Around the Sound - December 28th, 2025: Seahawks and Kraken Get Wins, Torrent Fall on the Road

Around The SoundSeattle SeahawksSeattle TorrentSeattle Kraken
Written By Charles Hamaker

By Charles Hamaker

Seattle, WA - Sunday, December 28th, saw three of Seattle’s professional sports teams in action, including the city’s two pro hockey teams. The Seahawks came back from a sleepy first half to take down the Panthers in Carolina, while the Kraken used a three-goal third period to bury the Flyers and extend the winning streak to four games. The lone loss of the day came from the Torrent, who dropped a frustrating contest against the New York Sirens in the first of four games that Seattle will play during this year’s PWHL Takeover Tour. Additionally, three Sounders were in the news, all relating to international play. Here’s a general wrap-up of Sunday, December 28th, 2025, in Seattle professional sports.

Seahawks take another step towards #1 seed with road win

In the first game of the day, and the contest with the most weight to it, the Seahawks earned a 27-10 road win over the Carolina Panthers in their second-to-last game of the regular season. In another instance of their struggles to begin games, the Seahawks played a sloppy, somewhat offensively inept first half, leaving the game tied at 3 points each when the halftime break came. And once again, in what feels like the third time during this six-game winning streak, it was Seattle’s defense that pulled the Hawks out of a lull and into a second-half surge.

A Demarcus Lawrence fumble recovery and a Julian Love interception helped the Seahawks gain strong field position, and touchdowns from Zach Charbonnet and AJ Barner resulted in a 14-point third quarter that pushed Seattle ahead. A Bryce Young touchdown run from ten yards out did give the Panthers some life early into the fourth quarter, but Jason Myers tacked on another field goal, and a second Charbonnet rushing score put the final touches on the 13th win of Seattle’s 2025 season. With wins by both the Seahawks and the San Francisco 49ers, the two NFC West opponents meet next week on Saturday, January 3rd, in Santa Clara with a 5 PM PST kickoff that will decide the division and the top seed in the NFC. That game, broadcast live on ABC and ESPN, became a dramatic winner-take-all scenario with Seattle's win and the 49ers' beating the Chicago Bears on Sunday Night Football, also denying the Los Angeles Rams the chance to win the West and secure the top seed in the NFC.

Torrent fall to Sirens in Dallas Takeover Tour game

Seattle’s PWHL team, the Torrent, dropped the first contest of a four-game road trip as they came off a five-game homestand. Their first game outside of the Pacific Northwest, as their inaugural contest came on the road against the Vancouver Goldeneyes, this game in Dallas, Texas, at the American Airlines Center, represented the first of four Takeover Tour games that the Torrent will play in this season. Seattle forward Hannah Bilka (Coppell) and New York defender Allyson Simpson (Frisco) were both playing in their home state in this game.

Photos from the PWHL Takeover Tour game between the Seattle Torrent and New York Sirens on Sunday, December 28th, 2025, at the American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas. (Photos via the PWHL)

This was a wild and eventful contest that ultimately ended in frustration for the Torrent, although it didn’t start that way. Goals by Danielle Serdachny off the rush and Mikyla Grant-Mentis in the dying moments of the frame gave Seattle a lead heading into the first intermission, with the latter score breaking an even score line after Sirens forward Casey O’Brien tied things up in the final two minutes of the period with her first career PWHL goal. This game was filled with special teams play, and that’s how New York tied things up again in the second period as O’Brien helped the Sirens’ power play beat Hannah Murphy, who had stood on her head for the majority of the two frames. While the momentum pendulum was looking to be going in favor of the Sirens following O'Brien's second goal of the night, a Lexie Adzija score within the first two minutes put the Torrent ahead and had Seattle feeling good about escaping with a victory.

Action shots from the PWHL Takeover Tour game between the Seattle Torrent and New York Sirens on Sunday, December 28th, 2025, at the American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas. (Photos via the PWHL)

The momentum really appeared to be heading in the way of the Torrent as Sirens forward Maddi Wheeler took consecutive penalties to put Seattle’s power play on the ice for almost four straight minutes. The Torrent couldn’t take advantage, and instead, it was Wheeler who found the back of the net on a breakaway fresh out of the box. O’Brien completed her hat trick and career game with just over three minutes to play, as another score on the power play off a quick shot with some chaos in front put Seattle behind. The Torrent got a few looks in desperation mode, but couldn’t send the game to overtime. Seattle’s next game isn’t until Saturday, January 3rd, in another Takeover Tour game in Hamilton, Ontario, against the Toronto Sceptres with an 11AM PST puck drop time.

Kraken extend win streak to four

The last game of the day was the lone home contest for Seattle’s professional sports teams, as the Kraken extended their late December winning streak to four games with a 4-1 victory over the Philadelphia Flyers in the first leg of a back-to-back. The Kraken pulled ahead early into the second period thanks to Jordan Eberle’s 14th goal of the season off a quality pass from Kaapo Kakko. There was a theme of strong passing from Finnish forwards for Seattle in this game as the Kraken’s second goal of the night came from Eeli Tolvanen, who found Chandler Stephenson (Tenth goal of the year) to double the lead. Eeli Tolvanen tallied two empty net goals in the final four minutes of the contest as Dan Vladar of the Flyers was pulled for the extra skater.

Kraken netminder Philipp Grubauer earned his sixth win of the season and continued a strong run of form, but missed out on a shutout as Philadelphia forward Carl Grundstrom put one by him with just under two minutes to play. The Kraken are back in action tomorrow night against the Vancouver Canucks at Climate Pledge Arena, with a 7PM PST puck drop, broadcast live on the Kraken Hockey Network (Amazon Prime Video) and KONG for those not attending the game. Seattle will be wearing their all-black third jerseys, looking to earn their first win ever in an alternate jersey.

Seattle Kraken goaltender Philipp Grubauer during the team's 4-1 victory over the Philadelphia Flyers on Sunday, December 28th, 2025, at Climate Pledge Arena. (Photos by Bryant Garduque for Circling Seattle Sports)

Non-game-related Seattle pro sports news

  • Sounders players on international duty

    • Three players who wear the rave green had some international duty news today, as winger Georgi Minoungou played a half for Burkina Faso in their 1-0 loss to Algeria in Group E, while defender Nouhou captained Cameroon to a 1-1 draw in Group F, both playing in the Africa Cup of Nations.

      • Nouhou had the least amount of touches by any outfield player for Cameroon to play 90 minutes, while recording a 91% passing percentage and helping to create one chance. Cameroon is well placed to progress past the group stage and to the knockouts.

      • Georgi Minoungou came on as a halftime substitute, recording two shots and a 75% passing percentage in the match. Burkina Faso sits second in Group E, tied in points with Sudan but leading in goal differential.

    • The third and final Sounder to have some international news is forward Danny Musovski, who is set to play for Macedonia in their World Cup qualifying playoff, according to macedoniafootball.com. Both of Danny’s parents are citizens of Macedonia, so this isn’t the most surprising news. That match will be played on March 26th against Denmark in Copenhagen. Musovski is said to have shown interest in playing for Macedonia as far back as 2020, but had never received a call-up to the senior team.

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Charles Hamaker
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Kraken Defeat Flyers 4-1, Hit Season High Four Game Winning Streak