Reign FC 1-0 over Chicago Stars FC in Seattle Friday night

Seattle Reign FC 1
Chicago Stars FC 0
August 14, 2026
Lumen Field – Seattle, WA
NWSL Regular Season

Chicago Stars FC made their annual trek to Seattle to face off with Reign FC in a Friday night match up.

The Seattle offense has come to life in recent matches. A hard fought draw at home on Sunday against Angel City still showed good signs of an offensive resurgence.

The Stars have struggled on the road, but the NWSL does not forgive a team that takes another side lightly.

Paul Kahl Photos

The crowd was treated to a fairly wide open first half hour. Seattle came out on the front foot, enjoyed much of the possession, and set up a number of dangerous situations.

Chicago successfully absorbed most of the Reign attack, but a number of saves and deflections kept the hosts off the scoreboard early. The Stars would also create a number of interesting opportunities on Reign keeper Claudia Dickey, mostly when they were able to get the ball to Mallory Swanson in the attacking third. Swanson sliced through to put the Seattle defense on their heels a number of times, including a dangerous ball into the side netting in the 26th minute.

The goalless first half would draw to a close with Seattle not getting a VAR awarded penalty. The sides would go into the interval level.

It would not take long for the Reign to break open the scoring coming out of the half. Maddie Mercado would nab her team leading sixth goal of the season in the 53rd minute. A number of early chances in the half had not broke through; but a long run down the left side and a low driving cross would eventually get the ball to Mercado’s left foot and the back of the net.

The Chicago defense managed to hold off a steady series of attacks from Reign FC as the match wore on. The single goal margin meant the dangerous counter could equalize and nab a point.

Seattle kept their foot on the gas, looking for the elusive second goal to give their defense some breathing space, but time and again it was thwarted.

The single goal would stand up in the end. Three massive points for a Reign squad fighting to get above the playoff line. For Chicago, it was a tough loss in a tough season, but they played hard and made Seattle earn it.

BOX

SCORING SUMMARY

SEA – Maddie Mercado 53’

MISCONDUCT SUMMARY

None

LINEUPS & STATS

Seattle Reign FC – Claudia Dickey; Sofia Huerta ©, Phoebe McClernon, Jordyn Bugg, Madison Curry (Ryanne Brown 83’); Angharad James-Turner, Ainsley McCammon, Sally Menti (Emeri Adames 83’); Maddie Mercado (Brittany Ratcliffe 90+2’), Maddie Dahlien (Holly Ward 70’), Mia Fishel (Nerilia Mondesir 70’) Substitutes not used: Evan O’Steen, Cassie Miller, Shae Holmes, Ruby Hladek

Total shots: 24
Shots on goal: 6
Fouls: 4
Offside: 0
Corner-kicks: 13
Saves: 2

Chicago Stars FC – Katie Atkinson; Sam Staab, Taylor Wood, Leila Ouahabi, Maitane; Manaka Hayashi, Anna Gasper (Bea Franklin 46’), Tess Dellarose; Jameese Joseph (Jenna Bike 74’), Mallory Swanson (Nádia Gomes 46’), Brianna Pinto (Micayla Johnson
74’) Substitutes not used: Alyssa Naeher, Halle Mackiewicz, Elise Evans

Total shots: 5
Shots on goal: 2
Fouls: 5
Offside: 0
Corner-kicks: 3
Saves: 5

Referee: Marie Durr
Assistants: Peter Hanson, Clarence Clark
Fourth Official: Christopher Calderon
VAR: Shawn Tehini
Attendance: 7,646
Weather: 75 degrees and sunny