The Seattle Sounders' choice for a new sponsor on the front of the team's uniforms has drawn backlash from fans. Providence Swedish and the Sounders announced a "community-focused" partnership that includes Providence replacing Zulily as the new jersey front sponsor of the team. The Sounders FC Community Alliance Council -- an officially-sanctioned group of season-ticket holders for the club -- released a statement Monday expressing trepidation over the partnership. It said the group plans to meet with Sounders leadership in the coming days to discuss concerns. "The Seattle Sounders have stood tall as a club that believes, among other things, that 'Reproductive Rights are Human Rights' and that they 'Stand For LGBTQ+ Equality'. However, these values do not seem to be reflected in Providence’s policies around abortion rights, fairness in the treatment of transgender people, and low-income patients. This is a confusing and disappointing club decision and is in direct opposition to the Sounders’ Social Impact goals and promises," said the council's statement in part. The Washington Department of Health's website states that Providence, a Catholic non-profit health care system, does not cover most abortion-related services due to a religious objection. DOH pays for abortion services for people with Providence health plans, due to Providence being part of the state health insurance market. Nine Providence-affiliated facilities also were part of a lawsuit filed by the Washington Attorney General Bob Ferguson in February 2022 for allegedly failing to ensure low-income Washington residents received discounts they were legally entitled to. READ THE FULL STORY: https://www.king5.com/article/sports/soccer/sounders-fc/seattle-sounders-providence-jersey-sponsorship-pushback/281-5f2dc982-1731-43b1-8d9c-31cb569e3e0b