Category Archives: Uncategorized

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Reign host San Diego Wave FC in Seattle

Seattle Reign FC 1
San Diego Wave FC 0
September 6, 2026
Lumen Field – Seattle, WA
NWSL Regular Season

The calendar turning to September means the NWSL run in has begun. Playoff positioning was on the line Sunday evening in Seattle as Reign FC hosted San Diego Wave FC at Lumen Field.

Seattle needed points to get back up above the playoff line. San Diego had the opportunity to move into home hosting playoff position.

The visitors came out of the gate matching Seattle on the front foot. Wave FC looked to have the best of the play the first ten or so minutes.

However, Mimi Van Zanten was sent off after a VAR review of a foul on Maddie Dahlien and the complexion of the game changed very early.

It would take a while and banging on the door with a number of shots, but Seattle would finally break through in the 29th minute on a header from Maddie Mercado. Dahlien managed a cross from near the goal line and the far post runner Mercado headed it inside the near post.

For Mercado, it was her team leading eighth goal of the season.

With a goal and a player down San Diego could not sit back and did not. As the half progressed, they would push forward and create a number of dangerous chances.

The single goal would be the margin at the interval.

San Diego would continue to press throughout the early stages of the second half. Seattle played patient with the goal lead and player advantage.

The Wave created a number of dangerous chances, but as the match progressed, they simply did not get past Reign keeper Claudia Dickey. Dickey would come off in the 85th as a concussion sub and Cassie Miller would see out the match in goal.

The single goal would hold up. The three points for Seattle pushed them back up into the 8th spot in the table. San Diego would remain in the fifth spot with the result.

BOX

SCORING SUMMARY

SEA – Maddie Mercado (Maddie Dahlien) 29’

MISCONDUCT SUMMARY

SD – Mimi Van Zanten (ejection) 13’
SEA – Jordyn Bugg (caution) 59’
SD – Jonas Eidevall (caution) 82’
SEA – Phoebe McClernon (caution) 90+1’

LINEUPS & STATS

Seattle Reign FC – Claudia Dickey (Cassie Miller 85’); Sofia Huerta ©, Phoebe McClernon, Ryanne Brown (Madison Curry 86’), Jordyn Bugg; Angharad James-Turner, Sally Menti (Jess Fishlock 64’), Sam Meza; Maddie Mercado (Brittany Ratcliffe 90+6’), Maddie Dahlien (Nerilia Mondesir 86’), Mia Fishel (Holly Ward 64’) – Substitutes not used: Emily Mason, Shae Holmes, Ruby Hladek

Total shots: 9
Shots on goal: 4
Fouls: 17
Offside: 1
Corner-kicks: 2
Saves: 6

San Diego Wave FC – Sandra Paños; Kennedy Wesley, Kristen McNabb (Tatum Wynalda 90+6’), Mimi Van Zanten, Perle Morroni; Melanie Barcenas (Brooklyn Courtnall 14’), Kimmi Ascanio (Laila Harbert 71’), Kenza Dali ©, Lia Godfrey (Gia Corley 46’); Trinity Byars (Adriana Leon 89’), Ludmila – Substitutes not used: Didi Haracic, Laurina Frazer, Nya Harrison, Gabi Portilho

Total shots: 13
Shots on goal: 6
Fouls: 7
Offside: 1
Corner-kicks:4
Saves: 3

Referee: Abdou Ndiaye
Assistants: Eric Krueger, Laura Chambers Waliski
Fourth Official: Dion Coxe-Trieger
VAR: Jamie Padilla
Attendance: 9,104
Weather: 70 degrees and sunny

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Reign look to move up the ladder versus Dash at home

Seattle Reign FC 1
Houston Dash 0
August 30, 2026
Lumen Field – Seattle, WA
NWSL Regular Season

Seattle Reign FC hosted Houston Dash on Sunday afternoon at Lumen Field.

Both clubs are in position for a playoff run as August comes to a close. The hosts entered the match two points above the Dash in the standings with a game in hand. Three points would be huge for either club as the playoff run in begins.

