Wazzu Weekly Jan. 31, 2023

Three Cougs headed to Super Bowl, women’s hoops snags top-25 win

WSU+guard+TJ+Bamba+attempts+to+shoot+the+ball+during+an+NCAA+men%E2%80%99s+basketball+game+against+ASU%2C+Jan+28.

JULIAN CABALLERO

WSU guard TJ Bamba attempts to shoot the ball during an NCAA men’s basketball game against ASU, Jan 28.

SAM TAYLOR, Evergreen sports co-editor

Three Cougs are heading to the Super Bowl, women’s hoops beat a top-25 team and Andrej Jakimovski is a straight shooter.

Here is a collection of the best work from your Daily Evergreen sports section.

Pro Cougs Tracker: A Coug is walking away with a Super Bowl ring no matter what in 2023. When the Philadelphia Eagles and Kansas City Chiefs punched their respective tickets to the Super Bowl, Sunday, WSU became the Pac-12 school with the most Super Bowl participants.

The Eagles are home to offensive lineman Andre Dillard and backup quarterback and WSU folk hero Gardner Minshew. The Chiefs are home to NFL rookie Jaylen Watson. Watson has snagged two terrific turnovers off of back-to-back interceptions in the Divisional and Championship Rounds.

On Feb. 12, the three Cougs will meet in the Super Bowl.

Cougs hold off Sun Devils to split series 

HAYDEN STINCHFIELD, Evergreen reporter • Jan. 30, 2023

Jakimovski scored 22 points on a 50% clip, including a 50% 3-point clip. Five of his seven shots were 3-point shots, an absolutely crucial component to Cougar’s success.

The Cougs conquered a single-digit loss to Arizona State team who beat them earlier in the year.

WSU women’s basketball beat Arizona State, the lone team without a Pac-12 win, and the top-25 Arizona Wildcats over the weekend.

Charlisse Leger-Walker returned to the team after spending time in New Zealand because of a family matter.

WSU track and field recorded 43 personal bests between two meets.

WSU tennis lost their two matches in Virginia against tough competition

WSU swim team falls to Utah despite strong effort

LUKE WESTFALL, Evergreen reporter • Jan. 26, 2023

WSU swimming lost to Utah but is preparing to host Idaho in their first home meet of 2023 at Gibb Pool.

Featured story:

Family key selling point for WSU volleyball

BRANDON WILLMAN, Evergreen reporter • Jan. 26, 2023

“We encourage our current athletes to reach out and interact with recruits because one of the top things that recruits always say they are looking for is a sense of belonging and knowing the teams’ vibe, Burdette said.”

Freshman fill-in or phenom, meet Astera Tuhina

LUKE WESTFALL, Evergreen reporter • Jan. 23, 2023

More from the Daily Evergreen:

Former Coug Carrie (Couturier) Yerty dies 

Carrie Yerty was a WSU volleyball standout who holds the program record in career blocks (615) that stands to this day. She was an impactful high school and college volleyball coach.

Dickert inks deal with WSU through 2027

WSU football’s 2023 schedule

Cougs newest addition is another international star with Pac-12 experience

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