HONK! Fest West turned the city streets into a stage, the Washington Spirit beat the Seattle Reign in a dramatic NWSL match, and four Mariners are in contention for the 2026 MLB All-Star Game.
Brass and drums in full swing: How HONK! Fest West turned Seattle streets into one big stage
This past weekend Seattle was filled with the sounds of brass bands and joyful crowds as HONK! Fest West 2026 took over the city. The annual free festival transforms ordinary city streets, parks and plazas into impromptu outdoor concert halls. Reporters from KOMO note that Columbia City was the epicenter on Saturday, where an atmosphere of total unity through music and movement prevailed. Dozens of musicians from Washington state and across the Pacific Northwest took part. The festival’s main appeal is that there are no highbrow lectures or strict boundaries — it’s a celebration of accessible, vibrant music played right where people gather.
Photo reports from the event captured colorful processions of musicians in bright costumes playing trumpets, tubas, saxophones and drums, while passersby happily danced along. The festival is rooted in the tradition of so-called activist street bands. That means the music is not merely entertainment but a way to engage with urban space and each other: anyone can not only listen but join in. In addition to Saturday’s show in Columbia City, HONK! Fest West’s route ran through Georgetown on Friday and concluded Sunday in Pratt Park. It’s safe to say the event was a breath of fresh air for local communities, showing how art can unite people of all ages and professions without tickets or VIP zones.
Hershfelt delivers win for Washington Spirit over Seattle Reign
On Saturday at Audi Field in Washington, a dramatic National Women’s Soccer League match ended with the Washington Spirit edging the Seattle Reign 2-1. The decisive goal came in the 81st minute from Hal Hershfelt, her first of the season. The match was a highlight of the round, full of twists and bright moments.
The scoring opened in the 18th minute. Spirit midfielder Lacey Santos brilliantly converted a free kick from just outside the box, sending the ball straight into the net. Seattle, however, refused to give up and equalized near the end of the first half. In the 44th minute, Reign defender Lucia Di Guglielmo, attempting to intercept a pass to Maddy Mercado, misplayed and put the ball into her own net. That own goal was Seattle’s only scoring contribution in the match.
The decisive moment came in the second half. In the 81st minute, a shot from Hershfelt — a key player for the team — took a deflection off Reign defender Jordin Bagg, changed trajectory and fooled the goalkeeper, resulting in the goal. The strike not only secured the Spirit’s victory but also helped the team solidify its position in the standings. The match featured many tactical decisions, with both teams using the flanks and set pieces actively. In other matches of the round, note Kansas City Current’s 1-0 victory over Boston Legacy, where league MVP Temwa Chavinga scored. That win extended Kansas City’s home unbeaten streak to 23 matches, an impressive feat for any club.
When analyzing the game, it’s important to understand that an own goal is when a player accidentally scores in their own net, often the result of a failed defensive attempt. Also noteworthy are set pieces like free kicks, where teams execute rehearsed routines. In this match the Spirit were able to capitalize on a free kick, which ultimately determined the outcome. As experts noted in the Associated Press report published on FOX 13 Seattle, the game was tense, and even an unfortunate own goal didn’t break the hosts’ spirit. The Reign’s loss is their fifth of the season and leaves the team in eighth place, raising questions about their defensive play, especially late in matches.
Four Seattle Mariners who deserve a spot in the 2026 All-Star Game
With voting for the MLB All-Star Game about to begin, the Seattle Mariners have several strong candidates. The team has unexpectedly taken the lead in its division, and that’s no accident — several players are enjoying career-best seasons. Four standouts are veteran outfielder Randy Arozarena, superstar Julio Rodríguez, comeback outfielder Luke Raley, and the surprising rookie starter Emerson Hancock. All have real chances to make the mid-summer showcase, which this year will be held July 14 in Philadelphia.
Randy Arozarena is the most prominent candidate. According to Seattle Sports, he may be having the best season of his eight-year career. The 31-year-old left fielder is posting impressive numbers: a .295 batting average, .382 on-base percentage and .464 slugging. These are personal bests if he maintains this pace through the season. Arozarena has 22 extra-base hits (including 6 homers and 15 doubles), 14 stolen bases and 38 runs. By fWAR he’s the top position player on the Mariners at 2.0. Among AL outfielders he’s tied for first in steals, second in wRC+ (146), second in batting average and doubles, and third in runs. He also has one of the lowest soft-contact rates, indicating strong, precise hitting. If he keeps this up, a third All-Star selection is nearly inevitable.
Julio Rodríguez, one of the league’s biggest stars, has been named an AL All-Star three times already (2022, 2023 and 2025). The 25-year-old center fielder is off to the best start of his career: .267/.317/.437 with 10 homers, 11 doubles and 30 runs in 57 games. He ranks in the AL top five among outfielders in homers and top seven in doubles and runs. A caveat: his defensive metrics this year aren’t as elite as before, but his reputation as one of the best center-field defenders should count in his favor. Given it’s Julio Rodríguez, his spot on the All-Star roster looks nearly guaranteed if he keeps producing.
Luke Raley is another outfielder vying for his first All-Star nod. After an injury-marred and disappointing 2025, he returned and became one of the team’s most productive hitters. The 31-year-old right fielder leads the Mariners with 11 homers, fourth among AL outfielders. His slugging is .550, OPS .872, and wRC+ 149. Among AL outfielders with at least 150 plate appearances he ranks third in wRC+ and slugging, and fourth in OPS. However, Raley doesn’t play every day — he’s used in a platoon role (two players splitting a position depending on the handedness of the opposing pitcher). With so many strong AL outfielders, his part-time role could hinder his All-Star consideration.
The most unexpected candidate is Emerson Hancock. Sending a Mariners starter to the All-Star Game wouldn’t be surprising, but Hancock emerging as the team’s best starter is a genuine shock. The 26-year-old right-hander, a former first-round pick, has established himself in the rotation and is having a breakout season. He leads the team’s starters with a 2.78 ERA and a 1.01 WHIP. In 11 starts he’s thrown 68.2 innings, recorded 63 strikeouts and posted a 4-2 record. Among AL starters he’s fourth in WHIP, eighth in ERA and tenth in innings pitched. He’s kept opponents to a .215 batting average and issues few walks (2.09 walks per nine innings). Hancock is the leading candidate from the rotation now, but journalists note George Kirby and Bryan Woo could enter the conversation with a strong June.
The All-Star voting process is split into two phases. First, fans select the starting lineup: one player per position and three outfielders. The player with the most votes in the league automatically earns a starting spot. The remaining finalists (two per position and six outfielders) move to a second fan vote, and winners of that round become starters. The remaining 23 roster spots (including all 12 pitchers) are filled by player voting and selections by the MLB Commissioner's Office.
All four candidates play key roles in the team’s current success. The Mariners lead their division, and their stars deserve attention. For readers unfamiliar with baseball metrics: wRC+ (Weighted Runs Created Plus) measures a player’s run-creation efficiency relative to the league, where 100 is average — higher is better. WHIP (Walks plus Hits per Inning Pitched) indicates how many baserunners a pitcher allows per inning — lower is better. fWAR (Fangraphs Wins Above Replacement) is an aggregate metric estimating a player’s total contribution to team wins compared to a replacement-level player. If Hancock continues pitching as he has and the position players maintain their production, Seattle could have All-Star representation that reflects their status as playoff contenders.
