Sonya Brandt and Shelley Flack of Puget Sound's national runners-up are among four Washington women named to the NAIA All-America teams. Brandt and Flack, both forwards, make the first team. Shelly Simmons of UPS and Pacific Lutheran's Linda Bostjancic are named to the second team.

Seattle Unified Soccer League opens its second season at West Seattle's Chief Sealth High School with a greatly expanded program. Retired Sounders great Kasey Keller is among those on hand for the opening ceremonies and March to the Match across the street to the Southwest Athletic Complex. The six-week season features 12 high schools, eight middle schools and five elementary schools from the greater Seattle area. Over 300 students participate on the teams which are made up of five athletes with intellectual disabilities and five without. On April 24, a three-team Whatcom County league begins its first season. Fort Lewis will host a state tournament in June.

The founder of amputee soccer, Don Bennett passes from prostate cancer at 92. Bennett moved to Seattle in 1956, operating several successful businesses. After losing his right leg in 1972 boating accident, he remained active outdoors. In 1982, he became the first amputee to summit Mount Rainier on crutches, then soon after invited his ski buddies to play soccer, and amputee soccer was born. It is now played in over 50 countries. The first Amputee World Cup was held in Seattle, and Bennett attended the 2022 championships in Turkey.

Ken Hall’s five saves secure the shutout and Daudi Abe gets the goal that avenges previous year’s championship game defeat to Adelphi as Falcons win semifinal before 5,000 at Memorial Stadium.

Megan Rapinoe’s jersey is retired by the Seattle Reign. Rapinoe played for Seattle during its first 11 NWSL seasons while wearing No. 15. No other player in Seattle pro soccer history has had their jersey retired. She holds Reign career records for goals (54) and assists (28), leading the team to three NWSL Shields and three finals. While with the club she was the 2019 Ballon d’Or winner and received the Presidential Medal of Freedom.

For the first time the Sounders will televise a package of road matches. KSTW Channel 11 will air six games on simulcast with Bob Robertson’s KVI radio call, beginning with the season opener at St. Louis. The only previous local telecast was the 1975 playoff game at Portland on KOMO.