Seattle Reign FC 2
North Carolina Courage 1
September 28, 2025
Lumen Field – Seattle, WA
NWSL Regular Season

NWSL table and playoff position was on the line in Seattle on Sunday evening when Reign FC hosted North Carolina Courage. The logjam of teams separated by only a few points in spots three through ten makes every point even more essential.

Three points could jump either club up the table into potential home pitch playoff matches. Dropping points could place either of them in danger of falling out of the top eight.

The Courage came out firing. Just six minutes in the Reign defense was on its heels, saved by a Claudia Dickey deflection to the crossbar. Moments later the Courage broke through the left side and were only stopped by a scramble of legs blocking the way.

Despite the pressure, North Carolina did not manage to break through in the early stages.

Seattle managed to get more chances the other way for a while, forcing the Courage to bring back numbers on defense. North Carolina was able to weather the pressure and return to their press. The Courage seemed to be focusing down their left flank and created most of their dangerous chances from the approach.

The Reign defense was managing to keep the Courage out of the net, but were defending in big numbers to do it, reducing their countering opportunities as the half progressed.

The match would go into the break goalless. The Courage could not break through and Seattle had to be relieved that they had weathered a first half storm. The Reign just were not able to sustain pressure at the other end, only managing a few chances amidst several mad scrambles in front of their own goal.

Maddie Dahlien looked to open the scoring in the opening moments of the second half, but VAR overruled her as offside.

Not long after, the Seattle bench would get the referee attention of a yellow card to coach Laura Harvey.

Hannah Betfort would get a header past Dickey in the 58th minute; finally opening the scoring and giving the Courage the lead.

Seattle would find the equalizer. Jordyn Huitema would get a foot on a low cross at the far post from Emeri Adames in the 71st minute. The Reign had seemed to find a bit of their swagger again.

Dahlien would get her goal in the 80th minute. Taking a similar run to what had been called back, she drilled a low far post short to give the hosts a bit of an improbable lead.

Seattle would see out the match, grabbing the 2-1 lead and three massive points. The Reign now control their fate for a home playoff match with four to go.

A difficult loss for a very good North Carolina side. They still have time to finish the climb up into the top eight, but dropping points on this night was especially harsh.

Box Score

NCC (4-2-3-1): Marisa Jordan; Dani Weatherholt (Natalie Jacobs – 89′), Kaleigh Kurtz ©, Maycee Bell, Ryan Williams (Meredith Speck – 89′); Shinomi Koyama (Heather MacNab – 90′ + 1′), Riley Jackson; Tyler Lussi, Manaka Matsukubo (Talia Staude – 73′), Payton Linnehan; Hannah Betfort (Aline Gomes – 73′)
Subs Not Used: Casey Murphy, Katie Cappelletti, Cortnee Vine, Oli Peña

SEA (4-1-4-1): Claudia Dickey; Sofia Huerta, Phoebe McClernon, Jordyn Bugg, Madison Curry; Samantha Meza; Maddie Dahlien (Ana-Maria Crnogorcevic – 84), Sally Menti (Lauren Barnes – 90′), Jess Fishlock © (Ainsley McCammon – 66′), Nérilia Mondésir (Emeri Adames – 66′); Jordyn Huitema
Subs Not Used: Angharad James-Turner, Emily Mason, Mia Fishel, Shae Holmes, Maddie Prohaska

Goals:
NCC: H. Betfort – 57′ (R. Williams)
SEA: R. Williams – 71′ (OG), M. Dahlien – 80′ (S. Menti)

Cautions:
NCC: –
SEA: S. Menti – 20′, L. Harvey (HC) – 53′, L. Barnes – 90’+ 9′

Seattle Reign FC 1
Racing Louisville FC 0
September 16, 2025
2nd half of suspended match from 9/14/25
Lumen Field – Seattle, WA
NWSL Regular Season

Sunday evening in Seattle, the match between Reign FC and visiting Racing Louisville FC was suspended in first half stoppage time. Racing midfielder Savannah DeMelo was taken by ambulance from the field to a local hospital due to a medical event and it was determined that the match would not continue at that time.

The two sides had played to a goalless draw as the half was drawing to a close when DeMelo became in need of medical assistance. The two teams went to the lockers and the match was announced to have been cancelled. The earlier season medical emergency with Savy King of Angel City FC led to a re-evaluation of league procedures. Whereas the May 9 match was allowed to continue at the time, it was determined to suspend this match.

