Seattle's cricket boom is just getting started
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Stoinis' big swing energy. Photo: Courtesy of the Seattle Orcas
With cricket returning to the Olympics in Los Angeles in 2028, the Seattle Orcas see a rare chance to introduce the sport to a new generation of American fans.
Why it matters: More than 2.5 billion people follow cricket worldwide, making it the world's second-most-popular sport after soccer. Yet for many Seattleites, it's still a mystery.
The big picture: The Orcas' season ended earlier this month after missing the playoffs, but the franchise says its mission extends beyond winning games — it's introducing cricket to more people.
- "The 2028 Olympics will be a rocket booster for cricket in America," Orcas CEO Sean Cary tells Axios.
By the numbers: Seattle is well positioned for liftoff.
- Cary says the Pacific Northwest is already home to about 400 cricket clubs and 5,000 active players, and supporters are pushing to build a permanent Cricket Community Park near Marymoor Park.
20-second primer: The biggest challenge in the U.S. is helping new fans understand the sport, Orcas captain Marcus Stoinis tells Axios.
- Think baseball, but with 11 players a side, no foul territory and 360 degrees to hit the ball.
- One team bats while the other fields and bowls.
- Instead of running around four bases, batters run back and forth between two sets of wooden stumps, called wickets, while the fielding team tries to catch the ball in the air or throw the ball to the wicket ahead of the runner.
The Orcas play T20, a fast-paced format that typically lasts about three hours — not the traditional multi-day format.
What they're saying: Coach Adam Voges, one of Australia's most accomplished former players, says new fans may recognize the thrill of several other sports in cricket.
- "No other game combines the home run power and acrobatic catches of baseball, explosive sprinting of soccer, imaginative shots of tennis and the white-knuckle drama of clutch-time basketball," he tells Axios.
Between the lines: The Orcas are co-owned by a group of current and former Microsoft leaders, including CEO Satya Nadella — whose passion for the sport inspired a dedicated cricket ground on campus.
What's next: The team will host a women's T20 exhibition in North Bend next month.