The Seattle Reign FC has entered the new season of NWSL determined to reclaim their glory. After facing major difficulties in the last season & finishing at 13 out of 14 teams, the team is looking forward to making the strategic comeback once and for all. Will this season be a motivational comeback in the reign’s football journey or another disappointment? It is time to find out.
NSWL 2024 Preview
Let’s take a look at Seattle Reign’s NWSL journey before going into this season’s expectations and challenges. Last year in the NWSL 2024 the Seattle Reign FC faced a very challenging time in the tournament. They finished the tournament in 13th place among 14 teams fighting for the Championship title with a point table of-
• 6 wins
• 15 Losses
• 5 Draws
Totaling 23 points for their tournament summary.
The team faced issues like losing star players such as Megan Rapinoe at the end of 2023 and key players like Emily Sonett & Rose Lavelle. Members leaving the club & the unsettled sale of the club led to major uncertainty. These uncertainties later made the team quite inconsistent in the field. They could not maintain their position in the right form and struggled to find a firm grip in the tournament.
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The opening match of 2025
On March 16 the reins faced their season opener team Gotham FC. The match provided insights into their strengths and weaknesses. The Reigns showed strong resilience from the beginning. Their potential attacking power was visible despite the absence of key player Lynn Williams who was sidelined due to a lower leg injury.
Seattle Reigns offseason preparation
Now let’s look at this year’s preparation of coach Laura Harvey’s team and see what they have to offer their fans. The reins made some significant moves in the offseason after their 2024 NSWL tournament. Some major improvements are-
Lynn Williams addition: The reign started their offseason by procuring offensive forward player Lynn Williams, The NSWL’s all-time leading goal scorer with 80 goals in her possession. If we look at Seattle’s offensive position in 2024, they were struggling to turn their chances into goals. In addition to that, Lynn Williams is expected to bring the much-needed scoring presence to the front line. Her experience & style in the offensive position make her the key player in the team’s rebuilding strategy. Since Lynn has proven to be a game-changer in crucial moments, Seattle will be looking at her for breaking the defense line of the opposition.
The return of Lauren Barnes: Lauren “Lu” Barnes the veteran defender who holds the league record for games played and started has re-signed her contract with Seattle. Her leadership and consistency are expected to boost the defense line of the team and improve the gap they had in 2024.
Challenges & Takeaways
Despite securing a point in the season opener, Seattle faces several challenges as they aim to move forward in the tournament:
Defensive instability
Despite having Lu Barnes in the defensive line Seattle’s defensive gaps allowed Gotham FC to equalize their goal in the opening match. This shows the potential weakness in the defense line. The team must work their way in this matter. They must ensure firm communication on the defense line and recover as fast as possible after losing possession of the ball.
Team Bonding
The Reigns have brought in several new players as well as veterans. Making them work together will not be an easy task for the team management. On the other hand, the successful integration of these players in the field might bring them the victory they are striving for.
Tight competition
NSWL is a highly competitive league where teams like Portland Thorn, Washington Spirit, and Kansas City are currently showing their absolute might. To face these powerful opponents Seattle must be well prepared with no gaps to spare.
Expectations
The opening match of NWSL 2025 showed the potential strength of Seattle Reign FC in terms of facing strong teams like NJ/NY Gotham FC.
The playoff spot: After missing out in 2024, the playoff spot is a top priority for
Reign.
Make the comeback: The reign is looking for the worst to top comeback in this season.
Improve offense: Last season the Reign could not find the net, so this season one of the key objectives should be ensuring goals. Since Lynn Williams is going to play in the forward line, she is expected to fill that gap from 2024.
Defense: Although Lu Barnes is set to unleash her skills and experiences, the entire defense line has to work together to make sure the team stays competitive throughout the tournament.
Team management: The team management of Seattle is going to play a crucial role in this season of NSWL. Since there are a lot of debut players in 2025 along with experienced players, the management has to coordinate the players efficiently so that they build up a strong bond with each other and the team remains intact throughout the competitive tournament.
If the team can solve its current problems which include the gap in defense and provide fast-paced offense in the frontline it can surely stand out as a strong threat to its upcoming opponents. The Seattle Reign is set to face strong teams like the Portland Thorns, San Diego Wave & Gotham FC (rematch). There is a strong opportunity for the Reign to prove their strength to these opposing teams by holding up the defense and pushing with the forward power. The rematch between Seattle FC and Gotham FC is a chance for the Reign to prove their progress and assert dominance over their Eastern Conference rivals.
Conclusion
Seattle Reign FC’s opening against Gotham FC showed their potential. With the re-structured team, they aim to regain their lost status from 2024. The team is looking to make a statement and a commitment to better performance. This season is not just another tournament but a chance to regain what’s lost, an opportunity to make a statement about Seattle Reigns’ presence.
