On the rise above the near cliff, in the shadow of Tahoma, caressed by the winds of Commencement Bay sits Cheney Stadium. Among the tall trees, along the freeway, within the heart of Central Tacoma this final proving ground of the Seattle Sounders organization provides a home, and hopefully a fortress.
In the pandemic season of 2020, Tacoma Defiance finished 12th in the Western Conference of the USL Championship, but a distant 3rd in Group A. Now, a 253 aficionado takes over for a team that simultaneously got younger, and more experienced. Tacoma’s USL Championship team now averages just over 3 years of professional experience per player, and not just because of Taylor Mueller.