Three Trophies But Not Satisfied

2014 – Around the World and Close to Home

ISIS overruns large sections or Iraq and Syria, the U.S. and Cuba normalize relations. One World Trade Center opens in lower Manhattan where the twin towers were destroyed on Sept. 11, 2001. Germany beats Argentina in extra time, 1-0, of the World Cup final in South Africa. In Washington, a catastrophic landslide near Oso, Snohomish County kills 43. The Seahawks demolish Denver, 43-8, to win their first Super Bowl and hundreds of thousands pack celebratory parade route despite sub-freezing temperatures.

Three Trophies But Not Satisfied

Elsewhere in the world, they would rightly be known and celebrated as champions. Week in, week out, the Seattle Reign and Sounders play not only some beautiful soccer in 2014 but leave a lot of beaten opponents along the road. They win some trophies, certainly. But in the end, they and their fans are left wanting.

For the record, the Reign and Sounders lift some hefty silver, but the officially recognized championship ware remains on the shelf for another year. One year removed from finishing second from bottom, the Reign are runaway winners of the NWSL Shield, going to the highest point total in the regular season. Somewhat similarly, the Sounders put a disastrous 2013 playoff exit behind them and clinch the MLS Supporters’ Shield before a huge home crowd on Matchday 34. Two months earlier, they achieve the first half of a traditional double, claiming their fourth U.S. Open Cup as well.

While the Sounders are stopped one stage short of reaching the MLS Cup final on an away goals tiebreaker, their trail to that point is impressive. The Rave average 1.9 points earned per match and score 1.9 goals per game, many of the latter are the culmination of creative combinations involving Clint Dempsey and Obafemi Martins.

A couple miles north, having moved from Starfire into Memorial Stadium, the Reign was no less entertaining. League MVP Kim Little and fellow all-league selection Naho Kawasumi spearheaded an attacking averaging 2.1 goals and a club which ran away from the table to finish 13 points ahead of runner-up Kansas City, who edged Seattle in the final.

Across Puget Sound, the Kitsap Pumas have a similar storyline. The semipro Pumas won the PDL Northwest Division but are beaten in the national final.

By year’s end, the Sounders announce formation of a second team which will join USL-PRO. S2 will replace the reserve team and play in the third tier of the U.S. pyramid at Starfire. Ezra Hendrickson, who coached the reserves for three seasons, will be S2 head coach.

For the first time since 2006 a Washington native appears in the FIFA World Cup. At age 20, DeAndre Yedlin, a homegrown Sounder, is fast-tracked by Jurgen Klinsmann. In February, Yedlin earns his first cap and less than four months later he joins Dempsey in the 23-man World Cup squad. Yedlin plays in three matches. Dempsey starts all four games and scores twice, including a strike 29 seconds into the group game vs. Ghana.

Year in Review
SEATTLE SOUNDERS
Season Record
20-10-4, Supporters' Shield, West Conf. Finals
Coach
Sigi Schmid (6th year)
Best XI
Chad Marshall, Obafemi Martins
Top Scorer
Obafemi Martins (17 goals)
REIGN FC
Season Record
16-2-6, NWSL Shield, Runner-up
Coach
Laura Harvey (2nd year)
All-League
Kendall Fletcher, Jess Fishlock, Kim Little (MVP), Naho Kawasumi
Top Scorer
Kim Little (16 goals)
U.S. Open Cup
Seattle Sounders, champion
COLLEGIATE
Men's Collegiate Postseason
Washington, D1 Round of 16 Seattle Pacific, D2 2nd rnd Whitworth, D3 3rd rnd
Women's Collegiate Postseason
Seattle Univ., D1 2nd rnd Washington, D1 3rd rnd Washington State, D1 2nd rnd Seattle Pacific, D2 1st rnd Western Washington, D2 2nd rnd Puget Sound, D3 2nd rnd
Men's Conference Champions
Seattle Pacific, GNAC Whitworth, NWC
Women's Conference Champions
Seattle Univ, WAC Seattle Pacific, GNAC Puget Sound, NWC
NWAC Men's Champion
Highline d North Idaho 3-0
NWAC Women's Champion
Everett d Peninsula 1-0
Largest Attendance
64,207, CenturyLink Field, Seattle v Portland

2014: Three Trophies But Not Satisfied

It's a summer to remember around Seattle, what with a World Cup and entertaining, top-of-the-table teams in the Sounders and Reign. But everyone is left wanting more.

Little is NWSL MVP, Gold Boot
August 28, 2014

Seattle Reign’s dynamite newcomer Kim Little, 24, is voted NWSL Most Valuable Player after leading her club to the league’s best record by scoring 16 goals, good for the Golden Boot. Little produced four multi-goal games. The native of Aberdeen, Scotland also is second in assists with seven.

