If Seattle Sounders’ Cristian Roldan had to lose the Sports Star of the Year award, it was at least to someone who helped him triumph.

Roldan, a rookie fantasy football general manager, traded for Tyler Lockett around NFL Week 3 in his United States Men’s National Soccer Team league. He said he won the fantasy title in the regular season and fell in the final game of the playoffs.

“Tyler came at the right time,” Roldan said, adding that he would thank Lockett if he met him Thursday night at the Westin Seattle.

“He contributed a lot, so I’m happy.”

Both were nominated in the men’s category at the 87th annual Sports Star of the Year Awards, which celebrates achievement in Washington sports. Lockett won the hardware after passing 1,000 receiving yards for a third straight season, joining Hall of Famer Steve Largent as the only Seahawks players to do so.

Eastern Washington quarterback Eric Barriere, Mariners outfielder Mitch Haniger, Gonzaga senior forward Corey Kispert, University of Washington senior midfielder Dylan Teves and the UW rowing team winner of the national championship were the other nominees.

Lockett noted that he had already lost the award.

“Sometimes we are in this generation where we want everything, right away. We want to be successful right now,” Lockett said. “We forget about the grind.

“The most important thing I’ve started to realize is that I’m able to appreciate everything even more because of God’s timing.”

Two-team UW softball All-American and 2021 Pac-12 pitcher of the year Gabbie Plain won the award for Sports Star of the Year in Women’s Sports.

Plain thanked UW coach Heather Tarr “for taking a chance on an Aussie no one knew.”

Seattle Pacific soccer forward Sophia Chilczuk, OL Reign midfielder Jess Fishlock, Olympic canoeist Nevin Harrison, Paralympic volleyball gold medalist Katie Holloway, Storm shooting guard Jewell Loyd and UW volleyball setter Ella May Powell were also nominated.

Nominees are selected by the Sports Star Committee, made up of local historians and members of the media and sports industries. A vote is then open to the public.

The Seattle Kraken’s inaugural season was the sports story of the year. The Kraken were doubly represented in the category as the opening of the Climate Pledge Arena also made the list.

“There’s so much we’re proud of, even though (it was) one of the toughest years of my career,” CEO Tod Leiweke said, referring to the pandemic.

“It was time we built this beautiful arena…and now we can dream of more.”

Storm CEO and Team President Alisha Valavanis received the Leader of the Year award. Former Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson and his wife Ciara joined the proceedings remotely and accepted the Paul G. Allen Humanitarian Award, named after the late Seahawks owner and co-owner of the Sounders.

“Paul Allen meant the world to me. We won a Super Bowl together,” Wilson said.

“I’m always grateful for Seattle.”

OL Reign players Sofia Huerta and Rose Lavelle presented Maealie Glanzer, winner of the Wayne Gittinger Inspirational Youth Award. Glanzer, who was born in Uganda, learned to skate at Bellingham Sportsplex. She saw hockey players in their element there and wanted to try.

Glanzer hopes to play in the Olympics and later become a scout. She was the state’s first recipient of a Black Girl Hockey Club Scholarship.

“That was the cornerstone for me,” Glanzer said. “It’s a great organization and the people are just amazing.”

Glanzer plays for the SnoKing Girls Select and Whatcom County co-ed 14-and-under teams. She had just returned from hockey practice when she learned she would be honored by the Seattle Athletic Commission. She had to confirm herself to make sure it was true.

“It’s crazy the number of people here,” she said. “It’s just great to be here.”