Lee Pate Photos

Seattle continued its recent trend of pushing the tempo early. The first half saw much of the play in Houston’s half and defensive third as a result.

The Dash were able to defensively hold off the Reign early pressure, looking for opportunities on the counter.

Earlier this season, Reign FC really struggled with creating and converting chances. THe chances were coming in the first half, but they were mostly turned away or off frame.

The Reign pressure paid off early in the second half. A drifting cross past the outstretched Dash keeper Jane Campbell found the foot of Reign winger Maddie Dahlien. Dahlien did well to finesse a first touch back into the goal for the first goal of match.

The Seattle goal altered the flow of play. The Dash were no longer able to simply defend and counter with patience.

Houston pushed forward and managed to move more of the play into the Seattle half. The possession and movement did not manifest into many scoring opportunities. The Reign defense would often stop the Dash forays into their end and turn those into counters.

The single goal continued to hold up as the match wore down. Dahlien got clear and through at Campbell again, but the keeper foot saved the ball away.

Conceding late goals had bitten the Reign earlier in the season. Seeing through a clean sheet even if they were not able to grab the second goal is a significant step for this iteration of Reign FC.

Houston remains in the playoff picture. The Dash defense weathered ninety minutes of pressure and only conceded the single goal.

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SCORING SUMMARY

SEA – Maddie Dahlien (Maddie Mercado) 52’

MISCONDUCT SUMMARY

HOU – Kiki Van Zanten (caution) 11’
HOU – Miljana Ivanovic (caution) 90+1’
SEA – Brittany Ratcliffe (caution) 90+3’

LINEUPS & STATS

Seattle Reign FC – Claudia Dickey; Sofia Huerta ©, Phoebe McClernon, Ryanne Brown (Madison Curry 65’), Jordyn Bugg; Ainsley McCammon, Sally Menti (Brittany Ratcliffe 84’), Sam Meza (Angharad James-Turner 83’); Maddie Mercado, Maddie Dahlien (Holly Ward 88’), Mia Fishel (Jess Fishlock 88’) Substitutes not used: Cassie Miller, Emeri Adames, Emily Mason, Nerilia Mondesir

Total shots: 17
Shots on goal: 5
Fouls: 10
Offside: 1
Corner-kicks: 7
Saves: 1

Houston Dash – Jane Campbell ©; Allysha Chapman (Lisa Boattin 81’), Leah Klenke, Natalie Hammond, Avery Patterson; Kiki Van Zanten (Miljana Ivanovic 60’), Maggie Graham, Danielle Colaprico, Linda Ullmark (Khyah Harper 60’); Kat Rader, Kate Faasse (Cate Hardin 72’) Substitutes not used: Carolina DeLisle, Hillary Beall, Messiah Bright, Clarissa Larisey, Paige Nielsen

Total shots: 4
Shots on goal: 1
Fouls: 12
Offside: 0
Corner-kicks: 0
Saves: 4

Referee: Laura Rodriguez
Assistants: Matthew Schwartz, Christian Clerc
Fourth Official: Elorm Atisu
VAR: Matthew Corrigan
Attendance: 7,878
Weather: 69 degrees and partly cloudy

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Reign 1-0 over The Stars in Seattle

Seattle Reign FC 1
Chicago Stars FC 0
August 14, 2026
Lumen Field – Seattle, WA
NWSL Regular Season

Chicago Stars FC made their annual trek to Seattle to face off with Reign FC in a Friday night match up.

The Seattle offense has come to life in recent matches. A hard fought draw at home on Sunday against Angel City still showed good signs of an offensive resurgence.

The Stars have struggled on the road, but the NWSL does not forgive a team that takes another side lightly.

Lee Pate Photos

The crowd was treated to a fairly wide open first half hour. Seattle came out on the front foot, enjoyed much of the possession, and set up a number of dangerous situations.

Chicago successfully absorbed most of the Reign attack, but a number of saves and deflections kept the hosts off the scoreboard early. The Stars would also create a number of interesting opportunities on Reign keeper Claudia Dickey, mostly when they were able to get the ball to Mallory Swanson in the attacking third. Swanson sliced through to put the Seattle defense on their heels a number of times, including a dangerous ball into the side netting in the 26th minute.

