Seattle Reign FC announced on Wednesday that the club has extended forward Veronica Latsko’s contract through the 2025 NWSL season.
“I love playing for this coaching staff, my teammates and this city. The support I’ve received while playing for this club is unmatched,” said Latsko in a club press release. “I’m so grateful to extend my time with the Reign through 2025 and I can’t wait to take the field again soon!”
The Reign acquired Latsko through a trade with the Houston Dash in 2022, sending a 3rd round pick in the 2023 NWSL Draft and $30,000 in allocation money to the Dash. The 28-year-old forward has been an important part of the team's roster since joining the club. Now entering her third season with the Reign, Latsko is tied for the third-most regular-season appearances (38) since 2022.
Reign head coach Laura Harvey utilized Latsko more frequently on the Reign's front line in 2023 because of her endless engine and work rate. The forward may not always lead the league in offensive numbers, but she's one of the best forwards when it comes to winning tackles, interceptions, and duels – something Harvey values highly in her wing players, as the Reign like to use defensive pressure to create offensive opportunities.
Latsko also has strong crossing abilities, another Reign trademark, and notched two assists last year as a result.
The Reign forward is coming off a year where she recorded a season high in goals (four), tied for second on the team. She also came up clutch during the playoffs – scoring back-to-back game-winning goals in the quarterfinal and semifinal to help the club reach its third NWSL Championship.
"Veronica showed her ability to impact games in big moments last year, we'll be looking to her to provide that consistently this season and beyond,” said Reign General Manager Lesle Gallimore. “Her tenacity and will as a player make her stand out and we look forward to having her extend her time at the Reign and pick up where she left off last season."
After Latsko's game-winning goal against San Diego in the semifinal, Harvey was full of praise for the forward.
“She's the epitome of 'work hard and good things will happen to you', and she trains so hard every day. She works her socks off. Every single day – we have all the data and all that stuff – she always is the one that has done the most; she always runs about like a lunatic every day. But she's getting the reward. And I say that to the players all the time, if you work hard and you dig in and you show your ability, good things will happen to you. And that's happening to Veronica right now."
Jacob Cristobal
"I’m just really grateful to be in such a supportive environment, where your hard work doesn’t go unnoticed," Latsko said in response to her coach's praise.
Latsko was drafted 28th overall by the Dash in 2018. She was with Houston when the club won the first-ever Challenge Cup in 2020. The forward is tied for the most Challenge Cup games played all-time in the NWSL, with 25 appearances.
