Washington State
Legends of Soccer

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.

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Vancouver Ousts Sounders Women
July 31, 2004

Sounders Women fall short of reaching the W-League final four for the second year in a row, bowing out in the Western Conference title game at Burnaby, B.C. The Whitecaps Women win at home, 1-0, snapping Seattle's five-game win streak but not without a scare. Rachel Rodrick fires a 22-yard blast off goalkeeper Erin McLeod's hands and the crossbar in the 75th minute. Top scorer (10 goals) Brenda Mueller has another chance in the 77th minute but hits the post. Vancouver proceeds to win the W-League championship.

Whittemore Betters Record, But SDSU Run Ends
November 7, 1984

Seattle's Kyle Whittemore scores his record-breaking 21st goal, but it's not enough as San Diego State's late-season surge ends with a 3-1 loss at UNLV. Whittemore, a sophomore, had scored 20 times as a freshman. He scores six times during the Aztecs' five-game October win streak. Everett's Pat Henderson and Lynnwood's Rick Blubaugh are also key contributors for SDSU.

Seattle Fans Reach First of Nine World Cup Bus Stops
June 15, 1994

Eight Seattle men, ages 23-24 and most graduates of Garfield High School, reach Chicago for the World Cup's opening match. They have refitted a retired school bus with bunk beds, a kitchen and bathroom with a portable toilet. They will drive an estimated 10,000 miles, stopping at each of the nine tournament venues over six weeks before returning home. The bus, with 147,000 miles on its odometer, cost $2000 and another $2000 was invested in improvements.

Akers-Stahl Named U.S. Soccer Athlete of the Year
November 27, 1990

Michelle Akers-Stahl is named 1990 Female Athlete of the Year by the U.S. Soccer Federation after scoring 14 goals in 11 matches with the national team. Akers-Stahl, 24, is the sixth recipient and second from Washington, joining Sharon McMurtry (1985). Because of injuries, this was the first summer she played with the national team in two years. She led the USWNT to wins over No. 1-ranked West Germany, England and Soviet Union and also scored five goals to lead the North to the Olympic Festival title.

Ballard FC Enjoys Perfect Inaugural Night
May 21, 2022

A full house and plenty of fireworks on the attack as Ballard FC gets off to a roaring start in its inaugural USL League Two match. Before a capacity Interbay Stadium crowd of 1,200, Ballard earns a lopsided 5-1 victory over Oregon's Lane United. Declan McGlynn's free kick in the 34th minute sets everything in motion. Charlie Gaffney is chosen man of the match after assisting on Alex Mejia's goal just before halftime and then scoring early in the second period. BFC starts 6-0-2.

Stars' McAlister Wins First Game in Charge
February 24, 1988

New Tacoma Stars coach Jimmy McAlister wins his first game in charge, 5-3 over the visiting LA Lazers, behind Peter Ward's hat trick. Steve Zungul scores one goal and assists on three before 10,191 in Tacoma Dome. At 30, McAlister is younger than both Ward (32) and Zungul (34). The Stars win their third straight and go 5-2 in McAlister's first seven games.

In 2017, Sounders captain Osvaldo Alonso became only the 10th player in MLS history to surpass 20,000 minutes while playing for one team. (Courtesy Corky Trewin / Sounders FC)
2017
The Vikings were one of the first known clubs to sponsor a women's program. In 1929 the Valkyries played the club's male oldtimers during the annual picnic at Bellevue's Vasa Park on Lake Sammamish. (Courtesy Pep Peery/Mike Mikkelsen)
1949
Adrian Hanauer, principal owner of the USL Sounders since 2002, becomes part of the MLS Seattle ownership group.
2007
Gary Heale of the Tacoma Stars. (Courtesy NASL Jerseys)
1985
The Seattle Reign reverted to local ownership in 2024 after being purchased by the Sounders FC owners and global investment firm The Carlyle Group. From left, chief business officer Maya Mendoza-Exstrom, owner Adrian Hanauer, general manager Lesle Gallimore and Dan Popov of Carlyle. 
 (Seattle Reign)
2024
1963
Cruz Azul's rout of the Sounders in the CONCACAF Champions Cup made headlines in Central America.
1996
Mark Peterson celebrating one of his final goals for Seattle.
1983
1977
One of the brights posts in the final Sounders season of the NASL era was the emergence of their homegrown rookies, including forward Chance Fry.
1983