Seattle Impact Coming to Kent
July 7, 2014

Semipro indoor soccer is coming to Kent’s ShoWare Center. Dion Earl, formerly of the A-League Sounders and Seattle SeaDogs, has purchased a franchise in the Major Arena Soccer League.

Pirates Reach Round of 16
November 15, 2014

Whitworth reaches the NCAA Division III men’s round of 16 for the first time by blanking Berry, 2-0, in Atlanta. Sam Engle and Eric Espinoza score for the Pirates, whose 17th victory ties the program record

Pumas Make It to PDL Final
August 3, 2014

After advancing through three rounds of the PDL playoffs, the Kitsap Pumas are blanked by the Michigan Bucks, 1-0, in the final in Pontiac, Mich. The Pumas had scored eight goals in the previous postseason games while Michigan had not held any opponent scoreless.

Hahnemann Calls Time After 21 Years
December 8, 2014

Marcus Hahnemann, 42, announces his retirement from professional soccer. Hahnemann began and finished his illustrious 21-year professional career with his hometown club, spending three seasons with the A-League Sounders from 1994-96 and a little more than two seasons with Sounders FC from 2012-14. In between, he played for Colorado then 13 seasons in England, including 276 appearances with Reading, where he reached the Premiership.

Reign Moving Downtown
February 6, 2014

Reign reach agreement with Seattle Public Schools to move to Memorial Stadium beginning in 2014, for both matches and training. Owner Bill Predmore said there are plans to upgrade the locker rooms and paint over football lines.

Dempsey Hat Trick Keys Comeback
April 5, 2014

Clint Dempsey's 87th minute penalty kick caps a remarkable hat trick and comeback by the Sounders at Portland, ending in a 4-4 draw. Down 4-2 entering the final five minutes, Seattle pulls close on Dempsey's second goal coming from a combination with Obafemi Martins. Two minutes later, DeAndre Yedlin is fouled after racing into the box and Dempsey equalizes from the spot. The draw avoids a fifth straight loss to the Timbers.

UW Women Beat Missouri in OT
November 22, 2014

Kimberly Keever’s overtime strike sends Washington to the NCAA third round with a 1-0 victory over Missouri in Palo Alto, Calif. Keever’s sixth goal of the year comes 63 seconds into the first golden-goal period. Megan Kufeld makes three saves for her fifth shutout.

Huskies Extend Win Streak to 8
October 5, 2014

Washington wins its eighth in a row, completing a sweep of the Bay Area schools by beating No. 18 Stanford, 3-1, at Husky Soccer Stadium. The No. 5-ranked Huskies put away the Cardinal when Darwin Jones converts a turnover into his eighth goal of the season.

Cougars Sweep Oregon Schools
October 19, 2014

Gurveen Clair posts her record 33rd career shutout and Mariah Powers's first collegiate goal gives Washington State a 1-0 overtime victory over Oregon in Pullman. Clair makes two saves to keep the Ducks scoreless. The win completes a WSU sweep of the Oregon schools and snaps a three-match winless skid after the Cougars began then season unbeaten (7-0-2) in their first nine outings.

Morris Makes USMNT Debut
November 18, 2014

Stanford sophomore Jordan Morris makes his USMNT debut in 4-1 loss to Ireland. The Mercer Island native and Sounders Academy player of the year plays the final 14 minutes.

WSU Names Nugent Next Coach
January 30, 2014

UNC Greensboro's Steve Nugent is tapped as Washington State's new head coach, replacing Keidane McAlpine. The Cougars' sixth head coach and third in four years.

Reign Moves to 7-0-0 Start
May 14, 2014

Although they score the match’s first two goals, the Reign need a winner from Keelin Winters in the 76th minute to remain perfect (7-0-0) after seven starts. Kendall Fletcher and Kim Little score in the first 20 minutes but FC Kansas City ties in in the second half before Winters nods home the winner.

Johnson, Northwest Eagles Soar
November 8, 2014

Northwest University wraps up a successful women's season by rallying to beat Warner Pacific, 2-1, in overtime at Kirkland. Acacia Johnson ignites the comeback, scoring the tying goal with 7:17 remaining in regulation. It's Johnson's record 42nd career goal. She then crosses to Tiffany Taylor for the winner 4:03 into overtime. The Eagles' record-tying 11th win comes two weeks after they clinched their second Cascade Conference championship.

Kitsaps Wins Division
July 11, 2014

Kitsap Pumas clinch the PDL Northwest Division for the first time in three seasons with a 3-1 win over Washington Crossfire in Redmond.

Impact Players Quit En Masse
November 19, 2014

Twenty-two players quit the troubled Seattle Impact in protest of owner Dion Earl’s management style. Earl also coaches and plays for the team and has been served with a class action lawsuit by former employees.

