Northwest Sports Update: Crawford Returns to Mariners, Kraken Blow Lead, Final Four Action

Shortstop J.P. Crawford makes season debut against Angels, Kraken lose third straight, NCAA basketball tournaments continue

Apr. 3, 2026 at 11:09pm

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A cubist, geometric painting depicting the dynamic action of a basketball game, with sharp, overlapping planes of color representing the players, ball, and court.The NCAA basketball tournaments reach their climactic Final Four stage, with the top teams battling it out for a chance at the national championship.Denver Today

The Seattle Mariners are getting a boost to their lineup with the return of shortstop J.P. Crawford, who is making his season debut against the Los Angeles Angels tonight. Meanwhile, the struggling Seattle Kraken suffered another setback, blowing an early 2-0 lead in a 6-2 loss to the Utah Mammoth. In college basketball, the women's Final Four tips off tonight, followed by the men's Final Four tomorrow.

Why it matters

The Mariners' offense has struggled to start the season, so Crawford's return could provide a much-needed spark. The Kraken are running out of time to make a playoff push, with just eight games remaining. The Final Four matchups will determine the teams competing for the NCAA basketball championships.

The details

The Mariners are looking to avoid dropping their third straight game and revive an offense that has scored just five runs in three games against the Yankees. Crawford was activated from the injured list after dealing with right shoulder inflammation. He played one game with Triple-A Tacoma earlier this week. The Kraken blew a 2-0 lead against the Utah Mammoth, allowing six unanswered goals in the loss. They now sit four points behind the Sharks, Predators and Kings for the final playoff spot in the Western Conference. In the NCAA tournaments, the women's Final Four features UConn vs. South Carolina and UCLA vs. Texas, while the men's Final Four has UConn vs. Illinois and Michigan vs. Arizona.

  • Tonight, the Mariners take on the Angels at 7:04 PM.
  • Tomorrow, the Kraken play the Blackhawks at 7:00 PM.
  • The women's Final Four tips off tonight, with the men's Final Four starting tomorrow at 3:00 PM.

The players

J.P. Crawford

A 10-year veteran shortstop for the Seattle Mariners who is making his season debut after dealing with right shoulder inflammation.

Cameron Boozer

A Duke freshman forward who was named the AP's National Player of the Year, becoming just the fifth freshman to win the award.

Sarah Strong

A sophomore forward for the UConn women's basketball team who was named the National Player of the Year, becoming just the fifth sophomore to win the award.

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What’s next

The Mariners will look to get back on track against the Angels, while the Kraken aim to snap their three-game skid against the Blackhawks. The NCAA basketball tournaments will continue with the Final Four matchups this weekend, leading up to the championship games.

The takeaway

The return of J.P. Crawford provides a much-needed boost for the Mariners' offense, while the Kraken face an uphill battle to make the playoffs with limited games left. The Final Four matchups in both the men's and women's NCAA basketball tournaments promise exciting action as teams compete for the national championships.