12 flag raised on Space Needle ahead of Seahawks playoff game

SEATTLE — The 12 flag was raised atop the Space Needle on Blue Friday in celebration of the Seahawks Wild Card playoff game.

The flag was raised by Seahawks tight end Will Dissly, OL Reign midfielder Jess Fishlock, Seattle Storm center Mercedes Russell, and Mariners President of Baseball Operations, Jerry Dipoto.

“The initial start was tough, but once we got it going — had good teammates — we got it up there, no problem,” Dissly said on Friday.

“For the city, just the representation that we have from sports on both sides of the field is really awesome,” Russell said. “It’s really cool to see … us supporting each other.”

A year after finishing last in their division and trading away quarterback Russell Wilson, the Seahawks finished this year with more wins and a playoff berth.

Many predicted the Seahawks would have a losing season, which the team highlighted recently.

“We kind-of took that personally. We knew the talent that we had in our locker room,” Dissly said. “I think it’s really easy to hear the story that the media portrays. It feels like every offseason they’re talking about the Cowboys. There are a lot of good teams to talk about, certainly, but that don’t really give us much mind in the Pacific Northwest.”

Fishlock, who raised the OL Reign flag in late October before a NWSL semifinal matchup, took note of the recent successes throughout Seattle sports organizations.

“We’re here to celebrate the success of the teams that are here, right in Seattle,” Fishlock said on Friday. “And supporting each other! I think that’s a huge message to our city — if we’re supporting each other, then everyone can support each other.”

A few weeks before Fishlock helped raise the OL Reign flag, the Mariners flag flew atop the Space Needle to commemorate Seattle’s first playoff baseball game in two decades.

“It really is like a college sports town with awesome professional teams,” Dipoto said on Friday. “Our community supports us in that enthusiastic, student-body type of way that they bring such overwhelming energy.”

The Seahawks take on the 49ers in Santa Clara on Saturday afternoon.

On Jan. 8, the Seahawks found themselves back in the postseason with their 19-16 overtime win over the

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