The goalless first half would draw to a close with Seattle not getting a VAR awarded penalty. The sides would go into the interval level.

It would not take long for the Reign to break open the scoring coming out of the half. Maddie Mercado would nab her team leading sixth goal of the season in the 53rd minute. A number of early chances in the half had not broke through; but a long run down the left side and a low driving cross would eventually get the ball to Mercado’s left foot and the back of the net.

The Chicago defense managed to hold off a steady series of attacks from Reign FC as the match wore on. The single goal margin meant the dangerous counter could equalize and nab a point.

Seattle kept their foot on the gas, looking for the elusive second goal to give their defense some breathing space, but time and again it was thwarted.

The single goal would stand up in the end. Three massive points for a Reign squad fighting to get above the playoff line. For Chicago, it was a tough loss in a tough season, but they played hard and made Seattle earn it.

BOX

SCORING SUMMARY

SEA – Maddie Mercado 53’

MISCONDUCT SUMMARY

None

LINEUPS & STATS

Seattle Reign FC – Claudia Dickey; Sofia Huerta ©, Phoebe McClernon, Jordyn Bugg, Madison Curry (Ryanne Brown 83’); Angharad James-Turner, Ainsley McCammon, Sally Menti (Emeri Adames 83’); Maddie Mercado (Brittany Ratcliffe 90+2’), Maddie Dahlien (Holly Ward 70’), Mia Fishel (Nerilia Mondesir 70’) Substitutes not used: Evan O’Steen, Cassie Miller, Shae Holmes, Ruby Hladek

Total shots: 24
Shots on goal: 6
Fouls: 4
Offside: 0
Corner-kicks: 13
Saves: 2

Chicago Stars FC – Katie Atkinson; Sam Staab, Taylor Wood, Leila Ouahabi, Maitane; Manaka Hayashi, Anna Gasper (Bea Franklin 46’), Tess Dellarose; Jameese Joseph (Jenna Bike 74’), Mallory Swanson (Nádia Gomes 46’), Brianna Pinto (Micayla Johnson
74’) Substitutes not used: Alyssa Naeher, Halle Mackiewicz, Elise Evans

Total shots: 5
Shots on goal: 2
Fouls: 5
Offside: 0
Corner-kicks: 3
Saves: 5

Referee: Marie Durr
Assistants: Peter Hanson, Clarence Clark
Fourth Official: Christopher Calderon
VAR: Shawn Tehini
Attendance: 7,646
Weather: 75 degrees and sunny

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Reign draw Angel City at home 2-2

Seattle Reign FC 2
Angel City FC 2
August 9, 2026
Lumen Field – Seattle, WA
NWSL Regular Season

Seattle Reign FC hosted Angel City FC on Sunday evening at Lumen Field in a match up of sides currently battling for the final playoff position.

Both clubs have played well coming out of the international break; each nabbing multiple wins and playing into the playoff line region of the table.

Lee Pate Photos

Much of the early stages Angel City pressed for an early goal. Seattle seemed content to absorb and counter, as even several corners failed to generate much danger. With Sveindis Jonsdottir not available, it appeared the visitors were looking to nab the early advantage without her.

As the half progressed, the hosts began to change the flow of play. Maddie Mercado was on the end of a few sequences in the middle stages of the half that were dangerous, and seemed to open spaces for Seattle. Mercado entered the match with a team leading five goals.

Gisele Thompson Would open the scoring in the 32nd minute. A nice cut back to her left and shot from the top of the box to the bottom of the near post beat a diving Claudia Dickey. All of the back and forth of the first half hour and the goal came from an overlapping defender playing forward.

The single Angel City goal would carry into the interval.

Sally Menti would level the match in the 50th minute. Seattle came out more on their front foot in the opening minutes and it paid off. Mercado managed to pressure the Angel City defense into a difficult clearance. Mia Fishel sent a through ball to Menti, who managed a left foot switch and shot.

