Match Forecast: Seattle Reign FC Returns to Action Against Bay FC

Seattle Reign FC takes on new expansion side Bay FC for the first time in club history tonight at 5:00 p.m. PT in San Jose, California. The teams are returning from an eventful international break that saw a pause in NWSL play. This marks the Reign’s third consecutive match on the road after playing their first match of the season in Seattle. 

WHEN AND WHERE: The Reign kickoff at 5:00 p.m. PT at PayPal Park in San Jose, California. 

WHERE TO WATCH: Seattle-area fans can tune in on KONG and KING5+. The match is also available to watch on NWSL+. 

2024 NWSL REGULAR SEASON RECORDS AND STANDINGS (W-L-D): Seattle Reign FC:1-2-0 (12th place), Bay FC: 1-2-0 (11th place) 

Key Points Ahead of the Match: 

1. LAST MEETING – Seattle Reign FC and Bay FC have never gone head-to-head before. This meeting marks the very first clash between the two teams. When facing an NWSL opponent for the first time in the regular season, the Reign have a record of six wins, six losses and three draws. Four of the six wins featured a Reign FC clean sheet. 

2. SCOUTING BAY FC – Similar to the Reign, Bay FC started the season with a win, before recording two consecutive losses. In their first match of the season, Bay FC defeated Angel City FC 1-0, recording the first goal in club history in the 17th minute of the match. More recently, Bay FC fell 2-1 to the Washington Spirit, conceding the game winner to Washington in the fifth minute of stoppage time, and fell once more to Houston on another stoppage time game winner. 

“I think it's exciting when you come into new markets and you see the league continue to grow,” said Reign FC captain Lu Barnes. “There are so many variables that play into that, being at a new stadium and new expansion team, it's difficult, but also exciting at the same time, we're adjusting, figuring things out as we go. But yeah, I think the team's excited. We've been really focusing on us and what we can do in this game and I think coming off two losses, this is an important game for us. So yeah, I think we're focused and we're ready to go." 

3. DEPTH IS KEY – As the league returns from an international break, the Reign lineup could see changes, as several players traveled extensively with their national team. In addition to the players returning from international duty, several players have worked their way back from injuries and could get into the lineup. 

“Well, I don't want to give too many secrets away. For us, it's about seeing how they feel,” said Seattle Reign FC Head Coach Laura Harvey. “Often when it's these sort of travel games after international, you have to make late decisions on that, which we have done, we've traveled everybody who is healthy to come to the Bay so that we can have that opportunity to make last-minute decisions, which I honestly didn't know how else we could pick the team if we didn't do that, so that's been good. 

She continued, “Obviously, we don't just have the internationals coming back, we also have players coming back from injury - Veronica (Latsko), Quinn and Alana (Cook), who are still in a potentially minute management situation. So, we've got to make decisions on a lot of people for tomorrow.” 

4. PLAY SMART – On both sides of the ball, the Reign will be focused on carrying out their strategy and focusing on the small details, especially in transition. Barnes noted that the team will be looking to focus on preventing opportunities for Bay FC, rather than finding a cure to aid against chances the team creates. 

“I've played under Laura (Harvey) for so long and she is a defensive coach. So, being able to get set before anything happens like you're saying, prevention is better than cure, I think is something that she continues to really implement and I think our team looks new, so I think revisiting those things has been really important and you can see us grasping the principles of that,” said Barnes. 

“We need to make sure that we are focused. I think the biggest thing is always making sure that we're switched on because it's moments that we either have the ball or in transition when those things happen. So I think in training leading up to this week and since pre-season, that's been one of our principles that we've really, really focused on. So, I'm very confident, it's something that Laura's always done for her in her career as well and she's known for it. So, I think being able to help as a veteran player in the backline to make sure those things are being done is really important,” she concluded. 

On the other side of the ball, the Reign looks to continue building on their offensive threat. The team, typically renowned for its crossing abilities, has expanded its arsenal to include additional attacking threats, and new ways to score goals. 

MultiCare Availability Report: 

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Jordyn Huitema (back) 

QUESTIONABLE 

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