season
Wazzu keeps season in one place: 15 stories so far. The section currently leads with “Coug serving crew delivers nine aces, suffocates Texas State”, “No drama, no letup: Cougs handle business in exhibition win”, and “Kamie Ethridge and the Cougs break down 2026 WBB at Media Day”. Nine aces. The Cougs walked into Beasley Coliseum on Saturday, handled the exhibition opponent, and walked out with a win. The unofficial read for people who left Pullman and stayed Cougs. The list below is every season story on Wazzu, newest first.
Coug serving crew delivers nine aces, suffocates Texas State
Nine aces. That's not a typo. The Coug serving crew delivered nine aces and suffocated Texas State in a performance that sounds made up but was very, very real. You don't see that every day, even in Pullman. This wasn't just a win, it was a statement served cold and fast. The Cougs didn't just beat Texas State; they buried them in a way that makes you wonder what's in the water over there. If you missed the full stat-sheet stuffing from the sweep, go back and read "Cougars stuff stat sheets in a sweep over Texas State." That one lays out the numbers that made this possible. This crew is playing with a confidence that's fun to watch. They aren't just grinding out wins; they're making art out of service. Texas State came in thinking they could hang, and the Cougs said, "Nope, not today." It's the kind of performance that makes you text your old roommate: "Did you see what our team just did?" Because you know they didn't. But they should. Go Cougs.
No drama, no letup: Cougs handle business in exhibition win
The Cougs walked into Beasley Coliseum on Saturday, handled the exhibition opponent, and walked out with a win. No drama, no letup. That's the kind of night you want to see from this squad. It wasn't a game that will end up on a highlight reel, but it didn't need to be. The effort was there. The focus was there. Against a team that came to play, Washington State did exactly what it was supposed to do: take care of business and keep building. We've been watching this team figure itself out all season. The defense has had its moments. The offense has had its questions. Nights like this one don't answer everything, but they do show a team that's putting in the work. That matters. If you missed the trip to Fort Collins, go back and read "Wazzu's effort was there in Fort Collins, even if the win wasn't." It puts this performance in the right context. The Cougs didn't get the result they wanted that night, but they didn't fold. They came home, got back in the gym, and showed up ready. That's the stuff you want to see. That's how you build a team that can handle a Pac-12 road trip north or a showdown with a tough opponent. One game at a time. No shortcuts. Go Cougs.
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.
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.
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.
Rowers hit the Snake for the first test of the season
The Snake River doesn't care about your fall fitness test. It's cold, it moves, and it will tell you exactly where you stand before you're halfway through. That's why the Cougs went there for the first real outing of the season. No pool miles, no erg screens. Just eight shells pointed at the water and a chance to see what this crew is made of before the calendar flips. The opener was a solid one. They set the tone early, which is exactly what you want in a head race, where the clock is the only opponent and the course doesn't give anything back. It's not about winning a sprint. It's about rhythm, about finding that long, patient push and holding it when your lungs start asking questions. From what we saw, they answered. If you missed the fall schedule drop, go back and check out "Rowing crew sets its fall schedule, and you know where to find them." That'll tell you where to point the truck for the next one. And while you're at it, the soccer team was busy too, finding its groove against Fresno State. Good weekend for Cougs in motion. But this one was about the water. First test of the season is in the books, and it looks like they came out the other side with something to build on. The Snake doesn't lie. Neither did this crew. 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.
David Riley says next year's roster has more talent walking in than last year's
David Riley isn't sugarcoating last season. 12-20 stinks. He knows it. We know it. But he's got a new roster, and he's not shy about the upgrade. "We have a lot more talent walking in the door than we did last year," Riley said Friday. That's not coachspeak. That's a guy who watched his entire starting five walk out for a combined $10 million in NIL deals elsewhere. Ace Glass to Vanderbilt. ND Okafor to Mississippi State. All of them. Riley's take? He 10x'd their value. Good for them. But now he's got to win with the next wave. And the next wave is eleven newcomers. Nine from the portal, one freshman, one prep alum. Plus two returners. That's almost a full teardown and rebuild in one spring. Riley says the timing helped this time, players bailed early, so the staff had more runway to find replacements. Last year's chaos didn't repeat. The names are interesting. Sebastian Akins from Wake Forest is a physical guard who can score at all three levels. Lazerek Houston is a DII MVP with pro potential. Ladji Dembele brings a 7-2 wingspan from Iowa and UNLV. Riley thinks this group has higher confidence and higher talent than last year's haul. We'll see. But it's worth noting the Cougs also just scheduled Duke in Palm Springs for November. That's a measuring stick. And the Battle of the Palouse is back for two years, which means more games that actually mean something to people who live here.
Cougs on Deck: The 2026 Baseball Class Is Signed and Sealed
The 2026 baseball class is signed, sealed, and on its way to Pullman. That's a good feeling this time of year, when the ink is dry and the only thing left is to see who shows up ready to rake. Washington State put together a group that covers the bases, literally and figuratively, and if the names on the page match the talent in the box scores, the next few springs in Bailey-Brayton Field could be loud again. There's something about signing day that hits different for baseball. Football gets the hats and the cameras. Hoops gets the one-and-done drama. But baseball? Baseball gets kids who actually want to be Cougs, who sign knowing Pullman is a long way from home and that the wind will make every fly ball an adventure. That kind of commitment matters. If you need a break from the diamond, we've got you covered. Check out "Cougs grind through another round in Wisconsin, no fluff, just golf" to see how the links crew is handling business in the cold. Different sport, same grit. For now, welcome to the 2026 class. The work starts when you get here. Go Cougs.
WSU and Gonzaga close league play with a Wednesday night showdown
The Cougs and the Zags will close out the new Pac-12 women's basketball regular season against each other on March 6, and it will be in Spokane at McCarthey Athletic Center. That's a Wednesday night showdown with some history behind it. The full conference schedule dropped Friday, and it's a clean 16-game slate for the eight-team league. Every team plays everyone home and away. Washington State opens league play at home against Texas State on Jan. 9. Gonzaga starts earlier, hosting Oregon State on Jan. 6. Times and TV are still TBD, which is the standard dance this time of year. The head-to-head numbers are what they are. Gonzaga leads the all-time series 14-7, and they swept all four meetings when these two shared the West Coast Conference the last two seasons. That stings. But this is a new league and a new chapter. The Cougs get one more shot at the Zags to close things out, and there's something fitting about that. For more on what's happening around the program, check out the update on Trey Leckner healing up fast and maybe finally seeing the field. Tight end room could use the help. 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.
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.
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.