Louisville remained in Seattle as DeMelo received medical treatment. It was announced on Monday that the match would resume Tuesday evening in a closed door setting with a second half kickoff. DeMelo issued a statement of thanks to everyone involved and indicated she is recovering. The NWSLPA issued a statement in support of the match being called.

The first half of the match on Sunday was goalless, but interesting. Louisville played with their foot on the gas and Seattle mostly played to absorb and counter. Reign keeper Claudia Dickey made a number of saves while under a fair amount of ongoing pressure. Seattle did create chances on the other end with Jordyn Huitema and Mia Fishel getting chances on goal.

The story of Sunday though was the medical event that led to the suspension of the match. During stoppage time emergency medical services rushed the field as DeMelo was reportedly unresponsive. The prompt response of the medical staffs and local medical services got DeMelo to a local hospital in short order.

Since the match was called during stoppage time; it was determined that the first half had concluded when the players were sent to the lockers, and the teams would play the second half beginning in the 46th minute. Tuesday also was suddenly and unseasonably warm, with it in the mid-80’s at kickoff.

Katie O’Kane came on for Louisville, replacing DeMelo in the line up.

The resumed match began at s brisk pace as both clubs pushed for a quick goal. Louisville went right at Seattle, but the Reign pushed right back as opposed to slowing, absorbing, and countering.

The tactical approach to the match was intriguing. With the match level and simply a forty-five minute half of a game and both teams rested, putting the foot on the gas made sense. With the only initial sub being for DeMelo, both coaches basically had their subs and windows and could let players loose for the shorter time under the warm weather conditions.

Jess Fishlock would break the goalless deadlock in the 90th minute, finishing low from the top of the box.

A frantic stoppage time followed. The late Fishlock goal would hold up and Seattle would take the three points.

MATCH SUMMARY

SCORING SUMMARY

SEA – Jess Fishlock (Maddie Dahlien) 90’

MISCONDUCT SUMMARY

LOU – Ellie Jean (caution) 31’
SEA – Sam Meza (caution) 64’
LOU – Taylor Flint (caution) 90+2’
SEA – Jordyn Bugg (caution) 90+7’

LINEUPS & STATS

Seattle Reign FC – Claudia Dickey; Lauren Barnes © (Jess Fishlock 85’), Sofia Huerta, Phoebe McClernon, Jordyn Bugg; Madison Curry, Sally Menti (Angharad James-Turner 90+5’), Sam Meza; Jordyn Huitema, Mia Fishel (Maddie Dahlien 73’), Nérilia Mondesir (Emily Mason 90+5’)

Substitutes not used: Maddie Prohaska, Ana-Maria Crngorčević, Ainsley McCammon, Shae Holmes, Mikayla Cluff, Emeri Adames

Total shots: 15
Shots on goal: 7
Fouls: 9
Offside: 0
Corner-Kicks: 5
Saves: 4

Racing Louisville FC – Jordyn Bloomer; Arin Wright © (Makenna Morris 84’), Ellie Jean, Ella Hase, Courtney Petersen; Savannah DeMelo (Katie O’Kane 46’, Marisa DiGrande 84’), Ary Borges, Taylor Flint; Emma Sears, Janine Sonis, Sarah Weber (Bethany Balcer 90+5’)
Substitutes not used: Cristina Roque, Madison White, Lauren Milliet, Kayla Fischer, Ángela Barón, Avery Kalitta

Total shots: 17
Shots on goal: 4
Fouls: 8
Offside: 0
Corner-kicks: 2
Saves: 6

Referee: Jaclyn Metz
Assistants: Eric Krueger, Devon Dieckman
Fourth Official: Kelsey Harms
VAR: Anya Voigt
Attendance: 8,091

The Sunday match also featured a retirement celebration for Reign forward Veronica Latsko. Latsko had spend the 2025 season rehabbing an injury and will be pursuing a law degree.

Seattle announced that the 8,091 in attendance Sunday will have options in the future as to what to do about their tickets after the cancellation.

Seattle Reign FC 0
Racing Louisville FC 0
MATCH Called off at Halftime
September 14, 2025
Lumen Field – Seattle, WA
NWSL Regular Season

This post is in lieu of a regular match report.

Savannah DeMelo collapsed in first half stoppage time and was taken by ambulance away from Lumen Field.

The match was goalless with about two minutes left in stoppage when players were sent to the lockers.

During halftime, it was announced the match was cancelled. Details of possible continuation or replay will be announced in the coming days. Early report from the league is that is would be picked up in progress, but that is the early report.

Information about DeMelo’s health status is limited; but social media posts from the clubs and league indicate that the she is responsive and apparently okay.