The Tacoma Stars soccer franchise was founded in 1982 as part of the original Major Indoor Soccer League. The team played for 10 years at the Tacoma Dome, drawing huge crowds and finding massive success in what was then the highest level of soccer in the United States. The Stars drew a record 21,000 fans to the 1986/87 MISL Championship game at the Tacoma Dome, the team ceased to operate after the 1992 season followed by the closure of the MISL.
In 2008 Marian Bowers brought the Stars out of dormancy and into the Premier Arena Soccer League Premier Division, a national semi-professional league. In their first two seasons the Stars won the Pacific Northwest Division and qualified for the national playoffs, and in 2010 Tacoma won the PASL Premier title after an undefeated season.
As the 2009/2010 season came to a close the Tacoma Stars had not only reached the pinnacle of accomplishment for their division but had also rekindled a love for soccer amongst fans. The increase in attendance from the first game of the 2009/2010 season went from less than 100 fans to nearly 600 at their home playoff game. Additionally, roots were put down in the community garnering attention from Tacoma’s city council, local businesses and community organizations.
The Stars made the jump to the PASL’s professional division, the PASL-Pro, for the 2010/2011 season and found great success, finishing second in the Western Conference behind eventual champion San Diego. Tacoma did qualify for the PASL-Pro Playoffs in Cincinnati with the second place finish in the west, marking a highly successful return to the professional ranks of indoor soccer for the franchise. The Stars were eliminated by Guadalajara, 9-6, in the opening round of the playoffs, but set the stage for the 2011/2012 season with their success.