Year-End Countdown: 710 ESPN Seattle’s top stories of 2018

Dec 19, 2018, 4:35 PM | Updated: Dec 23, 2018, 11:02 pm

710 ESPN Seattle's Top 10 Stories of 2018
10. Seattle Storm win 3rd WNBA championship

9. WSU cracks top 10 rankings, makes run at CFP

8. Seahawks draft Shaquem Griffin, reuniting him with twin Shaquill in Seattle

7. Mariners' James Paxton becomes first Canadian to throw a no-hitter in Canada

6. UW Huskies earn Rose Bowl bid after winning Pac-12 title, 6th straight Apple Cup

5. Earl Thomas holds out through preseason, suffers season-ending injury in Week 4

4. Seahawks clinch return to postseason in supposed 'transition' year

Robinson Cano, left, and Edwin Diaz pose for photos at a CitiField news conference, in New York, Tuesday, Dec. 4, 2018. The Mets acquired eight-time All-Star second baseman Robinson Cano and major league saves leader Edwin Diaz from the Seattle Mariners in a seven-player trade Monday. (AP Photo/Richard Drew)

2. NHL officially grants Seattle an expansion franchise to start play in 2021-22

1. Seahawks turn a new leaf, making big changes on defense and with coaching staff

BY BRENT STECKER

Seattle Sports

Another year of Seattle sports is just about in the books.

We enjoyed a championship, received the news that two new pro sports teams will call the city home in a few short years, and witnessed big transitions being executed by both the Seahawks and Mariners.

To make sense of the year in Seattle sports, we had 22 members of the 710 ESPN Seattle staff – hosts, producers, reporters, writers and board operators – weigh in with their votes on what the top stories of the year are. We had 16 stories to choose from, and the top spot went down to the wire. With that all out of the way, we bring you 710 ESPN Seattle’s top 10 stories of 2018.

10. Seattle Storm win third WNBA championship

Sue Bird stuck around to see if the Seattle Storm’s rebuild could take them to another championship. Good call. The Storm gave their Hall of Fame-caliber point guard a new running mate in 2016 No. 1 draft pick Breanna Stewart, and a few years later the two UConn alums led Seattle to a sweep of the Washington Mystics in the WNBA Finals. That gave the Storm a third championship trophy to go with the ones Bird helped them win in 2004 and 2010, pretty much cementing the franchise for now as the most successful in Seattle pro sports history. While Stewart was the easy choice for WNBA MVP, Bird (37 years old at the time) reminded the league she’s still a force to be reckoned with by putting together a legendary fourth quarter performance to clinch a spot in the WNBA Finals.

Voting results: 62 points

9. WSU cracks top 10 rankings, makes run at CFP

It was the UW Huskies who came into the 2018 college football season with aspirations of returning to the four-team College Football Playoff. They didn’t get as close as the rival WSU Cougars, however, who rode a wave of momentum behind graduate transfer quarterback Gardner Minshew, who proved to be as adept in running Mike Leach’s Air Raid offense as he is at growing a mustache. It was an incredible run for the Cougars, who were honoring the memory of Tyler Hilinski, their expected starting quarterback for 2018 who died suddenly in January. WSU cracked the top 10 rankings towards the end of the regular season and was in position to make a run at the Pac-12 championship and a CFP berth until the Huskies beat the Cougs in a snowy Apple Cup in Pullman.

Voting results: 73 points

8. Seahawks reunite twins Shaquem and Shaquill Griffin

Shaquill Griffin came to the Seahawks in 2017, a promising cornerback out of Central Florida who quickly emerged himself as a potential heir apparent to All-Pro Richard Sherman. There was more to his story, though – a lot more. Back at Central Florida was his twin brother Shaquem, who not only was a standout linebacker for the Knights but had become so despite having had his left hand amputated as a child. The story of Shaquem Griffin making the NFL is incredible on its own. For him to be reunited with his twin brother because the Seahawks picked him in the fifth round of April’s draft, especially with tons of speculation heading into the draft that Seattle might select him, was an absolutely special moment for Seahawks fans.

