Tacoma Defiance start their 2022 season on Sunday (Noon, MLSNEXTPro.com), facing off against Real Monarchs. They’re back at Starfire on Sunday and on nine other dates — Defiance are only in Cheney Stadium twice this season. Building the foundation for this year’s roster are seven returnees from the 2021 team that almost made the playoffs, six of whom were in the Academy. Both of the Seattle Sounders’ 2022 draft picks made the squad, as did two international signings and three free agents from other USL teams.
Defiance has their oldest roster of the Garth Lagerwey era, at 21.