Seattle Reign put together a gritty performance on Friday night, running nonstop and putting their bodies on the line against a high-pressing Utah Royals side. While the Reign held Utah scoreless, they couldn't find enough offensive rhythm and settled for a 0-0 draw on the road.
12 - Twelve different @reignfc.com players won a tackle in the 0-0 draw at Utah on Friday, equaling the most in a match for the club since Opta began tracking that data in 2016. Scrapping.
— OptaJack (@optajack.optajoe.com) 9:49 AM · Oct 24, 2026
[image or embed]
Thanks to Portland beating the North Carolina Courage, the Reign (13-11-5) will remain in 8th place, the final playoff spot, heading into the final game of the season. The Reign will kick off their Decision Day match on Sunday, November 1, at 2 p.m. PT, facing the Orlando Pride (11-14-3).
Steve Voght
Highlights
Stats
Scoring Summary
No goals
Lineups
Tonight's starting squad in Utah ⚔️ #UTAvSEA Lineup Notes 📝 rgnfc.com/4jzc3Ux
— Seattle Reign FC (@reignfc.com) 5:30 PM · Oct 23, 2026
[image or embed]
46' - Sally Menti for Jess Fishlock; Madison Curry for Ryanne Brown
71' - Brittany Ratcliffe for Emeri Adames
86' - Mia Fishel for Nérilia Mondésir
Our castle, our XI 🏰
— Utah Royals FC (@utahroyalsfc.com) 5:51 PM · Oct 23, 2026
[image or embed]
64' - Jameese Joseph for Courtney Brown
79' - Brecken Mozingo for Kiana Palacios
90' - Madison Hammond for Ana Tejada; Miyabi Moriya forPaige Cronin
POSSESSION
Royals: 57.5%
Reign: 42.5%
EXPECTED GOALS
Royals: 0.80
Reign: 0.44
TOTAL SHOTS
Royals: 11
Reign: 9
SHOTS ON TARGET
Royals: 4
Reign: 1
SHOTS OFF TARGET
Royals: 4
Reign: 6
SHOTS BLOCKED
Royals: 3
Reign: 2
SHOTS FROM INSIDE THE BOX
Royals: 6
Reign: 4
TOUCHES INSIDE THE OPP. BOX
Royals: 23
Reign: 16
PASSES
Royals: 418
Reign: 302
PASSING ACCURACY
Royals: 76.3%
Reign: 68.5%
PASSES IN FINAL THIRD
Royals: 99
Reign: 94
PASS ACCURACY IN FINAL THIRD
Royals: 53.5%
Reign: 52.1%
CROSSES (EXCLUDING CORNERS)
Royals: 14
Reign: 16
CORNERS TAKEN
Royals: 8
Reign: 2
OFFSIDES
Royals: 1
Reign: 1
FOULS
Royals: 9
Reign: 14
YELLOW CARDS
Royals: 0
Reign: 2
RED CARDS
Royals: 0
Reign: 0
Utah Royals FC: 0 (0.8 xG) vs Seattle Reign FC: 0 (0.44 xG) #UTAvSEA | #URFC | #HerefortheCrown | #NWSL | 🤖⚽
— NWSL Analytics (@nwslstat.bsky.social) 9:45 PM · Oct 23, 2026
[image or embed]
Quotes
Laura Harvey
On the performance and the result
“Overall, I thought we worked really hard. It’s a tough place to come and play. Our quality at times could have been a little bit better, especially in that last 20 minutes where I felt like we were on the ascendancy and getting into good spots. But really proud of the group for digging in. The way these guys play, it’s hard to play against. I can’t fault the players’ attitude, mentality, work rate. And as the game was sort of coming towards the end, we wanted to win desperately, but we wanted to make sure that we also didn’t come out of here with nothing. So just finding that balance. Overall, just really proud of the group’s mentality and their willingness to sort of put their bodies on the line to make sure that we came out of here with something. And at times that was challenging. They [Utah] had periods, especially at the end of the first half, where they had a lot of momentum. But when we were in the momentum, I just wish we’d showed a little bit more quality.”
On the halftime substitutions
“Both Jess and Ryanne had little niggles that we didn’t want to risk. Obviously, huge game coming up next Sunday. I think we got them off in time where they’re not going to be injuries that keep them out any time. But both sort of signaled at halftime that they were feeling something. So we just wanted to be a little bit cautious, and I thought Madi Curry was exceptional when she came on. She’s done that a lot this year, and I thought she played really, really well in the second half.”
