Seattle Reign returns to NWSL regular-season play on Sunday, August 25, when they host the North Carolina Courage at Lumen Field. The match kicks off at 7 PM PT and will air on ESPN2 and stream on ESPN+.
In addition to being a must-win game as the team tries to inch closer to a playoff position at home, the Reign will honor club legend Megan Rapinoe with a jersey retirement ceremony before kickoff. The celebration will start at 6:28 p.m. PT for fans in the stadium, while viewers at home can watch on ESPN at 6:45 p.m.
Susie Rantz
After a long break in regular season play, both teams enter the match on a four-game regular-season unbeaten streak. The Reign have played to four straight draws, while North Carolina won their last three matches.
Despite a very rough start to the season, the Reign still have a chance to make a playoff push—with eight teams making it into the playoffs this year. As head coach Laura Harvey said in a pre-match press conference, the team is hoping they are one of the clubs that make a late push.
"There's always shocks in this league. Someone's going to go on a run, someone might go on a run they don't want to get on. And we are hoping that we can go on a run that can really give ourselves the chance to really push to get into the playoffs."
Head-to-Head
This is the second matchup between the two teams in 2024.
- In April, the Reign put in one of their best performances on the road against the Courage, the best team in the league at home, but still fell 1-0.
- The Reign have struggled historically against the Courage. They have a 3-3-11 record against the visiting side.
- However, the Reign's home record against North Carolina is stronger at 2-2-3.
Quick Stats
- NC Courage (8-7-1, 25 points) sits in 6th place and have scored 20 goals and conceded 17.
- Seattle Reign (2-5-4, 11 points) sits in 13th and has scored 16 goals and conceded 28.
- The Reign are 2-2-4 at home (8 goals for, 8 goals against).
- Like the Reign, North Carolina has struggled mightily on the road. The Courage are 1-7-0 in road matches (4 goals for, 14 goals against).
What to Watch
North Carolina dominates possession
Under head coach Sean Nahas, it has become a North Carolina trademark to lead the league in passes and possession. They average 57% possession and have completed nearly 1,100 passes more than Bay FC in second. Unsurprisingly, per Opta, the Courage also lead the league in 10+ pass sequences and build-up attacks.
The Courage don't move the ball slowly and methodically to maintain these statistics. They pass quickly, usually taking no more than two touches before their next action—whether that's making another pass or dribbling into space. Their quick passing and movement are very intentional, as the Courage try to create space to strike when they pull defenses out of position.
One way they accomplish this is by combining with their wings and then crossing into the box. The Courage are second in the league behind the Current in completed crosses into the box. Look at this goal they scored against Racing Louisville in their last regular-season match. They move the ball in and out quickly and then score on the cross into the box.
This is the definition of a team goal 🤝 pic.twitter.com/CX4bODOe7w
— National Women’s Soccer League (@NWSL) July 7, 2024
"I think their philosophy of how they like to play means that we have to be collectively ready to defend as a team to try and stop their threats," head coach Laura Harvey said before the Reign's match in April against the Courage. "They move the ball really well and play a brilliant style of football, in my opinion."
The Reign are fortunate that the Courage will be without reigning league MVP Kerolin, who represented Brazil in the Olympics but is out with an excused absence this weekend.
North Carolina's No. 9 plays more withdrawn
The Courage like to play their center forward in a withdrawn position to combine with teammates. At the same time, their attacking midfielder steps up, so the two players are essentially playing dual No. 10s together. As a result, despite having the most touches in the league, the Courage are sixth in touches in the penalty box.
The Courage aren't putting many numbers into the box, but instead combining slightly deeper. If an opposing team's centerbacks don't step up to mark these runs, the Courage can combine around teams.
These two players also press together in the middle of the field, making the Courage dangerous in transition.
While the Courage aren't necessarily a high-pressing team, they do close down quickly and apply pressure in all areas of the field—trying to win the ball back as fast as possible. The Reign will need to be tidy on the ball.
Welcoming Seattle's new players
A common word used by Harvey this year is "quality." The team hasn't shown quality in key offensive and defensive moments. As a result, they have scored just 16 goals in their first 16 games and given up a shocking 28 goals—a significant number for a team known for its stingy defense. Most of the goals the team has given up this year have come from their own mistakes.
During this summer transfer window, the Reign made several moves to address this. They welcomed Nerilia Mondesir to the team to bring a lot more speed on the wings and service into the box. Ana-Maria Crnogorčević is expected to bring more quality up top with her movement and experience. Just this week, the Reign traded for Jaelin Howell to provide more bite and cover in the midfield.
While not every new player will start on Sunday, we will likely see them appear in the match. Can they bring the quality that the Reign have needed? And will it result in more goals—something that has plagued the team this year?
Injury / Availability Report
Seattle Reign
OUT: Ryanne Brown (SEI – knee), Olivia Van der Jagt (excused absence)
QUESTIONABLE: Lauren Barnes (leg)
North Carolina Courage
OUT: Kerolin Nicoli (excused absence), Sydney Collins (D45 - ankle), Estelle Johnson (maternity leave)
QUESTIONABLE: Maycee Bell (leg), Bianca St-Georges (leg)
How to Watch
Seattle Reign hosts the North Carolina Courage at 7 PM PT on Sunday, August 25. The match will air on ESPN2 and stream on ESPN+. Megan Rapinoe's jersey retirement ceremony will air on ESPN at 6:45 PM PT.
