Mount Hood

Soccer and volleyball seniors

Chloe Asciutto hits the ball over the net during a match. | @wou_wolves on Instagram

MEN’S SOCCER

Abraham Villalobos — Forward/winger from North Salem High School, and also played in the Portland Timbers Club Academy. Villalobos has career totals of 12 goals and four assists with single-game career highs of two goals and two assists. Villalobos has played a total of 60 games for the Wolves. 

Aiden Azavedo — Midfielder from Jesuit High School and a transfer from Gonzaga. Throughout his time at Western, he’s scored two goals and had two assists with single-game career highs of one goal and one assist. He’s played a total of 48 games for the Wolves.

Alex Grignon — Forward/winger from Summit High School, where he was a part of the team that won the 2021 state championship against West Linn 6-0 and contributed with a goal. Since joining the Wolves, he’s scored 15 goals and contributed eight assists and has played a total of 59 games. His single-game career highs are two goals and two assists.

Alejandro Valdes-Dordea — Forward from West Linn High School and transferred from Utah Tech. He’s scored one goal and one assist in his time with the Wolves and has played a total of nine games for the team since joining last season. 

Aidan Harvey — Defender from Bremerton High School in Washington, and a transfer from West Liberty University after starting his career at Tacoma Community College. This season, he has appeared in three games for the Wolves against Hawaii Hilo and in both games against Saint Martin’s. 

Caleb Kiner — Defender from Dallas High School and a transfer from Gonzaga. As a freshman at Gonzaga, he made the West Coast Conference All-Freshman Team and scored a game-winning goal against the University of Denver. He’s played a total of 35 games for the Wolves and netted a goal in the Wolves’ match against Saint Martin’s Oct. 24. He has started every game he’s played dating back to last season. 

Harper Neuback — Defender from Churchill High School in Eugene, where he was named Second Team All-State as a senior and was All-Midwestern League First Team three times. He has scored one goal this season at Saint Martin’s and added assists against Cal Poly Humboldt and Seattle Pacific. He has played 4,732 total minutes for the Wolves since the start of his career and has appeared in a total of 61 games. 

Reis Corpuz — Defender from Honolulu, Hawaii, who transferred from Wingate University, where he played in 41 games and scored two goals and three assists. He has played a total of 57 minutes for the Wolves this season.

WOMEN’S SOCCER

Bella Lopez — Goalkeeper from College Park High School in California. Lopez has 40 total saves over her career with the Wolves, along with a .816 career save percentage. This season, Lopez has a .903 save percentage, the highest she’s had in any season thus far. Her single-game career high in saves is eight versus Simon Fraser earlier this season, and earned GNAC Defensive Player of the Week honors for her efforts that week.

Lauren Rose — Forward from Roseville High School in California, where she was the team MVP and earned First Team All-League honors twice and Sacramento All-Metro honors in her senior season. She also played for the Blues FC NPL club team. Through her career with the Wolves, Rose has scored two goals and two assists, with career highs of one goal and one assist. This year she has started all 17 games and received GNAC Defensive Player of the Week honors for her contributions in a win against then #1 ranked Colorado School of Mines. Rose is one of three team captains for the Wolves.

Alyna Slater — Midfielder from Aiea High School in Hawaii, where she was selected for the Oahu Senior All-Star game. Slater also played club soccer for Surf Soccer Hawaii. Since joining the Wolves, she has scored two goals and four assists and has appeared in 57 games, starting in 33 of them. 

Ally Beavers — Midfielder from Puyallup High School in Washington, where she was a team captain in her junior and senior seasons as well as receiving All-League, All-District and All-State honors. Beavers was also a part of a state championship win in 2019 and played club soccer for Washington Premier FC. In 2024, she transferred from the University of Wyoming, and since joining the Wolves, she has career totals of two goals and eight assists, including six assists this season alone. This is Beavers’ second season as a team captain.

Savannah Taylor — Forward from Chiwana High School in Washington. Taylor also played for the Three Rivers Soccer Club, and since joining the Wolves has appeared in 45 games, scoring four goals and adding two assists.

Emma Smith — Midfielder from Burlington-Edison High School in Washington, where she was a three-sport athlete, playing basketball and running track in addition to soccer. Smith received First Team All-State honors and was the Skagit Valley Herald’s Girls Soccer Player of the Year. She has scored two goals, added one assist and appeared in 54 games. 

Leah Heugly — Defender from Real Salt Lake Academy High School in Utah, where she played soccer, basketball and volleyball, and received Defensive Player of the Year Honors in the 2021-22 season. Heugley joined the Wolves in 2024 after transferring from Portland State, and has appeared and started in 35 games, adding an assist versus Seattle Pacific in a win that was a part of the school record-breaking six-game win streak earlier this season. 

Jada Foster — Defender from Crescent Valley High School, where she made the Mid-Willamette First Team in 2018 and 2019 and made Second Team All-State in 2018. Foster also won two state championships with Crescent Valley in 2018 and 2019 and was a part of the Eugene Timbers Futbol Club. In addition, she was a three-sport athlete playing basketball and participating in track and field. Foster has played in 46 games with the Wolves, starting 45 of them, and has scored four goals and added two assists. Last fall, Foster was named a team captain and has logged 4,028 minutes over the course of her career at Western. Foster also received First Team All-Conference honors from the GNAC last season and was named GNAC Defensive Player of the Week just last week. 

VOLLEYBALL

Chloe Asciutto — Middle blocker from Camas High School in Washington, where she made First Team All-League and Second Team All-State in her senior season. Asciutto had an immediate impact for the Wolves, playing in 22 of 26 matches in her first year and had a 1.36 kills per set ratio while being second on the team in blocks. Over the course of her career with the Wolves, she has a K/S ratio of 1.71 and is having a career year in the statistic this season with 2.14. Asciutto has single game career highs of 16 kills, four assists, 20.5 points, nine aces, 12 digs and seven total blocks. Over her entire career with the Wolves, she has appeared in 96 matches.

