Reign vs. Racing Louisville: Gamethread

UPDATE 6:45 PM - Play was paused for an early halftime after Racing Louisville midfielder Savannah DeMelo experienced a medical event on the field. DeMelo is stable and alert after being treated on the field and transported to a local hospital, where she will undergo further evaluation. The match has since been officially suspended to a later date, on which play will resume at a time agreed upon by both teams.

It's set to be a cloudy September evening in Seattle as the Reign look to cling to playoff position in a tight table. Today's Youth Match against Racing Louisville kicks off at Lumen Field at 5 p.m. PT and will air on FOX 13+, NWSL+, and Paramount+.

Two-thirds of regular-season matches between these two teams have ended in a draw, a factor both sides are certainly aware of as they currently hold the last two playoff positions. Stalemates aside, Seattle holds the all-time advantage with 3 wins in the regular season. As Susie Rantz notes in her match preview, the Reign have only lost to Louisville once, in the semifinals of the 2023 Challenge Cup. The Reign are undefeated against Louisville in 2025, having taken three points on the road in their first matchup in May.

Keys to the game

Weather the pressure
Create chances in transition
Be dangerously disciplined (to quote Nneka Ogwumike ⛈️) – make good, quick choices in high-risk/high-reward situations. It's a tough ask for a young but experienced team.

Notes

Shae Holmes is off the injury report and available for selection. The Reign's other injured players are still further out, with Ryanne Brown likely the next to be activated.
Forward Veronica Latsko announced her retirement; the club will honor her at today's game and the Royal Guard plans to lead a "LET'S GO LATSKO" chant in the 12th minute.
This is the second time the Reign will face Bethany Balcer as an opponent since trading her to Louisville in August 2024. Balcer played six seasons in Seattle after signing as an undrafted free agent, winning the NWSL Rookie of the Year award in 2019.
Today's match theme is Youth Day and family-friendly activations will be set up around the stadium, creating an interactive experience for fans of all ages. In addition, children ages 5-12 will be invited onto the pitch post-match and given the opportunity to score a goal on the Reign’s home turf.
The Mariners have a home game at 1:10 pm which will likely be just finishing as fans arrive for the Reign game, so plan for extra traffic and road closures around the stadiums and along 1st Ave S.

Injuries, absences, suspensions

Seattle Reign

OUT: Lynn Biyendolo (knee), Ryanne Brown (SEI – knee), Veronica Latsko (SEI – lower leg), Cassie Miller (D45 – leg)

Racing Louisville

OUT: Jordan Baggett (illness), Uchenna Kanu (knee), Katie Lund (SEI – hip), Madalyn Pokorny (SEI – hip), Olivia Sekany (SEI – knee), Kirsten Wright (SEI – knee)
QUESTIONABLE: Kayla Fischer (back), Ella Hase (ankle), Lauren Milliet (shoulder)