Major League Soccer grants an expansion franchise to Seattle that will begin play at Qwest Field in 2009. The announcement is made at a press conference on the 75th floor of the Columbia Center. Seattle is awarded a team after solidifying an agreement with Hollywood executive Joe Roth, the majority owner, and fellow owners Adrian Hanauer (USL Sounders owner who operates numerous local businesses), Paul Allen (Microsoft co-founder and Seahawks/Portland TrailBlazers owner) and actor/comedian Drew Carey. Seattle will be the league’s 15th team.

Dan Larson nets two goals and Danny Vaughn adds a third as Washington shocks defending NCAA champion and No. 1-ranked San Francisco, 3-1, before 4,500 fans at Husky Stadium. Cliff Brown makes seven saves for the Huskies (3-0-2).

Everett's Sean Henderson and older brother Chris Henderson return home to Snohomish County and figure in three goals over nine minutes during a Sounders-Colorado Rapids exhibition. Sean Henderson scores the Rapids' second goal and he and Chris also add assists in the 4-1 win. Former Sounder Marcus Hahnemann is the Colorado keeper. The match is played on the grass at Marysville-Pilchuck High School before 2,627.

Sixty days after being granted an ASL expansion franchise, the Tacoma Tides open play, winning at Sacramento. They win, 1-0, behind former Sounder Roy Sinclair’s 74th-minute goal on assist from Windsor Del Llano.

Facing a Santos Laguna side in midseason Liga MX form, Seattle Sounders open the competitive campaign with a 2-1 Champions League quarterfinal first leg win before 23,433 at CenturyLink Field. David Estrada heads in his first professional goal from a Fredy Montero cross in the 12th minute. Herculez Gomez equalizes for Santos in the 61st, but Brad Evans nods home a Mauro Rosales free kick two minutes later.

For the third time in four weeks OL Reign announces a key acquisition, this time central defender Alana Cook on a transfer from Paris Saint-Germain. Cook had previously played with OL Reign during the 2020 NWSL Challenge Cup on a short-term loan from the French club. A native of Massachusetts and Stanford graduate, she signed with PSG in early 2019, and in 2021 they finally overtook 14-time defending champion Olympique Lyonnais. Cook captained the U.S. U23 national team and earned her first senior cap in 2019.