Kiley West — Setter from Discovery Canyon High School in Colorado, where she was a two-time All-Conference honorable mention, was a part of regional winning title teams all four years, recorded 991 assists and 402 digs. West also made academic All-State twice. After high school, West joined Chadron State where she appeared in 25 matches and recorded 23 kills, had a 3.27 A/S ratio and 137 digs. After transferring from Chadron State, West has appeared in five matches for the Wolves recording five digs in a match versus Cal State East Bay earlier this season. Since joining the Wolves, West has nine total digs. 

 

Contact the author at howlsports@mail.wou.edu

Chauncey Billups arrested

Chauncey Billups coaches the Trail Blazers from the sidelines. | @theoregonian on Instagram

Nov. 5 2025 | Isaac Garcia | Sports Editor

Disclaimer: this is an ongoing matter and the individuals discussed in this article are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

The NBA world was shocked the morning of Oct. 23 when it was announced that Portland Trail Blazers head coach Chauncey Billups had been arrested by the FBI at his home in Lake Oswego. He was indicted on charges of wire fraud conspiracy and money laundering conspiracy, both tied to an illegal gambling ring that included members of the Gambino crime family as well as Miami Heat guard Terry Rozier and Cleveland Cavaliers assistant Damon Jones. This isn’t the first time Rozier has been on the radar for gambling-related activities, as in March of 2023, he was investigated by the NBA after they were alerted by a sportsbook that he was placing suspicious wagers on himself. Very soon after the news broke, it was announced by the NBA that both Billups and Rozier would be placed on leave from their respective teams. 

The investigation — called “Operation: Royal Flush” — allegedly has Billups engaging in illegal gambling activities dating back to 2019. The FBI alleges that Billups and Rozier were “face cards” that helped bring in guests to rigged poker games. According to the FBI, these poker games included rigged shuffling machines, special contact lenses and glasses that allowed people, like Billups, to read the backs of cards. Because of the rigged machines, it could be determined by the machine at the table who would receive the winning hand. Once the conspirator had this information, they would use secret hand signals to other conspirators, who would use this information to win high-stakes games, which included up to six-figure hands. Other technology included a chip tray analyzer, which would read everyone’s cards with a hidden camera. 

In addition — while not stating Billups’ name explicitly — it’s alleged that someone was giving out insider gambling information at some time in March of 2023 about Trail Blazers players who would be missing games to other conspirators in the case. While only the alias of “Co-Conspirator 8” is given, the information about Co-Conspirator 8 matches up strongly with Billups. 

Similarly, it’s alleged that Damon Jones gave away insider information that LeBron James would not be playing in a game against the Bucks Feb. 9 of 2023, and allegedly sent a text message to a co-conspirator that read, “get a big bet on Milwaukee tonight.” It’s important to note that this information came before James was publicly listed on any sort of injury report.

For those unfamiliar with gambling — specifically sports gambling — a player of James’ stature greatly impacts betting odds, and the news of him being unavailable in a matchup will swing those betting odds towards the other team, thus making the total payout of a successful bet for said team — in this case, the Bucks — less profitable. However, if someone received the information that James would not be playing before it was public information and placed the bet before odds could change, they would receive a higher payout from a successful bet, which on Feb. 9, 2023, would have been the case as the Bucks won the game 115-106. 

After Billups’ arrest, he was arraigned in a Portland courthouse, where he was released on multiple conditions. Included in these conditions were that he had to surrender his passport and that he could not travel outside of Oregon or Colorado — his home state — with an exception for travel to New York, where court proceedings for the case are to be held. When leaving the courtroom in a Klutch Sports hoodie and grey sweats, Billups — who was also a Hall of Fame player and 2004 finals MVP with the Detroit Pistons — was surrounded by reporters, to whom he said nothing before getting into a vehicle and leaving. Terry Rozier was released after putting his home up as collateral for a $6 million bail, and his next scheduled court appearance is Dec. 8. 

As for the Trail Blazers, they’ve announced in a statement that they “are aware of the allegations involving head coach Chauncey Billups, and the Trail Blazers are fully cooperating with the investigation.” They then named Tiago Splitter, the former San Antonio Spurs center who won a title with the Spurs in 2014, as the interim head coach. Billups is due back in court Nov. 24, and his future as a coach seems almost nonexistent as he faces up to 20 years in federal prison. 

While many fans are rightfully concerned about what this may mean for the team, some fans, most of whom have been calling for his firing for some time, were more than happy to see Billups go and make way for a new hire. In their first game after the incident, the Trail Blazers beat the Golden State Warriors in the Moda Center by a score of 139-119 and have gone 4-2 since that game. 

It remains to be seen not only how the case will be resolved in a court of law, but how it affects the team long-term. For the basketball product, it’s worth noting that Splitter comes from a background that includes who many feel was the best coach of the decade in Gregg Popovich, and he was a member of the 2014 Spurs team that moved the ball beautifully en route to a dismantling of the Miami Heat in those NBA finals. This could signal what kind of offense he might try to install in Portland. 

For the most part, Blazers players have refused to take media questions about the matter, with the sole exception of Deni Avdija, who said, “It’s not an easy situation. We’re thinking about him and his family. We really love Chauncey and what he’s done with this organization. I don’t know a lot of the details, I don’t really want to get into that, I’m trying to focus on the game. But my heart is with him and his family for sure.”