The goal was followed up not two minutes later as Fishel would left foot chip Angelina Anderson from top of the box. The sudden lead and turnaround appeared cathartic for the hosts, who have had little success at Lumen in 2026 winning only one of the first four.

The match would go back level at two in the 72nd minute coming out of a stoppage. Prisca Chilufya would outrun the Reign defense to a long through ball and one touch chip Dickey to the far post.

All four goals scored at this point in the match were simply excellent shots.

Neither side seemed content to play for the draw, pushing forward with numbers when the opportunities arose and making offense oriented substitutions.

End to end play dominated stoppage time. Both clubs created dangerous chances.

The match would end in a 2-2 draw as the hosts looked for a VAR review of a collision in the box to no avail.

BOX

SCORING SUMMARY

LA – Gisele Thompson (Ary Borges) 32’
SEA – Sally Menti (Mia Fishel) 50’
SEA – Mia Fishel (Sally Menti) 52’
LA – Prisca Chilufya (Evelyn Shores) 72’

MISCONDUCT SUMMARY

SEA – Sofia Huerta (caution) 76’
LA – Emily Sams (caution) 86’

LINEUPS & STATS

Seattle Reign FC – Claudia Dickey; Sofia Huerta ©, Phoebe McClernon, Ryanne Brown (Madison Curry 66’), Jordyn Bugg; Ainsley McCammon (Holly Ward 88’), Sally Menti (Angharad James-Turner 75’), Sam Meza; Maddie Mercado, Maddie Dahlien (Emeri Adames 88’), Mia Fishel (Nerilia Mondesir 66’) – Substitutes not used: Cassie Miller, Brittany Ratcliffe, Emily Mason, Shae Holmes

Total shots: 16
Shots on goal: 6
Fouls: 7
Offside: 1
Corner-kicks: 3
Saves: 4

Angel City FC – Angelina Anderson; Emily Sams, Sarah Gorden ©, Gisele Thompson, Sophia Mattice (Evelyn Shores 69’); Ary Borges Carina Lageyre, Ally Sentnor; Claire Emslie (Prisca Chilufya 69’), Riley Tiernan (Casey Phair 80’), Taylor Suarez – Substitutes not used: Megan McClelland, Karsyn Cherry, Nealy Martin, Faith Nguyen, Jennie Immethun

Total shots: 16
Shots on goal: 6
Fouls: 8
Offside: 2
Corner-kicks: 8
Saves: 4

Referee: Brad Jensen
Assistants: Chris Schurfranz, Eric Krueger
Fourth Official: Kelsey Harms
VAR: Corbyn May
Attendance: 7,102
Weather: 72 degrees and sunny

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Cascadia Derby MLS style 2026 in Seattle is a thrashing

Seattle Sounders FC 1
Portland Timbers 5
July 16, 2026
MLS Regular Season
Seattle, WA – Lumen Field

The second half of the 2026 MLS regular season kicked off with the Cascadia Derby on Thursday evening with one last match on the world cup grass pitch. An oddly cold evening for July meant there would be no need for hydration breaks.

Things nearly got off to a fast start barely four minutes in. Paul Rothrock would put the ball in the net, but it was off of a deflection in which he was offside on the initial shot.

The hosts would control much of the early play. Portland would be able to get in on the counter and with a few early set pieces, but nothing would come of it in the first quarter hour.

The Timbers would get on the board first in the 19th. Kevin Kelsey would get the finish and the traveling Timbers Army erupted. The goal seemed to frustrate the home side and light up the visitors.

The Sounders would pick it back up as the half progressed. One sequence in the 29th saw the Timbers saved two on frame shots in sequence mere seconds apart.

The match would go into the interval with the single goal scored and Portland in the lead.

It appeared the Timbers were going be patient and let Portland would extend their lead to two nil about ten minutes into the second half.

A well taken set piece service was finished by Kamal Miller from close range.

Moments later, the hosts could only look on in frustration as Portland’s Cole Bassett made it three nil.

The fourth goal by Kevin Kelsy soon followed and the wheels were totally off the bus for Seattle. The three goals in seven minutes was a ruthless barrage rarely seen in this half century rivalry.

