The Sounders’ developmental system has been been going through a metamorphosis of sorts since the arrival of Garth Lagerwey in 2015. Nowhere is the change more obvious from the outside than at the newly rechristened Tacoma Defiance. In S2’s first year they were a team of just graduated college players, a few internationals and MLS rejects, with just the occasional appearance from current or former Academy players. At the end of last year and this offseason S2 finally emerged from their cocoon as a fully formed, Academy heavy Tacoma Defiance. With this change comes a plethora of storylines — some new, a few old — to watch this season in the also rebranded USL Championship.
Things to watch for from Tacoma Defiance in 2019
