After a three-game homestand, Seattle Reign heads on the road for two games in four days. First up is a midweek match against Angel City FC, a team that sits just four points behind the Reign in 9th place. The match kicks off at 7 p.m. PT and will air locally on FOX 13+, stream globally on NWSL+, and also be available on KJR Sports Radio AM 950.
The Reign are coming off three straight home wins and three straight shutouts, while Angel City came from behind to draw 3-3 with Denver Summit in a thrilling Friday night match.
With just six games remaining after Wednesday's match, and 10th-place Denver —the Reign's weekend opponent—also trailing Seattle by just six points ahead of their own midweek match against Bay FC, this week is a crucial one for the Reign.
Head-to-Head
- The Reign and Angel City have met 14 times, with the Reign holding a 9-3-2 record.
- The Reign are 4-2-0 on the road against Angel City.
- Seattle has scored 25 goals across the series; Angel City has 14 goals.
- The Reign last hosted Angel City at Lumen Field on August 9; the Reign conceded a late goal in the 72nd minute and settled for a 2-2 draw.
2026 record
Seattle Reign FC: 11-8-4 (37 points, 8th place)
Angel City: 9-8-6 (33 points, 9th place)
Key stats
- Angel City is 4-5-3 at home
- Seattle Reign are 4-5-2 on the road
- Angel City and Seattle both average 4.4 shots on target per match, tied for 11th in the league
- Angel City has scored a league-leading 9 goals on set pieces
- The Reign have scored 5 set-piece goals and conceded 7
- Brazilian forward Maiara Niehues leads Angel City with 8 goals; Maddie Mercado also has 8 goals for the Reign
Who to watch
Maiara Niehues & Sveindís Jónsdóttir
Both forwards were injured when Angel City came to Seattle in August, but they are back healthy and making an impact. Jónsdóttir brings real speed, physicality, and directness to the squad. She is tenacious in both her press and her offensive runs and won't let the Reign sleep for even a moment.
Niehues, meanwhile, is technical, dangerous in the air, can strike from distance, and makes incredibly well-timed runs into the box. You can't leave her unmarked, and communication during her runs will be critical for the Reign.
The first touch 😮💨 Then the perfect strike 🫨 Maiara Niehues with an absolute work of art 🤌
— NWSL (@nwslsoccer.com) 7:58 PM · Sep 11, 2026
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"Obviously getting those players back has been big for them," Reign head coach Laura Harvey said of Niehues and Jónsdóttir's return from injury. "Tactically, they're trying to utilize their strengths — they're a bit more direct than they were [in August]. They try to turn opponents a lot more, make you play with your back to goal a little bit more. Obviously pushing Gisele Thompson higher too, where it frees up Evelyn Shores a little bit more to go forward. That combination on the left, with [Ally] Sentnor and Shores, is challenging to deal with."
Evelyn Shores
Speaking of Evelyn Shores ... the left back, just 21, has been a critical part of Angel City's attack. She has three goals and five assists this season. Angel City has adjusted their formation slightly in the last month in ways that have benefitted Shores—moving right back Gisele Thompson to right midfield and playing a 4-4-2.
This formation switch has pushed Ally Sentnor wider, rather than into her more central attacking midfield role. Sentnor, though, often sneaks inside, giving Shores the chance to push even higher into the attack. The Reign will have their hands full on that wing. Can they make sure they don't get stretched and pushed into a track meet against Shores and Angel City's other quick players?
What to watch
Handling the atmosphere
While it might not have the exact same energy as a weekend match, the atmosphere at Wednesday's game at BMO Stadium should be loud and raucous. One unique thing about playing at Angel City's home is how close the stands are to the pitch. It creates an intimate feeling, as if the fans are right on top of you. Harvey noted that LA is a fun place to play, but it can also be hard to manage the crowd's energy. How will this young but growing Reign side do?
"It can be intimidating for sure," Harvey said. "We've had some success down here, we've had some tough games down here as well. LA, Portland for us specifically, are really challenging — Washington is another challenging place to go to. The atmosphere that the crowds create are amazing, but when you're the away team, they can feel quite daunting if you've never been in them before, and a lot of our players had never felt that before when we came here last year. I think tomorrow is a good indicator of how far this group has matured and grown."
Closing a game out
The last time the Reign faced Angel City, the Reign started slow at home and went into halftime down 1-0. They responded brilliantly in the second half, and Sally Menti and Mia Fishel traded goals and assists two minutes apart to go up in the 52nd minute. The Reign had all the momentum, but they couldn't hold on for the win — as substitute Prisca Chilufya got in behind the defense in the 72nd minute and scored the equalizer. Last weekend against Denver, Angel City fell behind 3-1 and clawed back to earn a 3-3 draw, with Chilufya again subbing in and scoring. This team knows how to fight and has game-changers on the bench. If the Reign get an early lead, can they hold onto it?
Harvey pointed to the previous week's win over Bay FC as evidence the group is trending in the right defensive direction. "I think on reflection we controlled the game more than I gave us credit for emotionally," she said. "I think second half especially we controlled the game more without the ball, and I think what Bay tried to do to us in the second half — and the first half — will look similar tomorrow, which naturally means it's been good preparation. We'd be really happy with the three points, happy to keep another clean sheet. We know it's going to be a real challenge tomorrow, but if we can continue with this hard-to-beat, bend-don't-break mentality, it sets us up for some success."
Set pieces
Angel City has scored a league-leading nine goals on set pieces, while the Reign have conceded seven. Angel City also averages the most corner kicks per game (5.8), so they may have plenty of set-piece opportunities on Wednesday. Can the Reign stay strong defensively and keep Angel City away from the goal on corners and free kicks?
Kit matchup
Injury / Availability Report
Seattle Reign
OUT: Lynn Biyendolo (Maternity Leave)
INTERNATIONAL DUTY: Emeri Adames (U-20 USWNT), Ainsley McCammon (U-20 USWNT), Evan O’Steen (U-20 USWNT)
Angel City
OUT: Jun Endo (SEI - Knee), Sydney Leroux (Thigh), Hina Sugita (SEI - Knee)
How to Watch
Seattle Reign kicks off against Angel City at 7 p.m. PT on Wednesday, September 16. The match will air locally on FOX 13+, stream globally on NWSL+, and also stream on KJR Sports Radio 950 AM.
