NCAA
Wazzu keeps NCAA in one place: 17 stories so far. The section currently leads with “Coug Women Hold Steady at No. 13, Still Top of the West”, “WSU hoops heads to Everett for a November neutral-court game”, and “Hall of Fame Weekend Gets a Top-25 Test for the Cougs”. No. Everett is getting a real November treat. The unofficial read for people who left Pullman and stayed Cougs. The list below is every NCAA story on Wazzu, newest first.
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 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.
Cougs test the legs against the nation's best in Wisconsin
There's a certain kind of fun in finding out how far you can push yourself, and the Cougs are about to get a full lesson in that this weekend. Washington State heads to Wisconsin to test the legs against the nation's best, and it's exactly the kind of challenge that tells you what a team is made of before the season really settles in. Nobody is pretending this will be easy. The Badgers have a reputation for turning their home pool into a grind, and the Cougs are walking in with eyes open. But that's the point. You don't learn much from swimming against folks you already know you can beat. You learn when the water gets rough and the competition doesn't let up. This is a chance to see who steps up when the spotlight is brightest, and for a squad still finding its rhythm, that's valuable no matter what the scoreboard says. We've already seen flashes of what this group can do. The early work in the Head of the Snake opener set a solid tone, and the home pool slate started with a clean sweep against Seattle U, with Whitaker leading the way. Those results matter, but they were warm-ups. This is different. This is a measuring stick, and the Cougs aren't shying away from it. Win or lose, we'll know more about this team after this one. That's the fun part. Go Cougs.
Emerson Matthews on the win, the grind, and proving it in Texas
Emerson Matthews doesn't flinch. After a win in Texas, after the grind of a road trip that could have gone sideways, he stood there and talked about proving it. Not hoping for it. Not waiting for it. Proving it. That's the kind of talk that lands differently when you've actually done the work. Matthews and the Cougs went into Texas and took care of business. The scoreboard shows the win, but the way he talks about it, the real story is the work that got them there. The long hours. The reps. The stuff nobody sees from the stands. We've been tracking this team all month. If you want the full picture of how they got to 3-1, go back and read "Volleyball knocks down Texas State, moves to 3-1 on the season." It lays out the early momentum. What Matthews is describing now is what happens when that momentum meets a team that refuses to coast. Texas is a long way from Pullman. The travel alone can break a squad. But Matthews sounds like a guy who knows exactly what he's building. Not loud. Not flashy. Just certain. He's not interested in moral victories or close calls. He wants the proof, and he wants it on the road, against a team that thought it had the home advantage. That's Cougar volleyball right now. No excuses. No looking back. Just the next win, and the next one after that. Go Cougs.
Cougs open the home pool slate against Seattle U in Thursday dual
Thursday night at Gibb Pool, the Cougs get back in the water for their home opener against Seattle U. It's a dual meet, which means the scoring is simple: win your race, stack points, and don't give the Redhawks any freebies. We like that format. No relays drama, no diving theatrics. Just swimming, and a chance to defend the home pool. This isn't the first time these two have met this season. The Cougs already cleaned up in Seattle back in October, and Whitaker led the way in that one. If you missed it, we've got the recap from that meet, "Cougs Open the Pool Season by Cleaning Up in Seattle", so you can see how the squad looked before they hit the road again. Thursday is about keeping that momentum going, but it's also about setting a tone at home. Pullman crowds show up for football and hoops, but a packed Gibb Pool on a Thursday night? That's a different kind of energy, and it matters. Seattle U isn't going to roll over. They've had a few weeks to adjust, and dual meets can get tight when the lineup gets shuffled. But the Cougs have the depth and the early-season confidence. We're not calling this a blowout, just a statement. Win the close ones, take the early leads, and let the scoreboard do the talking. 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 Take the Fight to Logan for a Friday Night Tilt
Friday night in Logan. That's the kind of trip that separates the curious from the committed, and the Cougs are packing their bags for it. A short hop over the border, a hostile crowd, and a chance to do something loud on the road. This is exactly the kind of tilt that used to define these programs, and it's good to see it back on the schedule. You don't take a Friday night game lightly, especially not in that building. The Cougs know what they're walking into. We've spent plenty of time this season trying to make sense of the postseason picture, and if you haven't checked out our breakdown of the Pac-12 bowl math, you should. It's still a mess, but at least it's our mess. This game, though, is about the here and now. It's about showing up, playing physical, and leaving Logan with a win instead of excuses. The details matter, but the vibe is simple: Cougs on the road, under the lights, with something to prove. Nobody is pretending this is a marquee matchup for the neutral fan. But for us? This is the whole point of being a Coug. You show up for the ones that don't look glamorous on paper. You take the fight to their place and you see what you're made of. Pullman travels well, and Friday night should be no different. 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.
