12 & Counting: Looking back at Sounders FC’s MLS Cup Playoffs performances

Plenty has been said about Sounders FC’s playoffs streak: 12 MLS seasons, 12 postseasons.

It’s unprecedented, impressive and historic. And in the past half decade, a new word has emerged: dominant.

In the first half of this playoffs streak, an unsettling trend of postseason disappointment grew with each late autumn defeat. By the time Schmetzer took over in 2016, the Rave Green had reached seven straight postseasons, losing twice in the Western Conference finals and ultimately failing to reach MLS Cup. In the four seasons since, Seattle has played in the league final three times.

Let’s do a quick review of the club’s MLS postseason history.

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2009 – 2015

2009:

Regular Season: 12-7-11, 4^th in West

Result: Lost Conference Semifinals vs. Houston Dynamo (0-1 aggregate)

2010:

Regular Season: 14-10-6, 4^th in West

Result: Lost Conference Semifinals vs. LA Galaxy (1-3 aggregate)

2011:

Regular Season: 18-7-9, 2^nd in West

Result: Lost Conference Semifinals vs. Real Salt Lake (2-3 aggregate)

2012:

Regular Season: 15-8-11, 3^rd in West

Result: Won Conference Semifinals vs. Real Salt Lake (1-0 aggregate); lost Western Conference Championship vs. LA Galaxy (2-4 aggregate)

2013:

Regular Season: 15-12-7, 4^th in West

Result: Won Knockout Round vs. Colorado Rapids (2-0); lost Conference Semifinals vs. the Portland Timbers (3-5 aggregate)

2014:

Regular season: 20-10-4, 1^st in West

Result: Won Conference Semifinals vs. FC Dallas (1-1 on aggregate, through on away goals); lost Western Conference Championship vs. LA Galaxy (2-2 on aggregate, fell on away goals)

2015:

Regular season: 15-13-6, 3^rd in West

Result: Won Knockout Round vs. LA Galaxy (3-2); lost Conference Semifinals (3-3, 2-4 on penalty kicks)

2016:

Regular season: 14-4-6, 4^th in West

Result: Won Knockout Round vs. Sporting Kansas City (1-0); won Conference Semifinals vs. FC Dallas (4-2 aggregate); won  Conference Finals vs. Colorado Rapids (3-1 aggregate); won MLS Cup vs. Toronto FC (5-4 on penalty kicks)

2017:

Regular season: 14-9-11, 2^nd in West

Result: Won Conference Semifinals vs. Vancouver Whitecaps FC (2-0 aggregate); won Conference Finals vs. Houston Dynamo (5-0 aggregate); lost MLS Cup vs. Toronto FC (0-2)

2018:

Regular season: 18-11-5, 2^nd in West

Result: Lost Conference Semifinals vs. Portland Timbers (4-4 aggregate; 2-4 on penalty kicks)

2019:

Regular season: 16-10-8, 2^nd in West

Result: Won First Round vs. FC Dallas (4-3); Won Conference Semifinals vs. Real Salt Lake (2-0); Won Conference Final vs. LAFC (3-1); Won MLS Cup vs. Toronto FC (3-1)

2020:

Regular season: 11-5-6, 2^nd in West

Result: Will face LAFC in Round One on November 24 (7:30 p.m. PTL; ESPN)