Whether you’re a sports fanatic — or just look good in green and blue — when it comes to sports, Seattle has no shortage of teams to support. Our city is home to some of the most loyal fans in the country — they even once set a record for being loud.
In this guide, we’ve rounded up everything you need to know about Seattle sports, so whether you’re already a devoted Seattle sports fan or you’re new to the area, we hope it can serve as a valuable resource.
Seahawks (NFL) | Est. 1974
The city’s only NFL franchise was part of the league’s expansion in the 70s from 26 to 28 teams. After a public naming contest landed on the avian moniker, the Seahawks played their first game in 1976 as part of the NFC West. They soon moved to the AFC — and then eventually moved back to the NFC in 2002. Seattle is the only NFL squad to switch conferences twice. Fans are known as the 12s because of their ability to be like a 12th man on the field by screaming so hard and distracting opposing teams. Make some noise.
Where they play: Lumen Field
- Engineered to be especially loud with its curved lines
- Has 300 self-serve concession kiosks, plus Amazon’s Just Walk Out tech
Mascot: Blitz
- Member of the Mascot Hall of Fame
- Has jumped off the Lumen Field roof and flown with the Blue Angels
Team colors: College green, action, navy, and wolf gray
- Occasionally rock lime green jerseys reminiscent of highlighters
- Throwbacks with 80s color schemes coming soon
- Shop for merch
Major accomplishments:
- Won Super Bowl XLVIII in 2014
- Have won three NFC championships and 10 division titles
- Legion of Boom one of league’s most legendary defensive units
📅 Sneak a peek at the team’s upcoming season.
Mariners (MLB) | Est. 1977
Seattle’s Major League Baseball team was established as an expansion franchise a decade after the short-lived Pilots departed the city to become the Milwaukee Brewers. The Mariners play in the American League West and often log the most miles traveled in a season. Franchise icons include players like Ken Griffey Jr. and Ichiro Suzuki.
Where they play: T-Mobile Park
- Has a retractable roof to prevent rainouts
- Seating capacity of 47,900+
- Unique snacks include toasted grasshoppers
- Hosting the 2023 MLB All-Star Game
Mascot: Mariner Moose
- Idea created by a local fifth grader through a contest
- Once fractured bones riding an ATV in the outfield
- Pays visits to hospitals, fire departments, and community events
Team colors: Navy blue, Northwest green, and silver
- Retro color schemes include yellow and baby blue
- Shop for merch.
Major accomplishments:
- Beat the Yankees in the 1995 AL Division Series in dramatic fashion
- Won an MLB-record tying 116 games in the 2001 season
- Ended a 21-year playoff drought in 2022
📅 See the team’s schedule.
Storm (WNBA) | Est. 1999
This pro women’s basketball team carries on a long legacy of proud Seattle hoops franchises. In the 90s, a squad called the Reign in the American Basketball League (ABL) played at the same time as the NBA’s SuperSonics, but when the ABL disbanded, fans called for a women’s team replacement. The recently formed WNBA expanded to Seattle with the Storm in the Western Conference, and the Reign name eventually went to the soccer club. The Storm player their first game in 2000 — and eventually became the WNBA’s most valuable franchise.
Where they play: Climate Pledge Arena
- Has 12,500+ plants onsite, including a “living wall” with 25+ native PNW species
- Hosts 200 events annually
- Dual scoreboards in place of a Jumbotron meant to improve sitelines
Mascot: Doppler
- Goes by “Dopps” for short
- Wears a cup anemometer on its head
Team colors: Lightning yellow, thunder green, and bolt green
- Color scheme evokes the Storm’s former NBA sibling franchise, the Sonics
- Green lightning bolt signifies “intensity
- Shop for merch
Major accomplishments:
- Four-time WNBA champions
- One of only two teams to have never lost in the league’s Finals
- Made the playoffs in 18 out of its 23 seasons
📅 Sneak a peek at the team’s upcoming season.