The Timbers were playing smart and efficiently, and with Seattle on their heels it was a thorough thrashing with over twenty minutes remaining.

A wave of subs then came on for Seattle as they would play forward to at least grab a goal. Portland didn’t quite park the bus, but they did not play forward with numbers as the clock was their ally. Timbers keeper James Pantemis was excellent in maintaining control of the box.

It looked for a moment like Seattle would catch a break in the 80th minute. VAR would overrule the initial call showing the foul occurred outside the box. Instead of a penalty, the Sounders would get a simple set piece on the flank that did not lead to a scoring chance.

The 87th minute goal by Hassani Dotson was a cathartic moment for the Sounders and the crowd.

Just when it looked like Seattle could at least end the match with the positive of the late goal, the Timbers would grab a fifth in stoppage time to make the scoreline even worse.

The match would end with the visitors taking the points in both the Western Conference and Cascadia Cup standings.

Sounders legends Kasey Keller, Jimmy Gabriel, and Sigi Schmid were honored before the match.

BOX

SCORING SUMMARY

POR – Kevin Kelsy (Jimer Fory, Diego Chará) 19’
POR – Kamal Miller (Brandon Bye, Ariel Lassiter) 56’
POR – Colin Bassett (David Da Costa, Kevin Kelsy) 60’
POR – Kevin Kelsy 63’
SEA – Hassani Dotson (Albert Rusnák) 87’
POR – Antony Aravena (David Da Costa, Felipe Mora) 90+8’

MISCONDUCT SUMMARY

SEA – Jackson Ragen (caution) 41’
SEA – Paul Rothrock (caution) 49’

LINEUPS & STATS

Seattle Sounders FC – Andrew Thomas; Kalani Kossa-Rienzi (Peter Kingston 64’), Antino Lopez (Stu Hawkins 84’), Jackson Ragen, Nouhou – Captain; Hassani Dotson, Snyder Brunell (Osaze De Rosario 64’); Jesús Ferreira (Paul Arriola 64’), Albert Rusnák, Paul Rothrock; Jordan Morris (Danny Musovski HT) Substitutes not used: Stefan Frei, Sebastian Gomez, Yu Tsukanome

Total shots: 12
Shots on goal: 8
Fouls: 7
Offside: 2
Corner-kicks: 2
Saves: 5

Portland Timbers – James Pantemis; Brandon Bye, Finn Surman, Kamal Miller, Jimer Fory; David Da Costa, Diego Chará – Captain (João Ortiz 86’), Colin Bassett (Antony Aravena 72’); Antony Alves Santos (Ian Smith 90+1’), Kevin Kelsy (Felipe Mora 87’), Ariel Lassiter (João Caicedo 73’) Substitutes not used: Eric Miller, Tyler Muse, Santiago Jura, Aime Bonetig

Total shots: 19
Shots on goal: 10
Fouls: 7
Offside: 0
Corner-kicks: 8
Saves: 6

Referee: Rosendo Mendoza
Assistants: Nick Uranga, Kevin Lock
Fourth Official: Malik Badawi
VAR: Kevin Stott
Attendance: 35,383
Weather: 65 degrees and cloudy

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Lee Pate’s Cascadia Derby Gallery

Seattle Reign FC 2
Portland Thorns FC 0
Seattle, WA – Lumen Field
NWSL Regular Season
July 12, 2026

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Reign host Gotham on Friday night

Seattle Reign FC 0
Gotham FC 2
May 15, 2026
Lumen Field – Seattle, WA
NWSL Regular Season

Gotham FC made the cross country trek to Seattle for a Friday night match up with Seattle Reign FC at Lumen Field.

The host Reign come into the match in need of goals: having not scored in four matches, not scoring since a March 28 win over Racing Louisville in Spokane.

Gotham has also struggled to find the net, only averaging a goal per match.

Both defenses have been solid, earning both clubs points and keeping them in reasonable playoff position early in the campaign.

