CELTICS PICK WATSON
Before last weekend's Hoopfest activities kicked off, another monumental moment for Spokane hoops occurred. During Thursday's second round of the NBA Draft, Gonzaga star and Spokane native Anton Watson was selected by the NBA Champion Boston Celtics with the 54th pick. It wasn't a lock that the versatile forward would get drafted, so it was a joyous moment for Zags fans. He wasn't the only Inland Northwest hooper drafted that day, as Washington State sharpshooter Jaylen Wells went No. 39 to the Memphis Grizzlies. Both players should see action in the NBA Summer League (July 12-22) and will likely play for their franchise's development G League squads next season. (SETH SOMMERFELD)
LET'S GET THIS JO ON THE ROAD
Spokane is one step closer to completing its first top-tier professional sports team now that Spokane Zephyr FC has named Jo Johnson its head coach. Johnson comes to Spokane from Oklahoma, where she's been an assistant coach at the University of Tulsa since 2021. Originally from Phoenix, Johnson can handle the heat — during her collegiate career at University of Texas-El Paso, she was named her team's defensive player of the year and MVP. Johnson has coached at the high school, collegiate and pro-am level, and she said in the Zephyr's press release that she enjoys coaching not just players, but people. Owner Katie Harnetiaux said the club had two nonnegotiables in their search: top character and top performance. "Jo really is the complete package," Harnetiaux said. (ELIZA BILLINGHAM)
THIS WEEK'S PLAYLIST
Noteworthy new music arriving in stores and online on July 5.
ZACH BRYAN, THE GREAT AMERICAN BAR SCENE
The country star got literal with the follow-up to last year's chart-topping self-titled LP by debuting songs from The Great American Bar Scene early at a select handful of saloons.
WILD POWWERS, POP HITS & TOTAL BUMMERS VOL. 5
While the new album title is a bit cheeky (i.e. don't go looking for Vol. 1-4), the vastly underrated Seattle rock trio's thundering grunge-tinged sound remains wonderfully straight to the point.
KOKOKO!, BUTU
Need a worldly injection of energy for your summer playlist? Check out the latest blissfully energetic dance sounds from Congolese experimental electronic collective KOKOKO!. (SETH SOMMERFELD)
