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There is no sugarcoating that the results and record for 2024 was a shock and disappointment for the Seattle Reign FC.
Coming off of successive seasons in 2022 where they won the NWSL Shield and in 2023 where they played in the final, the 13th of 14 place in the table and 6-15-5 record was unexpected.
Yes, Megan Rapinoe retired at the end of 2023 and those are huge shoes to fill. Then, at the the beginning of the offseason they lost Rose Lavelle and Emily Sonnett to free agency. Those were two huge blows. All of this coincided with what was a slower than expected sale of the club. Still, the Reign roster looked like it had the talent to at least make a playoff appearance possible.
There are many reasons for the drop off that are obvious like the USWNT players leaving and retiring. The 2024 roster was simply unable to stay healthy and the same for any length of time. Every match had a change to the starting XI. The starting keeper Claudia Dickey missed a stretch. Goals simply didn’t come in matches where they seemed to be in control. The wheels would simply fall off and suddenly they were down a goal. It was frustrating to all involved. The NWSL is simply too competitive top to bottom and the margins are much smaller than in other leagues around the world.
At one point in 2024 it looked like they had actually righted the ship; four draws going into the Olympic break and some wins after had them on the cusp of the playoff line going into September, only two points off the pace of the final spot. September was then a disaster result wise. A stretch of several games without a goal took them right out of the playoff race, when a goal or two could have changed the course of the season. Goals change games. A lack of goals eventually spiked the season.
There are also reasons to think that this was an outlier season. The new players and young players that did get minutes showed that the roster is actually fairly deep. A significant portion of the roster is under contract.
Veterans like Jess Fishlock and Lu Barnes are still around. In fact, it took all of five days after the final match in Orlando and with the NWSL playoffs not actually having kicked off for the Reign to announce an extension for Jess Fishlock and that plans are already in the works for 2025. GM Lesle Gallimore and head coach Laura Harvey were adamant that they believe in their process and that the moves made in the second half of the season will pay off.
They need goals. The attacking parts of the roster showed stretches and scored some solid goals, but simply not enough of them when they were needed. The club already has Jordyn Huitema under contract, traded away Bethany Balcer, and brought in Ana-Maria Crnogorčević and Nérilia Mondésir. Young players like Emeri Adames and Jordyn Bugg have high ceilings and were already regular contributors by the end of 2024.
Seattle Reign FC vs Houston Dash
Once the ownership situation became clear, it was already midseason. The activity during the mid year transfer window is an indication of how important getting that sorted out was. Seattle has a real crop of young talent and a roster with good veterans. Harvey was optimistic of what this offseason will bring, with mention being given to how the team approached and played out the final match in Orlando.
Seattle has spent more time near the top of the league than the bottom in its existence. When it dropped off in the past it has bounced back up pretty quickly. 2024 was disappointing, but it already appears to be in the rear view mirror.