This is the next episode in an emerging trend of gambling troubles in professional sports. Just last year, Toronto Raptors forward Jontay Porter — the younger brother of current Brooklyn Nets forward Michael Porter Jr. — received a lifetime ban for violating the NBA’s gambling guidelines and currently faces federal charges himself. 

The NBA isn’t the only league facing gambling-related issues, as the NFL has had four different instances of punishing players or coaches for violating league gambling policy since 2019. 

This saga correlates with a 2018 Supreme Court ruling that removed a federal ban on gambling. At the time of writing, 32 states — plus Washington, D.C. and Puerto Rico — allow some form of online sports betting, making it more accessible than it’s ever been. According to statista.com, sports betting revenue generated in the United States went from $400 million in 2018 to more than $11 billion in 2023, and according to a study from JAMA Internal Medicine, the online search for “am I addicted to gambling” has increased by 23% since 2018 through June 2024. While this doesn’t necessarily explain the rise in recent gambling scandals in sports, it does raise the question: Is the increased acceptance of gambling in the United States infiltrating sports leagues and harming the integrity of the game?

Deciding to gamble should involve betting responsibly and engaging in healthy behaviors such as setting a hard spending limit and knowing when to quit. If struggling with a gambling addiction, call the National Problem Gambling Helpline (1-800-522-4700) to be connected with helpful resources.

 

Contact the author at howlsports@mail.wou.edu

First-gen student athletes

A photo of Michael Jordan on the basketball court. | Photo from @6manzone on Instagram

Nov. 5 2025 | Isaac Garcia | Sports Editor

This week is National First-Generation Week, meant to celebrate the accomplishments of students who did not have a parent graduate from a four-year institution. First-Gen Week is a celebration of the Higher Education Act that was signed into law Nov. 8, 1965, by President Lyndon B. Johnson. Fun fact — the act was introduced in the House by Edith Green, who grew up in Salem and represented Oregon’s 3rd Congressional District. The Senate version of the bill also has ties to Oregon by way of Oregon senator Wayne Morse introducing it. The act aimed “to strengthen the educational resources of our colleges and universities and to provide financial assistance for students in post-secondary and higher education,” establishing the Pell Grant and helping to fund first-gen support programs like TRIO, which has been shown to be successful in increasing student retention and is available at Western. 

Western’s student population is roughly 50% first gen. This past summer, the university became a member of the FirstGen Forward Network, a program for universities showing commitment towards first-generation students fostering collaboration between the member universities in how to best support first-gen students. Specific outreach for first-generation students is important because studies show that these students often graduate at lower rates than their non-first-gen peers, due to feelings of isolation, lack of belonging and a multitude of other factors. However, the gap is smaller once first-gen students have programs that they can attend and feel seen and heard. 

When it comes to first-gen student athletes, the community they often enjoy as a part of their teams bodes well for retention, but this does not mean that there aren’t still challenges, especially at smaller schools. Starting college is a heavy adjustment period for all students and for athletes, who have to balance the changes along with significant time commitments to their sport. It can be difficult, especially with the previously mentioned challenges that arise with being first-gen. According to a January 2024 journal article from Issues in Intercollegiate Athletics written by Adam R. Cocco from the University of Louisville and Alan Grosbach from the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics, there is a correlation between financial aid offered and student retention rate. While the journal is mainly focused on NAIA programs, one could see how this might put NCAA Division II and Division III schools at a disadvantage in retaining athletes, especially among first-gen students. Per NCAA regulations, Division II universities are only allowed to give partial athletic scholarships, and in Division III, there are no athletic scholarships, as opposed to Division I where full athletic scholarships are given out. The journal reports that for every 10% decrease in cost of attendance, there was a 9% increase in student retention among first-gen college athletes at the NAIA level.

So how do colleges around the country help support and celebrate first-gen students and athletes? One example is the University of Texas San Antonio, which, starting this season, began putting first-gen patches on the uniforms of players who are first-generation college students. As mentioned earlier, Western has been among the best in the nation at supporting first-generation college students with programs like the Student Enrichment Program, Teacher Preparation Student Support Services, Multicultural Student Services and Programs and TRIO. The school also recently added the Student Success Center to campus, which includes a space for first-generation students. 

There have been many great athletes who were first-generation students themselves. The most famous, perhaps, is Michael Jordan, who was a first-generation student athlete at the University of North Carolina from 1981-84 before being drafted third overall to the Chicago Bulls in 1984, going on to become one of the most well-known athletes ever. His teammate Scottie Pippen was at the University of Central Arkansas, an NAIA school, from 1983-87. He started his career without any sort of athletic scholarship, joining the university as a walk-on and equipment manager before emerging as a star on the team after space opened up. In the popular Netflix series released in 2020 about the Chicago Bulls dynasty of the 90s — titled “The Last Dance” — Pippen spoke about how players with scholarships at Central Arkansas lost them due to academic issues and how he was adamant with his coaches about becoming a scholarship player. After receiving a scholarship, Pippen would go on to earn NAIA All-American Honors twice, making a name for himself among NBA general managers. In 1987, he was selected fifth overall in the NBA draft by the Seattle SuperSonics, who then traded him to the Chicago Bulls, where he won six NBA Finals trophies with the team alongside Michael Jordan. Pippen would also go on to become a member of the 1992 USA Olympic “Dream Team,” considered by many to be the greatest semblance of talent in the history of basketball with Pippen and Jordan combining with the likes of Charles Barkley, Patrick Ewing, Magic Johnson, Larry Bird, Clyde Drexler and many other legends, rolling to an Olympic gold medal with their closest game still being a 32 point win against Croatia. 

