Preseason power rankings are nearly useless, except when they tell us that the Seattle Sounders are at the top – then they are very important. If we are to assume that the teams expected to be contenders for best in the West are accurate, the Sounders are again near the top with the LAs and maybe a team like Colorado or Salt Lake.

The rosters of the other squads have been decimated. Portland lost Evander and added someone late enough he hasn’t practiced with the team. Galaxy will tell every single national writer they meet how unfair it is to have to play within the salary cap, despite Toronto and Seattle figuring out how to maintain a roster for more than two months after a championship.

LAFC sold some dudes, might be taking one on short term loan, but they seem to be prepping for a massive summer. That could prove foolish as the season will be 70% done by the time that window opens.

Sounders chose a different path – preparing for the whole season, not just part of it.

The roster as it sits right now is much better than the one that performed well in the second half of 2024, making runs in tournaments. There’s still space to do more, but what’s already done is good.

Plus, Waibel & Co. acted early enough that the assemblage practiced together, played together. The minor injuries to key players during preseason even helped tune the XI to respond when two of the current/former six DPs aren’t around.

Other teams are looking at a window that closes April 23 thinking maybe we can find a DP to push us “over the top”. Sounders will have played nine MLS matches and at least two Concacaf Champions Cup matches by then.

By taking the initiative that more passive teams have offered them, the Seattle Sounders are set to reach the quarter pole with a roster already seen as Championship caliber. They aren’t praying that some relegation fodder squad will gift them massive talent late in a foreign season.

Seattle is set to do the opposite of 2024, instead mimicking their histories of 2023 and 2022 and 2021 and 2019. Those seasons started with Seattle looking like a Shield-winning quality team.

Since we know that fatigue and fixture congestion will be a problem the passivity of other rosters would be foolish.

The solution was to build for a fast start, then respond via the open roster slots (now 3 U22s plus some cap space) to adjust for what’s lost due to injury or sale. When the initiative is eventually lost Waibel will have to solve a different problem then the ones that the Galaxy, Salt Lake, Portland, Houston, Colorado, LAFC have all found for themselves – an intentionally slower start by not have a complete roster by the middle of preseason.

Use our affiliate links to support your bloggers when buying merch and tickets.

Catching up on Sounder at Heart

Here’s what you missed on the site this week.

Sounders

Next match: Wednesday night at 5 pm PT Antigua GFC host the Seattle Sounders in Concacaf Champions Cup play. This match was originally to air on FS2, but that may be changing after Sporting KC v. Inter Messi was moved to the same time.

Concacaf Champions Cup previews

Season previews

Other news

Reign

Next match: Saturday March 15th at 7 pm PT Reign host Gotham on iON television.

Defiance

Next match: Ventura County (Galaxy) host Defiance on March 7 at 7 pm PT on MLS Season Pass.

Looking back at the news

Everything else you need to know

No Nico isn’t going to be a Sounder again. He’s probably heading to Houston, who lost two of their three DPs after losing to Seattle in the playoffs.

The only club to win a Concacaf Champions League/Cup that is played in foreign lands aren’t the favorites to win this year’s contest because they aren’t in the bracket with all the MLS sides.

Braudilio Rodrigues found an opportunity in the USL Championship, playing for former Sounder Terry Boss in Lexington.

Will Paul Rothrock have a double-breakout? Backheeled suggests yes.

Everyone loves the new Salish Sea Kit – ESPN, SI, 615.

Kim Little is staying at Arsenal.

The USL is launching a D1 men’s league, in 2027. This is what that might mean.

Android users now have an Apple TV app, which should improve their MLS Season Pass experience.

Schmetz hints at a schedule format change. If you want to know how I feel head to the SaH Discord.

This newsletter was made possible through the support of Full Pull Wines, a boutique wines reseller that has been sponsoring us since 2011. You can join their mailing list here.