff in the singles wins and the three straight victories that followed. This group isn't just showing up. They're competing with purpose. And it's worth noting the other big news out of Pullman right now. The football team is making a change at quarterback, turning to Owen Eshelman after six games. Different sport, same idea: sometimes you need a spark to reset the tone. The tennis team found theirs on the court. The Cougs on the gridiron are hoping Eshelman provides that same jolt. For now, the racquets are doing the talking. A solid opener sets the table. The rest of the tournament is about keeping that foot on the gas. If they keep playing like this, the deep runs will take care of themselves. Go Cougs.
Coug doubles squad owns the Northwest Regionals, no qualifiers needed
The Cougar doubles squad rolled through the ITA Northwest Regionals without needing a single qualifier. That is not a typo. That is a statement. You don't stumble into that kind of weekend. You earn it. And this group did, match after match, leaving no doubt who the best team in the region was. No play-in rounds. No scrambling for a spot. Just straight-up owning the bracket from the first serve. This follows a pattern we have seen all fall. The Cougs gave Colorado State everything they could handle, just not a win earlier this season, and that fight carried over. They snuck into a tie for second out in Tacoma, and that'll play. But this regional title is different. It is clean. It is decisive. It is the kind of result that makes you wonder what happens when they get a full spring schedule in front of them. Pullman does not always get the headlines in tennis. That is fine. The Cougs do not need them. They just need a court, a ball, and a chance to prove it. They proved it this weekend. Go Cougs.
Kirby Moore talks Utah State, and the quiet work that wins in Pullman
Kirby Moore doesn't raise his voice to explain what wins in Pullman. He just points to the work that doesn't make the highlight reel. Talking Utah State this week, Moore broke down the kind of quiet, repetitive stuff that turns a good Cougar team into a tough one. That's the part of the season that doesn't get a headline, but it's the part that keeps you in games when the crowd gets loud and the road gets long. It's easy to forget, in the middle of baseball midweeks and volleyball preps, that football is still grinding through its own kind of spring. Moore's approach fits Pullman. No flash. Just film, fundamentals, and the kind of patience that only makes sense if you've spent a winter in that town. He knows what Utah State brings. More importantly, he knows what his guys have to bring back. If you're the type who tracks every pitch, we've got you covered with "Cougs Hit the Road for a Pair of Midweek Ballgames in Texas." Different sport, same kind of under-the-radar work that builds a season before anyone notices. Moore would probably approve of the overlap. Go Cougs.
Cougs Hit the Road for a Pair of Midweek Ballgames in Texas
Baseball is heading south. Washington State is in Texas this week for a pair of midweek ballgames, and if you are stuck in a February gray sky, this is the kind of trip you envy. Two games. Warm weather. No conference pressure yet. Just Cougs swinging bats somewhere that does not smell like fertilizer and wet gravel. That is the whole point of these midweek trips. Get out of Pullman. See some sun. Tighten up the bullpen before the Pac-12 schedule starts grinding. Texas baseball is not a joke, but neither is a lineup that has been putting in work since January. If Wazzu can take one of these, that is a good trip. Take both, and you start feeling like something is cooking. For more on how Coug sports are stacking up this week, check out our piece on volleyball, "Schroeder on the mic: WSU volleyball preps for Rams and Bobcats", because that program is also on the road and also worth your time. But back to the diamond. Two games. No excuses. Go get a couple Ws, then get back on the bus. Go Cougs.
Citowicki and Carolan break down the Fresno State match for Wazzu soccer
Coug soccer is back in the Palouse and Fresno State is in town. Gabe Citowicki and Kim Carolan have the call for this one, and if you've listened to them before, you know they'll give it to you straight. No fluff, just the game. This is a Wazzu side that's been finding its rhythm, and a non-conference test like this tells you something about where the program's head is at. We've been tracking this team all season, including a look at how they've been moving on the grass in our piece *Cougs on the grass: WSU soccer finds its rhythm against Fresno State*. That one's worth a read if you want the full picture before kickoff. Citowicki and Carolan know the game and they know this program. They're not going to pretend a midweek non-conference match is the World Cup final. But they also won't let you miss the details that matter, the press, the spacing, the kid who just made a run you didn't see coming. That's the kind of coverage Pullman deserves. So grab a coffee, pull up the stream, and listen to two people who actually know what they're watching. Go Cougs.
