Reign FC 2-1 over North Carolina Sunday evening

Seattle Reign FC 2
North Carolina Courage 1
September 28, 2025
Lumen Field – Seattle, WA
NWSL Regular Season

NWSL table and playoff position was on the line in Seattle on Sunday evening when Reign FC hosted North Carolina Courage. The logjam of teams separated by only a few points in spots three through ten makes every point even more essential.

Three points could jump either club up the table into potential home pitch playoff matches. Dropping points could place either of them in danger of falling out of the top eight.

Paul Kahl Photos

Nate Koppelman Photos

The Courage came out firing. Just six minutes in the Reign defense was on its heels, saved by a Claudia Dickey deflection to the crossbar. Moments later the Courage broke through the left side and were only stopped by a scramble of legs blocking the way.

Despite the pressure, North Carolina did not manage to break through in the early stages.

Seattle managed to get more chances the other way for a while, forcing the Courage to bring back numbers on defense. North Carolina was able to weather the pressure and return to their press. The Courage seemed to be focusing down their left flank and created most of their dangerous chances from the approach.

The Reign defense was managing to keep the Courage out of the net, but were defending in big numbers to do it, reducing their countering opportunities as the half progressed.

The match would go into the break goalless. The Courage could not break through and Seattle had to be relieved that they had weathered a first half storm. The Reign just were not able to sustain pressure at the other end, only managing a few chances amidst several mad scrambles in front of their own goal.

Maddie Dahlien looked to open the scoring in the opening moments of the second half, but VAR overruled her as offside.

Not long after, the Seattle bench would get the referee attention of a yellow card to coach Laura Harvey.

Hannah Betfort would get a header past Dickey in the 58th minute; finally opening the scoring and giving the Courage the lead.

Seattle would find the equalizer. Jordyn Huitema would get a foot on a low cross at the far post from Emeri Adames in the 71st minute. The Reign had seemed to find a bit of their swagger again.

Dahlien would get her goal in the 80th minute. Taking a similar run to what had been called back, she drilled a low far post short to give the hosts a bit of an improbable lead.

Seattle would see out the match, grabbing the 2-1 lead and three massive points. The Reign now control their fate for a home playoff match with four to go.

A difficult loss for a very good North Carolina side. They still have time to finish the climb up into the top eight, but dropping points on this night was especially harsh.

Box Score

NCC (4-2-3-1): Marisa Jordan; Dani Weatherholt (Natalie Jacobs – 89′), Kaleigh Kurtz ©, Maycee Bell, Ryan Williams (Meredith Speck – 89′); Shinomi Koyama (Heather MacNab – 90′ + 1′), Riley Jackson; Tyler Lussi, Manaka Matsukubo (Talia Staude – 73′), Payton Linnehan; Hannah Betfort (Aline Gomes – 73′)
Subs Not Used: Casey Murphy, Katie Cappelletti, Cortnee Vine, Oli Peña

SEA (4-1-4-1): Claudia Dickey; Sofia Huerta, Phoebe McClernon, Jordyn Bugg, Madison Curry; Samantha Meza; Maddie Dahlien (Ana-Maria Crnogorcevic – 84), Sally Menti (Lauren Barnes – 90′), Jess Fishlock © (Ainsley McCammon – 66′), Nérilia Mondésir (Emeri Adames – 66′); Jordyn Huitema
Subs Not Used: Angharad James-Turner, Emily Mason, Mia Fishel, Shae Holmes, Maddie Prohaska

Goals:
NCC: H. Betfort – 57′ (R. Williams)
SEA: R. Williams – 71′ (OG), M. Dahlien – 80′ (S. Menti)

Cautions:
NCC: –
SEA: S. Menti – 20′, L. Harvey (HC) – 53′, L. Barnes – 90’+ 9′