The trophy chase starts for Laura Harvey and the final Original (Jess Fishlock) tomorrow. Seattle Reign are now powered by a young core after a two-season roster reboot that sought major talents at forward while charging the backline and midfield via youthful acquisitions in the post-draft era.
Seattle are not favored to chase a fourth trophy. There's too much youth for confidence and too many questions about the mediocre offense.
You're believers though, for good reason. That roster rebuild brought in attackers capable of greatness, dynamic youth players, and there's potential for more additions in the summer.
For Reign to rule the board these questions need to be answered with positivity.
Big Fish
At only 24 Mia Fishel is still approaching her peak. Early signs were obvious – nearly a goal a game at Tigres, the rapid rise through the YNT ranks and that acquisition by Chelsea.
Reign acquired Big Fish last summer, needing a spark to the attack. It didn't happen, yet. Mia may still be the answer because she remains the talent that moved for good money (in women's soccer at the time) twice. Can Harvey get Big Fish back on the track to the national team? If so, many questions about the offense are answered.
Unlocking the attack
Even if Big Fish starts scoring at the rate that earned her those transfer fees she'll need someone providing service. Angharad James-Turner and Jess Fishlock are the vets, but the verve has to come from the youth movement.
Sam Meza, Sally Menti, Sofia Cedeño and Ainsley McCammon have to at least provide the pass-before-the-pass if Seattle's going have an effective attack. The forward/winger group has lots of options without having lots of scoring, yet. Maybe the service gets solved by moving Fishel or Emeri Adames back a line. Maybe it is solved by Sofia Huerta surging forward.
It must be solved. The best hope is a large step forward by the youngsters who are not yet a regular in the WNT conversations.
Evens or odds
If you like tactical variation the Reign are for you. They'll mix up even and odd backlines throughout the early season, testing different groups. At least one winger can also be a wingback and even fullback. At least one fullback can be a centerback, wingback or winger.
A big name forward can be a CAM. Fishlock can be a CAM or a DM.
The flexibility is a lot of fun for the tactics nerds. When combined with youth it is also a text for Laura Harvey's skills in combining talent, training the next level of excellence and her ability to adjust on the fly. If history is right she'll pass those tests.
Lynn back
Ready to join at some point is NWSL legend Lynn Biyendolo. After missing much of 2025 after being last winter's major signing, Biyendolo is now away from soccer expecting a child. Lynn's return is difficult to project as club and country are centering her health (mental and physical) rather than pushing aggressively.
A fall return of one of the greatest attacking talents in women's soccer history could do a lot for Reign's playoff chances this fall.
It will only be possible when everything else is right for Lynn.
Summer addition
After this week's roster shuffle Reign fans should expect more acquisitions. The budget space opened up by a top 5 transfer in league history is huge. Yes, Jordyn Huitema was a young player with promise. In 2026 Reign don't need promise. They need production. $500,000 can help solve that production problem.
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Catching up on Sounder at Heart
Here's what you missed on the site this week.
Sounders
Next match: Sunday, March 15 at San Jose Earthquakes | 4 pm PT | Apple TV
Recapping the 3-0 CCC win
- Victory in Vancouver: Sounders take control of series
- Postgame Pontifications: A redemptive arc
- Tactical Rewatch: The Arsenal of it All
- Sounders cook Caps in CCC Cascadia Clash
- Whitecaps vs. Sounders: Highlights, stats, quotes
Other stories
- Lobbing Scorchers: Keith Costigan Talks Seattle Sounders and Calls Out USMNT Fans
- What Futi tells us: a conversation with John Muller
- What Sounders' signings say about the club's future
- Realio’s Ratings: Scrappy in St. Louis
- In praise of winning ugly
- Hassani Dotson placed in concussion protocol
This newsletter was made possible through the support of Full Pull Wines, a boutique wines reseller that has been sponsoring us since 2011.
Reign
Next match: Sunday, March 15 at Orlando Pride | 1 pm PT | Victory+ (a new free-to-view partner of the NWSL)
- Reign add Canadian international Holly Ward
- Reign sign Ruby Hladek to short-term deal and finalize roster
- Seattle Reign transfer Jordyn Huitema to Chicago
- A look at Seattle Reign's 2026 roster
Defiance
Next match: Saturday, March 14 vs. San Jose Earthquake II | 7 pm PT | MLSNextPro.com
Looking back at the news
Everything else you need to know
- Here's who took home top honors at the Seattle Sports Star of the Year Awards (Seattle Times) Keller and Akers took lifetime awards.
- welcome to paradise HAPPY NWSL SEASON TO ALL WHO CELEBRATE (Beyond the Vaudevillian Cane)
- Call it the Rodman Rule or HIP, the NWSL’s new initiative is already impacting rosters (The Guardian)
- NWSL doubled in size over the last decade. The 2026 season will be a pivotal 'next chapter' (The New York Times)
- NWSL ambition rankings: All 16 clubs judged by the big moves they are or aren't making (ESPN)
- 2026 NWSL Previews: Seattle Reign, Orlando Pride — American Soccer Analysis (American Soccer Analysis)
- MLS’s prized parity is fading – and that might be a good thing (Backheeled, a Sounder at Heart partner)
- Donald Trump says Iran should not play in World Cup for their ‘life and safety’ (The Guardian)
- World Cup chief operating officer says tournament is 'too big' to be postponed amid global turmoil (AP)
- Iran’s sports minister says football team will not play at 2026 World Cup (The Guardian) They have not officially withdrawn as of publication.
- The US World Cup is facing two crises: a financial mess – and ICE (The Guardian)
Looking back on the Day Sports Stopped
An empty Cheney Stadium hosted Tacoma Defiance versus San Diego Loyal on March 11, 2020. It was the last pro soccer game in North America for 108 days. I was in the broadcast booth.
