Expectations are high for the Seattle Sounders this upcoming MLS season.
The Seattle squad finished second in the Western Conference in 2023, and are anticipated to make an even stronger run in 2024.
“They’re heading into 2024 as the clear frontrunner in the Western Conference,” said MLSsoccer.com staff writer J. Sam Jones.
Despite losing club legend Nicolás Lodeiro and contributors like Kelyn Rowe, Héber, AB Cissoko and Ethan Dobbeleare, the team is looking toward the newcomers to make an immediate impact come Feb. 24 when they embark on their first MLS Regular season match of the year against LAFC.
Defenders Jonathan Bell and Nathan will deepen a strong backline that posted the best defensive record in 2023, while Danny Musovski and Pedro de la Vega are expected to inject more goals into the attack.
There are especially high hopes for de la Vega to make a difference as the first-ever Young DP for the club.
Per Jones, the Argentine is described as “an upgrade out wide and should have the particular kind of 1-v-1 ability on the ball Seattle missed at times last year when trying to unlock defenses.”
The Rave Green currently ranks No. 3 overall between the two conferences in the preseason power rankings behind recent MLS champs Columbus Crew and the 2023 Supporters’ Shield winners FC Cincinnati. According to a panel of MLSsoccer.com contributors and MLS Season Pass analysts, the Sounders are the favorites to win the Western Conference in 2024.
