Wazzu Weekly: Jan. 20, 2023

MLK’s impact on sports, both basketball teams finding rhythm

COLE QUINN

WSU tennis player Maxine Murphy serves the ball during an NCAA match against Montana, Jan, 13. 2023 in Pullman, Wash.

SAM TAYLOR, Evergreen sports co-editor
January 20, 2023

The Daily Evergreen staff commemorated Martin Luther King Jr. Day by creating an MLK-oriented mini-edition focused on his life and legacy.

Our writers in the sports section embraced this topic and explored how sports serve as a catalyst for social justice at WSU and across the country.

Black Student-Athlete Association connects, inspires WSU community

GABRIELLE BOWMAN, Evergreen reporter • January 19, 2023

The Black Student-Athlete Association is one of the first BSAA’s in the country. Hear how they impact the WSU community.

How MLK shaped modern-day athletics

BRANDON WILLMAN, Evergreen reporter • Jan. 19, 2023

MLK recognized the power athletes such as Muhammad Ali could have on the trajectory of justice and civil rights in America.

Muhammad Ali: More than an athlete

TREVOR JUNT, Evergreen deputy sports editor • Jan. 19, 2023

Ali used his platform as one of the best boxers in the world to advocate for the civil rights movement.

Approved protest, profitable progress, and sports

HAYDEN STINCHFIELD, Evergreen columnist • Jan. 19, 2023

Colin Kaepernick sparked a whole new chapter in the fight for equality and the proper and just treatment of Black Americans by simply taking a knee. Since taking a knee, Kaepernick has not played another season in the NFL, not by choice. What is the impact of the NFL’s “approved protests.”

FAITH THOMAS

 

Pac-12 / SWAC Legacy Series bigger than basketball

SAM TAYLOR, Evergreen sports editor • January 19, 2023
The Pac-12 / SWAC Legacy Series gives Pac-12 teams the opportunity to learn about and support the contributions of Historical Black Colleges and Universities and provides HBCUs in the SWAC the opportunity to play power five programs. WSU women’s and men’s team were two of the first programs in the conference to experience the series.
GRACIE ROGERS
Althea Gibson one of the tennis greats. She won five Grand Slam single titles.

A color barrier broken; Althea Gibson’s story

Black Babe Ruth and the greatest to never play

Erick’s Hardwood Hypothesis week 14

Wazzu

WSU women’s basketball hosts USC and No. 9 UCLA in Pullman. USC is fresh-off the biggest win of the entire Pac-12 Conference season.

The Cougs edged out top 25 Oregon for an 85-84 (OT) win Sunday in their biggest win of the season so far. In a conference like the Pac-12 in which half of the team are ranked, the title of biggest win will shift throughout the season so long as the Cougs continue to find success.

WSU men’s basketball faced Utah  Thursday night and face Colorado  Sunday. Utah by two but on Thursday, they lost by 14, 77-63. 

Wazzu has turned around and won many close games, including  their most recent win over Stanford and the not-so-close dredging of a top-ten Arizona.

JULIAN CABALLERO
WSU guard Dylan Darling defends against Stanford guard Michael O’Connell during a NCAA men’s basketball game against Stanford, Jan 14th.

Maxine Murphy won her first-ever Pac-12 Conference Player of the Week Award and seeks to keep playing at a high level against Gonzaga.

COLE QUINN
WSU tennis player Maxine Murphy celebrates after scoring a point during an NCAA match against Montana, Jan, 13.

Track and field started fast with several meets and wins.

WSU swimming continues its Pac-12 schedule in Utah after a busy weekend in Arizona.

More from the Daily Evergreen:

NBA MVP race

Erick’s Hardwood Hypothesis week 14

6.7 mile difference in drug policies for student-athletes

Daylon Daily: Reaching For Ascension

The yips are athletes’ worst nightmare

That is all for this week. Thank you for reading and go Cougs!