Curated by the Washington State Legends of Soccer, providing information and history of the Beautiful Game in Washington State. Just as the game evolves, so will this site. We continuously add new content, so be sure to return often.
Federal Way teenage phenom Justi Baumgardt is named Parade Magazine's first High School Player of the Year. Since leading Federal Way to a second state 3A title in the fall, Baumgardt has signed a national letter of intent to attend the University of Portland and, at 17, is the youngest (by two years) invitee to this USWNT training camp. Over four prep seasons, the senior midfielder totaled 98 goals and 50 assists. Kennedy midfielder Michelle French and Gonzaga Prep forward Danielle Hamacher also make the All-America team.
Kei Kinoshita's overtime, top-of-the-box volley finds twine and the golden goal gives the Seattle Sounders a 2-1 victory over Portland at Memorial Stadium. With Timbers keeper Matt Napoleon racing off his line, Kinoshita arrives to hit Kyle Smith's flick-on goalward in the 110th minute. Scott Jenkins scores the tying goal in the 62nd minute after former Sounder Darren Sawatzky struck early on a penalty. It's the Sounders' (1-2-0) first win of the season and comes 24 hours after falling in Portland. The match is hotly contested, with nine cards shown, including reds to both sides in the 75th minute.
Hope Solo makes one critical save as the United States defeats Canada, 2-0, in the final match at the CONCACAF Olympic qualifying tournament in Houston. Solo is also named the tournament's outstanding goalkeeper.
An overflow crowd of 4,893 and national TV audience sees the Sounders win the USL championship, 4-0, over the Atlanta Silverbacks behind two goals of early substitute Greg Howes. It's Seattle’s fourth championship since 1995 – more than any other existing club. Hugo Alcaraz-Cuellar adds a goal and an assist on Howes’s opener on the stroke of halftime. Howes replaced injured Leighton O’Brien in the 18th minute.
After going scoreless over his first five games with the Sounders, Blaise Nkufo becomes the first player to achieve a hat trick as Seattle shocks Columbus, 4-0, on the road. Nkufo, the Swiss DP, puts the visitors ahead in the fourth minute, fighting through a scrum in the goalmouth to beat William Hesmer. He doubles the lead against the run of play in the 39th minute, scoring on a tightly angled shot from the left side. Sanna Nyassi is tugged down, resulting in a Nathan Sturgis 42nd-minute penalty. Nkufo caps his night in the 75th minute. Steve Zakuani beats his man down the left and finds Nkufo for a first-rime 15-yard strike to the upper corner. He proceeds to score in his next two games as well. It's the Crew's worst home loss in five years. The win concludes 7,981 miles of travel in one week.
Rough & Tumble, a sports bar giving priority to women's professional and collegiate sports, opens in Seattle's Ballard neighborhood. It instantly becomes the de facto home for OL Reign fans to gather and watch road matches and occasionally meet with players and coaches. Rough & Tumble founder Jen Barnes was driven to start the business after being frustrated in seeking a bar showing a 2021 Reign semifinal on a big screen.