This week the Seattle Reign will be kicking off the 2017 preseason, and they’re bringing a packed 32-player roster.
That includes 19 rostered players, the team’s three remaining players picked in the draft (after draftee Arielle Ship was traded to Washington as part of the deal to get Diana Matheson), and eleven non-roster invitees, who’ll be competing to impress Laura Harvey enough to earn one of a precious few spots on a professional roster.
The most notable of those invitees is unquestionably Veronica Perez, the one-time UW star and one-time Seattle Sounders Women player who earned the nickname Goal-a-Game Perez for her 2012 All-League Season with the Sounders. In the initial NWSL allocation, she was sent to Western New York as a Mexican National Team player and eventually traded to Washington before moving on to play in Sweden. The Reign traded for her rights in the middle of last season, though a signing never happened. But it’s hard not to imagine that her heart is in Seattle after so many good years, and it’s hard not to imagine the Reign are seriously interested in a proven pro player who could add depth to a midfield that will have to adjust to Matheson’s long-term injury.
Also among the invitees is Paige Nielsen, who was drafted by the team last year but waived midseason.
The others are recent undrafted college grads looking to keep their hopes of a pro career alive.
Among the contracted players, internationals Rebekah Stott, Jessica Fishlock, Larissa Crummer, and Matheson haven’t reported to camp yet (and for Matheson any reporting would be purely ceremonial after an ACL tear that will almost certainly keep her out for the entire season).
Here’s the full roster from the team:
2017 Seattle Reign FC Preseason Roster by Position
Goalkeepers (4): Haley Kopmeyer, Maddie Schiffel, Brianna Smallridge (NRI), Hanna deHaan (NRI)
Defenders (10): Elli Reed, Merritt Mathias, Lauren Barnes, Rachel Corsie, Carson Pickett, Anjel Brown (NRI), Maddie Bauer (Draft Pick), Kristen McNabb (Draft Pick), Rumi Utsugi, Rebekah Stott (NYR)
Midfielders (10): Veronica Perez (NRI), Christine Nairn, Jordan Jesolva (NRI), Haley Rosen (NRI), Annie Alvarado (NRI), Mimi Rangel (NRI), Lindsay Elston, Paige Nielsen (NRI), Jessica Fishlock (NYR), Diana Matheson (NYR)
Forwards (8): Beverly Yanez, Kiersten Dallstream, Megan Rapinoe, Nahomi Kawasumi, Katie Johnson (Draft Pick), Addison Steiner (NRI), Sydney Arnold (NRI), Larissa Crummer (NYR)
Non-Roster Invitee (NRI)
Not Yet Reported to Camp (NYR)