Seattle Reign vs. Washington Spirit: Gamethread

The NWSL season is finally here! Seattle Reign FC starts their campaign today in front of their home fans at Lumen Field. They host the Washington Spirit in a game that kicks off at 3 p.m. PT and streams on NWSL+, the league's new direct-to-consumer streaming platform. 

NWSL+ is available for both U.S. and international viewers. You can find it on iOS/Android devices and streaming devices Apple TV, Fire TV, and Roku. Fans may have to search National Women's Soccer League instead of NWSL to access the app. It can also be streamed on a browser.

The Reign will be looking to set the tone early in the NWSL season, where they hope to earn a spot in the playoffs for the sixth straight season.

Match Preview: Seattle Reign vs. Washington Spirit

The match kicks off Sunday, March 17, at 3 PM PT.

Sounder at HeartSusie Rantz

The Reign and Spirit both lost key players and have several new exciting newcomers. Ji So-yun should make her debut for the Reign, while rookie Croix Bethune is expected to line up as an attacking midfielder for the Spirit.

What to Watch

• Possession: Both teams will be looking to be better on the ball than they were last year. The Spirit completed the fewest passes in 2023 and now want to play more like Barcelona. Who wins the possession battle and does more on the ball?
• Early pressure: The Reign are going to want to come out on the front foot early, especially considering the uncertainty about how their opponent will play. Can the Reign turn early pressure into an early goal and get the home crowd fired up?
• Formation: The Reign are in the post-Megan Rapinoe era. That means they'll be looking not just for the right players on the field but the right formation to get the most out of their players. Pay attention to how the Reign organize themselves on the offensive and defensive end.

Officials

Lineups

Highlights

The Reign get a penalty on the first play, and Bethany Balcer buries it!

Seattle Reign

OUT: Alana Cook (knee), Veronica Latsko (leg)

Washington Spirit

OUT: Civana Kuhlman (SEI – knee), Trinity Rodman (suspension)

How to Watch

Time/Date: Sunday, March 17, 3 PM PT

Location: Lumen Field, Seattle, WA

TV: None

Streaming: NWSL+

Join the Discussion

This is your Seattle Reign vs. Washington Spirit gamethread. Join the discussion in the comments or on our Discord if you're a paid subscriber, and follow @RoValks on Twitter for live updates.