Posts about NFL
You can check out the the original post with links to all other write ups for this year here.
BACKGROUND
Head Coach: Laura Harvey
Harvey's been coaching at top professional level since 2002 when she joined Birmingham City as an assistant and would become head coach four years later in 2006. She also joined the coaching staff of England's Girls YNT (U17, U19, U23) as an assistant from 2005-2011. Her last stint in England was with Arsenal where she was assistant 2008-2010 and head coach 2010-2012. With Arsenal, she won: x1 FA Women's Premier League 2009–10, x2 FA Women's Super League: 2011, 2012, x2 FA Women's League Cup: 2011, 2012, and x1 Women's FA Cup: 2011.
She moved across the pond in 2013 as head coach of Seattle Reign FC where she won two shields, made two championship finals, and won two NWSL Coach of the Year awards. She left Seattle in 2017, made a quick stop as an interim for USWNT U20s, and then landed at Utah Royals from 2018-2019. From 2020-2022 she was in the US system for the U20s and USWNT. In 2021, she was hired by her former team, but under the new name of OL Reign, after the firing of Farid Benstiti.
Harvey has yet to win the NWSL Championship and is certainly set up with her current team to make a strong run for it this season.
General Manager:
Currently vacant, if you're looking for a new job.
Captain: Lauren Barnes
As one of the most decorated players in NWSL history, Barnes is a the two-time NWSL Best XI First Team (2015-2016) and two-time NWSL Best XI Second Team (2014, 2019) selection, leads the league in appearances (189), starts (185), and minutes played (16,369) – nearly 1,000 more minutes than the second-most player – becoming the first player in NWSL history to reach the milestone of 15,000 minutes played. Barnes is wearing the armband for the 7th season. She has spent time on loan in both Australia (Melbourne Victory + Melbourne City) and Sweden (Kristianstads DFF).
Stadium: Lumen Field
After stints at Stafire Sports, Memorial Stadium, Cheney Stadium, OL Reign is now full time at Lumen Field which they share with the Seattle Seahawks (NFL), Seattle Sounders FC (MLS), and Seattle Sea Dragons (XFL).
Ownership: OL Groupe
In January of 2020, Reign FC was purchased by OL Groupe, the parent company of Olympique Lyonnais owned by Jean-Michel Aulas. OL Groupe bought an 89.5% stake in the new operating entity, while former Reign FC majority owners Teresa Predmore and Bill Predmore took a 7.5% stake in the club, and Tony Parker, former NBA champion, held a 3% stake. The team was then renamed to OL Reign before the 2020 season, after only one year with the name Reign FC (and a kickass crest).
Mascot: N/A
No mascot for OL Reign other than the lion in their logo.
Kits: We’ve Got Some Mixed Opinions
Based on overall fan reception, I'd say both kits are above average compared to the rest of the league. Black Future Co-op Fund continues as front of shirt sponsor.
Purpose (Home) - Dual blue geometric print kits with red trim debuted in March 2023 with the caption "Wear it to play. Wear it with pride. Wear it with Purpose" and a dope video.
Honor (Away) - "The Honor kit was designed to honor a decade of Reign excellence and world-class soccer, along with the players who have helped to develop OL Reign into the club it is over the last ten years. The body of the kit is solid white, with a red and blue stripe down the front of the kit that features the names of Reign players who have represented the team since its inaugural season in 2013." watch the cool video.
Inspired? Buy one!
Supporters Groups: Royal Guard
Straight from them: "We are a volunteer-run nonprofit whose purpose is to provide a safe, welcoming environment for all fans of OL Reign—creating and displaying tifo and flags, cheering and singing during matches, and watch parties for away matches. The Royal Guard is committed to improving the visibility and standing of women's sports in the Seattle-Tacoma area and beyond."
Read all about their history, rituals, and how to get involved here.
Subreddit: r/Reignfc
Relatively active community posting the latest big news items around the staff and player. What are you waiting for—go join!
Key Twitter Follows for Team News + Insights:
Bella Munson - works for the Equalizer, but has a focus on OL Reign
Circling Seattle Sports "most complete coverage of all 9 professional sports in Seattle"
Laura Harvey- she's pretty funny most of the time
Nikita (kryptobana)
Meg Linehan - you gotta.
The Cooligans — just wanted to plug their latest episode with Bethany Balcer!
Black Future Co-op Fund - just give them a follow
Rough & Tumble Pub - Seattle's first-ever home to women's sports
SCHEDULE
2023 Season Opener: Sunday, March 26th, Washington Spirit @ Audi Field
2023 Home Opener: Saturday, April 15th, San Diego Wave FC @ Lumen Field
HISTORY
NWSL Championship Runner-Ups: 2014, 2015
NWSL Supporters’ Shield: 2014, 2015, 2022
The Women's Cup: 2021
2022 Season Review
Always the Bridesmaids, Never the Bride
The Reign were a bit of a surprise Shield winner last year. Not that the team wasn't great and certainly deserved it, but a surprise tie between Gotham and Portland on the last day of the regular season pushed OL to the top of the league to win their third Supporter's Shield. But similar to 2014 and 2015, they couldn't replicate their regular season success in the playoffs. They lost to Kansas City in the semi-finals 2-0 with one of the team's worst overall performances of the year.
