US Open Cup in their first year. Solid season on their way to the playoffs. Playing beautifully, led by the former Arsenal winger and the best manager in MLS history, as well as establishing the best home stadium in MLS. Who can doubt the Sounders?

The Sounders was a long time second division club in the USL, and changed their name to Sounders FC when MLS expanded in 2009. They are in their first year in MLS, but appear to already have the best fan base in the League. ESPN is televising a lot of their games, and they seem to have an atmosphere more like a European match than the usual American one. Their big signing, former Swedish star Freddie Ljungberg, has been a huge success on the field. The move to give a franchise to an already established lower division club seems to have paid off for MLS. The league can only hope they have near this success when the Portland Timbers and Vancouver Whitecaps begin play in 2011.