The U.S. Soccer Federation proposes 18 potential sites, including Seattle's Husky Stadium, in its bid to stage the 1994 World Cup. A maximum of only 12 stadiums will be used. Brazil, Chile and Morocco are also expected to submit bids to FIFA, which will then conduct on-sight inspections and private hearings on each before announcing its decision in June 1988.

Seattle officially joins the American Professional Soccer League, otherwise known as the A-League, and takes the name of the former NASL club, the Sounders. Fellow expansion clubs Houston and Toronto bring the league to eight franchises. Colorado, Fort Lauderdale, Los Angeles, Montreal and Vancouver are existing members of the APSL, a Division II league which originally included FC Seattle. Houston's franchise is terminated for financial reasons after just two matches.

In the club's biggest signing to date, Clint Dempsey, captain and star of the U.S. National Team, comes home to America to sign for Sounders FC. Dempsey, 30, returns from England after a U.S.-record 57 goals with Fulham and Tottenham of the Premiership. His 35 goals for the USMNT ranks No. 2 all-time. Majority owner Joe Roth introduces Deuce to the crowd before a 3-0 win over Dallas, and he debuts a week later at Toronto.

Pacific Lutheran effectively usurps Western Washington atop NAIA women with a 1-0 upset in Bellingham. Sonya Brandt's goal with 15 minutes remaining proves the difference while Gail Stenzel saves 13 Vikings shots for her sixth straight shutout. WWU keeper Trina Angehrn bats down Emilie Portell's cross, but Brandt is there to put away the loose ball. The following week, PLU replaces Western at No. 1 in the national rankings.

Mark Peterson scores the winner with just 1:40 remaining as the U.S. National Team opens the next stage of World Cup qualifying by beating Trinidad & Tobago, 2-1, at Busch Stadium in St. Louis. Peterson, out of contract with the Tacoma Stars and out of the national team for 20 months, gets the close-range winner on a feed from Erhardt Capp. Peterson's youth teammate from Tacoma's Norpoint Royals, Jeff Durgan, also starts. Neither plays when the U.S. is eliminated May 31 by Costa Rica.

Katey Ward's overtime goal put Washington ahead of Oregon State for good in a 3-1 road win at Corvallis. It's the eighth win in 10 games for the resurgent Huskies, who started 3-4-0. It completes a UW road sweep. Erin Pochman and Jana Wilson scored the game-winner in the first-ever meeting with Oregon two days earlier.