In 2016, NFL receiver Randall Cobb became the first in his family to graduate from college, going back to school during his NFL career, where he was a Pro Bowler and one of the favorite receiver targets for future Hall of Fame quarterback Aaron Rodgers. In the days leading up to his commencement, Cobb said, “I think that achievement is going to be bigger than any success I could have on the field because on that day I will have set a standard for my family and anyone that comes after me.”  

The stories of Jordan, Pippen and Cobb serve as encouragement and reminders for any current or future first-generation college students that they belong and can rise to the pinnacle of success, whether that be in sports or another profession. For more information on how to be supported as a first-generation student at Western, go to wou.edu/firstgen and make sure to stop by some of the many events being held for First-Gen Week by TRIO. To find the event schedule and receive more details about the events, check out the First-Gen Week article from last week’s issue by News Editor Abbi Duhart or go to @woutpsss on Instagram to find daily schedules of the events for the remainder of the week.

 

Contact the author at howlsports@mail.wou.edu

Rugby at Western

The Wolves Women’s+ poses with the McMinnville Valley Panthers after a scrimmage. | Photo from @westernoregonwomxnsrugby
Jonah Campbell carries the ball against Oregon State with Jason Parks trailing behind. | Photo from @westernoregonmensrugby on Instagram

Oct 29 2025 | Isaac Garcia | Sports Editor

The fall season is underway for both the men’s and women’s+ rugby teams. After hosting a preseason non-conference tournament over Homecoming weekend, the Wolves women’s+ rugby team will prepare for their first regular season tournament Nov. 1 at the Turf Field on campus. The tournament will include Willamette University and the University of Puget Sound with the first match starting at 10 a.m. The women’s+ team won both of their games at the tournament Oct. 18, setting a positive tone for the fall season early on. Men’s rugby will be preparing for a match against Oregon Tech on Nov. 1st at 2 p.m. after winning against Salem Rugby, who filled in at the last minute after Gonzaga University had to forfeit. 

“They did wonderful,” coach Nic Smith, who is in her third season as the Wolves’ coach, said of the women’s+ team. “I’m very proud of them, very pleased with their performance. Are there things that we can fine-tune and get better? Absolutely. But overall, they did the best with what they had in terms of practice time.” 

Last season, the women’s+ team was able to qualify for nationals, and they’ll be looking to make it right back this year with a roster that returns a significant number of players as well as an influx of new talent. Among the returning players for the women’s+ team is Jada Miller, who impressed Coach Smith in the opening tournament. “I was really impressed with her leadership this past Saturday. Holding the team accountable and making sure that they did what they needed to do.” 

Mia Medina George, a sophomore back and new captain, received Backs MVP, and Leah Waller, a first-year forward, started her college career off strong, receiving Forwards MVP as well as Man of the Match. “Every player on my team has something to offer, and while these ones shine through this past Saturday, I have no doubt there will be moments where others shine through,” Smith said. For the men’s side, they bring Diah Kollaer Junior, Jack George Junior and Aidan Shamion, all solid returners that will be crucial to the team.  

In addition to high-quality play on the field, the Wolves put in high-quality work off the field in order to maintain such high performance. According to Coach Smith, returning players have been coming to practice early and staying late in order to help the new players work on techniques and develop their skillsets, and described the more experienced players as very welcoming and very inclusive. Leadership in this form is key to a program having long-term success, especially in a sport like rugby, where many players’ first time playing is in college due to high school programs not being as prevalent as they are in other sports. 

Along with hard work, inclusivity is a key trait for the club. For those interested in trying the sport, Smith encourages them to do so. “We don’t discriminate in any way. We are open, we are accepting, we are understanding. I tell my team, ‘Sometimes you’re not going to like each other, but we’re going to respect one another and we encourage healthy conversations to learn different perspectives and erase biases.’” Smith continued on by saying, “We encourage anyone that is interested to come out and try it. Rugby is a place for everybody regardless of your height, your size, your stature — there’s a place for you.” 

Donnahoo similarly said, “I have never felt more included or appreciated in any other sport.” Donnahoo talked about what led him to rugby, saying that he began in his junior year of high school after playing sports such as soccer and football. “I immediately fell in love with not only the game, but the community as well.” Donnahoo has aspirations of reaching professional status in the sport, and mentioned the pathways rugby has provided him. These included the opportunity for him to play in an open division tournament in Florida this Thanksgiving hosted by London International 7s, the largest program in the United Kingdom who will be hosting events in the United States. 

The Wolves women’s+ team is also very supportive of youth rugby programs in the area. They have a partnership with Oregon Rugby, the high school rugby organization in the state, and Girls Rugby Inc., a grassroots development program for grades two through eight. On Oct. 22, the Wolves welcomed the McMinnville Valley Panthers, a high school club, to Monmouth for a scrimmage in order to help the Panthers prepare for their upcoming championships, which was no doubt a great opportunity for them to hone their skills against older and more experienced players. 

“It’s opened up recruitment opportunities, which is good for the university.” Smith also said, “We kind of get to see the present and the future of rugby, and then we also try to have a good relationship with our alumni, and we appreciate those that came before us and built the foundation that we’re growing.” To Smith, promoting the future of rugby is important to the health of the sport and the continuance of its strong community. “There’s a big sense of community and the culture is just like no other. So being able to involve ourselves in different levels of that is beneficial not only for us, but for rugby in general.” Speaking of recruitment opportunities, Donnahoo is the recruitment officer for the men’s team and helps add to the team during the season and after. “This off-season we managed to not only get a good amount of freshmen with rugby experience but also a good amount of new players that are eager to learn the game.” 

