By Charles Hamaker 

Seattle, WA – One of the longest running awards shows in the country, the Seattle Sports Star of the Year Awards show hosted by the Seattle Sports Commission put on another spectacular event for its 89th installment. As the city's sports culture remains rich and seems to be growing year by year, the awards get harder to give out considering just how many worthy candidates there are who play in the Emerald City. This year's event saw the University of Washington football team and the Seattle Reign FC take center stage with multiple wins each in awards, and legends mingling with those in Seattle sports who are just getting started, but that’s common at this Awards show every year to be fair.  This Awards show always has a special place in this city’s sports culture, considering that it’s a celebration of the amazing things that it’s eight professional sports teams, numerous minor-league and semi-pro teams, and collegiate teams in the area accomplish in the course of a calendar year. Before the show itself kicks off, seeing these athletes mingle and get to meet each other to share their mutual admiration is something special.

Sports Leader of the Year Award: Coach Laura Harvey, Seattle Reign FC 

The award for the top sports leader in Seattle, as presented by the Seattle Sports Commission Foundation, was given to Seattle Reign FC head coach Laura Harvey. In her second stint with the Reign, after being named their original coach when the club was created back in 2013 and staying until 2017, before returning during her current tenure back in 2021, Harvey has had the Reign as a consistent title threat in the NWSL. The Reign made it all the way to the NWSL Championship this past season, falling in heart breaking fashion to NJ/NY Gotham FC in the title match in San Diego, the clubs third appearance in the title and all of those have been under Harvey as head coach. Through different circumstances like the Women’s World Cup, the Reign pushed forward and despite not being a top seed in the NWSL playoffs, they marched on into the final. 

Seattle Reign FC head coach Laura Harvey throughout the 2023 season. (Photos by Liz Wolter)

Harvey will have her work cut out for her once again this upcoming season, with Megan Rapinoe retiring and the departures of Emily Sonnett and Rose Lavelle to that same Gotham club that beat the Reign in the final, but the Reign have added some notable internationals and have retained a large part of their roster from last season, including two of the three OG’s that have been with the Reign since the beginning. To win this award, Harvey beat out Kraken head coach Dave Hakstol, UW softball head coach Heather Tarr, WSU women’s basketball coach Kamie Ethridge, and Seattle U men’s soccer coach Pete Fewing. 

Paul G. Allen Humanitarian Award presented by Microsoft to Megan Rapinoe 

The award for the top humanitarian in Seattle, as presented by Microsoft, was given to now retired Seattle Reign FC and USWNT forward, Megan Rapinoe. The iconic superstar who just wrapped up her playing career this last year was given this honor, which is named after philanthropist and former Seattle Seahawks owner Paul G. Allen, for her unapologetic attacking power for sports equity and human rights that has cemented her as a change agent for this generation. While her playing career net her an impressively long list of awards, Rapinoe’s passion and ability to remain focused in her calls for change in sports equity and human rights always was apparent. Even though her playing career is now finished, don’t expect Rapinoe to stop her activism for human rights and sports equity, we have a feeling she’s just getting started. Past winners of this award include Doug Baldwin Jr., Russell and Ciara Wilson, Jamal Crawford, John and Traci Schneider. 

Seattle Reign FC forward Megan Rapinoe leaves the field after her final regular season home game of her career. (Photos by Rio Giancarlo)

Sports Story of the Year Award presented by MTRWestern goes to UW Football 

While there were a few notable stories in Seattle sports this past year, it’s the University of Washington football team that won this year's honor, as presented by MTRWestern. While the current program has changed vastly since the loss in the National Championship, the season and the people responsible for this past year's Husky football team should be acknowledged. It is interesting to think about how Kalen DeBoer could have been helping accept this award for the university, but it was nice to see the players who are actually returning to the team accept this award alongside quarterback Michael Penix Jr. Last year's Husky team will go down in history as one of the best of all time, with a loaded offense that will have multiple players under NFL contract next year, and a defense that was able to make the necessary stops to make it all the way to the National Championship. UW Football beat out the Seattle Kraken making their first playoff appearance in franchise history, the Seattle Thunderbirds winning the 2023 WHL Championship, and the WSU Women’s basketball team and their remarkable run last season. 

Sports Star of the Year, Men’s Sports presented by Snoqualmie Casino goes to Michael Penix Jr., UW Football 

Continuing with the theme of the University of Washington football team and all that they accomplished this past season, the team's quarterback, Michael Penix Jr., took home the men’s sports award as presented by Snoqualmie Casino. In his second year with the Huskies after transferring from Indiana, Penix captured the hearts of the Purple and Gold even more with a campaign that should’ve seen him win the Heisman trophy for the best player in college football but did see him win essentially every other award around the nation outside of the big one. Penix impressed all season with his arm strength, his talent, and his leadership for that Husky team that fell just short of winning the National Championship. As he will prepare for the upcoming NFL draft, it was nice to have Penix back in attendance for this event as he was last year, and it only adds to the fan favorite that he has become. Penix takes this award over Mariners shortstop J.P. Crawford, Kraken center Matty Beniers, Sounders goalkeeper Stefan Frei and UW teammate and wide receiver Rome Odunze. 

