In the roundup: the women’s community Club Cascadia is battling the “Seattle Freeze” and supporting local businesses; the Mariners are promoting their 20-year-old prospect Felnin Celesten, their 20-year-old prospect, from High-A Everett to Double-A Arkansas; analysts are breaking down the Seahawks’ defensive position battles ahead of training camp.
Club Cascadia: how a women’s community in Seattle is busting myths and supporting business
Club Cascadia, a women’s community in Seattle with momentum, has set an ambitious goal—not only to bring women together, but also to help local entrepreneurs. Club founder Olivia Kooning, who moved to Seattle four years ago from Atlanta, launched the project in 2023, and in that time the community has grown to nearly 1,500 members. The club’s main feature is an attempt to debunk the so-called “Seattle Freeze,” a term locals use to describe the difficulty of making new connections in this city. The idea is that, because Seattle has a polite yet closed culture, newcomers find it hard to move from surface-level conversation to real friendship. By creating warm, welcoming spaces, Club Cascadia challenges this stereotype, emphasizing genuine support and business connections.
In an interview with the ARC Seattle program, Olivia Kooning said the club idea came from her long-term travel and life as a digital nomad in cities such as London, Paris, and Florence. It was the experience of constantly changing locations and interacting with different communities that led her to create a place where women could not only meet—but grow professionally together. Club membership has already produced tangible results: members recommend each other’s services, find business partners, and more often choose local companies for their needs. That’s how Club Cascadia becomes more than just a hobby group—it turns into an economic driver for small business in Seattle.
Notably, the concept is built not only on a social mission, but an economic one as well. When women come together, they begin to consciously support local entrepreneurs—from coffee shops to beauty salons. Kooning stresses that her goal is to create an ecosystem where mutual help becomes the norm rather than an exception. The club plans to expand its network and host in-person events designed to dispel the myth of Seattle being unapproachable. Judging by the growth dynamics, this community truly has the power to change city culture—making it more open and friendly. More details about the project can be found in a report by KOMO News.
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Mariners promote Felnin Celesten to AA: 20-year-old phenom one step closer to MLB
The Seattle Mariners continue investing in their future, and the latest confirmation came with the promotion of top prospect shortstop Felnin Celesten from High-A Everett to Double-A Arkansas. The move was reported by Milb Central, and the player himself shared the news on his Instagram. For the 20-year-old Dominican, who is called a “five-tool talent,” it’s a significant step up the career ladder—especially after his first two years as a professional were marred by injuries.
Celesten, who signed a franchise-record $4.7 million bonus with the Mariners in 2023, currently ranks 70th in MLB Pipeline’s top prospects and 94th according to Baseball America. His 2026 season in High-A has been impressive: in 80 games for Everett, he’s produced a .314/.409/.534 line with 13 home runs, four triples, 21 doubles, and 18 stolen bases with an .943 OPS. Particularly notable is that he has put together a 25-game hitting streak, and over his last 26 games he’s clearly added more power, sending eight balls over the fence. That’s a sharp contrast to his first full season in 2025, when he played for Low-A Modesto and Everett: back then his numbers were more modest—.273/.345/.375, six home runs, and a .721 OPS in 104 games. The progress is obvious, and now Celesten will need to prove his level at the Double-A stop, where the pitching is significantly more difficult.
It’s worth clarifying that MLB’s minor league system is divided into several levels: Rookie, Low-A, High-A, Double-A, and Triple-A before the Major League show. Double-A is considered a critical stage where many talents either blossom—or start running into serious trouble due to a higher level of competition. For Celesten, a shortstop—one of the most demanding defensive positions—this is a test not only of raw power, but also of his ability to adapt to a faster ball and the trickier combinations pitchers are using. His “five-tool potential” means scouts rate his skills in running, throwing, defense, power hitting, and contact hitting as above average, but until now he’s lacked consistency because of injuries (in 2023 he missed the entire season with a hamstring strain, and in 2024 he lost part of his time due to a wrist injury that required surgery).
Most interesting of all is how quickly the Mariners are moving this kid along. He’s already gone through High-A in less than half a season, and if he performs well with the Arkansas Travelers, we could see him in Triple-A before the end of 2026. Given that Seattle has long been searching for a long-term solution at shortstop (J.P. Crawford is still there, but his contract runs out after the 2027 season), Celesten could be the answer. In his ESPN note citing Baseball America, the promotion’s significance is highlighted: “Mariners promote Felnin Celesten to Double-A”—this isn’t just another roster move, but a signal that the club believes he can overcome injuries and fully realize his talent. ESPN also notes that the $4.7 million bonus is still a record for Seattle’s international signings, placing special responsibility on the young player.
