Reign International Recap: Records and Ramifications

Eight Seattle Reign players were called up to represent four countries throughout the recent international window.

She reigns alone 

The Welsh trio of Jess Fishlock, Angharad James-Turner, and Lily Woodham put together a strong finish to their UEFA Women’s EURO Qualifiers group stage, clinching a seeded spot in the playoff rounds. They beat Croatia 3-0 in Karlovac on July 12th, when Fishlock scored her 44th international goal with a banger off the crossbar, equalling Helen Ward’s Cymru scoring record.

All three Reign players started Wales’ final group-stage match against Kosovo at home in Llanelli on July 16th. Fishlock became the sole goalscoring leader in the 8th minute, slotting in a pass from Carrie Jones.

She almost scored again in the second half, but instead earned the assist off the rebound as Wales finished the match 2-0. After celebrating the win, Fishlock reflected on the moment the record became hers:

“I kind of realized what I’d done…It was just happiness, I think, just wow. I can’t believe I’ve done this.” 

Wales won their group and will play a two-leg playoff against Slovakia in October. If they advance, they will face the winner of Georgia vs. Ireland. By topping the group, Cymru has secured a place in League A for the 2025 UEFA Women’s Nations League campaign after falling to League B in 2024. 

Also in Euros Qualifying: Seattle’s newest signing 

Veteran forward Ana-Maria Crnogorčević, who signed with the Reign earlier this week, has been all over the stats sheet for Switzerland during their Euros Qualifying campaign. Most recently, Crnogorčević tallied a goal and an assist in a 2-0 win over Türkiye on July 12th. 

She scored again four days later in the 88th minute of a 3-0 victory over Azerbaijan. Switzerland cruised through group B1 with five wins and one loss. They are granted an automatic bid to the tournament as the host country, so these qualifying matches were mostly practice for them.

U-20s attend final World Cup training camp

The U.S. Under-20 Women’s Youth National Team played Mexico in a pair of friendlies in preparation for the 2024 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup this fall. Emeri Adames and Reign newcomer Jordyn Bugg both saw significant minutes in the first match, which ended in a 1-1 draw. The U.S. came back to win the second game, 3-0. Adames subbed into that match with less than a minute left in stoppage time.

Canada’s turbulent Olympic run ends in quarterfinals

Canada played two closed-door friendlies in Spain prior to the Olympics, beating Australia and Nigeria. Reign forward Jordyn Huitema scored the lone goal in their 1-0 victory over the latter. Chaos ensued immediately upon arriving in France when Canadian coaching staff member Joseph Lombardi was found to be spying on a New Zealand practice session with a drone. The Canadian team had a 6-point penalty imposed going into the group stage, but they rallied to win all three group games to advance to the knockouts. Huitema and Reign teammate Quinn played in every match, but their hopes of repeating as Olympic champions were dashed by Germany in the quarterfinals. The teams battled to 0-0 through the end of extra time. Quinn started the shootout strong, taking and burying Canada’s first penalty, but Germany prevailed, 4-2.