Seattle Reign FC returns to Lumen Field on Sunday, September 6, to host the San Diego Wave in the second game of their three-match homestand. Kickoff is at 6 p.m. PT, and the match will air nationally on ESPN2.
The Reign enter the weekend in 8th place, still holding down the final playoff spot after a 1-0 win over Houston last Sunday in which Maddie Dahlien's second-half finish was the difference. San Diego, meanwhile, comes in as one of the league's hottest teams. The Wave sit in 4th, and forward Trinity Byars was just named NWSL Player of the Week after a two-goal outburst in a 3-2 comeback win over Racing Louisville.
The Reign haven't lost at Lumen Field (3-0-1) since the summer break, and hope to continue that streak against a tough Wave team.
"I think it'll be a really good game," said midfielder Sam Meza. "Last time we were away, we were playing in their stadium and that's not always easy. It was a hot game. This time around, we'll be home, which is naturally just an advantage for us. We enjoy being home. We enjoy playing with our fans being here and supporting us. We're really excited."
Seattle will be without Ainsley McCammon, who leads the team with four assists, along with Emeri Adames and Evan O'Steen. All three are representing the U.S. in the U-20 Women's World Cup that kicked off this weekend.
Head-to-Head
- The Reign are 10-1-3 against the San Diego Wave.
- The Reign are 5-0-1 at home against the Wave.
- Seattle has scored 20 goals across the series; San Diego has scored 7.
- The Reign faced San Diego on the road in July, winning 2-0 with goals from Maddie Mercado and Jordyn Bugg — both assisted by Ainsley McCammon.
2026 record
Seattle Reign FC: 9-8-4 (31 points, 8th place)
San Diego Wave: 12-7-3 (39 points, 4th place)
Key stats
- The Reign are 5-3-2 at home, while San Diego is 6-2-2 on the road.
- The Reign have scored 26 goals and conceded 26.
- San Diego has scored 32 goals and conceded 25.
- Forward Trinity Byars leads the Wave with 10 goals.
- Midfielders Gia Corley and Lia Godfrey have a team-high four assists.
Who to watch
Trinity Byars
Trinity Byars, a 23-year-old forward, missed almost all of 2025 recovering from a torn ACL, but 2026 has been her breakout year. She began the season as an impact player coming off the bench but quickly became a penciled-in starter. Byars has scored four goals and added two assists over her last two matches alone. She has the rare combination of instincts in the box, danger in transition, and the ability to score from multiple spots.
In July's meeting with Seattle, Byars was dangerous. She put up three shots totaling 0.66 expected goals (xG), but was ultimately held off the scoresheet by a superb performance from Claudia Dickey and the Reign defense. She won't want a repeat, and the Reign won't want to give her that many chances
Mimi Van Zanten
The rookie right back has become one of the most important players in San Diego's lineup. A Jamaican international who won two national championships at Florida State, Van Zanten has started nearly every match. She is constantly getting upfield and is one of the engines that drives San Diego's quick transition from defense to attack down the right side, and the Reign will need to account for her overlapping runs. She's also not shabby when it comes to her defensive duties and put in an incredible shift against Trinity Rodman earlier this month.
Kimmi Ascanio
Ascanio can do a bit of everything in San Diego's midfield, and the "Mini Tobin" nickname — given by Tobin Heath herself on her RE-INC podcast — is no accident. The now-18-year-old midfielder plays with a poise and comfort on the ball that feels well beyond her age, reading what the game gives her and using her dribbling to escape pressure in tight spaces. She can operate as a No. 10 or push higher as a secondary forward, and her ability to combine in small spaces makes her a tough matchup, but one Sam Meza should be up for.
What to watch
San Diego's possession
The Wave have spent most of the season near the top of the league in possession, shots, and passing. But as the Reign proved in July, dominating the ball doesn't always lead to a result. Still, despite the 2-0 scoreline in Seattle's favor that game, San Diego outshot the Reign by a wide margin. They've learned to be more resilient since then. Last week, the Wave erased a two-goal halftime deficit to win over Louisville. If Seattle lets San Diego control the ball for long stretches the way they did in July, the margin for error will be thin.
"I think we've got to be on the front foot. We've got to create opportunities for ourselves first and foremost," said Reign head coach Laura Harvey. "You want to try and limit the opportunities that they have. They want the ball. They're very good on the ball. They move the ball quickly. They have a lot of quality in different areas. So, you know, you've got to stay in the game against them no matter what the score."
Finishing what they start
The Reign have talked all season about game management and not letting a lead slip in the second half. They've been really good at scoring early in either half, but seven of the 26 goals that the Reign conceded have come in the final 15 minutes of their matches, the most during any time period for the Reign (By the way: San Diego has scored six goals in the final 15 minutes). That's just not good enough if they want to continue their playoff push, but last week's win over Houston was a step in the right direction. Seattle sustained their pressure rather than sitting back. If the Reign can build an early lead the way they did in July, can they finish the job against a dangerous attacking team?
Converting those crosses
The Reign sit at the top of the league in completed crosses per game (6) and have a league-leading 31.7% cross success rate. They've already made San Diego pay for it once this season. Both Seattle goals in the July win came from service into the box: Ainsley McCammon's ball to the back post set up Maddie Mercado's header for the opener, and McCammon flicked on a Sally Menti corner for Jordyn Bugg to finish. The Wave, on the other hand, are not a team that relies on service into the box. They average just 2.8 successful crosses per game, second lowest in the league. If Seattle can consistently get good service into the box on Sunday, perhaps they can recreate the same success they found in July against the Wave.
Kit matchup
Injury / Availability Report
Seattle Reign
OUT: Lynn Biyendolo (Maternity Leave)
INTERNATIONAL: Emeri Adames (U-20 USWNT), Ainsley McCammon (U-20 USWNT), Evan O’Steen (U-20 USWNT)
San Diego Wave
OUT: Trinity Armstrong (Knee - SEI), Dudinha (Knee - SEI), Jordan Fusco (Excused Absence), Cat Macario (Heel), Kiki Pickett (Ankle)
NTERNATIONAL DUTY: Luisa Agudelo (COL)
How to watch
Seattle Reign kicks off against the San Diego Wave at 6 p.m. PT on Sunday, September 6. The match will air on ESPN 2.