Both clubs start a first choice national team keeper. Seattle has USWNT’s Claudia Dickey, while Gotham has German Ann-Katrin Berger. But, it is not just the keepers, it is the pressing both sides do that contributes to defensive mistakes that create opportunities.

Lee Pate Photos

The visitors had much of the early possession and had pressed to force some awkward situations for the Seattle defense.

The first twenty-five minutes was highlighted by Gotham’s Jaedyn Shaw taking advantage of one of those chances. Shaw found herself with the ball at the spot and back to goal, managing to turn and slot a right footed shot past Dickey for the lead.

The pressure and counter was getting Seattle into the Gotham defensive third. However, the first half only found one shot on goal for the efforts, and that a long range strike to the center of goal and Berger. Gotham’s press made it difficult for Seattle to connect coming out of their defensive end.

Gotham would make it two nil early in the second half. Tierna Davidson would find the back of the net with a right footed shot from a corner in the fifty-seventh minute.

The Reign continued to struggle with the Gotham press. A few long range chances and set pieces were not putting Berger under significant pressure.

The hosts put pressure on in the late going, looking for that elusive goal, but the match would end two nil to the visitors.

Gotham grabbed points with a midweek Concacaf W Champions Cup final looming on Wednesday versus America.

Seattle next travels to expansion side Boston Legacy next Friday.

The Gotham match was the final home match for Seattle prior to the World Cup break. The first match back is on July 12; the Cascadia Derby. That match should still be on the grass surface prior to it being removed for the NFL Seahawks.

BOX

SCORING SUMMARY

GFC – Jaedyn Shaw (Savannah McCaskill) 24’
GFC – Tierna Davidson (Sofia Cook) 57’

MISCONDUCT SUMMARY

GFC – Jaedyn Shaw (caution) 22’
SEA – Laura Harvey (caution) 90+4’

LINEUPS & STATS

Seattle Reign FC – Claudia Dickey; Sofia Huerta ©, Emily Mason, Phoebe McClernon, Shae Holmes (Jordyn Bugg 72’); Angharad James-Turner (Sally Menti 81’), Sam Meza; Maddie Dahlien, Emeri Adames (Maddie Mercado 46’), Mia Fishel (Holly Ward 62’), Nerilia Mondesir (Brittany Ratcliffe 62’) – Substitutes not used: Cassie Miller, Ainsley McCammon, Ryanne Brown, Madison Curry

Total shots: 9
Shots on goal: 2
Fouls: 8
Offside: 1
Corner-kicks: 4
Saves: 1

Gotham FC – Ann-Katrin Berger; Tierna Davidson ©, Guro Reiten (Talia Sommer 90+1’), Midge Purce (Lilly Reale 74’), Jess Carter (Emily Sonnett 46’); Savannah McCaskill, Jaelin Howell, Sofia Cook (Katie Lampson 73’); Jordynn Dudley (Sarah Schupansky 84’), Esther González, Jaedyn Shaw – Substitutes not used: Shelby Hogan, Mak Whitham, Andrea Kitahata, Khyah Harper

Total shots: 13
Shots on goal: 3
Fouls: 5
Offside: 0
Corner-kicks: 6
Saves: 2

Referee: Alyssa Pennington
Assistants: Tom Felice, Eric Krueger
Fourth Official: Christopher Calderon
VAR: Brad Jensen
Attendance: 6,406
Weather: 52 degrees and cloudy

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Seattle drops match to Washington 0-1 on Sunday

Seattle Reign FC 0
Washington Spirit 1
May 10, 2026
Lumen Field – Seattle, WA
NWSL Regular Season

Seattle Reign FC took on fellow NWSL original side Washington Spirit on Sunday afternoon in Seattle.

The Seattle offense has struggled to find the net in recent matches, nabbing points from clean sheets.

Trinity Rodman and the Spirit offense have been able to consistently generate goals. The Reign FC defense would need to slow down Washington and convert on their chances to have a chance at the three points.

Lee Pate Photo Gallery

The first half unfolded in a fairly patient manner. Washington had the bulk of early possession, choosing to take their time poking at a Seattle defense that did not over commit. The result was some set pieces and a few long range chances, but nothing that would challenge Reign keeper Claudia Dickey in that first third of the match.

