Historically, even dating back to the pre-MLS era, the Seattle Sounders rarely get blown out.
The “Sounders Never Quit” mantra is one of the most important parts of the ethos that Brian Schmetzer has instilled in the club. You’re not going to win every game in a given season, but the Sounders have always been a club that will scrap and claw and compete to the bitter end. And if they’re going down, they go down swinging.
We’re just not used to seeing results like the 3-0 shellacking Seattle took against San Diego FC on Saturday, which was arguably not as close as even that lopsided score might indicate. Even during the darkest periods of 2024 and the 2022 regular season, this team was pretty much always at least competitive.
Looking at this Matchday 8 fixture at FC Dallas, it’s fair to say the deck is stacked against Seattle again. Just as it seemed like they were getting healthy, they lost two more starters (Albert Rusnák and Alex Roldan) to injury. They’re coming off their worst performance of the season and they’re heading to a venue in Frisco, Texas where they’ve historically struggled to get results.
That also makes it an opportunity to show that the debacle in San Diego was a one-off, an outlier for a club that prides itself on rarely letting stuff like that happen. There’s no such thing as a “must-win” game in April. But this is at least “must-compete” game.
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Catching up on Sounder at Heart
Here's what you missed on the site this week.
Sounders
Next match: Saturday, April 12 at FC Dallas | 5:30 pm PT | MLS Season Pass
- Postgame Pontifications: The view from ‘rock bottom’
- Lobbing Scorchers Kickoff: Where do the Sounders go from here?
- Wipe out: Sounders smacked in San Diego
- Seattle Sounders at San Diego FC: community player ratings form
- San Diego FC vs. Sounders: Highlights, stats, quotes
Reign
Next match: Saturday, April 12 vs. Orlando Pride | 4:30 pm PT
- Sporting Kansas City have reportedly inquired about Kansas City Current and former Seattle Reign head coach Vlatko Andonovski
- Valkyratings: One to learn from in Los Angeles
- Reign vs. Angel City: Highlights, stats, quotes
Defiance
Next match: Thursday, April 10 at LAFC 2 | 7 pm PT
Looking back at the news
Everything else you need to know
- With ICE Out of Control, How Can the US Cohost the 2026 World Cup? (The Nation)
- The Zambian women’s national team will be without their USA-based quartet in YongChuan International Tournament (Zambian Football)
- The quirks and extremes of FIFA’s 2026 World Cup training base demands (The Athletic)
- NJ/NY Gotham FC fan banned, season ticket revoked for verbally abusing Orlando Pride's Barbra Banda (CBS Sports)
- Uncovering US Soccer’s initial plan for promotion and relegation (The Athletic)
- The US men’s national team aren’t just underachievers; they’re unlikeable (Guardian)
- Backheeled’s In-depth MLS Power Rankings (Backheeled)
- NWSL on ESPN ratings up 68% (All for XI)
- Vancouver Whitecaps make a statement on stadium project (Whitecapsfc.com)
- Renton to host national soccer team for 2026 FIFA World Cup (Renton Reporter)
- U.S., Canada and Mexico World Cup organizers react to Trump impact on 2026 plans (The Athletic)
- MLS Winners and Losers (Backheeled)
- More women’s soccer will be airing on ESPN after they cut a deal with Canada’s Northern Super League (NSL.ca)
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