Welcome to the NFL, Shaquem!@ShaquemGriffin takes the #NFLDraft stage as a member of the @Seahawks with his brother @ShaquillG.

📺: NFLN/ESPN pic.twitter.com/km1hW5pA3I

— NFL (@NFL) April 28, 2018

Voting results: 77 points

7. James Paxton throws sixth no-hitter in Mariners history

James Paxton is so Canadian he’s known as the Big Maple. He’s so Canadian an American bald eagle paid respects to his Canadian-ness. And he’s so Canadian that he is the only Canadian pitcher in MLB history to throw a no-hitter in Canada. That happened on May 8 at Toronto’s Rogers Centre, a masterful performance that not only led the Mariners to a 5-0 victory but was the first complete game, let alone shutout or no-hitter, of Paxton’s career. Sadly that will have to stand as the most memorable moment of Paxton in a Mariners uniform. He was traded to the Yankees six months later – but we’ll get to that.

Voting results: 84 points

6. UW earns first Rose Bowl bid in 18 years

Three losses in Washington’s first nine games ruled the Huskies out of contention for the College Football Playoff, but when they went to Pullman for the Apple Cup on the day after Thanksgiving, there was still plenty to play for. Namely, a chance to play for the Pac-12 championship and the Rose Bowl bid that comes with it. Done, done and done. Star running back Myles Gaskin led the Huskies to a memorable 28-15 win over the Cougs in a snowy Apple Cup, UW held off Utah 10-3 a week later in a defensive struggle of a Pac-12 Championship game, and a classic Rose Bowl matchup against Ohio State was set for New Year’s Day 2019.

Voting results: 96 points

5. Earl Thomas holds out, suffers season-ending injury

The Seahawks lost several Pro Bowl-caliber players before the 2018 season, but one of the few holdovers was Earl Thomas. When it was time for training camp, though, the three-time first-team All-Pro was nowhere to be seen. He announced he would be holding out, feeling that he deserved a contract extension entering the final season of his deal. The Seahawks didn’t budge, and Thomas ended his holdout in time for the regular season. He played great upon his return, but he also was a bit of a headache for the front office to deal with, re-igniting speculation that Seattle could trade him at some point during the season. In Week 4 in Arizona, however, it all came crashing down. Thomas broke his leg, proving both himself and the Seahawks right for their respective positions on a contract extension, and he left a lasting image while being carted off the field with a gesture that is not fit for publication.

Voting results: 119 points

4. Seahawks clinch a return to the playoffs

The Seahawks missed out on the playoffs in 2017, ending a five-year postseason streak, and it really seemed like the days of the Hawks as perennial contenders were over. No, really, we all thought that. Pete Carroll, Russell Wilson and company sure didn’t, though. With an influx of new talent, new coaches at key spots and an emphasis on getting back to being a run-first team, the 9-6 Seahawks beat the Kansas City Chiefs 38-31 in Week 16 to clinch their return to the postseason after a one-year vacation. Chris Carson, Rashaad Penny and Mike Davis gave Seattle production out of the running back position for the first time since Marshawn Lynch left after the 2015 season. The offensive line shed the distinction of the laughingstock of the league. Tyler Lockett emerged as a true No. 1 wide receiver. Bradley McDougald led a new secondary that is strong even if it has no remaining ties to the Legion of Boom. Frank Clark and Jarran Reed became a formidable duo on the defensive line. Rookie Michael Dickson used his powers in the dark arts for good in the punting game. And keeping things together through the astoundingly successful rebuild were the cornerstones of Carroll, Wilson, Doug Baldwin, Bobby Wagner and K.J. Wright.

