Sounders advance to 13th consecutive playoff

The Seattle Sounders nabbed a berth in the 2021 MLS playoffs with a 4-1 win over the Vancouver Whitecaps on Saturday. They have now qualified for the playoffs every year since joining MLS in 2009, a 13-year streak that is not only the longest in league history, but one of the longest. long stretches active in North American sports. The NHL’s Pittsburgh Penguins have qualified for the playoffs for 15 consecutive seasons. The San Antonio Spurs (22 seasons) and New England Patriots (11 seasons) had long streaks of interrupted streak last year.

The only MLS teams with the highest number of playoff appearances are the original eight teams that were in operation over the league’s 26 seasons. The New York Red Bulls have the second longest active streak (11) but are currently out of playoff position. The second longest active playoff streak is New York City FC (5).

Of course, just qualifying for the playoffs is considered the bare minimum for the Sounders. Not only have the Sounders made it to the playoffs every season, they’ve never even finished below fourth in the Western Conference and seventh in the Supporters’ Shield standings. They have also advanced to the Western Conference semifinals each year and have won at least one playoff round in 8 of the past 9 seasons.

This year, the Sounders are currently on track to finish atop the Western Conference for the second time in their history and are still loosely in contention for the Supporters’ Shield, although they are currently dragging the New England Revolution from 8 points with a match. in hand and six to play.