Overall, the team lacked consistency in the final third finishing the season with an xG 6-7 goals higher than total goals. If Harvey et al. want to finally put their hands on that Championship trophy, they'll need to put teams away early instead of letting them hang on for ties and late losses.
OFFSEASON
Players Out
Sinclaire Miramontez, DF - Waived after 2022 and retired in the offseason.
Jodi Ülkekul, FW - Signed initially in 2022 as an NRI before a full signing in August for the remainder of the season. She was waived after 2022.
Tobin Heath FW - Your guess is as good as mine. Not with OL Reign or seemingly any team in the league? Current Free Agent.
Players In
Transfer:
Luany, MF - Transferred from Brazilian club Grêmio for an undisclosed fee
Drafted: No 2023 draftees signed a contract for the upcoming season. Harvey is very outspoken about her dislike for the draft system and historically does not rely on it.
Traded:
Elyse Bennett, FW - Acquired from KCC, along with the No. 23 pick in the 2023 NWSL Draft, in exchange for $150,000 in allocation money
Emily Sonnett, DF - Acquired from Washington Spirit in exchange for the No. 32 pick in the 2023 NWSL Draft and the natural first-round pick in the 2024 NWSL Draft
ROSTER
OL Reign has announced its 26-player roster ahead of the 2023 season
Goalkeepers (3): Claudia Dickey, Laurel Ivory, Phallon Tullis-Joyce
Defenders (9): Lu Barnes, Ryanne Brown, Alana Cook, Sam Hiatt, Sofia Huerta, Jimena López (INT), Alyssa Malonson, Phoebe McClernon, Emily Sonnett
Midfielders (9): Angelina (SEI), Olivia Athens, Marley Canales, Jess Fishlock, Rose Lavelle, Luany (INT/NYR), Quinn, Nikki Stanton, Olivia Van der Jagt
Forwards (6): Bethany Balcer, Elyse Bennett, Jordyn Huitema (INT), Tziarra King, Veronica Latsko, Megan Rapinoe
INT – International Slot | NYR – Player has not yet reported | SEI - Season-ending injury list
Predicted Preferred Gameday XI
Formation: No doubt OL will setup in their usual 4-3-3 this season with little updates from last year across all three lines. If Rapinoe is fit and ready to go, you have to assume she is getting the start over King, especially with the World Cup just around the corner. The only question mark for this Starting XI is around the addition of Sonnett. Harvey's been using her in the 6 during pre-season games, but if Quinn is fit and healthy, it is unclear if Sonnett remains as the DCM or bumps Hiatt off that backline.
-------------------Tullis-Joyce-------------------
-Huerta----Cook----Hiatt----Barnes-
----Lavelle----Sonnett/Quinn----Fishlock----
----Balcer----Huitema----Rapinoe----
Likely Top Bench/Subs:
Tziarra King
Jimena Lopez
Quinn/Hiatt (whoever Sonnett displaces)
Olivia Van der Jagt
Elyse Bennett
Veronica Latsko
Luany
Returning Players (Almost Everyone):
The Reign returned 24 players from last year. The only new players are Bennett, Sonnett, and Luany.
The Vets
Barnes, Fishlock, and Rapinoe are the clear veteran leaders on the team. All three have been in the league for a decade and spent their NWSL careers with the Reign.
Something to Prove
Emily Sonnett: After being out last year a bit due to injury and with a World Cup roster selection imminent, Sonnett will need to prove herself on a stacked roster to showcase why she not only deserves to be in Laura Harvey's first eleven, but also in the 23 for Vlatko in Australia
Tziarra King: A bit quiet since her showing as rookie for Utah Royals, King is still looking for her breakout season and will have a big opportunity to prove herself during the World Cup window when she will certainly be in the starting lineup.
Jimena Lopez: Similar to King, Lopez is most likely to fill the gaps left by World Cup players and will have a chance to show what she can do in a position she is clearly being groomed for at LB.
Alana Cook: Not for her spot at OL, but for a spot for USWNT. With Davidson seemingly back in the mix and the team historically taking 3 natural center backs, Cook needs to be too good to be left out.
Out for the season
Angelina is on month 8 of her ACL recovery and is expected to be back at some point this season. Otherwise, we love a healthy team!
2023 PREVIEW
Realistic Best Case Scenario: 1st Place
They have the players to win every game if they are playing at their best. They are a proven team with tons of chemistry and almost no roster turnover from last year. Players should be familiar with one another and anticipate passes and runs. The additions of Sonnett and Bennett make their roster stronger and a midfield of Fishlock and Lavelle must be so frustrating for every other team. Add in a great manager like Harvey and it is very, very easy to see how OL Reign could defend the Shield.
Realistic Worst Case Scenario: 4th place
There could be slip ups throughout the season, especially with the parity we've seen over the years. Losing a few games to KCC, Portland, and San Diego wouldn't be a shock, but it's hard to imagine OL Reign dropped games to teams like Chicago and North Carolina this year. But even if it happens, they'll pick up points with wins over top teams. It will be very surprising if they fall out of the top 4 this year.
