Match Forecast: Reign FC Takes on Houston in Final Home Match of the Season
Tonight at 7:00 p.m., the Reign take on the Houston Dash in the last home match of the 2024 season, as the club's annual Fan Appreciation Match, presented by BECU.
WHEN AND WHERE: Seattle Reign FC kickoff is at 7:00 p.m. PT at Lumen Field in Seattle, Washington.
WHERE TO WATCH: Fans can tune in to Prime Video to watch the match or get tickets to attend in person HERE.
2024 NWSL REGULAR SEASON RECORDS AND STANDINGS (W-L-D): Seattle Reign FC: 5-14-5 (20 points, 13th place), Houston Dash: 5-14-5 (20 points, 14th place)
Key Points Ahead of the Match:
1. LAST MEETING – The two teams last met on September 21 at Shell Energy Stadium, where the Reign fell 1-0. In the head-to-head series, Seattle has earned 17 wins, five losses and four draws and outscored Houston, 47-19, across all competitions.
“I think they've done a good job in recent weeks of, they may not have a ton of the ball all the time, but they're a threat going forward. They build out of a very strong defensive structure, so I think that's what we'll see from them, said Seattle Reign FC Head Coach Laura Harvey.
“I think for us, the Houston game is just one of many where we've created chances and not scored. Unfortunately, since then, it's probably gone the other way. We haven't really been creating enough chances, so I think that that's been a focus for us - how can we get back to creating chances and then, obviously, the big part of that is, can we take them when we do create them? But I think creating more has been a big onus this week”
2. SCOUTING HOUSTON – The Dash are one place below the Reign in the NWSL standings, but the two teams are tied on points with 20. The Texas-based side most recently competed against San Diego Wave FC and won, 2-0.
The Reign are currently coming off a 3-0 road loss to Utah Royals FC. All three goals, in addition to the Reign’s red card, came in the first half of the match. The result officially eliminated Seattle from 2024 playoff contention. Both midfielders Jaelin Howell (yellow card accumulation) and Angharad James-Turner (red card) are unavailable for this match due to suspension.
Houston currently has seven players out for the match – Katie Lind (maternity leave), Havana Solaun (SEI - knee), Croix Soto (concussion), Kiki Van Zanten (SEI - foot), Andressa (lower leg), Elin Rubensson (illness) and Ramona Bachman (excused absence), in addition to two players listed as questionable for the match – Michelle Alozie (knee) and Diana Ordonez (shoulder).
3. FOCUSED ON THE WIN – Though the Reign are eliminated from 2024 playoff contention, the team is still focused on winning the last two matches of the season. For Harvey, the team is not approaching the matches differently than they would if a playoff spot was on the line.
"I think I say this all the time - I think we're very process driven. We live through how we prepare and how we respond to what's happening and that means that when their highs are really high, we don't get too high, and when the lows are low, we don't get too low. So, I think with that mindset, you go into every game with the same mentality of trying to put out a performance against the opponent that you're up against that you feel will be able to get a result in the game and that doesn't change, no matter what's on the line,” said Harvey.
“Each time on the field, we just tell each other to just play for each other, play for yourselves and that's all we've been able to do and control in our hands. So yeah, there's definitely improvements in the off season, but I think everyone's just excited to hit that big refresh button, but I do know that everyone's truly cared and we put our full effort in this season. We did believe in every chance we got,” said defender Shae Holmes.
MultiCare Availability Report:
OUT
Ryanne Brown (SEI – knee)
Jess Fishlock (leg)
Jaelin Howell (suspension)
Angharad James-Turner (suspension)
Quinn (head)
Olivia Van der Jagt (excused absence)
QUESTIONABLE
None
INTERNATIONAL
Ainsley McCammon (USA)