Cougs on the grass: WSU soccer finds its rhythm against Fresno State
The grass at the Lower Soccer Field is starting to feel like home again. WSU soccer has found its rhythm against Fresno State, and for a program that has spent the last few seasons searching for its footing, that matters. This isn't about style points or tournament résumés yet. It is about a team that looked comfortable, connected, and like they finally trust what they are building. Cougs on the grass is a good look. We have been writing a lot about how Washington State is finding ways to tell its own story better, check out our piece on Wazzu tapping FanWord AI to tell more Coug stories if you want to see how that plays out across the department. This soccer team is writing its own chapter right now, one shift at a time. You do not need to overthink this one. The Cougs showed up, played clean, and handled business against a Fresno State side that did not make it easy. That is the kind of win that does not make national noise but keeps a locker room believing. No grand pronouncements here. Just a solid afternoon of Cougar soccer and a team that looks like it knows what it wants to be. Go Cougs.
Cougs Rack Up Four More Wins at the Duck Invitational
Four more wins. That's a good weekend, no matter how you slice it, and the Cougs came back from the Duck Invitational with a full wallet. You don't always get that in early-season golf, where the weather and the course can turn on you faster than a Pullman wind gust. But Wazzu went out there, put together a steady stretch, and handled business. It's the kind of result that builds a little momentum before the big stuff. You win four in a tournament and you start believing the next one is there for the taking. We like the sound of that. We also like the way this team has been trending, and it's worth remembering the Cougs were already smiling in the desert earlier this month. If you missed that one, go check out "Three Cougs went low in Arizona and left the desert smiling." It pairs nicely with this. Golf is a lonely sport, but the scoreboard is a team thing. Four wins means somebody stepped up every round, and that's the kind of depth that travels well. Spring is still young, but this is exactly the start you want. Keep it rolling, Cougs. Go Cougs.
Cougar Women's Golf packs the clubs and heads to Wisconsin
The Cougar Women's Golf team is trading the Palouse for the Dairy State. They're packing up the clubs and heading to Wisconsin, which means we get to watch our golfers tee it up on a course that isn't fighting a wind advisory from the Snake River. Good for them. Good for us. You don't see a lot of Pullman teams making a Midwest swing in the middle of spring, but this squad has been quietly putting in work. Golf is one of those sports where you can be miles from campus, literally and figuratively, and still feel the Coug in the room. Or on the fairway. Whatever. We've been running a good stretch of coverage lately, and if you missed it, go find "Cougs on Deck: The 2026 Baseball Class Is Signed and Sealed." That one pairs nicely with this. Different sport, same kind of quiet confidence. No hype. Just Cougs showing up. For now, keep an eye on the scoreboard from Wisconsin. These women don't travel that far to sightsee. They're going to compete, and they're going to do it the way we do, steady, specific, and a little bit stubborn. Go Cougs.
Three Coug freshmen got their first taste of Kansas State: and the lesson was loud
The first time you step on a Power Four opponent's floor as a true freshman, you find out fast what you're made of. Three Coug freshmen got that lesson in Manhattan, and the scoreboard says Kansas State won by 14. But the tape says something else. Those first few minutes? That's the part that matters. Seeing the speed, the size, the way a veteran team moves without thinking, that's the real education. And for a program that's still building its identity under this staff, the question isn't whether they lost. It's whether they learned. We'll have more on the X's and O's soon. If you want to see how the coaching staff is breaking down that fight, go read "Kirby Moore on K-State: What the postgame tape reveals about Wazzu's fight." It's the kind of film-room honesty that tells you more than any box score. For now, the take is simple: these three freshmen got baptized. That's not a bad thing. You don't grow in Pullman without a few hard Saturdays. The Cougs didn't fold. They took the hit, and they'll be better for it. Go Cougs.
Coug women's golf packs the clubs and heads for Tacoma
The Coug women's golf team is trading the Palouse for Puget Sound air, packing up the clubs and heading to Tacoma for their next tournament. You don't haul gear across the state unless you think you've got something to prove, and this group has been quietly putting together a season that deserves attention. Pullman doesn't produce many fair-weather athletes, and these golfers are no exception, they grind through wind, mud, and early frost without complaint. Now they get a chance to show what that grit looks like on a course that isn't fighting them back. It is good to see the program getting some run. Golf doesn't always grab the headlines around here, but the work these players put in is as Coug as anything on the turf. Tacoma is a decent trip, not a bus ride to Moscow, and it gives the team a chance to reset after some tough competition. For those of you who can't get enough of the Xs and Os, we've got you covered elsewhere on the site. If you want to hear about the other side of the ball, our piece on "Kirby Moore breaks down Fresno State tape on this week's Cougar Football Hour" is worth your time. Two different sports, same Coug standard. Go Cougs.