Sounders (MLS) | Est. 2007
Seattle’s Major League Soccer team — which played its first match in 2009 — draws rabid fans every season, and was a major factor in helping Seattle become a 2026 World Cup host city. The team is actually the third Sounders franchise in Seattle’s history — there were clubs kicking around since the 70s in two other leagues. The Sounders’ current iteration was co-founded by an ownership group that included Paul Allen and TV star Drew Carey. Seattle plays in the MLS Western Conference.
Where they play: Lumen Field
- Employs more than 300 staff on average for Sounders games
- 37,722-seat capacity for the MLS regular season
Mascot: Sammy the Sounder
- Young killer whale from Neah Bay who likes to dance and surf
- Often can be found at Sounders FC Youth Camps
- Favorite food: salmon sashimi
Team colors: Sounder blue, rave green, and Cascade shale
- Blue signifies qualities like strength and loyalty, while green references PNW forests
- Shop for merch.
Major accomplishments:
- Won two MLS Cup titles
- Only MLS team to ever win the CONCACAF Champions League title
- First MLS team to compete in prestigious FIFA Club World Cup
📅 See the team’s schedule.
OL Reign (NWSL) | Est. 2012
Feeling Bold? That’s the confident nickname for one of the founding teams of the National Women’s Soccer League, created a year before play started. The OL Reign play in the NWSL’s West Division and their roster often features major players like Megan Rapinoe, who you might know from the US Women’s National Team. The squad started in Seattle, moved to Tacoma, and then moved back to its original home in 2022 to play at Lumen Field. One of the most popular soccer days in the city is when they play back-to-back with the Sounders.
Where they play: Lumen Field
- Part of a complex with more than 300 event days and 2.4 million visitors annually
- Contains sensory room for fans with autism or sensory challenges
Mascot: The Lion
- Reference to the Olympique Lyonnais, the French soccer club whose ownership group acquired the Reign
- Symbolizes strength and determination
Team colors: Red, white, and blue
- Changed when the OL Groupe took over
- Colors and badge match its French counterpart
- Shop for merch.
Major accomplishments:
- Won NWSL Shield three times (recognition for best overall record)
- Won the 2022 Women’s Cup in Louisville
- Made the NWSL Championship game in the 2014 and 2015 seasons
📅 See the team’s schedule.
Kraken (NHL) | Est. 2018
The city’s youngest major pro team brought NHL hockey back to Seattle for the first time in more than a century. The Kraken play in the Western Conference’s Pacific Division and had their inaugural season as an expansion team in 2021-22. They’re known for electric home games that feature Hollywood-like introductions and a twist on Nirvana’s song “Lithium” with the chorus “Let’s Go Kraken.”
Where they play: Climate Pledge Arena
- Capacity of 17,000+ for hockey games
- Ice resurfaced with harvested rainwater
- Food and drink partners include Chateau Ste. Michelle
Mascot: Buoy
- Sea-troll who’s close relative of the Fremont Troll
- Often shows off his “removable tooth” when interacting with fans
Team colors: Four shades of blue, from dark to light, with a splash of red
- Lightest blue on jersey meant to evoke sea waves
- Red Alert signifies eye of the beast
- Shop for merch.
Major accomplishments:
- Made the playoffs in just their second season
- Second-fastest expansion team to qualify for the playoffs
- Largest point improvement for an expansion team from first to second season
📅 See the team’s schedule.
Seawolves (MLR) | Est. 2017
One of the founding members of Major League Rugby has helped popularize the rugged sport in the Seattle area since officially taking the field in 2018. The Seawolves compete in the highest level club rugby union competition in the US with 11 other teams. Their mission statement includes a drive to “win, thrill, and inspire.”
Where they play: Starfire Sports Stadium
- Located in Tukwila
- 4,500-seat capacity
- Entire complex houses soccer fields for youth and adults, including Sounders training
- Part of the 54-acre site is a public park
Mascot: Rucky the Seawolf
- Shows up for community and charity events like toy drives
- Available for parties
Team colors: Blue, green, and gray
- Colors in keeping with other local sporty color schemes
- Makes for great face painting opportunities
- Shop for merch.
Major accomplishments:
- Won the first-ever MLR championship and the second, too
- Made the MLR final in 2022
- Tavite Lopeti won the 2022 MRL Rookie of the Year award
📅 See the team’s schedule.
