Clinched: FC Olympia goes unbeaten, storms to USL W League nationals

The Artesians are in.

FC Olympia’s women’s soccer franchise is dancing to the USL W League playoffs for the second time in team history, one of 16 clubs vying for the national title in a single-elimination bracket throughout July.

They enter the national stage unbeaten, completing an unscathed schedule (9-0-1) on June 28 -- a 2-0 win over the Tacoma Galaxy. The outdoor, pre-professional development club based at South Sound Stadium in Lacey welcomed a record crowd of 467 as Maia Tabion and Bailey Gourdine netted second-half goals and FC Olympia secured their undefeated season, USL W Northwest Division title, and national playoff berth all in one.

“A lot of (it) comes from the player mentality,” general manager Vanessa Crisp told McClatchy. “It’s a short season, and the players come in and understand that they’re going to have a good training environment.

“They’re going to be able to progress their game in a short time, and really experience a lot of support from us.”

In the quicker, 10-game regular season, FC Olympia dominated from start to finish, scoring 45 goals to just four allowed.

McKenna Martinez, an incoming senior at Oregon State University, paced FC Olympia with eight goals in that stretch. Sydney Stephens who attends the University of Illinois and Kelsey Kwon of Northwestern University co-led the Artesians with three assists.

Included on the 2024 roster is reigning TNT All-Area girls soccer Player of the Year Brooklyn Lee, who has graduated from Stadium High School in Tacoma and will play at the University of Louisville in Kentucky.

Founded in 2021, the USL W League spans 81 teams and 10 divisions. Divided into four conferences (Central, Eastern, Southern, Western), each is allotted four national bracket allocations.

“When we first started talking about creating the USL W team, we wanted the women’s team to be on par with the men’s team,” Crisp said. “I think that equal footing is respected a lot by the players.

“We just want them to enjoy being here and for them to grow their game. And I think that that shows in the games themselves.”

What’s ahead

Their first step on the national stage? FC Olympia visits Oakland Soul SC in the Western semifinals at 7 p.m. Friday, July 5.

A win would send the Artesians into the Western finals, or “Elite Eight,” with the California Storm-Colorado Storm winner.

Playoff matches are live streamed on SportsEngine Play. The USL W champion will be crowned the weekend of July 20.

More about USL W contenders and playoff structures can be found here.

“It’s really, really cool,” Crisp said. “Olympia — it kind of seems like we’re overlooked a lot when it comes to adult sports on a higher level, just because we’re not a big town and we don’t have a lot of opportunities to do (this).

“So the fact that this club is able to go and represent Olympia and the South Sound on a national level is really exciting.”

Did you know?

– In June, FC Olympia named as head coach Raphael Cox, a Tacoma native who played collegiate soccer at the University of Washington (2006-08) and won the MLS Cup with Real Salt Lake in 2009. Cox, 37, was a two-time All-Pac-10 honoree and competed professionally (outdoor and arena) for parts of 15 seasons.

Former FC Olympia head coach (2024) and Gonzaga keeper (2014-18) Ben Willis was tapped to serve as assistant coach for the inaugural Lexington SC in the USL Super League this fall.

“I think it was a pretty smooth transition (from Willis to Cox),” Crisp said. “Luckily, we have really good assistant coaching support with Kellyn Green and Eric Rossitch. And so that makes (it) a lot easier, because (Raphael) can get an idea of the kind of environment he’s coming into, the level of training, and a system that’s already existed.”

– 44 players appeared for FC Olympia throughout the club’s first seven matches this season (through June 19).

– Former NFL running back and Seattle Seahawks legend Marshawn Lynch, an Oakland native, co-owns Oakland Roots SC (USL Championship) as well as the USL W’s Oakland Soul SC – FC Olympia’s national playoff opponent Friday night.