Seattle, WA

Sounder Strategy: Cascadia climax

Published

1 year ago

October 19, 2024

Decision Day is here, and the Portland Timbers are in town. The largest Seattle Sounders crowd of 2024 will watch their team try to turn more than one narrative on its head as the season comes to a close.

The Sounders, who have not beaten the Timbers at home since 2017, can prove that the frustrating Gio Savarese era of underperformance against their rivals is over and done. They can lift the Cascadia Cup in front of their supporters. While ascending into the playoffs, they can send Portland tumbling in the opposite direction. Moreover, they can solidify a new storyline for the 2024 season that is less about injuries and poor starts and more about resilience and success. Let’s look at what has been working for Seattle’s attack and how they can finally turn the tide against the Timbers.

Sussing out Seattle

The most consequential turning point of the 2024 season came back in June, when Paul Rothrock entered the Seattle attack leaving Raúl Ruidíaz on the bench. Perhaps the second most significant moment came in Seattle’s last meeting with Portland when Cristian Roldan was pushed back a line to fill in for the injured João Paulo. In the six games since, Cristian has made the position his own, and Seattle’s more direct wing options playing in his stead have transformed the team.

Seattle’s top three players since August in American Soccer Analysis’ goals added (g+) metric are Jordan Morris, Cristian, and Paul Rothrock. Morris’ elite ability to receive progressive passes is well documented, but the connection between Cristian and Rothrock has helped the Sounders create danger from wide areas:

Roldan uses Rothrock as an outlet.

On the other wing, Pedro de la Vega still has not broken out as a DP-level contributor, but his play against Colorado showed undeniable improvement. In previous weeks, Pedro was clearly trying to do too much. He opted for poorly chosen shots and dribbles as if trying to make up for lost time. This match was different. Rather than try to be a hero, Pedro was a teammate. He stayed in position, received passes, and focused on beating defenders. It was sequences like this one that show how Pedro can be an asset in the remaining matches of 2024:

A beautifully crafted attacking sequence is nearly finished off by Pedro and Obed Vargas.

This is the ideal Sounders build-up sequence in 2024. Lightning quick movement from back to front gets the defense sprinting toward their own goal. Ragen breaks lines, Morris receives the ball dropping off the back line, and Rusnák is in the right place for one-touch distribution to the wing.

Too often this season, the wing was where attacking moves like this would die. Without the quickness and dribbling ability to beat defenders, the play would sputter and the Sounders would often recycle possession as the defense became organized. Between Rothrock, de la Vega, and Georgi Minoungou, that is changing. As de la Vega rounds the corner with one touch, leaving his defender in the dust, he has four targets arriving in the box with Colorado struggling to track them all. This sequence did not end in a goal, but the blueprint for success is there if Seattle can get a similar level of production on their left side that they are enjoying from Rothrock on their right.

Scouting Portland

Evander was a dark horse MVP candidate for months before the Timbers’ late-season slump all but ended those discussions. Still, there is no debate on who runs Portland’s attack, or who opposing defenders fear most. In this sequence, Evander’s movement toward the ball draws a defender, creating a hole through Dallas’ midfield. Evander then changes course, sending a one-touch pass out to the wing to continue the attacking movement:

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Seattle, WA

Seattle Mariners acquire catcher from Twins, DFA RHP Kowar

Published

51 minutes ago

January 28, 2026

Press Room

Seattle Mariners acquire catcher from Twins, DFA RHP Kowar

The Seattle Mariners added depth at catcher by acquiring 29-year-old Jhonny Pereda from the Minnesota Twins on Tuesday in exchange for cash considerations.

In a corresponding move, the Mariners designated right-handed reliever Jackson Kowar for assignment to clear space on their 40-man roster.

Drayer: This is an opportunity for M’s fans to celebrate Rick Rizzs

Pereda joins free agent addition Andrew Knizner as potential backup catcher options for Seattle behind Cal Raleigh. The Mariners signed the 30-year-old Knizner to a one-year contract in December.

Pereda made his MLB debut in April 2024 with the Miami Marlins and spent the 2025 season with the Athletics and Minnesota Twins. The Venezuelan native has appeared in 48 career MLB games, slashing .241/.299/.296 with six doubles.

Pereda was designated for assignment by the Twins last Friday. He has one minor league option remaining.

Kowar, 29, was acquired by the Mariners as part of the December 2023 trade that sent outfielder Jarred Kelenic to the Atlanta Braves.

Kowar missed the 2024 season recovering from Tommy John surgery and spent last season hopping between Seattle and Triple-A Tacoma. He made 15 relief appearances with the Mariners last year, posting a 4.24 ERA with 15 strikeouts and seven walks in 17 innings after being activated from the injured list in late May.

