Winning the MLS Cup is big. Winning the first MLS Cup in franchise history is even bigger. That was the concept behind our photo shoot with Sounders FC’s second-year forward Jordan Morris. Working closely with photographer Brandon Hill we started with a power suit—contrasting with soccer’s sporty vibe. From there we thought about the immensity of this moment for Morris.

As deputy editor Matthew Halverson pointed out, the Mercer Island native carries the weight of great expectations on his shoulders, so for inspiration we looked to the statue of Atlas holding a celestial sphere. That felt a little too weighty, but it did lead me down a path to an online listing for a six-foot inflatable soccer ball. We ended up going in a slightly different direction for the photo that accompanies our interview, but the image on our table of contents (pictured here) is a perfect way to kick off the Sounders’ 2017 season. Like Morris told us, now that the team has one championship, they want more. So do we. No pressure.