Sports Star of the Year, Women’s Sports presented by T-Mobile to Jewell Loyd, Seattle Storm 

The women’s sports award winner for 2023, as presented by T-Mobile, was given to Seattle Storm guard Jewell Loyd. Considering the sort of effort that Loyd, nicknamed “The Gold Mamba,” put together this past season despite the overall struggles of the Storm was remarkable. Loyd set the single season scoring record in WNBA history, had numerous big scoring nights and was a large part of the team's offense, and did so while she took over the leadership role of the team with Sue Bird having retired the year before. Setting league records for free throws and 25+ point games, and winning the All-Star game MVP, Loyd was a major part of this year's Storm team on and off the court, and continued to add to her Seattle legacy when she signed a two-year extension just a day before the final game of the season. Loyd’s loyalty, performance on the court, and efforts off it with her teammates and in the community, all make her a very worthy candidate for this honor. Loyd beat out Seattle Pacific track star and 800-meter national champion Vanessa Aniteye, Seattle Reign defender Lauren Barnes, Washington State basketball standout Charlisse Leger-Walker and 14-year old Bellevue golf prodigy Angela Zhang, who qualified for the U.S. Women’s Open at Pebble Beach last year, for the award. 

Seattle Storm guard Jewell Loyd through the August 27th, 2023 game, the last game of the season and a day after she had signed her two-year extension. (Photos by Liz Wolter)

Wayne Gittinger Inspirational Youth Award presented by Seattle Children’s to Olivia Vitello 

The inspirational youth award, as presented by Seattle Children’s and named after Wayne Gittinger, was given to 11-year-old Olivia Vitello, a University of Washington softball fan. Olivia has a genetic disorder that requires weekly enzyme replacement therapy, meaning that for the last five years, she’s gone to the hospital for treatment every single week. Olivia’s motto of “I can and I will” has been a beacon of sorts for the Husky softball team, including players such as SilentRain Espinoza and Megan Vandergrift, who met with Vitello and had her design special cleats for them. Vitello’s tough journey is one that has inspired the Husky softball team, as Vitello herself has started playing softball and her fandom of the team has only grown. Vitello is a big sports fan, managing her middle school basketball team, and she’s also a big Seahawks and Seattle Reign FC fan. Olivia and her family have also had the “I can and I will run,” an annual event that most recently raised $85,000 for the uncompensated care fund at Seattle Children's Hospital. 

Sports Equity and Inclusion Award presented by Bank of America to Rise Above 

The award for sports equity and inclusion, as presented by Bank of America, was award to Rise Above and received by Jaci McCormack. Rise Above is an organization that uses basketball to change the lives of Native American youth and help them build life skills, was given the Sports Equity and Inclusion Award. The goal for Rise Above has been to empower Native youth to lead healthy lives despite the challenges by delivering education, prevention skills and mentorship through programs tailored to their needs. McCormack and Rise Above work closely with tribes and partners, to create tailored education programs with basketball clinics at the center.  

Larry Stone and Jim Caple received the awards for media excellence. The award for Jim Caple was accepted by wife Vicky Schuman and nephew Christian Caple. (Photo by Alabastro Photography.)

Keith Jackson Media Excellence Award presented by BizX to Larry Stone and Jim Caple 

Two legendary Seattle sports journalists were awarded the Keith Jackson media excellence honor, as presented by BizX. After 27 years with the Seattle Times, Stone decided to retire with his last events coming this past November. Across numerous Seattle sports, Larry Stone was a recognizable face to so many in the media landscape and became a sort of icon in his own right. Jim Caple, who passed away this past year, was also a Seattle sports media icon who spent 17 years with ESPN and finished his writing time with The Athletic. Jim covered 20 World Series, a half-dozen Olympic games, and was a University of Washington alum. At this years awards show, the Keith Jackson Media Excellence Award was truly given to two absolutely remarkable writers. 

Seattle Totems hockey legend Guyle Fielder received the Royal Brougham sports legend award, as presented to him by Seattle Kraken Chief Operating Officer Victor De Bonis. (Photos by Alabastro Photography.)

Royal Brougham Sports Legend Award presented by Alaska Airlines to Guyle Fielder 

The Royal Brougham sports legend award, as presented by Alaska Airlines, was given to Guyle Fielder. Fielder is a legendary hockey player who now has an award named after him that the Seattle Kraken give out every year at the end of the season, to a player who best exemplifies Fielder's "perseverance, hustle and dedication" over the course of a season. Yanni Gourde won the award during the team's inaugural season, and Jaden Schwartz won it last year. Fielder was a longtime captain of the minor professional Seattle Totems and oldest living former pro hockey player from a team in our city, and he was also the first professional hockey player at any level to score 2,000 points and was a six-time WHL MVP.   

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Check out previous Seattle Sports Star of the Year Awards articles here.