Defender Phoebe McClernon will be staying in a Seattle Reign shirt for a little while longer as she and the club agreed to a two-year contract extension, it was announced on Wednesday.
“I am so excited and grateful to be staying in Seattle for two more years. I love this city and am so hopeful for the success of this team with the support of our amazing fans! I feel so honored to represent Reign FC this season and beyond,” said McClernon in the team's announcement.
McClernon joined Seattle in 2022, and she made 10 appearances with 6 starts that season. To date, McClernon has made 20 regular season appearances with 15 starts. McClernon missed the first half of last season with a back injury, yet still posted a strong second half with 34 clearances, 20 tackles won, and 19 interceptions in becoming a starter on the Reign's backline. At the club's June 30th pre-match press conference, McClernon reflected on her road to recovery.
“Phoebe's energy and competitiveness are standard-setting in our club. We are happy to have her extend her stay in Seattle,” said Seattle Reign FC General Manager Lesle Gallimore in the team's release. “Phoebe is one of the premier defenders in the NWSL; her pace, grit, determination and contributions in the attack are what make her impactful for us and on gameday our fans will appreciate what she brings!”
Prior to joining the Reign, McClernon was originally drafted by the Orlando Pride in 2020 as the 14th overall pick, making 21 appearances (15 starts) before moving cross-country to Seattle in a trade that sent two draft picks, Celia and Leah Pruitt to Florida.
The Reign are on the road this weekend, facing the Chicago Red Stars at SeatGeek Stadium in Bridgeview, IL. Kickoff is scheduled for Saturday March 23 at 1 PM PT, and can be watched on the NWSL+ streaming platform.
