The last time Tacoma Defiance beat Phoenix Rising in Arizona the landscape of the USL was quite different. Defiance were called Sounders 2; Rising were called Arizona United; Phoenix played in Peoria. That 3-2 result in 2016 was one of only two wins by Tacoma over Phoenix — the other came back in 2015.
Tacoma needs to repeat one of those two results to have the best chance at the USL Championship playoffs. Meanwhile, Rising are gunning for the best record in the league, and the potential to host every match of the second season.
It’s a huge match for both teams.