Outlook: if Celesten keeps up this level, he won’t just join the list of top prospects—he could also make his MLB debut as early as 2027. Still, the path is a rough one—Double-A often becomes a graveyard for immature talent. Even so, his numbers this season (a .409 on-base percentage, nearly a 1:1 ratio of home runs to stolen bases) suggest a well-rounded development. For Mariners fans, it’s a reason to keep a close eye on the farm system with renewed optimism. As reported in the original article on Seattle Sports, Celesten’s success in Double-A will be a key indicator of how real his “five-tool” arsenal actually is—and whether he can become the franchise face in the coming years.
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Analyzing Seattle Seahawks defensive position battles ahead of the 2026 training camp
The Seattle Seahawks enter the 2026 training camp with a level of roster stability that’s rare for a reigning champion. The team retained nearly 87% of game snaps from its 2025 winning season, the third-best mark among all Super Bowl winners since 2010. Ahead of camp at Lake Washington, analysts from Seattle Sports break down which defensive positions are still up for competition and which players are at risk of not making the final roster of 53 by August 30.
On the defensive line, the situation is more than solid. Leonard Williams and Byron Murphy Jr. return as arguably the best defensive tackle duo in the NFL, while veteran Jarran Reed sets the tone with his consistency. The biggest intrigue is Riley Mills, who spent much of his rookie season recovering from a torn ACL suffered even earlier in college. In the Super Bowl, he delivered a stunning sack, reminding everyone why he was considered a second-round talent before the injury. Now Mills is healthy and can raise the level of an already elite group. The battle for the backup nose tackle spot promises to be intense. Brandon Pili has the edge in experience, but undrafted rookie Uso Siamalo and seventh-round pick Deven Eastern bring intriguing potential. The catch: Eastern’s health is in question—he was placed on the PUP list (physically unable to perform) before camp. Mike Morris, whose style overlaps somewhat with Mills, could be on the bubble, but his special teams play gives him a chance to stick around.
On the edge, the Seahawks have already formed their core four. Five-time Pro Bowl selection DeMarcus Lawrence, veteran Uchenna Nwosu, and Derrick Hall, who recently signed an extension, are all on the roster. Dante Fowler Jr. is set to replace the departed Boye Mafe. However, depth raises questions due to age and contract uncertainty after this season. That’s why the team is pinning hopes on younger outside rushers: Jared Ivey, Connor O’Toole, and undrafted Aidan Hubbard. Notably, the Seahawks kept Ivey and O’Toole on the roster all last season despite a lack of meaningful playing time—suggesting they’re highly regarded for their potential. Hubbard received guaranteed $267,500, more than any other team undrafted free agent. The club clearly hopes that at least one player from that group starts getting rotational snaps.
Linebackers have turned into one of the deepest positions. Ernest Jones IV is coming off a season that earned him a spot on the second All-Pro team (the symbolic team of the best players in the league selected by journalists and coaches). Drake Thomas unexpectedly broke through in 2025, and Tyrees Knight gives the Seahawks a quality option at the starter level. Chazz Surratt and Patrick O’Connell will fight for a final spot. Surratt may lack pure linebacker skills, but his value on special teams is enormous—last year he recorded 11 tackles even while missing six games due to injury.
In the secondary, the key figure remains Nick Emmanuel-Williams—the Defensive Rookie of the Year award finalist and Mike Macdonald’s versatile “Swiss Army knife” in his scheme. At 22, he hasn’t reached his ceiling yet. Veteran Julian Love is the primary traditional safety, while second-round pick Budda Clarke and Ty Okada are in the running to replace the departed Coby Bryant. Clarke is viewed as a long-term starter, but if he isn’t ready for a full workload from Week 1, Okada proved his reliability with 11 starts last year. Free agent Rodney Thomas II, who made 26 starts for Indianapolis over four seasons, could also compete for a starting role if Clarke needs time.
The most open competition is at cornerback. Devon Witherspoon, after a strong Super Bowl, looks like an ascending superstar, and Josh Jobe has firmly claimed the outside corner spot opposite. The question comes when Witherspoon shifts inside (a position in the passing coverage). Who will replace the snaps of Riq Woolen on the outside edge? The early favorite is third-round pick Julian Neale—he has the ideal mix of length and physicality for that role, and he plays well in zone coverage that fits Macdonald’s scheme. But Neale has only 16 college starts, and he’s relatively recently converted from safety to cornerback. If he isn’t ready, Nehemiah Pritchett—familiar with the system—could gain an edge early in the season. For Pritchett, this year could be a decisive one in his career with Seattle. Noah Igbinoghene is the dark horse; over six seasons he hasn’t lived up to first-round expectations, but Macdonald knows how to develop players. Finally, seventh-round pick Andre Fuller, who has similar physical traits and a path from safety to cornerback like Neale, could also contend for a roster spot.
The Seahawks head into camp with a level of stability that’s rare even for a champion, giving them room to focus on developing younger players and addressing depth questions. With several veterans potentially leaving after this season, this is exactly the time to lay the foundation for repeating success. Details on the Seahawks’ future can be found in Seattle Sports articles, including this analysis of defensive position battles.
