It was known as one of the greatest launches of a professional sports franchise in North American history. Seemingly out of nowhere, the MLS expansion franchise in 2009, the Seattle Sounders, took the league by storm. They led the league in attendance and even hosted MLS Cup back when it took place at a neutral site. That September, the club claimed its first trophy – the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup.
Perhaps most impressive of all – the Sounders qualified for the postseason that year, finishing third in the Western Conference. It marked the third time in league history, and the first time since 1998, that an expansion side reached the postseason.
The beginning was impressive, but the journey since then has been unprecedented. Nine years after joining MLS, the Sounders have six major trophies, nine berths in the postseason and the best overall league record in MLS. It was a transcendent start that has shown no signs of slowing down.
"It’s something that we’re very proud of,” Head Coach Brian Schmetzer told media after training on Tuesday. “Certainly, there will be down years. We’re going to try and keep it up forever, but at the end of the day, MLS is filled with parity, there are more and more teams coming in. It is going to be more and more challenging every year.
“I’m very proud of the fact that we’re there, but the way we look at is our job is never done. We want to go 10 years and 11 and more championships. It goes on and on. It’s certainly something where you stop and reflect it’s a good thing."
Since 2009, it has been a deadlock between the LA Galaxy and the Sounders for the Western Conference crown. The Galaxy, five-time winner of MLS Cup, took the postseason title in 2011, 2012 and 2014, while adding Supporters’ Shields in 2010 and 2011. Seattle, meanwhile, went on to win four U.S. Open Cup trophies, the 2014 Supporters’ Shield and last year’s MLS Cup.
Up until this year, they shared the longest active postseason streak at eight years apiece. However, the LA Galaxy finished last in the West with an 8-18-8 record, while the Rave Green recorded 53 points and second on the table. In October, the Sounders passed LA for the best overall record since 2009.
“This team is committed to winning; this franchise is committed to winning,” Schmetzer said last week. “I think that shows in being now the only [active] club to make the playoffs nine years in a row. That is a fantastic achievement, and it stems from the culture of the club.”