Reign Romps Over Thorns
July 27, 2014

Sydney Leroux strikes in the fourth minute and Naho Kawasumi supplies a pair of goals for the Reign to pound Portland, 5-0, before a record crowd of 5,957. It’s the first five-goal game for Seattle.

WA Youth Coaches Nab Two National Awards
January 17, 2014

Zahra Lechak of Dos FC and Seattle United is selected 2013 USYSA Girls Competitive Coach of the Year, and Chris Twombley of West Seattle SC is named National Girls Recreation Coach of the Year by USYSA in Philadelphia. Twombley has been a WSSC coach for 12 years, most recently with the Blue Crew. Lechak, a USSF A License holder who is also a Sounders Women assistant, focuses on developing players to their full potential.

Little Goals Get Reign Started
April 13, 2014

Scottish international Kim Little debuts with a brace as Seattle Reign opens its new Memorial Stadium home by beating Boston, 3-0. Little scores a penalty early in the second half and adds her second five minutes later. Megan Rapinoe closes out the scoring, and Hope Solo is credited with two saves in the shutout.

Seattle's Yedlin Capped
February 1, 2014

Seattle native DeAndre Yedlin earns his first U.S. National Team cap vs. South Korea, a 2-0 friendly in Carson, Calif. Yedlin comes on in the 74th minute, replacing fellow Sounder Brad Evans.

Huskies Advance to NCAA Final 16
November 24, 2014

Spencer Richey saves a penalty in the ninth round and Beau Blanchard converts for Washington, which despite missing its first three attempts, advances to the NCAA round of 16 over Furman, 0-0 (6-5).

Longtime Bremerton Team First Kitsap Inductees
January 25, 2014

Bremerton Chuggers, a youth team that would eventually play 27 years, into adulthood, becomes the first soccer athletes inducted into the Kitsap Sports Hall of Fame. The founding members of the Chuggers started kicking the soccer ball around in 1973. At last count 112 players have represented the Chuggers. After dominating the adult soccer scene in Kitsap County, they competed in the Washington State Soccer League (now called the Greater Seattle Soccer League) for 16 seasons and played several more years in over-30 and over-40 leagues.

Seattle Clinches NWSL Shield
July 30, 2014

Seattle (15-1-4) clinches the NWSL Shield with four games remaining in the regular season, with Kim Little scoring twice in a 4-1 win at Houston. The Reign’s 49 points is already an NWSL record. Little, now with 14 goals, also assists on Sydney Leroux’s opener in the second minute.

4,500 See U.S. Exit World Cup
July 1, 2014

Sounders players join with some 4,500 fans at the CenturyLink Field Events Center to watch a lunch hour World Cup round-of-16 match between the U.S. and Belgium. The Belgians send the Yanks home, 2-1, in extra time.

Kansas City Denies Reign Title
August 31, 2014

FC Kansas City and onetime Reign roster member Amy Rodriguez deny Seattle the NWSL championship, 2-1, before a sold-out Starfire. Rodriguez, who had missed the entire 2013 season then been traded to FCKC, scores midway through the first half and adds a crucial second goal in the 56th. Megan Rapinoe halves the deficit in the 87th minute.

Turnbow, Schultz Stars in Girls Finals
November 22, 2014

Kelsey Turnbow scores four goals as Central Valley successfully defends its title by vanquishing Jackson, 5-2. Maddy Schultz, bound for North Carolina, scores the winner in Edmonds Woodway’s 2-1 winner over Southridge of Kennewick. Schultz had delivered a hat trick in the 3A semifinal.

Late Breakaway Takes All Points in Portland
May 10, 2014

Kim Little’s 89th-minute breakaway is good for all the points in Portland as the Reign notches its first victory over the Thorns, 1-0, before 14,182. Hope Solo makes back-to-back saves in the 67th and 68th minutes. Seattle plays without Megan Rapinoe and Naho Kawasumi.

Young Referee Gets Big Matches
July 16, 2014

Logan Griffis, 19 and a 2013 King’s HS graduate, is one of seven Washington referees chosen to officiate the USYSA National Championships in Frisco, Tex. Later, Griffis referees the 4A girls state championship game and a 3A semifinal, and the Kirkland resident officiates five matches at the U.S. Soccer Development Academy Winter Showcase. In almost six years, Griffis has officiated approximately 1,500 soccer games.

Seattle U Upsets WSU in NCAA Opener
November 14, 2014

Natasha Howe's goal in the 108th minute lifts Seattle University to a 2-1 victory over the No. 23 Washington State in an NCAA first-round game at Pullman. It's the Redhawks' first Div. I postseason win and comes after going winless in 10 previous meetings with the Cougars. Stephanie Verdoia puts Seattle U in front in the 33rd minute. WSU's Mariah Powers ties it in the 80th minute, setting the stage for Howe's heroics. It is Verdoia's record 22nd goal and 51st of her career, another record.