Voting results: 136 points

Suggested reading

O’Neil: Seahawks’ remarkable feat was transforming without tanking
Moore: Supposed ‘transitional’ season could be one of Seahawks’ best
Pete Carroll Post-Show: Seahawks’ clear identity in December a great sign

3. Mariners’ rebuild starts with huge offseason trades

The Seattle Mariners finished 89-73 in 2018, quite the respectable record and one that would put them in the playoffs most years. Unfortunately for the M’s, that wasn’t good enough to end their postseason drought, and rather than try to contend for an American League Wild Card spot for one more year, they blew it all up. OK, well, that’s not the terminology they would use. General manager Jerry Dipoto called it a “step back” first, then said he was “re-imagining” the roster. If you were wondering what that means, it’s this: Mike Zunino – gone. And James Paxton. Alex Colomé, we hardly knew you. And those three trades were just the beginning. After a full week of rumors and anticipation, the Mariners traded All-Stars Robinson Canó, Edwin Díaz and Jean Segura in the span of a couple hours on Dec. 3. The only untouchable members of Seattle’s roster appear to be All-Star right fielder Mitch Haniger and left-handed starter Marco Gonzales, who for now look like the anchors the Mariners will build around as they prepare to return to contention in a year or two. By the way, with all of the trades Dipoto has made, the farm system really does look pretty good now.

Voting results: 147 points

2. NHL officially grants Seattle an expansion team

After years of talk and preparation and red tape, the NHL Seattle group’s push for major league professional hockey in the Emerald City became a reality on Dec. 4 with the NHL’s Board of Governors officially ruling that Seattle will join as the league’s 32nd team in the 2021-22 season. The start date was pushed back a year from what NHL Seattle was shooting for, but it makes sense considering the Oak View Group couldn’t break ground on building a new arena under the iconic Seattle Coliseum roof until the NHL made things official. We still don’t know what the name will be or what colors the team will wear, but we do know where the team’s practice facility will be built and what the the rules will be for Seattle’s expansion draft in 2021. In other words, it’s really happening. We’re a hockey town now.

HISTORY: Seattle is awarded the NHL’s 32nd franchise. #ReturnToHockey #NHLSeattle

Full Story | https://t.co/9Zvs0kAF2R pic.twitter.com/jj9Hpse8xr

— NHL Seattle (@NHLSeattle_) December 4, 2018

Voting results: 193 points

1. Seahawks turn a new leaf with roster, coaching staff

The Seahawks became the identity for Seattle sports fans in the 2010s. The Legion of Boom established itself as one of the most fearsome entities in the NFL, leading one of the best defenses in league history. The running attack fronted by Marshawn Lynch made the Seahawks’ offense stand out in a league leaning more and more on the passing game. And above all, they brought a Super Bowl trophy (and nearly a second) home to Seattle. But by the end of the 2017 season, the Seahawks looked old, beat up, and unable to keep up in the NFC. They missed the playoffs for the first time in six years, and it was time to start over. Boy, did they ever. Michael Bennett was traded to Philadelphia, Richard Sherman was cut and signed with the 49ers, and Cliff Avril and Kam Chancellor were forced out of the game due to injury. As if the defense losing those four Pro Bowlers wasn’t enough, head coach Pete Carroll cleaned house on his coaching staff. Offensive line coach Tom Cable, offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell and defensive coordinator Kris Richard were all let go, making way for Mike Solari, Brian Schottenheimer and Ken Norton Jr. to take their places. By springtime, the Seahawks as we had known them were gone, opening the door for general manager John Schneider to put together a brand new core for the Hawks to build around.

Voting results: 196 points

Honorable mention

• M’s closer Edwin Díaz wins AL Reliever of the Year (45 points)
• Warriors-Kings NBA preseason game is final KeyArena event (16 points)
• M’s sign Jerry Dipoto, Scott Servais to extensions (12 points)
• UW baseball and softball both reach the College World Series (8 points)
• UW makes NIT in Mike Hopkins’ first season, opens 2018-19 No. 25 (5 points)
• XFL announces Seattle will be part of league’s relaunch in 2020 (2 points)