Defender Sofia Huerta loaned to Olympique Lyonnais

The NWSL transfer window may have closed on August 30, but leagues around the world are still doing business and the former parent club of the Reign just made a move for one Seattle Reign's starters.

Sofia Huerta is joining Olympique Lyonnais for their 2024-25 season, the Reign announced Thursday afternoon. The club said that an undisclosed fee was included for the loan, which General Manager Lesle Gallimore says will help the club make signings in the winter transfer window.

Let's get the obvious out of the way: the timing of this move absolutely stinks. There's no sugarcoating this. The Reign are on a three-match winning streak, with a once seemingly impossible spot in the NWSL playoffs now increasingly in reach. Huerta was one of the reasons for the Reign's resurgence, regaining her form and stepping up in clutch moments like taking and converting penalties.

Playing for Lyon at some point though wasn't a surprise as Huerta had an extended training stint there in 2020 when there was no NWSL season, along with then-Reign teammates Bethany Balcer and Celia Jiménez Delgado. All three spoke highly of their experience around the club, and obviously the opportunity to play in the UEFA Women's Champions League is going to be attractive to anyone.

“We are supportive of Sofia’s decision; it has been something we have spoken about at length throughout the summer. We as a club are focusing on our push for the playoffs. As I’ve said before, our locker room has a really good vibe right now and the collective group is eager to get back on the field to continue our push for results,” Seattle Reign FC head coach Laura Harvey said in the club's press release. While Huerta has abruptly left the Reign for the time being, she signed a new contract in April that runs through the 2027 season.

“Reign FC is a club that takes pride in doing what’s right for its players. In the case of Sofia Huerta's loan to Olympique Lyonnais, this was an opportunity that arose earlier this summer, and Sofia expressed interest in exploring it for both personal and professional reasons,” said Gallimore.

Huerta played in every single minute of every single Reign regular-season match this season, collecting two goals, 77 duels won, 52 clearances, 27 interceptions and 15 tackles won, and contributing to four clean sheets.

“I’m so grateful for the Reign, the coaching staff and my teammates for supporting me in this personal decision to pursue an opportunity to compete overseas. I have so much confidence in this group to continue working towards the goals we set at the start of the season and can’t wait to cheer on the team down the stretch,” said Huerta.

Huerta's loan puts the Reign at the compliant 26-player limit. Hanna Glas, who recently joined the Reign after a trade with Kansas City Current, has primarily played at right back and is likely to see minutes in Huerta's absence.

Seattle Reign's next match is on Monday September 16, hosting the reigning NWSL Champions Gotham FC. Kickoff is scheduled for 7 PM PT and will be broadcast on CBS Sports Network.