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  "description": "When it comes to professional athletes, South Dakota has produced no shortage of standouts in football, basketball and baseball, but the same can’t be said for soccer.",
  "path": "/fact-brief-south-dakota-major-league-soccer-players/",
  "publishedAt": "2026-06-16T10:00:19.000Z",
  "site": "https://www.sdnewswatch.org",
  "tags": [
    "Local soccer legend Chris Houser set to bring spring showcase to Sioux Falls",
    "Pro soccer beckons for Washington High School grad",
    "Soccer players from South Dakota",
    "South Dakota News Watch",
    "Gigafact",
    "on the tipline",
    "sdnewswatch.org"
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  "textContent": "## Yes.\n\nAt least one person from South Dakota has played professional soccer at the highest level in the United States.\n\nChris Houser, who was born in Pierre and graduated high school from Sioux Falls Washington, was selected in the second round of the Major League Soccer Draft by the Tampa Bay Mutiny in 1998 after he spent three years at Southern Connecticut State.\n\nHouser played three seasons for Tampa Bay as a defender and was a Rookie of the Year nominee after his first season. While in college, he played for the national team in the World University Games in 1997.\n\nWhen it comes to professional athletes, South Dakota has produced no shortage of standouts in football, basketball and baseball, but the same can’t be said for soccer. A Wikipedia page for noteworthy soccer players from South Dakota features just three names, including Houser.\n\n**Sources** :\n\nSioux Falls Live, Local soccer legend Chris Houser set to bring spring showcase to Sioux Falls\n\nSioux Falls Argus Leader, Pro soccer beckons for Washington High School grad\n\nWikipedia, Soccer players from South Dakota\n\n* * *\n\nSouth Dakota News Watch partners with Gigafact to publish fact briefs that refute or confirm a claim with supporting information and additional evidence and context. Send questions or feedback to _news@sdnewswatch.org_. Submit a question for us to answer on the tipline.\n\n _**South Dakota News Watch** is an independent nonprofit. Read, donate and subscribe for free at _sdnewswatch.org_.**Contact freelance reporter Michael Klinski:** michael.klinski@sdnewswatch.org._",
  "title": "Fact brief: Has anyone from South Dakota played in MLS?",
  "updatedAt": "2026-06-16T10:00:19.776Z"
}