Reign FC would get some forays up into the Spirit defensive third. Maddie Dahlien on the left flank was a busy target of the Seattle offense. Mia Fishel found herself heavily marked as a target striker, getting her first good look at goal in the twenty-sixth minute.

With neither side taking too many risks there was a good deal of ball movement around the middle third. Trinity Rodman would finally get off a shot in the thirtieth minute.

The match would go into the interval level and goalless.

Seattle would come out of the break a bit more on the front foot. Washington took the pressure and managed to hold Seattle to long range shots, but nothing clear on goal.

Trinity Rodman would come off in the fifty-fifth minute, shortly after a stoppage to look a what appeared to be her right ankle.

The pressing eventually began to create chances on goal for Seattle., but the match remained goalless mid-half.

The Spirit pushed forward as the half progressed, putting pressure on Dickey and making the Reign pay for not finishing their chances. The play was stretched much more end to end in the final third than for much of the second half. The Spirit were reward, taking the lead on an eighty-fourth minute goal from Claudia Martinez from in the middle of the box.

Even with the goal, the Spirit kept up pressing. Seattle would struggle to get forward in the final minutes and stoppage with Washington choosing to not bunker down to kill off the match.

Washington grabbed the three points. One fantastic moment and disciplined defense saw them through.

Seattle continues to struggle to find goals. Their defense was solid for much of the match and simply gave up one truly good look on goal that Martinez punished them for.

BOX

SCORING SUMMARY

WAS – Claudia Martínez (Gabrielle Carle) 84’

MISCONDUCT SUMMARY

WAS – Rebeca Bernal (caution) 36’
SEA – Nerilia Mondesir (caution) 65’
WAS – Esme Morgan (caution) 72’

LINEUPS & STATS

Seattle Reign FC – Claudia Dickey; Sofia Huerta ©, Emily Mason, Phoebe McClernon, Madison Curry (Brittany Ratcliffe 89’); Ainsley McCammon (Angharad James-Turner 79’), Sam Meza; Maddie Mercado (Emeri Adames 79’), Maddie Dahlien (Holly Ward 87’), Mia Fishel, Nerilia Mondesir (Sally Menti 87’) Substitutes not used: Cassie Miller, Ryanne Brown, Shae Holmes, Sofia Cedeño

Total shots: 12
Shots on goal: 3
Fouls: 13
Offside: 0
Corner-kicks: 4
Saves: 1

Washington Spirit – Sandy MacIver; Kate Wiesner (Paige Metayer 46’), Tara Rudd, Gabrielle Carle, Esme Morgan; Rebeca Bernal (Andi Sullivan 67’), Leicy Santos, Hal Hershfelt; Trinity Rodman (Lucia Di Guglielmo 56’), Rosemonde Kouassi (Claudia Martínez 46’), Sofia Cantore (Gift Monday 67’) Substitutes not used: Kaylie Collins, Élisabeth Tsé, Emma Gaines-Ramos, Madison Haugen

Total shots: 8
Shots on goal: 2
Fouls: 10
Offside: 0
Corner-kicks: 5
Saves: 3

Referee: Jaclyn Metz
Assistants: Tiffini Turpin, Laura Chambers Waliski
Fourth Official: Dion Coxe-Trieger
VAR: Katja Koroleva
Attendance: 7,597
Weather: 64 degrees and cloudy

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Reign FC home opener versus Utah Royals

Seattle Reign FC 0
Utah Royals 3
April 26, 2026
Lumen Field – Seattle, WA
NWSL Regular Season

Reign FC finally got to play a home match in Seattle in 2026 on Sunday evening at Lumen Field. Utah Royals FC made the trek up to Cascadia for the first match between the two sides on the season.

This was the first match for both sides after the first five match slate and the international break. The host Reign FC sit third in the table with ten of fifteen points. Seattle managed to pull points on the road and from their temporary Spokane home. The first true home match being on April 26 was the latest home opener for any side in the league.

Utah came in with seven points on a 2-2-1 record and even goals for and against. The Royals sat just below the playoff line entering the match with a chance to rise above.

