Utah Royals 3-0 over Reign FC in Seattle

Seattle Reign FC 0
Utah Royals 3
April 26, 2026
Lumen Field – Seattle, WA
NWSL Regular Season

Reign FC finally got to play a home match in Seattle in 2026 on Sunday evening at Lumen Field. Utah Royals FC made the trek up to Cascadia for the first match between the two sides on the season.

Seattle Reign FC vs Utah Royals FC

This was the first match for both sides after the first five match slate and the international break. The host Reign FC sit third in the table with ten of fifteen points. Seattle managed to pull points on the road and from their temporary Spokane home. The first true home match being on April 26 was the latest home opener for any side in the league.

Utah came in with seven points on a 2-2-1 record and even goals for and against. The Royals sat just below the playoff line entering the match with a chance to rise above.

Earlier in the week it was announced that Reign OG Jessica Fishlock would be retiring upon completion of the 2026 season. Seattle supporters gave her a loud ovation.

Paul Kahl Photos

Seattle Reign FC vs Utah Royals FC

The opening minute would find Utah with an immediate and surprising lead. Some errant play in the Reign defense led to a quick change of possession. A little chip by Paige Cronin over Reign keeper Claudia Dickey from inside the box to the far post got the match off to a jolt of a start.

The Royals kept their foot on the gas in the opening minutes and got their second in the seventh minute. Narumi Miura’s shot from top of the box took a little deflection and beat Dickey to give Utah a shocking two goal lead.

The early margin would cause both sides to alter their approach to the match. Seattle needed to settle in and get a goal back to change the momentum. Utah would need to avoid becoming lackluster and letting down. As the first half progressed Reign FC would get some chances and counters, but the Royals showed no real signs of hunkering down.

Cloe Lacasse would grab a third for Utah in first half stoppage time. A nice through ball caught her in stride and she took a left footed drive to make Seattle’s mountain even harder to climb.

Seattle Reign FC vs Utah Royals FC

Time was very much the ally of Utah coming out of the interval. Neither coach made any changes at the break. Seattle would create a few chances, striking the crossbar more than once, but Utah was not breaking.

Jessica Fishlock was stretchered off in the 65th minute with what appeared to be a left ankle injury. An air cast had been applied on the pitch.

Until the 90th minute and stoppage time to kill of the match, Utah never really altered their game plan. There was no hanging back, they kept playing. Seattle just was never able to get in sync long enough to do much more than grab a few momentary chances here and there.

Three nil to Utah was not how Seattle wanted to open their home slate in 2026. The Fishlock injury added a dark cloud to the match.

It is a great result for Utah. The three points put them firmly in the playoff picture, even so early in the season.

Seattle Reign FC vs Utah Royals FC

Sunday evening’s match also marked Seattle coach Laura Harvey’s 250th match with the club over her two spells on the water cooler.

BOX

Seattle Reign FC 0 – Utah Royals FC 3
Sunday, April 26, 2026

SCORING SUMMARY

UTA – Paige Cronin (Mina Tinaka) 1’
UTA – Narumi Miura (Kaleigh Riehl) 7’
UTA – Cloé Lacasse (Ana Tejada) 45+1’

MISCONDUCT SUMMARY

UTA – Ana Tejada (caution) 13’
UTA – Janni Thomsen (caution) 70’
SEA – Sam Meza (caution) 80’

LINEUPS & STATS

Seattle Reign FC – Claudia Dickey; Sofia Huerta (Ryanne Brown 78’), Emily Mason, Phoebe McClernon, Madison Curry; Jess Fishlock © (Emeri Adames 68’), Sally Menti (Angharad James-Turner 78’), Sam Meza; Maddie Mercado, Brittany Ratcliffe (Maddie Dahlien 55’), Nerilia Mondeir (Mia Fishel 78’)
Substitutes not used: Cassie Miller, Holly Ward, Ainsley McCammon, Shae Holmes

Total shots: 9
Shots on goal: 4
Fouls: 12
Offside: 2
Corner-kicks: 5
Saves: 2

Utah Royals FC – Mia Justus (Mandy McGlynn 82’); Janni Thomsen, Kate Del Fava, Nuria Rábano (Aria Nagai 79’), Ana Tejada (Miyabi Moriya 78’), Kaleigh Riehl; Narumi Mura; Paige Cronin © (Alexa Spaanstra 60’), Mina Tanaka, Kiana Palacios, Cloé Lacasse
Substitutes not used: Tatumn Milazzo, Kameron Simmonds, Brecken Mozingo, Dayana Pierre Louis, Courtney Brown

Total shots: 14
Shots on goal: 5
Fouls: 13
Offside: 1
Corner-kicks: 6
Saves: 4

Venue: Lumen Field
Referee: Matt Thompson
Assistants: Seth Martin, Kristin Patterson
Fourth Official: Justin St. Pierre
VAR: Brad Jensen
Attendance: 8,211
Weather: 65 degrees and sunny