Seattle Reign FC announced on Tuesday that forward Maddie Mercado’s contract option for 2027 has been exercised, keeping the team’s leading scorer in Seattle for another season. Per a team source, Mercado had a benchmark in her contract that automatically triggered her player option once met. Mercado was due to become a free agent at the end of the year had the option not been exercised.
Mercado first joined the team as a second-round draft pick ahead of the 2024 season out of Notre Dame. She made five appearances in her rookie season and scored one goal in the season finale against Orlando. In 2025, she had one assist early in the season but saw her minutes dwindle before going on loan in the second half of the year at Carolina Ascent of the Gainbridge Super League. While on loan, she scored four goals in six appearances for Ascent and was soon recalled to the Reign, where she made three starts to conclude the season.
This year has been a breakout campaign for the third-year forward. Mercado, 25, is one of only two players to appear in every game for the Reign this season. She has tallied eight goals in her 22 appearances, including three game-winners, along with an assist to Maddie Dahlien in the club’s recent 1-0 win against Houston. Her nine career goals place her ninth on the Reign’s all-time goal scoring list.
With Mercado’s option exercised, the Reign have five impending free agents – Shae Holmes, Phoebe McClernon, Cassie Miller and Emily Mason, along with Jess Fishlock, who has already announced her intention to retire after this season.
