Fifty years ago, in terms of women’s soccer, the University of Washington was out in front.
Students had formed a club, begun play and convinced UW men’s coach to become their coach. It was 1975 and the following season there was enough UW coeds turning out to field two teams in a newly formed collegiate conference.
What happened next? In 1977, the state’s first women’s varsity program was started – about 300 miles away in Walla Walla. The first national powerhouses began blossoming – in Bellingham and Tacoma. And the first collegiate championship was captured – the first of three in four years, in fact, by Pacific Lutheran University.
Meanwhile, on Montlake the women's collegiate program which predates all others was left in a state of suspended animation for nearly 20 years. Despite such feats as producing Washington's first All-American and first perfect season, the club's wait for varsity status was longer than any other D1 program in the state.
In August the Seattle Reign celebrated the 40th anniversary of the first United States Women’s National Team. The 85ers featured seven players from the state, including the captain, the first goal scorer, the U.S. federation’s first player of the year and the first USWNT coach.
While interviewing some of The 85ers over the past few years, there were so many times where the recitation of a historical anecdote or comment would, essentially, elicit the question, "Why didn’t Washington ever realize its early potential to become an NCAA Division I superpower?"
Historically, it’s not even clear-cut that the Huskies are the top D1 women’s program in the state. Washington State leads the Apple Cup series 15-11-8 and is the only program in the state to reach the D1 College Cup finals, doing so in 2019. The Huskies have twice reached the Elite Eight and were the first Northwest school to take a Pac-12 title. They have achieved a remarkable Big Ten double in 2025 and have reached the Sweet Sixteen for the second time in six seasons under Nicole Van Dyke.
In wrapping-up a three-part package regarding the formative years of the UW women’s existence, I came across a story I wrote for Soccer America’s 1991 college season preview. I suppose that’s bound to happen if you stick around long enough: You come across your own artifacts.
Eight months after UW, at long last, became the 11th four-year college in Washington to commence a women’s varsity program, this intrepid reporter spoke with both that first USWNT coach and the first Huskies coach.
“I know what this program is capable of accomplishing, and that’s an NCAA championship” said Dang Pibulvech, who was hired after taking little Colorado College to four D1 semifinals. “With the luxury of so many good players in this state, Washington will be competitive immediately. I came here to build a national power, and I believe with the kind of backing we have, this will be one of the best Division I programs anywhere.”
Mike Ryan, beckoned to coach UW women back in 1975, was more effusive about the possibilities on Montlake. “I would expect [the Huskies] to make a run for the national title in their third year,” claimed Ryan.
What has become plain in the 34 years since: While the Huskies are a winning program with 17 NCAA tournament appearances, they are no Carolina. They have not been able to recover from the crippling effect of UW athletics leaders during the 1970s and '80s failure (or ignoring) to see the future or promise of women’s soccer.
As Ryan would add, in 1991, “There’s no question that if the Huskies had begun their program 10 years ago, nobody would have touched them. Washington would have been the Real Madrid of women’s soccer.”
Everyone’s invited to learn about why that didn’t happen, what amazing feats that Husky club did accomplish and what might’ve been. It’s all on my blog, free to read. Read, learn and enjoy.
