Only the perfect storm of a complete divisional shake-up, paired with a nationwide trend toward women's sports, could have resulted in two brand-new preprofessional soccer teams playing their inaugural game against each other. On a sunny Sunday, May 18, Ballard's Salmon Bay and the West Seattle Rhodies played each other for the first time, resulting in a 0-0 score.

Beyond a birth year, the teams share plenty in common. Both have an eclectic mix of rookies, collegiate talent, and international professionals, and the head coaches of both teams – Salmon Bay's Malia Arrant and the Rhodies' Lyndsey Patterson – are a married couple.

"We always root for each other and support each other, with the exception of today," Arrant told the SGN after the match. "We knew they'd be a strong team with really talented players. Still, we had no idea what shape they'd take, how they'd play, who'd be in their starting lineup... We just learned a lot in the last ninety minutes."

Salmon Bay quickly defined themselves offensively in the first half. Midfielders Chloe Seelhoff and Amelia Severn struck fast, blitzing the sides of the goalpost before the three-minute mark had even passed. They didn't score, but it took the Rhodies until the ninth minute to respond with a shot attempt of their own.

Salmon Bay's reliable offense faced unexpected blocks and headbutts. At one point in the match, defender Sophia Hanay tried to weave around the field's edges, just to find the ball kicked from under her feet.

In the second half, Salmon Bay shifted its strategy and brought in forward Maia Tabion. During multiple intense tussles near the Rhodies' goal, the audience held their breath in anticipation, only for the ball to be kicked away in an anticlimactic fashion.

Ultimately, neither team could fully break through the other's defenses. Attendees who were seeking a strong first impression may have left disappointed, but Arrant walked off the pitch with a highly optimistic outlook. She knew that the team's disparate backgrounds and limited practice time meant they were going to face some inevitable growing pains. She said she believes that Salmon Bay players have much growth in their future.

"We're really still in the process of determining our best squad, but now we have some data on how we play. We have some time to rest," Arrant said. "I think that our true identity will come out in the next game."