Reign's Harvey, 4 Players Honored
August 27, 2014

Laura Harvey of the Seattle Reign is named NWSL Coach of the Year. Harvey, 34, leads the Reign to 16 wins and two draws in 20 games with a fluid style that nets 50 goals. Kim Little, Jess Fishlock, Naho Kawasumi and Kendall Fletcher are all chosen first team all-NWSL.

Dempsey Scores to Upset Ghana
June 16, 2014

Sounders forward Clint Dempsey scores after 29 seconds as the USMNT upsets Ghana, 2-1, in the opening match of World Cup group play. Seattle teammate DeAndre Yedlin, 20, also plays, becoming the first MLS homegrown signing to appear in a World Cup.

Barrett Gets Seattle Off the Mark
March 8, 2014

Chad Barrett scores in the fourth minute of added time as the Sounders commence their season by beating MLS Cup holders Sporting Kansas City, 1-0, before 39,240. Barrett’s goal is a conversion of Clint Dempsey’s header off the crossbar. Stefan Frei gets the clean sheet in his Seattle debut.

Sounders Lift 4th Open Cup
September 16, 2014

Clint Dempsey and Obafemi Martins score in extra time as Sounders FC capture the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup title with a 3-1 win over the Philadelphia Union at PPL Park. Seattle has now won four U.S. Open Cup championships in its six-year history, tying the Chicago Fire for the most among MLS teams. Seattle trails until Chad Barrett ties it, 1-1, in the 47th minute. Martins comes off the bench and sets up Dempsey for the go-ahead goal in the 101st and then seals it on his own in the 114th.

Marshall, Martins Make MLS Best XI
December 2, 2014

Seattle Sounders FC defender Chad Marshall and forward Obafemi Martins are named MLS Best XI, the third such selection for Marshall after earning the honor in 2008 and 2009, and the first for Martins. Earlier, Marshall became the first player in league history to be named MLS Defender of the Year three times. Martins scored a club record 17 goals (19, all competitions) and was runner-up to L.A. Galaxy's Robbie Keane for MVP.

Snohomish, Lakeside Boys Win State
May 31, 2014

Two long throws from Blake Crutchfield lead to goals in Snohomish's 2-1 win over Ferris for the boys' state 4A championship. In the 3A final, Sharif Kombo's 14th goal for Lakeside beats Mercer Island, 1-0.

Turf Fields' Crumb Rubber Infill Called into Question
October 8, 2014

Amy Griffin, associate head women's coach at Washington, provides data in an NBC News story on a possible tie between cancer and crumb rubber infill for artificial turf fields. Griffin has compiled names of 38 players who have developed different types of cancers. Of those, 34 are goalkeepers. The Environmental Protection Agency and the Consumer Product Safety Commission says its past studies that once deemed the surface as "safe" are now "limited." The EPA begins conducting further studies, including exposure to recycled tire crumb rubber infill that may result in chemical exposure.

Yedlin Named Young Player of Year
December 4, 2014

U.S. Soccer names Sounders FC defender DeAndre Yedlin the 2014 U.S. Soccer Young Male Athlete of the Year. Yedlin earned 10 U.S. Men's National Team caps in 2014, including three at the FIFA World Cup. He became the first MLS Homegrown Player to represent the U.S. at the World Cup, making three appearances in Brazil.

UW Women Win 5th Straight
October 25, 2014

Jaclyn Softli’s 10th goal of the season lifts Washington to a fifth straight win, 1-0, at Utah, snapping the Utes’ home unbeaten streak at 12. Two of the wins have come versus nationally-ranked opposition.

Edmonds Native to Coach Notre Dame
March 19, 2014

Theresa Wagner Romagnolo of Edmonds is named women’s head coach at Notre Dame. A four-time All-Pac-10 Conference choice at Washington, she went on to join the Stanford and University of San Diego staffs before her first head coaching appointment at Dartmouth in 2011. The Irish go 14-6-2 and reach the NCAA third round in Romagnolo’s first year.

Morris Invited to USMNT Camp
August 28, 2014

Mercer Island’s Jordan Morris is called in for the USMNT camp prior to playing the Czech Republic. Morris, a sophomore at Stanford, becomes the first collegian brought into the roster in 15 years.

Pappa Scores twice, Seattle Takes Shield
October 25, 2014

In front of an energized crowd of 57,673 at CenturyLink Field, the Sounders get two late goals from substitute Marco Pappa to top the Los Angeles Galaxy, 2-0, to claim the Supporters' Shield and club-record 20th win. It’s a scoreless stalemate until the 85th minute, when combination between Obafemi Martins and Clint Dempsey draws the defense, leaving Pappa open on the left.