Because rugby is a club sport, the team relies heavily on fundraising and the support of the local community. To show support for the teams, follow the women’s+ team on Instagram @westernoregonwomxnsrugby and click the link in their bio, which will lead to a page for donations. The Wolves will have merchandise sales and a series of fundraisers starting soon that anyone can stay updated on through the Instagram page as well. Donations go towards funding different team-related activities, such as a trip to nationals, among other things. For the men’s team,follow them on Instagram @westernoregonmensrugby. “I would say the best way to support the team would be to show up to our events that we hold and be active on our social media page, also coming to our games gets us super motivated. I would also say talk about rugby, talk about it to your friends and family, get it more popular,” Donnahoo said. After the upcoming tournament, the women’s+ team will round out their fall schedule with a Nov. 15 tournament at Willamette University and a Nov. 22 tournament at University of Puget Sound, while the men’s team will travel to the University of Idaho Nov. 8 for a game and then to Klamath Falls Nov. 15 for a match against Oregon Tech.

 

Contact the author at howlsports@mail.wou.edu

Blazers season preview

Yang Hansen (Left) and Deni Avdija (Right) look on as Chauncey Billups speaks. | Photo from @trailblazers on Instagram

Oct 22 2025 | Isaac Garcia | Sports Editor

On Oct. 22, the Portland Trail Blazers will tip off their season at 7 p.m. when Anthony Edwards and the Minnesota Timberwolves travel to the Moda Center. Last season, the Blazers went 36-46, finishing 12th in the Western Conference. Without any further context, a 36-win season in the NBA is not considered successful by any means. However, it’s important to note that it was a significant improvement over the 21-61 record they put up in the 2023-24 season immediately after trading Damian Lillard. Lillard has since returned to the team, but will not return to the court until next season. The Blazers franchise was also recently sold to an ownership group led by Carolina Hurricanes owner Tom Dundon for a reported $4 billion after previous owner Paul Allen’s estate made the decision to sell over the summer, marking the start of a new era. 

Before the season begins, here’s a run-down of what happened in the offseason and what kind of team the Blazers are projected to be this season.

Key additions — The Blazers started the off-season by trading point guard Anfernee Simons to the Boston Celtics in a straight swap for Jrue Holiday, also a point guard. The trade was met with mixed reactions by fans. They felt trading for Holiday was a step backwards, due to him being older than Simons as well as being on a more long-term contract, making it more difficult for the team to free up cap space if needed. 

When looking deeper into the move, it can make a bit more sense when one considers that Simons’ skillset had become a bit redundant within the guard rotation as a score-first, undersized guard that struggled on defense, the exact archetype of player that the NBA has begun moving past in recent years. Simons also wasn’t providing much to the future of the team and was preventing young guard Scoot Henderson from receiving rotational minutes and valuable experience. In addition, pairing him with Shaedon Sharpe in the backcourt was simply giving up too much on the defensive side of the court. Bringing in a player like Holiday will better complement Sharpe’s skillset when they’re on the floor together, while providing the young players on the team with a mentor who’s won an NBA championship with the Milwaukee Bucks in 2021. The hope seems to be that Holiday can provide the same mentorship fans have seen Chris Paul provide in Oklahoma City, Phoenix and now San Antonio in recent seasons. 

Aside from this move, the Blazers used the 16th pick of the NBA Draft to select Yang Hansen, a 7-foot-1-inch center from China who has drawn early comparisons to three-time MVP and Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokić. While that’s a high bar to reach, it makes a bit of sense. Like Jokić, Hansen can pass at a very high level for a center and initiate offensive sets from the high post, which can open up cutting lanes to the basket for the rest of the team. This ability is something that would fit well with an athletic guard pairing like Henderson and Sharpe. While fans shouldn’t expect Hansen to be an elite contributor immediately, nor should they expect him to one day become as good as Jokić, the unique and versatile skill set he provides could definitely get him there, which is an exciting prospect for Blazers fans. Fans should just take the time to understand that Jokić is widely considered the best player in the world at the moment, and that it’s a heavy expectation to place on a 20-year-old player that has yet to play his first meaningful NBA minutes.

What to be excited for — If Yang Hansen isn’t already exciting enough, then look toward the development of players such as Henderson, Sharpe, Deni Avdija, Donovan Clingan and Toumani Camara. Camara has already established himself as one of the best defenders in the league, making the All-Defensive second team last season. Camara’s combination of athleticism and height makes him a valuable piece defensively, as he can guard almost anyone without being physically outmatched, giving the Blazers significant flexibility in their defensive game plans. 

Second-year center Donovan Clingan averaged 1.6 blocks per game last season, putting him at ninth place among all players in the category. It’s even more impressive when considering that he spent most of the year not getting many minutes due to the presence of Deandre Ayton — who is no longer on the team — and had a bit of an adjustment period to the toll a long NBA season can take on a young player. When adjusting his statistics to a per-36-minute basis, his block numbers jump up to three per game, which would’ve put him in second place in the category last season, only behind Spurs center Victor Wembanyama. Expect Clingan to take a step forward, as well as hopefully have a more developed offensive game and outside shooting ability to open up lanes for players driving to the basket. If Clingan can cement himself as an elite rim protector alongside the perimeter defense that Camara provides, the Blazers could easily become one of the best defensive units in the league. 

Fans should also pay close attention to Henderson, who has been a bit inconsistent to start his career. In a way, this could be a bit of a make-or-break season for Henderson with the imminent return of Lillard next season. If he’s unable to show a step toward being the player Portland had hoped for when he was drafted in 2023, it’ll be interesting to see what decisions are made with the rotation next season and if Henderson will remain with the team. He’ll also be entering the final year of his rookie contract next season, which is where extension talks typically begin. 

