For the third time this year, Seattle Reign faced Gotham FC, this time in a win-or-go-home playoff quarterfinal match. Despite dominating most stats, the Reign were unable to find a breakthrough, and Gotham went up early off an own-goal. Jordyn Bugg lined up to defend a Gotham corner but misjudged the ball, and it ricocheted off her shin and past Claudia Dickey at the near post.
That was the only significant danger the Shield winners presented all game. Seattle had plenty of chances to find an equalizer, but couldn’t generate enough danger of their own to overcome the early mistake. The 1-0 scoreline proved to be enough to see Gotham through to the semifinals and for Jess Fishlock’s illustrious career to come to a close.
WHAT WORKED: Neutralizing Gotham’s attack
Although they were listed as questionable going into the game, Rose Lavelle, Jadeyn Shaw and Jaelin Howell started the game for Gotham, along with Sam Kerr up top. You would be forgiven for not realizing they were actually in the game – Gotham finished the first half with only three shot attempts, all from outside the box, and nothing particularly close to on frame to test Dickey. Gotham were somehow even less intimidating in the second half, with only two speculative efforts from distance. They ended the game with only 0.16 xG on five shots, none of which were on target. The Reign defensive strategy was solid from start to finish, and Gotham’s next opponents will undoubtedly be studying tape of this game to see if they can replicate that success.
WHAT DIDN’T WORK: A strong start
Unfortunately for the Reign, it didn’t require a Gotham shot for them to take the lead. Similar to their last visit to New York, a Seattle player once again scored quickly in this game, but unfortunately it was into the wrong net. Gotham earned an early corner, and Jordyn Bugg looked to be well positioned to clear the danger as the first line of defense. Unfortunately, the ball caromed off her shin and just inside the near post.
An unfortunate own goal and Gotham take the early lead ‼️ NWSL Playoffs presented by Google Pixel
— NWSL (@nwslsoccer.com) 9:53 AM · Nov 8, 2026
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WHAT DIDN’T WORK: That little bit of quality
Although the Reign had the better of play and the better looks on the day, they were unable to get one past Gotham goalkeeper Ann-Katrin Berger. Sofia Huerta had two open shots from distance which she skied over the bar and Jess Fishlock had an attempted chip from midfield that she under-hit into Berger’s hands. Aside from a Nerilia Mondesir goal that was called back due to Jess Fishlock being a yard offside on the prior pass, the team’s best chance of the day came from Mia Fishel, whose lofted shot from 25 yards out was destined for the upper corner before a leaping Berger was able to parry it aside at the last moment.
AKB goes aerial to deny Mia Fishel a goal ✈️
— NWSL (@nwslsoccer.com) 10:59 AM · Nov 8, 2026
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Seattle finished with 11 shots and three on target, but once again finishing came back to haunt the team. How they address that issue will be a lingering question as they move into the off-season and prepare for next season.
Quotes
“Goals change games, you can’t deny that”
Laura Harvey was asked postgame to reflect on the cruelty of not giving up a single shot on goal but still losing 1-0.
“Goals change games, there’s no doubt about that. We’re sitting here with the opponent not having had a shot on target and we’ve lost one-nil, so yeah, goals change games, you can’t deny that. Was it unlucky? Yeah, absolutely, but I think the thing we can learn from is how we gave up the corner. Not the corner itself, how we gave it up. So obviously it’s very tough to take when you lose in any form of game, but obviously in a game that has such high stakes on it when the opponent has no shots on goal.”
“I’m not upset that I’ll never play football again”
Jess Fishlock was emotional but balanced in looking back on her final game as a pro, but also very hopeful about where she leaves the team and their future.
“I’ve loved that my last year was with this group. Because they have just given me so much, and not just on the field, and off the field, being with the kids at the beginning, two years ago, I was like ‘I can’t work with these kids, I’m too old for it’, but they have just given me so much joy, and then obviously all the ones we’ve had to really rely on each other these last couple of years. And it’s really also created deeper relationships within what we’ve already been doing, and because of that I’ve seen so much growth on and off the field from this team. So even today, I’m not upset that I’ll never play football again; I’m okay with that, I’ve played enough, but I’m devastated that I do not get to spend more time with this group, because they will win, I have no doubt about that, and I’m going to miss working with them every day and watching them grow. That’s the toughest thing for me.”
With the loss, the 2026 Seattle Reign season has come to a close. Next up will be player exit interviews and a short off-season. Preseason will begin in early January, with the 2027 season slated to kick off on February 11th.