John Best: Sounders, Stars Icon
October 5, 2014

John Best, the first coach and later general manager of the original Seattle Sounders dies while traveling in Ireland. He was 74. Best succumbs to a lung infection after more than two decades of battling kidney disease. He had been visiting family. Best was the face of the Sounders in their formative years, serving as head coach from 1974-76. He returned in 1982 as GM. In 1983 he co-founded the Tacoma Stars, serving as president and director for the MISL club's first five seasons. The Sounders observe a moment of silence and wear black armbands for their home match vs. Vancouver on Oct. 10. Best was the Whitecaps GM during their NASL championship season of 1979.

Impact Rocked in Opener
November 8, 2014

After losing its coaching staff just days beforehand, the Seattle Impact fizzles in its inaugural game, losing 14-4 to San Diego. Nick Perera scores four for the Sockers. Both head coach Jason Dunn and assistant Todd Haley part ways with owner and former college teammate Dion Earl after not being paid. Earl, 42, takes the coaching reins in addition to playing.

Sounders Launch S2 to USL-PRO
October 14, 2014

Sounders FC launches a USL Pro team for 2015. Sounders 2 will play home games at Starfire Sports and Sounders Community Trust will hold a 20 percent interest in the team.

Cooper, Rose Fuel Semifinal Rout
August 13, 2014

Kenny Cooper twice finds the net and assists on two other goals as the Sounders rout Chicago, 6-0, in U.S. Open Cup semifinal at Starfire. Andy Rose also scores a brace to send Seattle to its fifth USOC final in six seasons. The hosts grab the lead after six minutes through Chad Barrett and by halftime Rose makes it 3-0. A late flurry of three goals in five minutes includes two Cooper goals, giving him a record six for the tournament. He scores in each of Seattle’s first four USOC matches.

Sounders Beat Timbers Before Huge Crowd
July 13, 2014

Clint Dempsey scores in his return from World Cup play to help beat Portland, 2-0, in front of a crowd of 64,207. Marco Pappa also scores, and Stefan Frei records his sixth shutout as Seattle keeps a seven-point cushion in the Supporters' Shield race. Five days earlier, the Sounders had eliminated the Timbers from the U.S. Open Cup, 3-1 in extra time.

Cooper Caps Comeback to Extend Streak
May 7, 2014

Kenny Cooper scores the decisive goal in the 88th minute as Seattle rallies past FC Dallas, 2-1, for the fifth win in a row. Cooper, who had played in Dallas the previous season, came on as an 86th-minute substitute. Lamar Neagle, whom he replaced, had tied it in the 62nd minute.

Reign Advances to Host Final
August 24, 2014

Megan Rapinoe’s theft and finish in the 82nd minute completes the Reign’s comeback win, 2-1, against Washington in the NWSL semifinal. After Veronica Perez gives the Spirit the lead in the 65th minute, Kim Little responds from the penalty spot in the 72nd. Seattle will host Kansas City in the league final at Starfire.

Yedlin Tapped by Tottenham
August 13, 2014

Sounders FC reaches an agreement to transfer defender DeAndre Yedlin to Tottenham Hotspur of the English Premier League after the 2014 season. Seattle's first Homegrown player, Yedlin, 21, has earned All-Star honors in each of his first two MLS seasons and represented the U.S. National Team in the FIFA World Cup.

Sounders Score Four in First Half
September 3, 2014

Seattle surges in front with four first-half goals to coast past Chivas USA, 4-2, at Carson, Ca. Brad Evans assists on three of the scores, tying a record, with Obafemi Martins and Andy Rose each scoring twice. All come from set plays. An Evans corner kick in the 11th minute leads to Martins's opener. Free kicks by Evans in the 38th and 42nd minutes enable Rose to score his first two goals of the season. Seattle's third straight win gives it a five-point lead in the Supporters' Shield race.

Gurson Scores Seven in Impact Win
November 15, 2014

Seattle Impact rookie Gordy Gurson overpowers the Sacramento Surge, scoring seven times in a 12-8 road victory. It's the first win in three outings for Seattle.

Sounders, Seahawks Separate Operations
April 30, 2014

Sounders FC and the Seahawks announce their business operations will become independent beginning April 30. The teams have shared business operations since Sounders FC was admitted to Major League Soccer in 2007. The club’s new headquarters will be in Pioneer Square, just north of CenturyLink Field.

Comeback Road Draw Sets Up Showdown
October 19, 2014

Clint Dempsey and Lamar Neagle score second-half goals as the Sounders come from behind to draw, 2-2, with the LA Galaxy at StubHub Center. Seattle and LA remain tied atop the Supporters' Shield standings at 61 points apiece. Dempsey and Neagle tally three minutes apart to steal two points from Los Angeles and set up a showdown for the Supporters’ Shield in the season finale six days later in Seattle.

Sounders Go Out on Away Goal
November 30, 2014

Brad Evans and Clint Dempsey score as Seattle wins the second leg of the Western Conference Championship, 2-1, but falls on away goals to the LA Galaxy in front of a franchise postseason record crowd of 46,758. Juninho scores the decisive goal for the away side. Sounders FC went up 1-0 in the 26th minute through Evans. Six minutes later, Dempsey, scores his 17th across all competitions. The Galaxy now hosts New England in MLS Cup.

