With the departure of Obafemi Martins, Seattle now relies heavily on the continued production of Clint Dempsey, along with the arrival of some new faces.
The Seattle Sounders have always found themselves among Major League Soccer's elite; year after year they are in contention for the Supporters' Shield, and have made the playoffs every year since their inclusion in MLS in 2009. However, for all their success, Seattle has never won the MLS Cup. Now, a year after their Cascadia rivals, the Portland Timbers, won it for the first time, Seattle is seeking domestic league triumph.