John Best, a five-time all-NASL defender and assistant coach at Dallas, is chosen to become the Seattle expansion team's first head coach. Best, 33, is a native of Liverpool, England. His hiring comes just nine days after the franchise was awarded. Best helped Dallas win the 1971 league title, and the Tornado was runner-up in 1973.

Seattle closes out the regular season impressively, completing a sweep of Western Division winner St. Louis City, 2-0. Stefan Frei makes a 5th-minute save off a free kick and goes on to post his MLS-leading 14th shutout, a new club record. The Sounders start on the front foot, taking the lead after 23 minutes when Cristian Roldan spots Albert Rusnak. Reed Baker-Whiting's shot deflects in for an own goal at 38'. After a fast start followed by a midseason lull, Seattle goes undefeated (4-0-5) down the stretch.

Joan Dunlap scores and adds an assist in North Carolina's convincing 4-0 victory over George Mason for the NCAA championship in Orlando. A 22-year-old freshman from Seattle, Dunlap figures in two of three UNC goals during an 11-minute span. She strips a defender at the top of the box and drives in to make it 3-nil. A few minutes later Dunlap feeds Amy Machin. The Tar Heels finish 19-1-0.

A fireworks rocket shot into Memorial Stadium sparks an early morning (1:40 am) fire that causes $100,000 damage to the playing turf. Consequently, FC Seattle is forced to move its remaining four home games to Renton Stadium.

Kenmore's Paul Holocher assists on Santa Clara's lone goal, and several other Washington players factor in the Broncos' 1-1 overtime draw with Virginia in the NCAA championship game at Piscataway, N.J. Holocher finds Jeff Baicher in the 84th minute to force extra time. After 150 minutes of regulation and overtime in frigid cold, officials it a draw, creating co-champions for only the third time in tournament history. In all, seven players from Washington are on Santa Clara (20-0-3) roster.

August 2, 1983 – The first sporting event in newly-opened Tacoma Dome features the Sounders hosting Brazil Internacional in their EuroPac tournament opener, a 2-1 loss before 6,340. Peter Ward is first to find the net in the game’s 11th minute. Ruben Paz and Rene score just over three minutes apart midway through the second half for the visitors from Porto Alegre. Ownership missed making payroll to the players and staff the day prior, and there had been doubt as to whether Seattle would compete after missing a $48,000 CDN payment to the Vancouver Whitecaps, who are tournament hosts.