Well, yes, they're back on the court. Seattle's WNBA team played their first regular season game Friday night. 

But the team has changed a lot since last season. They lost two key veteran players.

But a new coach and two first-round draft picks could mean an exciting year for the Storm.

And as more people are watching the WNBA, the players start this season with a new union contract – with new salary increases and other new benefits to match.

Guest

Maitreyi Anantharaman, staff writer for Defector, an employee-owned sports and culture website. 

Related Links

Role Players, Ring Chasers, And A Shadow GM: Your Guide To The 2026 WNBA Season - Defector

How Can You Not Be Romantic About Women’s Basketball? - Defector

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

Well, yes, they're back on the court. Seattle's WNBA team played their first regular season game Friday night.&nbsp;
But the team has changed a lot since last season. They lost two key veteran players. But a new coach and two first-round draft picks could mean an exciting year for the Storm. And as more people are watching the WNBA, the players start this season with a new union contract &ndash; with new salary increases and other new benefits to match. Guest Maitreyi Anantharaman, staff writer for Defector, an employee-owned sports and culture website.&nbsp; Related Links <a href="https://defector.com/wnba-season-preview-2026">Role Players, Ring Chasers, And A Shadow GM: Your Guide To The 2026 WNBA Season</a> - Defector <a href="https://defector.com/how-can-you-not-be-romantic-about-womens-basketball">How Can You Not Be Romantic About Women&rsquo;s Basketball?</a> - Defector Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to&nbsp;<a href="kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes">kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes</a>
Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

Soundside

Well, yes, they're back on the court for this season. 

Are the Seattle Storm so back? 

Here’s a number for you: 108,170. That is the number of times immigration enforcement has attempted to look up a Washington license plate number and been denied since November of last year. 

That number comes from the state and it’s one that Governor Bob Ferguson has been touting, citing the value of guarding resident’s data from the federal government. 

While the number seems high, does it mean a difference in enforcement actions?  

Guest: 

Gustavo Sagrero, KUOW’s Race, Identity, and Immigration Reporter

Relevant Links: 

KUOW: WA has blocked over 100,000 federal attempts to access license plate data 

KUOW: This Seattle-area mechanic offers free tows for vehicles left behind after ICE arrests

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to donate.kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

Here&rsquo;s a number for you: 108,170. That is the number of times immigration enforcement has attempted to look up a Washington license plate number and been denied since November of last year.&nbsp;
That number comes from the state and it&rsquo;s one that Governor Bob Ferguson has been touting, citing the value of guarding resident&rsquo;s data from the federal government.&nbsp;
While the number seems high, does it mean a difference in enforcement actions?&nbsp;&nbsp;
Guest: 
Gustavo Sagrero, KUOW&rsquo;s Race, Identity, and Immigration Reporter
Relevant Links:&nbsp;
KUOW: <a href="https://www.kuow.org/immigration/2026-07-24/wa-has-blocked-over-100-000-federal-attempts-to-access-license-plate-data">WA has blocked over 100,000 federal attempts to access license plate data&nbsp;</a>
KUOW: <a href="https://www.kuow.org/immigration/2026-07-23/this-seattle-area-mechanic-offers-free-tows-for-vehicles-left-behind-after-ice-arrests">This Seattle-area mechanic offers free tows for vehicles left behind after ICE arrests</a>
Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to <a href="http://donate.kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes">donate.kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes</a>
Soundside&nbsp;is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

While the number seems high, does it mean a difference in enforcement actions?  

WA blocked over 100,000 license plate searches from feds, but immigration raids and vehicle arrests are still rampant

As we do EVERY Thursday, Soundside has your list of all the best ways to decompress this weekend... 

LINKS: 
Cinema Therapy LIVE!
THE PRINCESS BRIDE
ECSFF - Short Film Festival
Michael Mann's Manhunter: The Final Cut
Lake City Summer Festival & Parade
Kite Festival | Pierce County, WA
Seattle Paddle Rave
U-District Boba Fest
Seafair Weekend Festival 2026
Magnolia Summerfest
Flock Fiber Festival
2026 Junior League Softball World Series
Cats & Dawgs Kirkland Classic
Mariners vs Twins!