As for Sharpe and Avdija, look for both of them to take another step toward potentially becoming All-Stars. Sharpe has increased his scoring output each season since entering the league, and Avdija set a new career high in points per game last season after being acquired in a trade with the Washington Wizards. With both players under the age of 25, there is still a lot of room for both of them to grow into All-Star caliber players. In Sharpe’s case, hopefully, viewers see him increase his aggression on the offensive end, where he’s best. He’s had a noted tendency of being a bit passive and not taking over a game like he’s capable of doing. With Simons no longer in the mix, perhaps that will empower him to take a more active approach regularly and allow him to unleash his full potential. 

What to expect — So with all of this in mind, what can fans expect from the Blazers this season? With a team this young, it’s hard to really know. Development in the NBA is not always the upward curve fans would like it to be, but the Blazers seem to have established an energetic culture with a young core they can build with. A valid concern about the team would be the lack of three-point shooting — they went 26th/30 in 3pt% last year, according to NBA.com — and the fact that there weren’t any significant upgrades to the roster in that department. 

The defense projects to get better with the expectation that Camara and Clingan improve, plus the addition of Jrue Holiday, but will the offense follow? The leader in made threes per game was Simons, who is now a Celtic, so in order for the Blazers to make the improvement, they’ll need to see better and more consistent shooting in order to open up the floor and allow players like Sharpe and Henderson to do what they do best, which is attack the basket. 

Overall, this Blazers team has a lot going for it and a lot of good for fans to be excited about. However, there is also a lot of uncertainty, and a lot of the positives listed here are a bit hypothetical and dependent on players getting to the next level. Player development is rarely a direct climb up the mountain; there are usually inclines and declines along the way. To make a prediction, they’ll go 39-43 and will be right in the mix for the 10th seed in the Western Conference, which would earn them a spot in the play-in. The Western Conference is crowded, however, and the Blazers might just get frozen out of a spot again this season. As frustrating as that would be, it’s important that the franchise and its fans stay patient and remember: Lillard will be playing at the Moda Center again soon.

 

Contact the author at howlsports@mail.wou.edu

Aspinall vs. Gane

Tom Aspinall and Ciryl Gane face off in pre fight press conference. | Photo from @ufc on Instagram

Oct 22 2025 | Isaac Garcia | Sports Editor

The road to this year’s heavyweight title bout was certainly an interesting one. After Tom Aspinall established himself as an up-and-comer in the heavyweight division and secured the interim heavyweight championship title, Aspinall set his sights on Jon Jones, the all-time UFC leader in title fight wins. The fight was sure to be one of the biggest UFC events of 2025, with Jones at 28-1 facing off against Aspinall, whose average time to finish an opponent is at this time the shortest in the UFC, ending his opponents within two minutes and two seconds on average. There was a contract dispute, disagreements and just general red tape around the entire event. Aspinall essentially put his career on pause in hopes of getting his shot at Jones, spending months goading him into finally signing a fight deal so they could face off. But then in June of this year, Jones abruptly retired. Jones has since teased coming out of retirement, but still seems uninterested in the Aspinall fight for the time being.

So, with the news that Jones was no longer an option for Aspinall, a fight was eventually set up between him and Ciryl Gane for UFC 321, in Abu Dhabi this Saturday. Gane is 13-2 since joining the UFC in 2019. He last fought Alexander Volkov in December and won by split decision. 

Currently, Aspinall is the favorite to win the fight, but don’t count Gane out. A challenge for Aspinall will be that he’s never fought in a title bout before, while Gane has. Not only is this important for the sake of experience on a large stage, but title bouts are five rounds of three minutes each as opposed to three rounds of three minutes each. This means Aspinall will have to come in with the best conditioning he’s ever had in preparation for a long fight with Gane if, in fact, Gane can avoid being knocked out at the hands of Aspinall like so many others have failed to do, he may have a chance at the upset. Gane has also only lost to Francis Ngannou and Jon Jones, two fighters who are considered among the best in the world. Aspinall does not have such matchups under his belt, and it’s worth wondering if Aspinall is as good as many believe or if he’s the beneficiary of easier competition. 

Still, Aspinall should be the favorite in this bout, and while Gane may use his experience to make this interesting, one has to consider the quick finishing ability of Aspinall, making him dangerous at every moment of the fight. Aspinall, as always, is ready to finish the fight early. “This is Ciryl’s third title shot. We are going to try and get rid of Ciryl Gane from the title picture for good,” Aspinall said, referencing that Gane lost out on the title against Ngannou and Jones, and soon Aspinall will hope to add himself to that list as well. While the fight may not be a foregone conclusion, Aspinall is the favorite for a reason, and his only loss came against Curtis Blaydes when he injured his knee 15 seconds into the match. He then knocked Blaydes out within four minutes at UFC 304 in a rematch after his knee recovered. 

Prediction: Aspinall KO in round two.

 

Contact the author at howlsports@wou.edu

 

The road home

Damian Lillard holds Trail Blazers jersey in a hallway. | From @damianlillard on Instagram

Oct 8 2025 | Isaac Garcia | Sports Editor

On Sept. 27, 2023, Portland Trail Blazers point guard and franchise legend Damian Lillard was traded to the Milwaukee Bucks in a deal that broke the hearts of Blazers fans who had embraced Lillard since he arrived in 2012. Earlier that offseason, Lillard had requested a trade with hopes of having a better opportunity to compete for an NBA championship. The Bucks, who were two years removed from winning a title with two-time MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo leading the team, seemed to give Lillard the best chance he’d ever had to do it. 

Unfortunately, things didn’t go quite as planned. In the first season, internal struggles between Bucks players and the coaching staff kept the team from reaching its high expectations. In his second season with Milwaukee, Lillard was diagnosed with deep vein thrombosis and had to miss the final month of the regular season before returning just in time for the playoffs.

