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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Explore our history. Click on any of the panels below to learn what happened that year.
Tacoma taps McNab for Coach
September 6, 1983

Bob McNab is named Tacoma Stars head coach less than two months before the club's first game. McNab, 40, was both hired and fired by Stars president John Best while both were with the Vancouver Whitecaps in 1980. McNab is a former Arsenal captain.

Sounders Host T-Dome Opener
August 2, 1983

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.

Stanford Holds Off Huskies
November 12, 1994

Stanford staves off Washington's upset bid in the West Region semifinals in Portland, but not before the Huskies nearly beat the No. 3 and unbeaten Cardinal. Samantha Obara's shot slams off the post in the 32nd minute, the closest call to a goal over 120 minutes of regulation and overtime. Stanford advances, 0-0 (6-5) when Suzie Boots converts and UW's Sanya Trandum hits the crossbar with her penalty attempt.

Little is NWSL MVP, Gold Boot
August 28, 2014

Seattle Reign’s dynamite newcomer Kim Little, 24, is voted NWSL Most Valuable Player after leading her club to the league’s best record by scoring 16 goals, good for the Golden Boot. Little produced four multi-goal games. The native of Aberdeen, Scotland also is second in assists with seven.

WA Players Help Portland Beat Seattle
June 3, 1989

It's Seattle vs. Portland, and Washingtonians figure in four of the five goals as the Timbers prevail, 3-2, in overtime before 3,875 at Memorial Stadium. Wade Webber puts home Dick McCormick's assist with about a minute left in the second extra period. Woodinville's Trent Schultz accounts for another Portland goal. Bellevue's Bernie James and Mill Creek's Clint Carnell connect for the Storm.

Ozzie Retires as a Sounder
February 29, 2024

Osvaldo Alonso returns to Seattle to sign a one-day contract and officially retire as a Sounder. Alonso, 38, spent the first 10 of his 15 MLS seasons wearing Rave Green, and his defensive midfield bite was instrumental in the expansion team’s repeated playoff berths and trophy haul, culminating in a 2016 MLS Cup. He spent the last five seasons with Minnesota and Atlanta.

Vincent Akhimie of the University of Washington. (Courtesy UW Tyee archives)
1965
Burien's Michelle French debuts for the U.S. National Team while still a University of Portland sophomore.
1997
Seattle's David Gillett rises to contest a header vs. New York.
1975
Katie Michkiosky scored a record 20 goals for Northwest in 2018. (Courtesy Northwest Athletics)
2018
Seattle University won its second WAC men's title in three years in 2015 and went on to reach the NCAA third round. (Courtesy Seattle University)
2015
In April 2021, the Sounders saw the return of fans after 11 months empty stadiums due to the pandemic. (Courtesy Sounders FC/Mike Fiechtner).
2021
Seattle Sounders FC, America's first Concacaf Champions League champion, celebrate on the podium after defeating Pumas. (Courtesy Rod Mar/Sounders FC)
2022
Tacoma Heidelberg of the State League, ca. 1971. (Courtesy Shanaman Museum)
1971
Washington's U17 boys' state select team. (Courtesy Washington Youth Soccer)
1985
Behind Alex Mejia (12), Seattle Pacific started 10-1-0 and went on to win its first GNAC title since 2015 under interim coach Kevin Sakuda. (Courtesy Melissa Lordahl/Seattle Pacific Athletics)
2021