WISL All-Stars Battle Tacoma Pros in Competitive Showcase Match

 WISL talent holds its own in high-paced preseason matchup with Tacoma Stars

WISL All-Stars Shine in Preseason Test

Just ahead of the 2025–26 Western Indoor Soccer League (WISL) season, the league’s top players had the opportunity to showcase their skills in the 2025 WISL All-Star Match against the Tacoma Stars of the professional Major Arena Soccer League (MASL), coached by Adam Becker, a WISL alum.

Above: Adam Becker and his coaching staff

The Tacoma Stars earned a 4–1 victory over the WISL All-Stars, but the match highlighted the growing talent and competitiveness within the WISL. Izzy De Luna scored the lone goal for the All-Stars.

“It was a great night to have the WISL All-Stars come to Tacoma to face the MASL Pro Stars. At any one time, the field was almost entirely WISL players or alumni,” said WISL Commissioner John Crouch.

Building Chemistry and Competing Hard

WISL All-Star head coach Rich Henderson spoke about his team’s effort and the challenges of developing chemistry with a roster of players who do not often play together.

“We knew it would be exceptionally tough putting a squad together where we’ve never played together. Most teams all do things slightly differently, so we tried to execute a basic in-and-out possession game plan with an exceptional effort. I think for the most part, we got that. We had a great chance to go ahead early with a 1v1, but even when we went down, we kept going and kept the game close right to the end,” Henderson said.

Above: Christian Caro and Andrew Escalante league veterans

Henderson added that the level of play across the WISL continues to improve each season.

“I told the players I’ve been in the league a decade, and the standard keeps getting better. I see no reason, with the talent across the league, that it won’t continue to improve,” he said.

Tacoma Stars head coach Adam Becker had this to say about the match- 

"The Tacoma Stars earned a 4–1 victory over the WISL All-Stars in a competitive and entertaining matchup. The exhibition showcased top talent from across the region, highlighting the strong connection between the professional and local indoor soccer communities. Both teams displayed quality, effort, and sportsmanship, making for a great night of soccer in the Pacific Northwest and gave us the best exhibition game we have found yet for the preseason." 

Growth, Development, and Connection

Commissioner Crouch praised the event for providing an opportunity for WISL players to test themselves against professional competition.

“We saw strong talent from the WISL side, playing against a very organized Tacoma Stars team. The game was intense and high-paced — probably not the most relaxing soccer environment for our All-Stars — but they held on, found a way to connect as a group, and played great. They really seemed to enjoy the challenge,” Crouch said.

He also highlighted how experiences like the All-Star match contribute to both personal and athletic growth for players.

“The proudest moments for me in this league are seeing these players grow up in the game and in life. Getting everyone together for an occasion like this builds strong morale and connection in our league,” Crouch said.

We also spoke with Adam Becker on the WISL's role in his and his teams development, "Making the jump from the WISL to the professional level is something we’ve been building toward for years. The WISL has been a vital platform for developing local talent, and to now see over 15 players and two coaches earn professional contracts with the Tacoma Stars in the MASL is incredibly rewarding. It shows that the pathway we’ve created is real — if you put in the work, there’s an opportunity to take that next step and represent our community at the highest level."

Several team owners also made it out to take in the match.

Above: Owners of the Vancouver and Everett sides

Looking Ahead

After the game, Crouch said he had the chance to connect with players, describing the conversations as exciting and inspiring. Veteran players reflected on how the league has improved over the years and shared their visions for contributing to its continued growth and development — something Crouch described as both encouraging and rewarding as commissioner.