Brian Schmetzer on Sounders dynasty status: ‘We’re Storm chasers’

Just by qualifying for the 2020 MLS Cup, the Seattle Sounders have entered rarified air. They are now just the second team in league history to play in four MLS Cup finals over a five-year span, joining D.C. United who accomplished that feat during the league’s first five years of existence. For the record, D.C. won three of those finals and later added a fourth title in 2004.

If the Sounders beat the Columbus Crew on Saturday, they’ll have more MLS Cups than everyone by United and the LA Galaxy (five).

All of which has a lot of people asking Brian Schmetzer if he sees the Sounders as a dynasty.

As you’d probably expect, Schmetzer demurred when the subject was broached during Wednesday’s press availability. But it was the way he demurred that gave us all another reason to love him.

Schmetzer called the Seattle Storm the standard bearers of local dynasties with their four WNBA titles.

“I wouldn’t quite put us into the dynasty until we win a couple more,” Schmetzer said. “We’re ‘Storm-chasers’ if you want something cute.”

Aside from sharing the spotlight with an often overlooked and under-appreciated women’s team, it was also clever rhetorical device to set the bar just outside the Sounders’ immediate grasp. While it’s all fine and good for fans and media to debate whether or not the Sounders’ current run qualifies as a dynasty, it really only serves Schmetzer’s purposes once it’s in the rearview mirror. I’m not an NFL expert, but I suspect Bill Belichick has only recently started referring to his New England Patriots — and their six Super Bowls — as a dynasty now that they seem to be moving into rebuilding mode.

While getting the Sounders motivated for this game shouldn’t be an issue, this is a sign that Schmetzer has at least one eye on the future. That’s a good thing.