In Seattle, the Sounders are gearing up for a key match against St. Louis, a record was set in women's hockey but one team was eliminated from the playoffs, and legendary broadcasters Rick Rizz and Steve Raible teamed up in an ad campaign for the first time.
MLS match: Seattle Sounders vs. St. Louis City — preview
On Saturday, April 18, the Seattle Sounders return to their home Lumen Field after nearly two months without MLS home games to host St. Louis City. For fans following the broadcast on AppleTV, this matchup promises to be tense despite the hosts' statistical dominance in the head-to-head history.
Historically the Sounders have fared well against the league’s newer club, winning six of seven meetings, including three clean-sheet home wins. However, current form complicates the picture. Seattle is on the rise: the team showed confident play, evidenced by an impressive 3-1 victory over Mexico’s UANL Tigres in the CONCACAF Champions League and a solid MLS start (4 wins, 1 draw, 1 loss). Interestingly, despite a modest league scoring average (1 goal per game), the Sounders score far more at home — 7 goals in their last three Lumen Field matches. This will be only the second match of the season on natural grass temporarily installed at the stadium, which could be an additional factor.
Visiting St. Louis City, by contrast, is showing signs of growth, increasingly implementing head coach Joaón Deme’s ideas. After their first loss to Seattle (0-1), the team played five matches across competitions with a 2-1-2 record, and in the last four outings they dismantled opponents with a combined goal difference of 9-3, drawing difficult away matches with New York City and Dallas. Their only defeat in that span was on the road against a powerful Los Angeles side.
Both lineups will be weakened by injuries. The Sounders are suffering significant defensive issues: key defenders Yeimar Gomez Andrade (hamstring) and Kim Kee-hee (calf) are out, alongside midfielder Nikola Petkovic (knee) and attacking newcomer Pedro de la Vega (knee). St. Louis’s losses are less extensive: defender Haziel Orozco (concussion protocol) and midfielder Celio Pompeu (knee) are questionable. Pre-match form also differs: Seattle has three wins and one draw in their last four matches (W W W D), while St. Louis has two draws and two losses in their last four (L L W D D).
So the match shapes up as historical advantage and Seattle’s home strength versus a gaining-momentum, confident away side. The outcome may hinge on whether the hosts’ weakened defense can contain St. Louis’s attack and whether the Sounders can continue their productive home run. For viewers, it will be a test of the favorite’s resilience and the dark horse’s ambitions.
Jenn Gardiner record and a bitter pill for Vancouver
Despite an impressive victory in a dramatic game and the setting of an individual and league record, the triumph was tinged with bitterness for one team. On Saturday in the Professional Women’s Hockey League (PWHL), an exciting matchup between the Vancouver Vipers and the Seattle Torrent took place, but it could not alter harsh playoff math.
In Saturday’s game, Jenn Gardiner of the Vancouver Vipers did something remarkable, scoring four goals, including the game-winner 52 seconds into overtime. That performance set the PWHL record for most goals by a single player in one game. Before this outing Gardiner had just nine career league goals, four of which came this season. Her heroic efforts gave the Vipers a 6-5 victory and allowed the team to finish the regular season with a clean slate in the series against the Seattle Torrent, winning all meetings. Hannah Miller also made a major contribution with four points (two goals and two assists), and goaltender Emerance Maschmeyer stopped 21 shots. However, the flashy win proved pyrrhic for Vancouver. The team needed a regulation-time victory to keep playoff hopes alive, but overtime denied them that chance, and the Vipers were officially eliminated from the Walter Cup race. The paradox of a team winning, setting a record, yet being knocked out underscores the intensity of the season’s finish.
For the Seattle Torrent, the game extended a losing skid to six straight, worsening an already difficult situation. Earlier in the week, a 4-1 loss to Vancouver had ended Seattle’s playoff hopes. Still, the team showed character in Saturday’s game, coming back and forcing overtime. A standout was Torrent goaltender Carly Jackson, who made her first start of the season and set a personal mark with 35 saves. Among skaters, Anna Wilgren scored her first two goals of the season and added an assist. Other goals came from stars like Cayla Barnes, Hilary Knight and Danielle Serdachny. According to KOMO News, both teams have now completed their regular seasons and will begin preparing for next year. The Vancouver Vipers play their final regular-season game against Montreal on Tuesday, while the Seattle Torrent host Minnesota on Wednesday. These games, though they won’t affect playoff fates, will be important for season review and planning. Gardiner’s record will surely remain one of the brightest moments of the PWHL’s inaugural season, showcasing the skill and drama the league aims to bring to women’s hockey.
Two legends, one voice: Rick Rizz and Steve Raible team up in an ad for the first time
In Seattle sports broadcasting, a truly historic moment occurred: two voices that have narrated the city’s most memorable moments for more than four decades were heard together for the first time. This wasn’t a new podcast or special report, but an unexpected and warm creative collaboration in an advertising campaign.
For generations of fans in Seattle and Washington State, the names Rick Rizz and Steve Raible are more than announcers — they are part of family tradition and the soundtrack to historic sports victories. Rick Rizz’s voice has been on the Seattle Mariners’ radio for 41 years, and Steve Raible has been tied to the Seattle Seahawks for 44 years, first as a player and then as a broadcaster. They finally combined their legendary tones for an ad campaign for WSECU, the Washington State employee credit union. As noted by Seattle Sports, fans had never heard these broadcasting icons together before. Their joint spots can be seen in video form and heard on Seattle Sports 710 AM, the flagship radio station for both teams’ networks.
The duo’s significance is amplified by the timing in their careers. This season will be Rick Rizz’s last in a long and storied tenure as the Mariners’ voice. Steve Raible just called a season for the Seahawks in which the team won the Super Bowl for only the second time in franchise history. His bond with the club is unique: he was a receiver on the Seahawks’ inaugural 1976 roster, played six years in the NFL, and moved to the broadcast booth in 1982, first as an analyst and, since 2004, as the lead play-by-play announcer. Their collaboration for WSECU is more than advertising — it’s a gift to fans who value their contribution to local sports culture.
The campaign promotes WSECU — a not-for-profit credit union open to Washington residents. Founded in 1957 by a group of state employees, the organization emphasizes serving people who share values of mutual aid and community support. Today the credit union has more than 315,000 members, 25 branches and $5.4 billion in assets. Notably, WSECU has been listed by Forbes among Washington’s best credit unions for five consecutive years and directs 4% of its annual net income toward community investments through partnerships with educational and nonprofit organizations. Partnering with respected and recognizable figures like Rizz and Raible fits the organization’s image of being embedded in community life.
This event goes beyond a typical commercial collaboration. It symbolizes the merging of two great sports histories of the city into a single harmonious voice. For fans it’s a rare chance to hear baseball and football worlds meet on the air, even if in an ad. It’s a reminder of the role sportscasters play in shaping shared identity and fans’ memories. Their voices are entwined with triumph, disappointment and hope, becoming part of the personal experience of everyone who followed games on the radio. Now, thanks to this campaign, their legacy gains a new, joint sound, reinforcing their status as true Seattle legends.
