Seattle Reign and defender Lily Woodham have mutually agreed to part ways, allowing the Welsh international to pursue other opportunities, the club announced on Friday.
“We thank Lily for her time and commitment to the Reign,” said Reign General Manager Lesle Gallimore in a team release. “Her energy, professionalism and passion for the game have left a lasting mark on the club. We wish her all the best in the next chapter of her journey - on and off the pitch.”
Woodham, who signed a two-year contract with the Reign in 2024, recently joined Jess Fishlock and Angharad James-Turner in the UEFA Women's EURO — representing Wales in their first major tournament on the women's side. She started in all three group-stage matches, playing a total of 200 minutes.
Woodham, 24, began her Reign career off strong — starting at left back in the Reign's 1-0 win against the Washington Spirit to kick off the 2024 season. After that match, she and the team struggled on the defensive end, and after five consecutive starts that saw the Reign concede eight goals, Woodham's playing time began to diminish.
The team loaned her to the newly promoted WSL side Crystal Palace in September to allow Woodham to gain important minutes ahead of Wales' EURO qualifying matches. In December, she and Wales beat Ireland to secure a spot in the tournament. While Woodham's loan was initially set to run through January 2025, it was later extended through the end of Crystal Palace's WSL season. Crystal Palace finished bottom of the table with 10 points and was relegated at the end of the season.
“Seattle, thank you for everything, the memories and experiences you gave me. I will carry with me forever,” Woodham said in an Instagram post. “The fans were incredible, welcomed me with open arms, and I will forever be grateful. To the staff and players, I couldn’t be more thankful for the support you gave me both on and off the pitch. Seattle will always hold a special place in my heart.”
After parting with the Reign, who are deep in the fullback/wingback position this year, Woodham now has a chance to find a new team that's the right fit for her. The Reign, meanwhile, shouldn't have to do any additional roster maneuvering to stay at the 26-player roster cap. With Woodham's departure, the Reign have 27 active players – although Cassie Miller remains on the 45-day injury list, with Neeku Purcell signed to a short-term contract to cover the injury, and Ryanne Brown hasn't been officially removed from the season-ending injury list.
