Jewell Loyd and Michael Penix Jr. were selected the Seattle Sports Stars of the Year.
SEATTLE – Michael Penix Jr., the quarterback for the Washington Huskies, and Jewell Loyd, the Seattle Storm guard, received the Star of the Year honors at the 89th Seattle Sports Star of the Year Awards, presented by the Seattle Sports Commission on Thursday evening.
Penix claimed the male sports star of the year title, surpassing his teammate Rome Odunze, Mariners shortstop J.P. Crawford, Kraken center Matty Beniers, and Sounders goalkeeper Stefan Frei. Loyd secured the women’s award over Reign defender Lauren Barnes, Washington State guard Charlisse Leger-Walker, Seattle Pacific track star Vanessa Aniteye, and high school golf sensation Angela Zhang.
The Washington Huskies’ journey to the National Championship game was recognized as the Sports Story of the Year, and Reign head coach Laura Harvey was named the Sports Leader of the Year.
Penix made history as the first Husky to win the Maxwell Award, given to the best all-around player in college football. He led the nation in passing yards (4,218) and passing yards per game (324.5), throwing 33 touchdowns and nine interceptions in 13 games. Loyd emerged as a breakout star, setting WNBA records for single-season points, free throws, and most games with at least 25 points. She also earned the WNBA All-Star MVP with a record-breaking 31 points in the All-Star Game.
The Huskies achieved an undefeated regular season, securing victories in the Pac-12 Championship against the Oregon Ducks and the Sugar Bowl against the Texas Longhorns, leading them to their first National Championship in the FBS playoff era.
Harvey guided the Reign to the NWSL Championship and became the first NWSL head coach to reach 200 wins, winning the award over Kraken head coach Dave Hakstol, UW softball coach Heather Tarr, WSU women’s basketball coach Kamie Ethridge, and Seattle University men’s soccer coach Pete Fewing.
Retiring Reign midfielder Megan Rapinoe was honored with the Paul G. Allen Humanitarian Award for her contributions to social justice and equal pay in women’s soccer.
Guyle Fielder, a 93-year-old former hockey player for the Seattle Totems, received the Royal Brougham Sports Legend Award, and a nonprofit called Rise Above, empowering Native American youth, was presented with the Sports Equity and Inclusion Award.
Several individuals were also inducted into the Pacific Northwest Football Hall of Fame, including former Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Doug Baldwin, former Seahawks head coach Dennie Erickson, University of Washington associate athletic director Chip Lydum, former UW football player Steve Pelluer, and former Seahawks athletic trainer Jim Whitesel.