Unfortunately, in the fourth game of the Bucks’ first-round playoff series against the Indiana Pacers, Lillard fell to the ground and immediately reached for his leg. Further examinations would reveal that Lillard had torn his Achilles tendon, a notoriously hard injury to recover from, especially for a player who would soon be 35. The Bucks would go on to lose the series, falling short of expectations again. With pressure mounting to keep the team’s championship window open just a crack, the Bucks decided to waive Damian Lillard and free up cap space in order to add Pacers center Myles Turner. 

From the outside looking in, it seemed as though Lillard’s career had hit rock bottom. He left Portland, the city that his family still called home and where he himself had spent most of his adult life, in search of the championship that had eluded him his entire career, only to come up short and be off the team two years later. Not to mention the long road he now had ahead of him to recover from his injury and begin playing again. 

However, in what might’ve been his career’s darkest moment, something familiar found him again. The Portland Trail Blazers, who had spent the past two seasons trying to rebuild the roster after trading Lillard, offered him a three-year $42 million deal that would allow him to spend his rehab in Portland, alongside his children and an organization that he knew so well. Upon the news that Lillard was returning to Portland, Blazers fans who were heartbroken to see him leave just two years earlier and had watched the Blazers go through the growing pains of the post-Lillard era, were completely re-energized. During his introductory press conference, Lillard said, “It never felt right, not being home.” Last month, the organization held a rally in Pioneer Courthouse Square celebrating Lillard’s return, and it was obvious how much happier both Lillard and Blazers fans have been with him back in Portland. “Just being back in this city, you know, has brought a different type of joy back to my life,” Lillard said while addressing the crowd of thousands at Pioneer Square. While he won’t play until next season, Lillard’s return has injected excitement into a fanbase that surely cannot wait to welcome him back to the Moda Center as a member of the home team.

Contact the author at howlsports@wou.edu

 LeBron retirement rumors

LeBron poses for NBA Media Day. | From @kingjames on Instagram

Oct 8 2025 | Isaac Garcia | Sports Editor

Much has been said over the years about LeBron James and his historic longevity. Drafted by the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2003, there is a significant portion of NBA fans who either cannot recall a time he was not in the NBA or weren’t even born when he was drafted. However, he obviously cannot play forever, and every year the questions and speculation have continued to grow. 

On Sept. 29, the Los Angeles Lakers held their session for NBA Media Day, a chance for players and coaches to come together in front of the media and field questions about the upcoming season. 

Of course, the question on many media members’ minds was whether LeBron James made any decisions over the summer about when he plans to retire. “I don’t know when the end is, but I know it’s a lot sooner than later,” he said. This aligns with recent statements he’s made on his future. Last summer, when asked about the possibility of him joining Team USA for the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles, like he did in Paris 2024, LeBron said, “No, I cannot see myself playing in Los Angeles,” but he continued, “I didn’t see myself playing in Paris 2024 either.” 

In June, LeBron exercised his player option, keeping him under contract for the upcoming season. It is worth noting that after this season, he will become a free agent, and as of Oct. 8, 2025, it is anyone’s guess if he will sign another contract or choose to retire. 

LeBron was also asked if he would wait to retire in order to play with his son, Bryce James, who is an incoming first-year guard for the University of Arizona and will be eligible for the 2026 NBA Draft. Fans may remember that LeBron had been quite vocal about wanting to play with his oldest son, LeBron “Bronny” James Jr., and was able to achieve that historic goal last season, becoming the first active father-son duo in NBA history. If he did stick around to play with Bryce James, it would be a testament to his already otherworldly longevity. 

But when it comes to delaying his retirement in order to make it happen, LeBron James said, “No, I’m not, I don’t know what his timeline is. He’s his own young man now. He’s down in Tucson. We’ll see what happens this year, next year, but he has his own timeline. I got my timeline, and I don’t know if they quite match. But we’ll see.” Despite being well past the age of what’s considered the “prime” of an NBA career, LeBron James has maintained a high quality of play. Last season, he finished sixth in MVP voting, made the All-NBA second team and averaged 24.4 points per game. 

Regardless of what LeBron James decides in the future, the Los Angeles Lakers and their fans will have an exciting season ahead of them. It will be their first full season with Luka Dončić as a member of the team after a shocking deadline trade with the Dallas Mavericks brought the superstar to the franchise, creating arguably the most talented duo in the league between Dončić and James. The Lakers will start their season against Stephen Curry and the Golden State Warriors Oct. 21 in Los Angeles. 

 

Contact the author at howlsports@wou.edu

Wolves strike six

Wolves women’s soccer team poses for a photo after winning against Northwest Nazarene and setting a new school record. | Photo by @wou_soccer on Instagram

 

Oct 15 2025 | Isaac Garcia | Sports Editor

It’s an exciting time in Monmouth after the Western women’s soccer team took care of business Oct. 4 against Northwest Nazarene, setting a new program record of six wins in a row. During this time, the Wolves have big wins against then #1 nationally ranked Colorado School of Mines and formerly #18 ranked Seattle Pacific respectively. Currently, the Wolves sit at #2 ranked in the GNAC and are looking to build on their momentum going forward. “Our team was really motivated by the fact that we didn’t perform as well as we’d like to and we knew last year we had a great defensive unit,” said head coach Kacey Bingham.  “It was really strong, and we knew that was going to be returning and I think big improvements have come from our attack. We’re seeing multiple girls score and be threatening and I think that’s been a huge change from last year.” 