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to donate.kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

As we do EVERY Thursday, Soundside has your list of all the best ways to decompress this weekend...&nbsp;
LINKS:&nbsp;
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.showboxpresents.com/events/detail/1449712">Cinema Therapy LIVE!</a></li>
<li><a href="https://seattlecenter.com/events/event-calendar/movies-at-the-mural-the-princess-bride">THE PRINCESS BRIDE</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.emeraldcityshortfilmfestival.com/the-festival">ECSFF</a> - Short Film Festival</li>
<li><a href="https://www.siff.net/cinema/in-theaters/michael-manns-manhunter-the-final-cut">Michael Mann's Manhunter: The Final Cut</a></li>
<li><a href="https://lakecitysummerfest.com/">Lake City Summer Festival &amp; Parade</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.piercecountywa.gov/1268/Kite-Festival">Kite Festival | Pierce County, WA</a></li>
<li><a href="https://everout.com/seattle/events/seattle-paddle-rave-august-1st/e243648/">Seattle Paddle Rave</a></li>
<li><a href="https://udistrictseattle.com/bobafest">U-District Boba Fest</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.seafair.org/seafair-weekend-festival/">Seafair Weekend Festival 2026</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.magnoliasummerfest.org/schedule">Magnolia Summerfest</a></li>
<li><a href="https://flockfiberfestival.com/">Flock Fiber Festival</a> </li>
<li><a href="https://www.littleleague.org/world-series/2026/jlsws/">2026 Junior League Softball World Series</a> </li>
<li><a href="https://catsdawgskirklandclassic.com/">Cats &amp; Dawgs Kirkland Classic</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.mlb.com/mariners/schedule/2026-08">Mariners vs Twins!</a></li>
</ul>
Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to <a href="http://donate.kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes">donate.kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes</a>
Soundside&nbsp;is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

Soundside presents the Weekend Warmup! Find all the events worthy of YOUR time off with host Jason Megatron Burrows.

Weekend Warmup: Seafair, Softball, and Spider-Man

Police have one 15-year-old suspect in custody in connection to the mass shooting at Seattle Center on Sunday.

Earlier this week, a King County Superior Court Judge found probable cause for three counts of first-degree assault and a single count of second-degree illegal possession of a firearm. 

The suspect remains in juvenile detention. An arraignment is scheduled for Thursday, where the defendant will hear charges filed against them.  

But the legal process may become more complicated due to the alleged suspect’s age. 

Judge J. Mike Diaz explains how juvenile court works, and the major differences between that and adult court – in the wake of the mass shooting at Seattle Center.

Guest:


J. Mike Diaz was a King County Superior Court judge from 2018-2022, and served a term as the Chief Judge of King County's Patricia H. Clark Children & Family Justice Center. Former governor Jay Inslee appointed him to the Court of Appeals in 2022. He's also an adjunct professor of Law at Seattle University Law School and taught juvenile law at the Washington Judicial College.

Related Stories:
15-year-old Seattle Center shooting suspect charged with first-degree assault; prosecutors seek adult trial - KUOW

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to donate.kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

Police have one 15-year-old suspect in custody in connection to the mass shooting at Seattle Center on Sunday.
Earlier this week, a King County Superior Court Judge found probable cause for three counts of first-degree assault and a single count of second-degree illegal possession of a firearm.&nbsp;
The suspect remains in juvenile detention. An arraignment is scheduled for Thursday, where the defendant will hear charges filed against them.&nbsp;&nbsp;
But the legal process may become more complicated due to the alleged suspect&rsquo;s age.&nbsp;
Judge J. Mike Diaz explains how juvenile court works, and the major differences between that and adult court &ndash; in the wake of the mass shooting at Seattle Center.
Guest:
<ul>
<li>
J. Mike Diaz was a King County Superior Court judge from 2018-2022, and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.courts.wa.gov/appellate_trial_courts/bios/?fa=atc_bios.display&amp;folderid=div1&amp;fileID=diaz">served a term as</a> the Chief Judge of King County's Patricia H. Clark Children &amp; Family Justice Center. Former governor Jay Inslee appointed him to the Court of Appeals in 2022. He's also an adjunct professor of Law at Seattle University Law School and taught juvenile law at the Washington Judicial College.
</li>
</ul>
Related Stories:
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.kuow.org/crime/2026-07-29/15-year-old-seattle-center-shooting-suspect-charged-with-first-degree-assault-prosecutors-seek-adult-trial">15-year-old Seattle Center shooting suspect charged with first-degree assault; prosecutors seek adult trial - KUOW</a></li>
</ul>
Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to <a href="http://donate.kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes">donate.kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes</a>
Soundside&nbsp;is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

Police have one 15-year-old suspect in custody in connection to the mass shooting at Seattle Center on Sunday. The legal process may become more complicated due to the alleged suspect’s age. 

Are the Seattle Storm so back?

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