The Tacoma Stars are an American professional indoor soccer team based in Tacoma, Washington, that competes in the Major Arena Soccer League (MASL). The franchise also operates in USL League Two, a minor outdoor league. Founded in 2003, the indoor team plays its home games at ShoWare Center in Kent, Washington. First playing in 2024, the outdoor men's team and outdoor women's team, the "Tacoma Galaxy", play home games at Bellarmine Preparatory School in Tacoma.
The club also fields an indoor women's side under the Tacoma Galaxy name. The club fields two reserve teams both with the name Tacoma Stars Reserves, in the indoor WISL junior league, and the outdoor youth Cascadia Premier League.
History
The Stars were founded in 2003 as a member of the Premier Arena Soccer League (PASL-Premier). The team is named after the Tacoma Stars that played in the original Major Indoor Soccer League from 1983 to 1992. The Stars won two PASL-Premier Championships (Summer 2004 & Winter 2009-2010).
The Stars made the transition to professional status and joined the Professional Arena Soccer League (PASL) for the 2010-11 season. In 2012–13 season, the head coach was Joe Waters as the team moved into the new Pacific Sports Center.
The Stars went on hiatus on August 23, 2013. An amateur version of the club participated in the Premier Arena Soccer League as the "Tacoma Galaxy" in the 2013-14 season. On January 10, 2014, the Pacific Sports Center was placed into receivership, putting the future of the facility and the franchise in question.
In June 2014, it was announced that the Tacoma Stars would return to play in the Western Indoor Soccer League (WISL) at the Tacoma Soccer Center.
In January 2015, team owner Lane Smith acquired the assets of the failed Seattle Impact of the Major Arena Soccer League and announced that the Stars would complete the Impact's 2014–15 season at the ShoWare Center in Kent, Washington, while completing their WISL obligations.
The Stars joined the National Premier Soccer League in 2020, and planned to field an outdoor team in the Northwest Conference through a partnership with Washington Premier FC. The outdoor team planned to play at Washington Premier FC Field in Waller, Washington, near Puyallup. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic NPSL halted play in the 2020 season, and the Northwest division did not play in 2021. Tacoma left NPSL in 2022 without having played a match.
In 2023, the Tacoma Stars won the North American Sand Soccer U.S. Men's Open Division Championship in Virginia Beach, Virginia, with a 3-2 victory over Maryzillians in the final. The team, which went 6-0 in the tournament, included Nick Perera, Cory Keitz, and Fellipe Souza, along with former players Chris Toth, Alessandro Canale, and Mike Palmerin. Perera was named the Tournament MVP, and Toth received the Top Goalkeeper award. Tacoma Stars won the tournament in 2026.
On January 4, 2024, the Tacoma Stars was announced as an expansion team for the outdoor USL League Two, joining the Northwest Division. The team will play their home matches at Bellarmine Preparatory School in Tacoma. An affiliated women's team, named the Tacoma Galaxy, will play in the USL W League beginning in 2024.
+Men's pro indoor leaders (Regular and Post)AppearancesRaphael Cox - 112Danny Waltman - 109Chase Hanson - 104PointsNick Perera - 177Mike Ramos - 146Raphael Cox - 86GoalsNick Perera - 94Mike Ramos - 91Raphael Cox - 61AssistsNick Perera - 84Mike Ramos - 55Raphael Cox - 34SavesDanny Waltman - 2175Piotr Silwa - 190Chris Kintz - 175FoulsVince Mcluskey - 154Nick Perera - 119Mike Ramos - 99
Year-by-year League championsRunners-upDivision championsPlayoff berth Year League Record GF GA Finish Playoffs Avg. attendance U.S. Open Cup2003PASL2004PASL4–0–056261st, NorthwestWon Championship2004–05PASL6–2–064342nd, NorthwestEliminated in National Round Robin1382005–06PASL3–4–032364th, NorthwestSuspended2006–07PASL10–1–0101401st, NorthwestLost National Elimination2007–08PASL5–5–21871494th, NorthwestLost Division Final2008–09PASL-Premier7–0–156311st, NorthwestLost National SemifinalLost semifinal2009–10PASL-Premier6–1–150251st, NorthwestWon ChampionshipLost Round of 162010–11PASL-Pro10–61101042nd, WesternLost quarterfinal331Lost semifinal2011–12PASL3–13921505th, WesternDid not qualify242Lost quarterfinal2012–13PASL8–71161363rd, PacificDid not qualify314Lost quarterfinal2013–14PASL-Premier6–0–255331st, NorthwestEliminated in National Group Play2014–15WISL8–0–067251st, WISLWon Championship2014–15MASL4–161202155th, PacificDid not qualify1,038 2015–16MASL13–71161093rd, PacificLost Division Semifinals2,4752016–17MASL10–101141203rd, Pacific Did not qualify2,8942017–18MASL11–111341342nd, PacificLost Division Finals2,6352018–19MASL12–121621432nd, Pacific Lost Division Finals2,6722019–20MASL8–121121245th, Western Did not qualify2,5192021MASL4–753626th, MASLLost quarterfinalsNHG*2021-22MASL6-181351924th, West Did Not Quality 1,2002022-23MASL12-121551394th, WestLost Western Conference play-in1,1752023-24MASL16-81641433rd, WestLost in Conference Semifinals1,1992024-25MASL10-141311539thDid Not Qualify1,5022025-26MASL9-151181747thDid Not Qualify1,408
Completing last 7 games of 20-game season after taking over for the Seattle Impact.
First full season competing in MASL.
* The Stars had no home games due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Professional playoffs Year Won Lost GF GA Avg. attendance20110169NHG20160210192,03620181210172,3862019029132,4122021021012NHG*202401691,114 * The Stars had no home games due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Tournament victories U.S. Men's Open - North American Sand Soccer Championship (NASSC)
2023 2026
Personnel Active players As of 2026.
Venues
Venue City Type Team League Years Tacoma Soccer Center Tacoma Indoor Tacoma Stars PASL-Premier, PASL 2004-2011, 2013-2014, 2014-2015 Tacoma Stars Reserves WISL Tacoma Galaxy WISLWStarfire Sports Complex Tukwila Indoor Tacoma Stars PASL 2011-2012 Pacific Sports Center Tacoma Indoor Tacoma Stars PASL 2012-2013 accesso ShoWare Center Kent Indoor Tacoma Stars MASL 2015- Bellarmine Preparatory School Tacoma Outdoor Tacoma Stars USL2 2024- Tacoma Galaxy USL-W 2024- Curtis Senior High School University Place Outdoor Tacoma Stars Reserves CPL
As Tacoma Galaxy Starfire has both indoor and outdoor facilities. ShoWare is primarily a hockey arena.
References
External links