Eight-Team EPLWA Begins Play
April 26, 2014

The Evergreen Premier League's inaugural match is played at Yakima's Marquette Stadium, with Yakima United defeating Seattle Stars SC, 4-2. The other charter teams are Bellingham United, South Sound SC (Tacoma), Spokane Shadow, Vancouver Victory FC, Wenatchee United FC and WestSound FC (Silverdale). Spokane wins the league's first championship. EPLWA is affiliated with U.S. Adult Soccer's Premier League program.

There can be a lot of embarrassment in the game of (traditional) golf. With FootGolf, I can hardly wait for my turn. There can be no embarrassment in kicking a ball.
Chris Becker, owner of Spokane’s Eagle Ridge Short Course, which he modified from golf to FootGolf
Kim Little blows me away. I think she blows everyone away. I give her the ball with the utmost confidence that she is going to do something good with it and create something for us.
Reign captain Keelin Winters on NWSL Golden Boot and MVP Kim Little
Going back to the reason why the stadium was built in the first place and what is intended on it, there is this sense of it being part of the fabric of Seattle’s history. It felt like an interesting opportunity to become a part of that, knowing that that’s where the Sounders started out. Maybe we’re continuing that chapter in soccer in Seattle.
Reign owner Bill Predmore on the club’s move to Memorial Stadium
I’ve been waiting for that moment since I was a little kid. It kind of gives me chills to think about, it was something I dreamed about playing with my brother in the backyard. It’s such an honor. To step on the field and represent my country is such an amazing experience.
Jordan Morris, on making his U.S. National Team debut at Ireland
He could make you like the (Tacoma) Stars even if you hated soccer. He was that good of a speaker...Soccer in the Northwest wouldn’t be like it is today if it wasn’t for John Best. There’s a few guys that it wouldn’t be the same if they weren’t here, and he’s one of them.
Jimmy McAlister on John Best's effect on soccer's growth in Washington
It’s not a sob story. Nobody passed away. It’s part of the game. My career’s not over, I’m not leaving the game. I just signed a new three-year contract. I’ve got nothing else but to be proud of what I accomplished and what we continue to do here in Seattle.
Sounders defender Brad Evans after being among the final cuts for the U.S. World Cup squad
It felt like a proper cup final, which is good (but) no one will have a season like we did. It won’t happen again.
Laura Harvey, Reign coach, after setting a NWSL record for points but falling in the final
That’s how everything works. You get that one little chance and all of a sudden, you’ve got big clubs looking at you. It’d be great for DeAndre, to go to a really big club and test himself.
Sounders goalkeeper Marcus Hahnemann, who spent more than a decade playing in England himself, referring Tottenham signing DeAndre Yedlin.
This experience has been amazing. It's one of the things that every soccer player dreams of, so to be able to be here now at a young age and to be able to compete with some of the best players in the world, it's a dream come true.
Seattle native and Sounders right back DeAndre Yedlin, 20, on his rapidly ascending career and World Cup experience
We’re getting lots of phone calls. DeAndre is going to have a lot of opportunities, and there’s always the potential for a change of scenery. But we’d like to keep DeAndre here. We would like to keep good young Americans in our league. But again, there are certain realities to our sport, and this issue comes up for every team on the planet.
Sounders owner/GM Adrian Hanauer, confirming that Yedlin’s World Cup performance has prompted interest from clubs around the world
To me, if you look around at other leagues, when you win the league it's a big deal. And that's how we're going to treat it, as a big deal. No matter what the public thinks of it, we were the best team throughout the course of the season. ... We're going to celebrate it as a championship. We've gotten two now, and now we're looking for the MLS Cup.
Sounders forward Clint Dempsey on winning the Supporters’ Shield
The basics were to play for the fans and form a link...That’s what John envisioned 40 years ago. You could build a club with tradition and history and one that made the fans a part of the team.
David Gillett, eulogizing his first Sounders coach, John Best
It was a fantastic atmosphere. It’s just got a little bit of soccer nostalgia to it really, and great backdrop, and everything around it is fantastic.
Reign coach Laura Harvey on moving from Starfire to Memorial Stadium
I honestly think the Supporters’ Shield is more important than an MLS Cup championship. In terms of the best team, this is the best team over a full season.
Seattle defender DeAndre Yedlin said of the regular-season championship trophy
That is what I am most proud of. The players loved the game enough to give back.
Lance McCoy, whose Bremerton Chuggers played youth through adult for 27 years, with over 60 becoming coaches or officials
The Supporters' Shield is a reflection of what you've done, it's work over a period of time. It's 34 weeks of training, it's 34 weeks of games. Put all that together, and it shows that we were able to come out on top.
