Reign FC 1-0 over San Diego on Sunday evening

Seattle Reign FC 1
San Diego Wave FC 0
September 6, 2026
Lumen Field – Seattle, WA
NWSL Regular Season

The calendar turning to September means the NWSL run in has begun. Playoff positioning was on the line Sunday evening in Seattle as Reign FC hosted San Diego Wave FC at Lumen Field.

Seattle needed points to get back up above the playoff line. San Diego had the opportunity to move into home hosting playoff position.

Paul Kahl Photos

The visitors came out of the gate matching Seattle on the front foot. Wave FC looked to have the best of the play the first ten or so minutes.

However, Mimi Van Zanten was sent off after a VAR review of a foul on Maddie Dahlien and the complexion of the game changed very early.

It would take a while and banging on the door with a number of shots, but Seattle would finally break through in the 29th minute on a header from Maddie Mercado. Dahlien managed a cross from near the goal line and the far post runner Mercado headed it inside the near post.

For Mercado, it was her team leading eighth goal of the season.

With a goal and a player down San Diego could not sit back and did not. As the half progressed, they would push forward and create a number of dangerous chances.

The single goal would be the margin at the interval.

San Diego would continue to press throughout the early stages of the second half. Seattle played patient with the goal lead and player advantage.

The Wave created a number of dangerous chances, but as the match progressed, they simply did not get past Reign keeper Claudia Dickey. Dickey would come off in the 85th as a concussion sub and Cassie Miller would see out the match in goal.

The single goal would hold up. The three points for Seattle pushed them back up into the 8th spot in the table. San Diego would remain in the fifth spot with the result.

BOX

SCORING SUMMARY

SEA – Maddie Mercado (Maddie Dahlien) 29’

MISCONDUCT SUMMARY

SD – Mimi Van Zanten (ejection) 13’
SEA – Jordyn Bugg (caution) 59’
SD – Jonas Eidevall (caution) 82’
SEA – Phoebe McClernon (caution) 90+1’

LINEUPS & STATS

Seattle Reign FC – Claudia Dickey (Cassie Miller 85’); Sofia Huerta ©, Phoebe McClernon, Ryanne Brown (Madison Curry 86’), Jordyn Bugg; Angharad James-Turner, Sally Menti (Jess Fishlock 64’), Sam Meza; Maddie Mercado (Brittany Ratcliffe 90+6’), Maddie Dahlien (Nerilia Mondesir 86’), Mia Fishel (Holly Ward 64’) – Substitutes not used: Emily Mason, Shae Holmes, Ruby Hladek

Total shots: 9
Shots on goal: 4
Fouls: 17
Offside: 1
Corner-kicks: 2
Saves: 6

San Diego Wave FC – Sandra Paños; Kennedy Wesley, Kristen McNabb (Tatum Wynalda 90+6’), Mimi Van Zanten, Perle Morroni; Melanie Barcenas (Brooklyn Courtnall 14’), Kimmi Ascanio (Laila Harbert 71’), Kenza Dali ©, Lia Godfrey (Gia Corley 46’); Trinity Byars (Adriana Leon 89’), Ludmila – Substitutes not used: Didi Haracic, Laurina Frazer, Nya Harrison, Gabi Portilho

Total shots: 13
Shots on goal: 6
Fouls: 7
Offside: 1
Corner-kicks:4
Saves: 3

Referee: Abdou Ndiaye
Assistants: Eric Krueger, Laura Chambers Waliski
Fourth Official: Dion Coxe-Trieger
VAR: Jamie Padilla
Attendance: 9,104
Weather: 70 degrees and sunny