Part of that change has been led by first-year forward Olivia Boger. Boger currently leads the team in goals scored, which speaks to her quick adjustment to a new level of competition and a high-quality team culture that allows new players to feel empowered to make immediate impacts. “It’s something that we actually talked a lot about last spring — the culture we wanted going into this year — and the girls spent a lot of time and energy creating a culture they wanted moving into this fall. I think part of that is making sure that we take care of the new players, and I think they made it a point to make the new players feel welcome and important and that they were going to be a big part of our success this year, so I think that stemmed from our captains,” said Coach Bingham. “And then Olivia came in really at a high level and I think she came in  understanding, one, how to take care of the ball, how to dribble the ball and then she’s just clinical in the final third. She knows how to go one-v-one, she knows how to serve the ball, she knows how to finish and she’s just come in and stepped up to the challenge.” 

One example of the Wolves’ many great leaders is senior team captain and defender Jada Foster. When asked how she’s improved as a leader since becoming a captain, Foster said, “I think the biggest thing for me has always been communication and just kind of stepping up. I know Kacey’s given me the opportunity to last fall and taking the winter and the spring to really just grow and just learn with my teammates and also just learn I’m going to make mistakes, but know that my team’s there for me, and I’m just going to push everybody, but also know that we’re family, and I love each and every one of them that works hard, and I know that we can do anything we put our minds to at the end of the day.” 

Foster scored a penalty kick in the 45th minute against Central Washington University, a match that ended in a 3-0 victory. It included a score by Ally Beavers from a penalty kick in the 51st minute and an 86th-minute goal from Katya Tercek, assisted by both Beavers and Maya Courtenay. The win tied the then-record five-game winning streak, setting up the record-breaking win against Northwest Nazarene two days later. 

As Coach Bingham mentioned, the defensive unit has also been strong, as they only allowed two goals through the duration of the streak. Senior goalkeeper Bella Lopez has recorded five clean sheets so far. 

Bingham also mentioned the seniors on the team as a group that has stepped up big time in the 2025 season. “There was a lot of girls in this senior group that were trying to have bigger roles last year that have stepped into really big roles this year, and we’re really proud of that group and how hard that they’ve worked and the resilience that they’ve shown over their time at Western Oregon. They’re perfect examples of what it is to come to a program and give it all and to genuinely put your time and effort into improving as an individual, but also helping your team improve and I think that’s the culture we want to set here.”

Students may not even know they’re missing out on critical moments at Western with the team’s latest win streak — and, if they do know, are likely going to regret it. They play a fun style of soccer and radiate a contagious, positive energy that shines through to everyone in the stands. “I think it’s been a lot, but in a good way, because I think a lot of the girls that came in new didn’t expect it to be this way,” said Foster. “We’ve brought in this standard that there’s so much fun to college soccer, but also we just love to be here and play the sport we love. So I think that’s been like the biggest thing, especially freshmen coming in. I love how they’re just so new and just want to experience the fun things like that.” Their next home game will be against Simon Fraser Oct. 23 at 2 p.m. on the Turf Field. Something to know about the team for new fans this season, according to Foster, is, “We definitely bring that competitive energy. We’re never going to be the ones to just get hit and stay on the ground. We’re always very loud.”

“This team can make big plays,” said Bingham. “On offense and defense, they never back away from the challenge, and they turn difficult moments into looking easy sometimes. I think that’s fun, and it’s just an exciting group to watch. It’s a very competitive group. So no matter who’s on the field, they’re always going to bring something special.” 

As of Oct. 14, the winning streak has come to a conclusion, but after the game against Simon Fraser, the Wolves will have five regular-season matches remaining, capping it off with a Senior Day celebration versus Montana State Billings Nov. 8. From there, they will look to qualify for the GNAC championships and put together a successful postseason run. 

Contact the author at howlsports@wou.edu

Dodgers take down the Padres

Written by: Quincy Bentley | Sports Editor

The Los Angeles Dodgers took down the San Diego Padres to advance in the Major League Baseball playoffs Oct. 11. 

The 2024 National League Division Series between the two California teams came to an electrifying end in Game 5, with the Dodgers securing a 2-0 victory and advancing to the National League Championship Series — NLCS. The game was defined by dominant pitching and crucial moments that made it an intense and thrilling match from start to finish.

Coming off a difficult Game 2, Dodgers starter Yoshinobu Yamamoto delivered a stellar performance on the mound, pitching five scoreless innings. Yamamoto bounced back impressively, allowing just two hits while walking one and striking out two. He kept San Diego’s lineup at bay, silencing stars like Manny Machado and Fernando Tatís, who were crucial to the Padres’ success in earlier games.

The game remained tight, with both teams’ pitchers going at it. Padres ace Yu Darvish was equally impressive, keeping the Dodgers’ offense quiet for most of the game. He went six strong innings, allowing just two runs while striking out four. He even struck out Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani, who went hitless in the game. Despite his efforts though, it was not enough to overcome what the Dodgers brought to the table.

The Dodgers managed to break through in the second inning when Kiké Hernández launched a solo home run off Darvish’s pitch, giving his team an early 1-0 lead. It was Hernández’s second home run of the series. Darvish took that home run personally however and managed to keep the Dodgers scoreless until the seventh inning.

In the bottom of the seventh inning, Teoscar Hernández delivered the game’s final blow with a solo shot to left field, giving the Dodgers a 2-0 advantage. This was his second homer of the series against the Padres, and it came at the perfect time. 

Relief pitchers Evan Phillips and Alex Vesia shut down the Padres in the late innings, with Phillips striking out key hitters like Machado and Jurickson Profar. The Dodgers’ bullpen was nearly flawless, closing out the game and the series without allowing a run. 

Unfortunately for the Padres, their offense, which had been explosive earlier in the series, went stagnant when it mattered the most, and the Dodgers punched their ticket to the NLCS. This Game 5 victory was a testament to the Dodgers’ depth and ability to perform under pressure. They now move one step closer to their World Series ambitions.

Contact the author at howlsports@wou.edu

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