In the 37th minute, Lauren Barnes delivered the ball on a corner kick, Jordyn Huitema rose up and nodded it down to the penalty spot, and Lynn Biyendolo touched it past Beatriz Zaneratto with her left foot, then absolutely roofed it with her right. It was the crowning moment of a first half of play in which the Reign went right at the Kansas City Current, trading shots and largely taking the better of the play.
Playing from behind for the first time on the season, Kansas City fought for anything they could get their feet on in the second half, subbing on talismanic forward Temwa Chawinga, Rocky Rodriguez, and a much more attacking lineup, to try to get back on level terms. While they were able to create some decent chances – a ball nearly fortuitously dropping at the far post, a pass slipping Chawinga through into the six yard box – they spent most of the second half searching for and failing to find a clean look, and for the first time this season, failed to score.
The Current appeared to score in the 71st minute, Debinha slipping Chawinga through on goal, but Phoebe McClernon put in a near-perfect block to take away Chawinga's shot, and Debinha, continuing her run, was in an offside position when the rebound trickled through to her.
After that, though they pushed the Reign hard, the Current never had another clear-cut opportunity, and the final whistle sounded on the Reign's third win of the season, and third match in their current (ha) undefeated streak.
What Worked: Leg Sleeve Agenda
Lauren Barnes delivered an excellent corner, Jordyn Huitema rose up like a salmon to nod it down for Lynn Biyendolo, and Lynn made it count in the way she has so many times before. The Reign didn't have many other opportunities, but one moment of determination and magic was all it took tonight.
Here's the video, so you can watch it again in all its chaotic majesty.
Now that's a Lynn BiyenGOALo! 😤
— NWSL (@nwslsoccer.com) 2025-05-03T03:21:18.499Z
What Worked: Winning on the margins
Faced with a Kansas City team that doesn't get shut out, doesn't trail in games, and wants to run right at you and run right through you, the Reign stood their ground and turned the opposition back, declining to provide them space and uncontested time on the ball. Playing much of the match on the back foot, and in an organized low block, the Reign nevertheless kept their press going and searched for moments to turn the Current over, fighting for position and doing the hard work that's required to beat a talented team desperate to score.
This is borne out in the match stats: the Reign won 52 duels to the Current's 41, 21 tackles to the Current's 11, and the Current out-fouled them 14 to 9. The Reign were especially good at disrupting play in the midfield, winning 28 duels and 9 fouls in the middle third and perpetually denying service to the Current, and the ever-dangerous Chawinga, in the attack.
Failing to score for the first time this season, the Current were held to just 0.69 xG.
What Didn't Work: Keeping up the pressure
While they started the match figuratively trading punches with the Current, the Reign ultimately generated just 0.21 xG in chances on the night, and after Biyendolo's goal, even speculative opportunities were few and far between. While the Reign put in the hard and gritty defensive work to keep the Current off the scoresheet, the second half belonged to KC, and the Reign were unable to build a single clear chance throughout it.
Against a very strong team with a relatively thin bench and attacking players like Nérilia Mondésir and Jess Fishlock recovering from injuries, it's hopefully a blip and the Reign find more attacking intent going forward.
“Being able to score for a club like that, I'm speechless.”
Fresh off scoring her first goal, Biyendolo was quick to speak in glowing terms of the club environment, and the experience of scoring for the Reign.
“What's incredible about this club is the way that they’ve welcomed me, but like welcome anybody who’s new here. You never really know how a club is going to accept you, and I feel like I’ve just been accepted for who I am. [...] After the game, people jumping on me... I just feel like it’s really special.”
Continuing to the topic of the goal itself, she credited her teammates first. “As far as the goal, Lu got a corner, Jordyn put it right back into the mix. I tried to put it in with my left and Bea blocked it so I said let’s go again! And, I just saw an opening.”
“I wouldn't really say I've actually had to save the team that much.”
Claudia Dickey, with her second shutout of the season, focused on the whole-team defense, keying in on how much simpler the Reign have kept the defensive game this year.
“I wouldn’t really say I’ve actually had to save the team that much. We've done so much better this year defensively, defending the box and limiting chances. Obviously, I’m the last line of defense. [...] It's been a lot different this year.”
Speaking specifically on the match, she called out Biyendolo, Huitema, and Sam Meza along with the whole team for putting in the gritty work to protect the shutout, and for contributing to a much-improved Reign defense.
“All four shots just rolled to me. That’s a credit to how well we played defensively and how much work we put in on the field. So many people put their bodies on the line for blocks, even like Jordyn winning headers, Lynn winning headers, Sam getting back sliding. All those little things are making us so much better.”
Seattle continues their homestand next weekend, welcoming the Houston Dash to Lumen Field for a Mother’s Day match on Sunday, May 11 at 5 PM Pacific. Those unable to attend in person can catch the game on NWSL+, Paramount+, or in the Seattle area, on Fox 13+.