Seattle Mariners news and analysis

• 2026 will be Rick Rizzs’ last season as voice of the Mariners
• Seattle Mariners announce broadcast team for 2026 season
• Reports: Seattle Mariners land top international prospect for 2027
• Mariners have league-high seven MLB Pipeline Top 100 prospects
• Seattle Mariners acquire RHP Cooper Criswell from NY Mets

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Seattle, WA

Seattle weather: Dry day Tuesday, showers return tonight

Published

13 hours ago

January 27, 2026

Press Room

Seattle weather: Dry day Tuesday, showers return tonight

SEATTLE – We start off dry on Tuesday, then the chance of showers returns this evening. We have been dry for 14 days now with zero measurable rainfall at SEA Airport. Late Tuesday into Wednesday we could see potential freezing rain at the passes. Winds will be gusty at times Tuesday from the east, then switch to more westerly winds by Wednesday.

We start off dry on Tuesday, then the chance of showers returns this evening.

What’s next:

We will see mostly cloudy skies Tuesday with highs in the upper 40s to low 50s, with showers returning by the late evening hours.

We will see mostly cloudy skies Tuesday with highs in the upper 40s to low 50s.

A few showers will start to move in later Tuesday, with snowflakes or freezing rain into early Wednesday.

A few showers will start to move in later Tuesday, with snowflakes or freezing rain into early Wednesday.

Winds are forecasted to pick up Wednesday as our next system starts to roll through. Strongest winds will be along the coast and north interior.

Winds are forecasted to pick up Wednesday as our next system starts to roll through. (FOX 13 Seattle)

Shower chances continue through the rest of the week with milder afternoon temperatures. Snow levels will also be high through Friday, reaching 6000 to 7000ft. Forecast is looking a little drier for the weekend, with a few sprinkles still in the forecast for now.

Shower chances continue through the rest of the week with milder afternoon temperatures.

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The Source: Information in this story came from the FOX 13 Seattle Weather Team and the National Weather Service.

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Seattle, WA

Walker ‘set a tone’ for Seattle Seahawks’ NFC title win

Published

1 day ago

January 27, 2026

Press Room

Walker ‘set a tone’ for Seattle Seahawks’ NFC title win

Over the past month, Seattle Seahawks running back Kenneth Walker III has seemingly struck the right balance between attacking downhill and taking the yardage in front of him, while still mixing in the tantalizing elusiveness and explosion that makes him such a dangerous home-run threat.

It’s resulted in the best stretch of his career.

Report details Seahawks WR Kupp’s turmoil with Rams

And it was on display again in Sunday night’s NFC Championship, as Walker totaled 111 yards from scrimmage to help Seattle advance to the Super Bowl with a 31-27 win over the Los Angeles Rams.

Walker rushed for 62 yards and a touchdown on 19 carries, while adding four catches for 49 yards. And he did so while taking on the bulk of the workload in the Seahawks’ first game since second-leading rusher Zach Charbonnet went down with a season-ending torn ACL.

“I thought Ken Walker was outstanding last night, considering he was being hit in the backfield (on some plays) almost as soon as he was handed the ball,” Bob Stelton said Monday on Seattle Sports’ Wyman and Bob. “He was driving the pile. The legs were churning.

“It just really felt like he set a tone,” Stelton added. “He ran with an attitude. And it was really cool to see that, because they needed it.”

Kenneth Walker III TOUCHDOWN. Seattle starts fast.
LARvsSEA on FOX/FOX One
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— NFL (@NFL) January 25, 2026
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Walker set that tone on the Seahawks’ opening drive, turning a potential loss of yardage into a hard-fought 4-yard gain while bulldozing his way to the Rams’ 2-yard line. Then, on the ensuing third-and-goal play, Walker showcased his spectacular explosion by bouncing outside and racing around the edge for a 2-yard TD to put Seattle on the board.

Walker really dazzled on the next possession, when he led the Seahawks on a field-goal drive with an impressive three-play sequence. It began with Walker bursting through a hole for an 8-yard gain. On the next play, he unleashed a jaw-dropping juke on linebacker Omar Speights for another 8-yard gain. And he followed that by taking a screen pass for 14 more yards.

“That juke he put on Omar Speights, that was amazing,” Stelton said. “… He had the defender grabbing at air.”

This was nasty by Kenneth Walker III
LARvsSEA on FOX/FOX One
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— NFL (@NFL) January 26, 2026
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During a third-quarter touchdown drive, Walker had another tough, physical run where he pushed the pile an extra 5 yards for an 11-yard gain.

And in the game’s closing minutes, Walker kickstarted a pivotal clock-chewing drive by catching a short pass in the flat and eluding three defenders on his way to a 15-yard gain.

“He had a lot of great runs,” Seahawks head coach Mike Macdonald said during his Monday afternoon press conference. “He really did. And talk about hidden yardage within that game, he’s responsible for a lot of those hidden yards.

“I mean, we’d like to block him a little bit better at points. But when you have a guy like K9, he can make it right for you, so that was awesome.”

More on the Seattle Seahawks

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• Seattle Seahawks had a brilliant way to get JSN open in NFC title win
• Seattle Seahawks’ Emmanwori ‘stood out all game’ in NFC Championship
• Brock and Salk: Seattle Seahawks have embraced Macdonald’s message
• Facing former team, Kupp helps propel Seattle Seahawks to Super Bowl

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