Sounders coach Sigi Schmid on winning the Supporters’ Shield
(John) Best, crucially, understood the importance of connecting club with community and recruited players who shared his vision. They made visits to local schools and passed out flowers to fans before matches.
Seattle Times reporter Matt Pentz on how John Best helped forge the connection between the Sounders and the city
Our vision is to grow our business to unprecedented levels both domestically and abroad. This move will position us to achieve that goal. The Seahawks have been vital to our early success and we thank Paul Allen and his organization for their support.
Sounders majority owner Joe Roth on the club becoming independent from the NFL franchise
We're six years in, and now we've won four Open Cups and a Supporters' Shield. That's five trophies in six years. Salt Lake hasn't done that. Kansas City hasn't done that. The other new franchises haven't done that. I think it's a reflection of our consistency. And I hope our fans appreciate that as to what we're doing.
Sigi Schmid on his Sounders’ growing collection of trophies
College & High School All-America (USC)
Player (Hometown) School (Div/Team/Pos)
Jordan Morris (Mercer Island) Stanford (D1/1st/F)
Cristian Roldan (Pico Rivera, Ca.) Washington (D1/3rd/M)
Andy Thoma (Los Alamos, N.M.) Washington (D1/3rd/M)
Stephanie Verdoia (Salt Lake City, Ut.) Seattle University (D1/3rd/F)
Isabell Farrell (Bellevue) Seattle Pacific (D2/2nd/F)
Brianna Jones (Bonney Lake) Western Washington (D2/3rd/D)
Davis Karaica (Snoqualmie) Seattle Pacific (D2/2nd/D)
Stephen MacDonald (Phoenix, Az.) Seattle Pacific (D2/3rd/F)
Bryson Pavel (Boise, Id.) Seattle Pacific (D2/3rd/D)
Collegiate Men's Records
Evergreen 9-8-1
Gonzaga 5-12-1
Northwest 15-5-0
Pacific Lutheran 10-10-0
Puget Sound 13-5-2
Saint Martin's 3-14-1
Seattle University 11-5-3
Seattle Pacific 16-2-2
Washington 12-5-3
Western Washington 9-8-1
Whitman 10-10-0
Whitworth 17-2-3
Collegiate Women's Records
Central Washington 8-8-3
Eastern Washington 8-9-0
Evergreen 5-10-1
Gonzaga 9-9-1
Northwest 11-6-2
Pacific Lutheran 14-5-1
Puget Sound 16-4-1
Saint Martin's 3-13-2
Seattle University 15-4-3
Seattle Pacific 12-5-3
Washington 14-7-2
Washington State 10-5-4
Western Washington 16-1-4
Whitman 9-7-4
Whitworth 8-11-1
Founders Cup Winners
Age BoysGirls
U11 Mercer Island FC United 02 005/GiampapaFC Edmonds Black Ice
U12 Seattle United NE 01 BlueNorthshore SC Velocity 01
U13 Seattle United West 00 BlueLake Hills Pumas 00
U14 Lake Hills Synergy 99Seattle United NE 99 Blue
U15 Seattle United South 98 BlackFME Blue Flame
U16 Seattle United NE 97 Blue
U17 South Whidbey ReignBellevue YSC Select Ravens Mack (16/17)
U18/19 Seattle United Shoreline 95 BlueSeattle United Shoreline 95 Blue
PDL, W-League Records
Puget Sound Gunners 3-9-2, 7th Div.
Kitsap Pumas 9-1-4, 1st Div.
Seattle Sounders U23s 5-7-2, 5th Div.
Seattle Sounders Women 7-4-1, 3rd Div.
Washington Crossfire 3-6-5, 6th Div.
Professional All-League
Player (Pos) Team (Lg-Tm)
Chad Marshall (D) Sounders (MLS-1st)
Obafemi Martins (F) Sounders (MLS-1st)
Kendall Fletcher (D) Reign (NWSL-1st)
Jessica Fishlock (M) Reign (NWSL-1st)
Naho Kawasumi (F) Reign (NWSL-1st)
Kim Little (F) Reign (NWSL-1st)
Hope Solo (G) Reign (NWSL-2nd)
Lauren Barnes (D) Reign (NWSL-2nd)
Stephanie Cox (D) Reign (NWSL-2nd)
Anna Maria Picarelli (G) Sounders Women (WL-NW)
Cory Keitz (D) Kitsap (PDL-NW)
Cory Keitz (D) Kitsap (PDL-NW)
State Youth Challenge Cup Winners
Age BoysGirls
U10 Crossfire Premier 03 B James AWashington Premier 03 Black
U11 Seattle United 02 Copa ASeattle United 02 Copa A
U12 Pac NW 01 Blue BSpokane SC Shadow 01 A
U13 Nortac Colibri ReneFC Alliance 00 A
U14 Seattle United 99 Tango BCrossfire Premier 99 Crum B
U15 Tacoma United ChelseaEastside FC 98 White B
U16 Federal Way FC 97 BlueWashington Timbers Green 97
U17 Crossfire Select 96 GonzalezCrossfire Select 96 Farzeen
U18/19 Bainbridge Island FC 95Spokane SC Shadow 95 B
State Youth Recreational Cup Winners
Age BoysGirls
U11 Lakewood UnitedLakewood Phoenix FC
U12 Federal Way SA LionsAuburn Blast
U13 Federal Way FC ThunderbirdsMYSC Mavericks
U14 Goal RushSC Warriors
U15 Eastlake 99 Sammamish ThunderEastlake 99 Wizards
U16 VUSA CheetahsNorth Bend SAS
U17 Juanita 97 Lightning FCNCYSA PSA Strike Force
U18/19 Camas-Washougal Wolves
Washington State Youth Champions
Age BoysGirls
U12 PacNW 01 Maroon (GRJSA)Washington Premier 01 Black (TPCJSA)
U13 Seattle United 00 Copa (SYSA)NW Nationals 00 Red (SSCYSA)
U14 Seattle United 99 Copa (SYSA)NW Nationals 99 Red (SSCYSA)
U15 Crossfire Premier 98 James (LWYSA)Eastside FC 98 Red (EYSA)
U16 Crossfire Premier 97 Schmetzer (LWYSA)PacNW 97 Maroon (GRJSA)
U17 Eastside FC 96 Red (EYSA)NW Nationals 96 Red (SSCYSA)
U18 Washington Timbers 95 Red (SWYSA)NW Nationals 95 Red (SSCYSA)
WIAA Championship Games
Boys 4A Snohomish 4Ferris 1
Boys 3A Lakeside 1Mercer Island 0
Boys 2A Squalicum 4Capital 0
Boys 1A Quincy 1University Prep 0
Boys 1B-2B Bear Creek 2Grace Academy 0
Girls 4A Central Valley 5Jackson 2
Girls 3A Edmonds-Woodway 2Southridge 1
Girls 2A Squalicum 2Shorecrest 1
Girls 1A Klahowya 1King's 0
Girls 1B-2B Crosspoint 5Liberty Bell 1
Seattle Reign vs Portland Thorns

