BC-SOC--MLS Preview, ADVISORY
Editors:
To help with your planning, here are stories The Associated Press has moved in advance of the 2019 MLS season. If you have any questions, please contact Assistant Sports Editor Ed Montes at emontes@ap.org.
SOC--MLS SEASON PREVIEW
Major League Soccer embarks this weekend on its 24th season with, appropriately enough, 24 teams. FC Cincinnati joins the league this season, with Nashville and Miami teed up to start next year and Austin coming aboard in 2021. MLS has added 11 teams in the past decade. So it's no wonder Commissioner Don Garber says MLS is still very much "a growth story." By Anne M. Peterson. SENT: 800 words, photos on Thursday.
_ With SOC--MLS-Eastern Conference Capsules, SOC--MLS-Western Conference Capsules.
SOC--MLS-SOUNDERS-MORRIS RETURNS
TUKWILA, Wash. _ Twelve months after suffering a torn ACL in his right knee, nearly 18 months since he last played a full 90 minutes for either club or country, Jordan Morris has snapped out of his funk. He's back on the field trying to prove his run of bad injury luck was just a fluke and rediscover his spot as part of America's soccer future. He'll return to MLS regular-season duty on Saturday night when the Seattle Sounders host FC Cincinnati. By Tim Booth. SENT: 850 words, photos on Friday.
SOC--MLS-PLAYERS TO WATCH
With the MLS season beginning this weekend, there are plenty of players to keep an eye on for the 2019 season. Wayne Rooney and Zlatan Ibrahimovic will both be in the league for full seasons in D.C. and Los Angeles. Tim Howard bids farewell as he heads into retirement. Jordan Morris returns from injury in Seattle and the combo of Josef and Pity Martinez may keep champions Atlanta United the most potent offensive attack in MLS. By Tim Booth. SENT: 570 words, photo on Friday.
SOC--PAUL NEWBERRY-MLS RESPECT
KENNESAW, Ga. _ Major League Soccer opens its 24th season this weekend. The quest for respect has already begun in the CONCACAF Champions League. To prove that it's truly becoming one of the world's better leagues, MLS must beat its powerful neighbor to the south. By Sports Columnist Paul Newberry. UPCOMING: 750 words, photos by 5 p.m. EST.