Earlier in the week it was announced that Reign OG Jessica Fishlock would be retiring upon completion of the 2026 season. Seattle supporters gave her a loud ovation.

The opening minute would find Utah with an immediate and surprising lead. Some errant play in the Reign defense led to a quick change of possession. A little chip by Paige Cronin over Reign keeper Claudia Dickey from inside the box to the far post got the match off to a jolt of a start.

The Royals kept their foot on the gas in the opening minutes and got their second in the seventh minute. Narumi Miura’s shot from top of the box took a little deflection and beat Dickey to give Utah a shocking two goal lead.

The early margin would cause both sides to alter their approach to the match. Seattle needed to settle in and get a goal back to change the momentum. Utah would need to avoid becoming lackluster and letting down. As the first half progressed Reign FC would get some chances and counters, but the Royals showed no real signs of hunkering down.

Cloe Lacasse would grab a third for Utah in first half stoppage time. A nice through ball caught her in stride and she took a left footed drive to make Seattle’s mountain even harder to climb.

Time was very much the ally of Utah coming out of the interval. Neither coach made any changes at the break. Seattle would create a few chances, striking the crossbar more than once, but Utah was not breaking.

Jessica Fishlock was stretchered off in the 65th minute with what appeared to be a left ankle injury. An air cast had been applied on the pitch.

Until the 90th minute and stoppage time to kill of the match, Utah never really altered their game plan. There was no hanging back, they kept playing. Seattle just was never able to get in sync long enough to do much more than grab a few momentary chances here and there.

Three nil to Utah was not how Seattle wanted to open their home slate in 2026. The Fishlock injury added a dark cloud to the match.

It is a great result for Utah. The three points put them firmly in the playoff picture, even so early in the season.

Sunday evening’s match also marked Seattle coach Laura Harvey’s 250th match with the club over her two spells on the water cooler.

Photo Gallery by Lee Pate

BOX

Seattle Reign FC 0 – Utah Royals FC 3
Sunday, April 26, 2026

SCORING SUMMARY

UTA – Paige Cronin (Mina Tinaka) 1’
UTA – Narumi Miura (Kaleigh Riehl) 7’
UTA – Cloé Lacasse (Ana Tejada) 45+1’

MISCONDUCT SUMMARY

UTA – Ana Tejada (caution) 13’
UTA – Janni Thomsen (caution) 70’
SEA – Sam Meza (caution) 80’

LINEUPS & STATS

Seattle Reign FC – Claudia Dickey; Sofia Huerta (Ryanne Brown 78’), Emily Mason, Phoebe McClernon, Madison Curry; Jess Fishlock © (Emeri Adames 68’), Sally Menti (Angharad James-Turner 78’), Sam Meza; Maddie Mercado, Brittany Ratcliffe (Maddie Dahlien 55’), Nerilia Mondeir (Mia Fishel 78’)
Substitutes not used: Cassie Miller, Holly Ward, Ainsley McCammon, Shae Holmes

Total shots: 9
Shots on goal: 4
Fouls: 12
Offside: 2
Corner-kicks: 5
Saves: 2

Utah Royals FC – Mia Justus (Mandy McGlynn 82’); Janni Thomsen, Kate Del Fava, Nuria Rábano (Aria Nagai 79’), Ana Tejada (Miyabi Moriya 78’), Kaleigh Riehl; Narumi Mura; Paige Cronin © (Alexa Spaanstra 60’), Mina Tanaka, Kiana Palacios, Cloé Lacasse
Substitutes not used: Tatumn Milazzo, Kameron Simmonds, Brecken Mozingo, Dayana Pierre Louis, Courtney Brown

Total shots: 14
Shots on goal: 5
Fouls: 13
Offside: 1
Corner-kicks: 6
Saves: 4

Venue: Lumen Field
Referee: Matt Thompson
Assistants: Seth Martin, Kristin Patterson
Fourth Official: Justin St. Pierre
VAR: Brad Jensen
Attendance: 8,211
Weather: 65 degrees and sunny