Klay Thompson’s 10th active NBA season is over after “Game 6 Klay” went away, a pro Coug won the XFL Championship and another pro Coug earned his first career save for the New York Yankees.

Thompson has a history of playing his best in the sixth game of NBA playoff series in which the Golden State Warriors have either faced elimination or had the chance to clinch victory.

The original “Game 6 Klay” showed up in the 2016 Western Conference Finals in which Thompson hit 11 3-pointers against the Oklahoma City Thunder.

However, “Game 6 Klay” was nowhere to be found Friday when he posted just 8 points against LeBron James, Anthony Davis and the Los Angeles Lakers. In four games out of six, the Lakers were truly the better team and figure to give the Denver Nuggets quite the contest with a real chance at the NBA Championship.

Thompson himself embraces the Game 6 Klay identity.

“He believes Game 6 Klay is a real thing, and guess what, if Killa Klay believes it, then I believe it,” teammate Draymond Green said on his podcast in 2022.

Is Klay not a superstar? Does Steph need help? This series seemed to affirm both questions leaving the Warriors in a precarious place.

“I obviously wish I would’ve shot the ball much more efficiently. Probably had the worst shooting series I’ve had in a long time,” Thompson said postgame. “At the end of the day, though, I’m still on contract with the Dubs, and I’m going to use it for fuel to be better come next postseason.”

XFL

The Arlington Renegades beat the DC Defenders 35-26 in the inaugural XFL Championship game Saturday.

Pro Coug Brandon Arconado caught a pass for the Rengades and shared the pure jubilation of a championship celebration on his Instagram story.

Willie Taylor III, who spent his last college season at Eastern Kentucky after four years at Wazzu, collected two tackles in the Championship.

Pro Coug offensive lineman Liam Ryan was on the losing side of things as part of the DC Defenders.

Arconado, Taylor and Ryan were just two of the pro Cougs who thrived in the XFL — a group that included Max Borghi and Travell Harris.

MLB

Pro Coug Ian Hamilton picked up his first career save May 6 against the Rays. He has already pitched a career-high 21 innings and seems to have found his place with the New York Yankees. 

NFL

2022 WSU senior Armani Marsh signed an undrafted free agent deal with the Tennessee Titans after a successful rookie tryout.

Pro Cougs Kyle Manzardo has hit a home run in each of the last three games for the Durham Bulls.

Thompson figures to try again next year with the Warriors while Arconado and Taylor go to bed as champions. Hamilton hopes he can help the New York Yankees earn a 28th title in his 28th year of life. They have a long way to go to get there but if Hamilton can keep shutting down teams like Rays like he did, he can take confidence in doing his part.

Go Cougs!