VIDEO: Seattle Reign vs Portland Thorns

2014 Seattle Reign at Houston Dash

VIDEO: 2014 Seattle Reign at Houston Dash

Kim Little's goals from 2014

VIDEO: Kim Little's goals from 2014

2014 World Cup match - USA vs Ghana

VIDEO: 2014 World Cup match - USA vs Ghana

Obafemi Martins' goals from 2014

VIDEO: Obafemi Martins' goals from 2014

Obafemi 2014 Goal of the Year

VIDEO: Obafemi 2014 Goal of the Year

US Open Cup Final - Sounders vs. Union

VIDEO: US Open Cup Final - Sounders vs. Union

On this Day in History
February 27, 1977
Federal Way’s U14 Totem Tornado win a fifth straight boys' state cup, and Gregg Miller scores four goals in the U19 Continental Volvo Blues’ 7-4 overtime victory over Lively Market Crusaders during the state cup finals at Renton Stadium. The Totem Tornado blast Lake Hills Astros, 6-1. Walter Schmetzer’s Lake City Hawks are voted the outstanding team of the state finals after winning U16 title, 5-3, over Mercer Island Spartans.
More from 1977 ›
April 20, 2021
Seattle's Henry Wingo celebrates another league championship, this time with Hungary's Ferencvaros. A 3-0 home win over Ujpest gives Ferencvaros a third straight crown. Wingo, a wing-back, has become a regular (12 appearances) since joining the Budapest side on a $1 million transfer Jan. 18. He had also won a domestic title for Norway's Molde after leaving the Sounders midway through 2019.
More from 2021 ›
October 27, 1990
Freshman Janko Gil scores the only goal and Danny Marquett gets the shutout as Central Washington upsets Simon Fraser, ranked 10th in NAIA, in Ellensburg. Marquett saves two Clan shots, and Gil takes the Wildcats to the lead in the 58th minute. He's coming off his fourth hat trick of the year three days earlier vs. Evergreen. Gil finishes with 15 goals.
More from 1990 ›
November 21, 1998
Nancy Mikacenic and Jenny Skinner score in the final five minutes to push Lakeside past Highline, 2-0, in the state girls' 3A final at Federal Way. The Lions pepper the Pirates with 22 shots through 75 minutes, but then Skinner cuts the ball back to Mikacenic to score from 18 yards. One minute later, Lisa Jensen finds Skinner for a 2-nil advantage. It's Lakeside's third title in four years. Their only loss in the last 69 games was the 1997 final.
More from 1998 ›