On the quality in the final third and missing Maddie Dahlien
“I don’t necessarily think anything was wrong. I just think there was just glimpses and moments where, could it be take one less touch and get a shot off? Instead of laying it off to somebody else, take the shot yourself. We overplayed a little bit at times. Sammy’s [Sam Meza] was probably the best chance of them all. Obviously Maddie [Dahlien] is a miss for us, but do I think that in that last 20 minutes it was that? Not really. I think it was just individual decisions and whether to take the extra touch or make the run. I think there was one where a cross came in and Sally [Menti] tried to chest it on to Sof [Huerta], and if she’d have just left it, I think Sof would have got it. Just tiny little things that I think we could have done a little bit differently, and we’ll talk about that. But I think those are the things that when you’re away from home, if you can just get one of those to bounce your way, we could come out of here with more than what we got.”
On dealing with Utah’s press
“I think that’s who Utah are. They’ve been very, very good at it this year. We were punished by it in the home game, so we were conscious that we didn’t want to do that. I think there was times we could have switched the ball a little bit more and we were a bit tentative because we were concerned about their press, which we’ll look at. But overall I think we dealt with it well and we made them work really hard. And I think that’s why in the last 20 minutes, because we’d made them work really hard, we actually got a little bit more gap and a little bit more opportunity to play forward.”
Claudia Dickey and Ainsley McCammon
On the performance and keeping the clean sheet
McCammon: “I think it was a really gritty game from start to finish. We talked a lot before the game about handling their press, and I thought we did a really good job of that. In the second half we obviously got a few more chances and had some good momentum, but ultimately just super proud of the group and the backline and Claudia for keeping the clean sheet, and it’s in our hands for the next game. So keeping that was really important for us.”
Dickey: “I think going off of that, just watching the shift that everybody put in, every player on the field, whoever came on did such a great job, worked so hard, was sprinting everywhere for 90 minutes. And I think that was a credit to how bad we wanted it tonight. Obviously, we didn’t get the goal, but I think to keep a clean sheet against such a good team in front of goal, and to come here and obviously get something out of it is a credit to everyone on the field and everyone on the sidelines and how much we worked this week towards that.”
On playing direct against Utah’s press
Dickey: “Their press is insane. It’s been insane all year. They go hard on every single play and they have against every single team. So I think we knew that coming in. And I think obviously we want to try and play as best as we can, but we have to play what the game gives us, and Laura says that a lot. And I think playing short is just playing into their hands. They’re always on the front foot. They’re always ready for the next person to get it to press. And I think us being willing to be able to skip it obviously isn’t ideal for us, but I think if that’s what was out there, I think it was working for us at times. So I think just our ability to adapt, I think, as a credit over the year, we’ve gotten so much better at that. But I think we knew coming into this if we played short and tried to play little intricate passes, it wasn’t going to end well.”
On the lack of shots on target and the quality of crosses
McCammon: “I think obviously we’re always trying to get our players out in the wide channel to be able to get a good cross. Obviously, the quality wasn’t quite there today, but I think we know that we have it. I think just having the half-space runs and knowing that we have numbers in the box, I think we could have done a little bit better of a job of getting more people in there and on the end and covering different spaces in the box. But obviously it didn’t quite come off today, but we still did have a lot of good chances and just need to do a better job of putting them away.”
Dickey: “I think to go off of that too, obviously we need to have people in the box, you need the service, we need everything, but I think again you’re playing against a good backline, a good four that have been playing together all year. They’re good in the box and I think it was just the little finishing product that we were missing. Obviously you’re putting it across, a great team’s going to be able to clear that and I think that’s something we can work on moving forward. It’s like against great teams, it’s hard to get great chances. And I think that’s something that we know and can learn from.”
On the playoff picture heading into decision day
McCammon: “I think for us at the end of the day, we know that it’s in our hands that we can come out and win. I think win against Orlando and we’re in. So obviously if the score in Portland stays, but like you said, all of those games are happening and we can only control what we can control. So that’s really our focus, but it’s been a long year and we’ve fought so hard to get to where we are. So just making sure that we come in with that mentality.”
