SEATTLE, WASH. – The Seattle Sports Commission (SSC) today released the nominees for the 86th Annual Sports Star of the Year Awards, the Northwest’s premier celebration of Washington sports. Sounders FC received two nominations this year: Jordan Morris (Sports Star of the Year – Men’s Sports) and the club’s comeback win over Minnesota United FC in the Western Conference Final (Sports Story of the Year).
Washington sports fans are encouraged to vote for their favorite nominee in each category on sportsstaroftheyear.org/vote up until Saturday, February 6 at 11:59 p.m. PT. Fans will be able to vote for their favorite athletes, influencers and sports stories of the year every hour until voting closes.
Morris is one of five nominees for Sports Star of the Year – Men’s Sports, alongside Kyle Lewis (Seattle Mariners), Kyle Manzardo (Washington State University Baseball), Elijah Molden (University of Washington Football) and K.J. Wright (Seattle Seahawks). The Homegrown forward for the two-time MLS Cup Champions received his second consecutive Sounders FC Team MVP in 2020. He was also named to MLS Best XI and a finalist for Landon Donovan MLS MVP after recording 10 goals and eight assists in the 2020 regular season. After leading Seattle to four MLS Cup Final appearances in five years, Morris recently went on loan with Welsh club Swansea City of the English Championship.
Sounders FC’s Western Conference Final win over Minnesota is nominated for Sports Story of the Year alongside Gonzaga Men’s Basketball (only program in the country to reach 30 wins in the last four seasons), Seattle Kraken (record-breaking merchandising campaign, team and arena naming announcements), Seattle Seahawks (NFC West Title and zero positive COVID-19 cases) and Seattle Storm (fourth WNBA championship). Seattle Sounders FC executed an astounding comeback in the 2020 Western Conference Final over Minnesota United FC, clinching the club’s fourth MLS Cup Final appearance in five years. With Minnesota carrying a 2-0 lead into the final 15 minutes of play, Seattle stormed back with three late goals, including a Gustav Svensson’s game-winning header in the third minute of stoppage time.
Nominees are selected by the Sports Star Committee, compiled of local sports historians, media and other members of the sports industry, and then voted on by the general public. Once an individual has been named a Sports Star, that person becomes a member of an elite group that forever etches their name in Washington’s sports history. The winners are announced during the 86th Annual Sports Star of the Year Awards show, which will be broadcast on KING 5 Saturday, February 27 at 7:00 p.m. PT.
Event details are available at www.sportsstaroftheyear.org.
