Seattle, WA
Ship’s Log, Feb. 16: Rolling with Initiative
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.
Seattle Mayor Katie Wilson answered pressing questions about the city’s most pressing issues, including the steps she’s taking to protect residents’ public safety and affordability, while also touching on activating CCTV cameras across the city.
Anyone waiting for the ferry, taking a stroll along the revamped Seattle waterfront or visiting the Seattle Aquarium just got a new option for finding a sweet treat: Ben & Jerry’s is coming to Pier 54.
A lease announcement last week shared that the new shop will be operated by local franchise owners Lance and Moria Blair, owners of the Green Lake and Gig Harbor Ben & Jerry’s locations. They pair is also opening another Seattle location in Northgate soon.
The permanent shop announcement comes after Ben & Jerry’s operated a pop-up at the waterfront location last simmer.
“As a Seattle native, the waterfront holds a special place in my heart,” Lance Blair said in a news release. “I could not be more excited to be a part of bringing Ben & Jerry’s to Pier 54 and continue building connections with the local community while serving visitors from around the world.”
The new location comes as local ice cream chains Molly Moon’s and Salt & Straw have also expanded into the downtown area in the past year.
Where is the new Ben & Jerry’s location?
The new Ben & Jerry’s is located at Pier 54 on the Seattle Waterfront: 1001 Alaskan Way, Seattle, WA 98104.
The shop will be open Monday through Friday from 11:30 a.m. – 8:30 p.m.
Where are the other Ben & Jerry’s locations in Seattle?
The ice cream chain operates four other locations in the Seattle area:
- Alki Beach: 2742 Alki Ave SW, Seattle, WA 98116
- Bellevue: 166 Bellevue Way NE Bellevue, WA 98004
- Green Lake: 7900 E Green Lake Drive N Suite 104, Seattle, WA 98103
- Kirkland: 176 Lake Street South, Kirkland, WA 98033
How many locations does Ben & Jerry’s have in Washington?
Ben & Jerry’s has ten locations across Washington, including two in Issaquah and three in the Spokane area. See the full list of locations at benjerry.com/ice-cream-near-me.
Zachary Fletcher is a trending news reporter with USA TODAY Network’s Washington state team. Keep up with him on X (@zdfletch), BlueSky (@zfletcher.bsky.social) or reach him at zfletcher@usatodayco.com.
Seattle, WA
VIDEO: Mayor Wilson proposes renewing, expanding Seattle Transit Measure by doubling the sales-tax percentage that funds it.
Through the end of this year, 0.15% of the sales tax you pay funds the voter-approved Seattle Transit Measure. That would double to 0.30% if the City Council and Seattle voters approve the renewal/expansion that Mayor Katie Wilson officially introduced this afternoon. She said it’ll make living in Seattle more affordable by enabling more people to “live car-free or car-light.” She acknowledged that raising the sales tax isn’t ideal but noted that it’s one of the few revenue-raising tools available under state law. Besides paying for more transit – 280,000 additional Metro bus trips a year, 100,000 more than the current measure funds – it also would pay for 22,000 free ORCA transit passes, more than double what the city provides now, said acting SDOT director Angela Brady during the announcement event at City Hall. The passes are now available to Seattle Promise scholars, low-income Seattle Preschool Program families, and Seattle Housing Authority residents. The measure’s renewal/expansion would also make those passes available to Housing Choice Voucher participants.
The mayor’s announcement says the Transit Measure isn’t just about buses: It also would “support the design and delivery of Sound Transit’s West Seattle Link Extension, Ballard Link Extension, and Graham Street Station.” The 0.30% sales tax would generate an estimated $138 million average per year for the 10 years of this measure, which is proposed to go to voters in November. Council review starts this Thursday and will be led by District 1 City Councilmember Rob Saka, who chairs the council committee that oversees transportation. We’ll add the specific text of the proposal when we get it; the slide deck for Thursday’s council meeting is now available, and we’ll add some highlights from that soon.
-
Los Angeles, Ca47 minutes agoMan claiming to be armed robs Culver City bank, gets away with $10,000
-
Detroit, MI1 hour agoFired Detroit TV anchor Taryn Asher files sex discrimination lawsuit against old station, claims new GM protected men
-
San Francisco, CA1 hour agoSan Francisco family devastated as they face nearly 90% rent increase
-
Dallas, TX1 hour agoWings’ top pick Azzi Fudd hosts clinic as Cash App donates to Dallas nonprofit
-
Miami, FL1 hour agoPatients left scrambling for care after Miami-Dade woman accused of operating an unlicensed surgery recovery center
-
Boston, MA2 hours agoClover plans to reopen some locations after sudden closure, thanks to an anonymous investor
-
Denver, CO2 hours agoNew report finds Denver metro home buyers and sellers experiencing ‘unattainability fatigue’
-
Seattle, WA2 hours agoSeattle mayor grilled over public safety, affordability, CCTV
