by Megan Burbank

When the Sounders announced their partnership with new jersey sponsor Providence Medical Group earlier this month, the team touted it as a win-win for youth mental health. “Today’s announcement is less about the mark that our players will wear across their chests on gameday and more about the deep community investment that Providence and Sounders FC are coming together to fulfill,” said Sounders FC majority owner Adrian Hanauer in a media release posted to the team’s website on Friday, Jan. 20. “Mental health — especially for young people —– is a critical part of a healthy society, and we’re looking forward to employing the resources and reach of our two organizations to focus on these outcomes.”

Many fans don’t see the partnership as a positive. In a swift response, Emerald City Supporters shared an open letter to Sounders management the next day, expressing concern that Providence’s history of denying reproductive and gender-affirming health care made the organization an unfit partner for a team with a professed dedication to equity.