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.
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.
Another Duck lands in Pullman as Cougs snag Jamari Phillips
Another Duck lands in Pullman. That's three now, if you're counting, and the Cougs just added Oregon transfer guard Jamari Phillips. He's a 6-foot-4, 190-pound guard who saw the floor in 40 games across two seasons with the Ducks. Last year he averaged 2.7 points in 11 minutes a night. His best night? A nine-point showing against UCLA in 31 minutes. Not eye-popping, but the kid was a four-star prospect out of high school. Kansas, Arizona, UCLA, Louisville all wanted him. WSU's former staff offered him too. Now he's a Coug. Phillips is the ninth addition this spring for David Riley's rebuild. The roster is essentially a new team. Eleven players are on board for 2026-27, including the Eastern Washington transfer Casey Jones who just got back from a church mission. That's the kind of detail you only get in Pullman. They needed bodies. Twelve players left, including ten to the portal. Ace Glass is at Vanderbilt. Eemeli Yalaho committed to NC State. ND Okafor to Ole Miss. That's a lot of production walking out the door. But Riley keeps saying the incoming talent is stronger than last year's. We wrote about that in "David Riley says next year's roster has more talent walking in than last year's." Worth a read if you want the full picture on how he's thinking about this. Phillips won't carry the offense by himself. But he's another Power 4 body with upside. And for a program that lost basically everyone, that's a start.
WSU hoops lands a big body from Northwestern, its seventh portal pickup
Tyler Kropp started 10 games for Northwestern as a true freshman, scored 11 points and grabbed nine boards in a win at USC, and now he's a Coug. That's the kind of frontcourt depth WSU needed, and it's the seventh portal pickup for David Riley's overhauled roster. Kropp is listed at 6-9, 230 pounds, and played mostly center for the Wildcats. That didn't give him tons of scoring chances, but he showed what he could do in high school: Ohio's No. 2 player, 1,095 career points, and the school rebounding record. He also played for Argentina's U19 team in the FIBA World Cup last summer and put up 21.7 points and 9.7 boards a game. That's real production. The Cougars have now added ten players for next season, which is good because 12 guys left. Ten of them hit the portal. One went pro in Spain. Another ran out of eligibility. That's a lot of turnover, but Riley is stacking bodies with purpose. Kropp is a big body who already proved he can hang in a Power 4 league. He'll get more chances to show what he can do on offense here. If you want the full picture of how this roster is coming together, our story on Ladji Dembele signing on gives you another look at the frontcourt plan. Go Cougs.
Kirby Moore Breaks Down the Offense After Arizona
Kirby Moore sat down after the Arizona game and didn't sugarcoat anything. He broke down the offense the way you'd expect from a guy who spent his Saturday watching his unit grind through a Pac-12 road game. No excuses. Just film, mechanics, and what needs to click. That's the kind of talk Pullman actually respects. Moore walked through the adjustments, the reads, and the moments where the Cougs either hit or missed. It wasn't a victory lap. It was a coach who knows the margin between a good drive and a stalled one is smaller than a play call sheet. If you watched that game and wondered why certain routes looked open but the ball didn't go there, Moore answers that. He doesn't hide behind jargon. This is the stuff that doesn't make the highlight reel but makes the difference in November. If you want the full picture from Tucson, we already had a piece on the things that won't show up in a box score. Moore's breakdown fits right next to it. Read them together. That's where the real story lives. The offense is still finding its rhythm. Moore knows it. The players know it. But hearing him talk through it, you get the sense he trusts what he sees. That matters more than a clean stat line. Go Cougs.