Baylee Klinger cheers in excitment as she and fellow teammate Sammi Reynolds round the bases to score during the game against Seattle University on May 22, 2021.
From Feb. 26 to March 19, Washington alumni starred across a handful of sporting leagues, with key moments including a men’s soccer defender netting his first MLS goal, a softball infielder crushing numerous playoff extra-base hits, and a men’s basketball superstar dominating in the NBA G-League.
Men’s Basketball: Isaiah Thomas ignites scoring in six Salt Lake City Stars wins
Former Huskies poured in numerous scoring outbursts across the NBA and NBA G-League, with none shining brighter than Salt Lake City Stars guard Isaiah Thomas. Thomas scored at least 27 points in six Stars victories,, including three games scoring over 30 points. His best game of the stretch occurred March 3, when he scored 37 points against the Iowa Wolves.
At the NBA level, Minnesota Timberwolves power forward Jaden McDaniels had 12 double-digit scoring performances in 13 games. His best game came March 5 against the Charlotte Hornets, where he contributed 29 points, four rebounds, and a pair of steals. Additionally, Portland Trail Blazers shooting guard Matisse Thybulle made his season debut March 6 against the Toronto Raptors after battling back from injury. Thus far, he has played five games, featuring a five-steal performance against the Washington Wizards on March 17 and a six-rebound contribution against the Memphis Grizzlies on March 19.
Capital City Go-Go guard Jaylen Nowell also had a hot hand, scoring no less than 16 points in each of nine games. Three of his games were performances of 30 or more points, including a high of 32 during Capital City’s loss to Delaware March 18.
Birmingham Squadron forward Keion Brooks Jr. notched five double-digit scoring games in seven contests, including a 25-point performance March 14 in a loss to the Santa Cruz Warriors. Westchester Knicks guard Jamal Bey tallied four consecutive games with double-digit points — scoring 19 in two. Rounding out G-League performers was Valley Suns forward Moses Wood, who tallied double-digit points in seven of nine games played.
Softball: Baylee Klingler finds power surge during Mexican League Softball postseason
In Mexican League Softball play, the Sultanes de Monterrey played 14 games between Feb. 26 and March 19 — including six playoff games.
Left-handed pitcher Lindsay Lopez recorded three strong regular season performances from the circle. During Monterrey’s 6-1 victory Feb. 28, the southpaw threw a complete game, striking out four and walking two while only allowing three hits. Lopez also had a pair of strong relief outings including March 2 — where she threw two shutout innings while allowing one hit and striking out two — and March 7 — when she tossed four scoreless innings.
Across the final eight regular season contests, infielder Baylee Klingler and outfielder Madison Huskey both served as key contributors from the batter’s box. Klingler knocked 11 hits including one double and three home runs while stacking nine RBIs. Oftentimes batting leadoff, Huskey was reliable at the plate, recording nine hits, two doubles, one triple, and four RBIs while crossing the plate nine times herself.
Klingler was magnificent during the six playoff games, blasting three home runs, one triple, and three doubles along with 11 RBIs. Huskey anchored the leadoff spot in the batting order by hitting a home run and tallying three RBIs March 11, and by scoring twice March 19. Her best playoff performance came March 15 during the Sultanes’ 17-15 extra innings win over Bravas de León as she scored five runs while knocking four hits — including a double and home run — to bring home four runs.
Men’s Soccer: Cristian Roldan and Kalani Kossa-Rienzi net goals for Seattle Sounders
The 2025 Major League Soccer (MLS) season kicked off in February, and two former Huskies made their impact early in the season. During the Sounders’ 5-2 victory over Los Angeles FC on March 8, midfielder Cristian Roldan netted one goal while assisting two more after substituting into the contest. Defender Kalani Kossa-Rienzi — who Seattle selected with the 2024 MLS SuperDraft’s 23rd pick — tallied his first career goal in the game as well.
As a result of strong early season play, the Sounders inked Kossa-Rienzi to a First Team deal to remain with the MLS team for the remainder of the 2025 regular season. The agreement also has club options for the 2026 and 2027 seasons.
Football: Three Huskies change teams during NFL Free Agency
NFL free agency saw a trio of players change homes; two on defense and one on offense.
Linebacker Joe Tryon-Shoyinka — who played four seasons with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers — agreed to a one-year deal with the Cleveland Browns. Defensive back Keith Taylor Jr. — who spent 2024 with the Kansas City Chiefs — joined the Atlanta Falcons on a one-year deal, and former Chicago Bears center Coleman Shelton reunited with his former team, signing a two-year contract with the Los Angeles Rams.
Detroit Lions defensive tackle Levi Onwuzurike and Minnesota Vikings cornerback Byron Murphy Jr. agreed to contract extensions with their current teams. Murphy Jr. netted a three-year, $66 million deal coming off the heels of his best season. The 27-year-old hauled in a career-high six interceptions while making 81 tackles during his second season in the Vikings defense. Onwuzurike’s pact with Detroit is worth $5.5 million for one season.
Volleyball: Hoffman and Schwan excel in respective leagues
Salt Lake Volleyball outside hitter Claire Hoffman and Orlando Valkyries outside hitter Courtney Schwan tallied season-high numbers in kills during March matches in their respective leagues.
Schwan had a hot streak in the Pro Volleyball Federation, recording three matches with double-digit kills. Her numbers became exceedingly better with time, notching 10 kills March 1, followed by 12 kills March 13. She capped off the run with a career-high 13-kill performance during a victory against the San Diego Mojo March 19.
Hoffman — who plays in League One Volleyball’s LOVB Pro — notched 14 kills and 10 digs March 6 during Salt Lake’s 3-1 victory over Omaha.
Women’s Soccer: Papatheodorou scores second goal for OH Leuven
During OH Leuven’s 3-0 victory over Genk FC March 15, forward Ioanna Papatheodorou netted the second goal of her Belgian career by scoring in the game’s 79th minute. Her last goal was scored Feb. 8.
Reach Photo Editor Evan Morud at sports@dailyuw.com. X: @emorudphoto
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