Match Forecast: Seattle Reign FC Takes on San Diego Wave FC Tonight at 7:00 p.m.

Seattle Reign FC takes on fellow west coast side San Diego Wave FC tonight at 7:00 p.m. In its second consecutive away match, Seattle looks to pick up some points following a loss to the Chicago Red Stars last weekend. This match marks the 10th all-time meeting between the Reign and Wave, but it is the fifth regular season matchup between the two sides. As the Wave kicked off 2024 in the NWSL Challenge Cup against NJ/NY Gotham FC, they have played just one match in regular season play thus far. 

WHEN AND WHERE: The Reign kickoff at 7:00 p.m. PT at Snapdragon Stadium in San Diego, California. 

WHERE TO WATCH: Fans can tune in on Prime Video. 

2024 NWSL REGULAR SEASON RECORDS AND STANDINGS (W-L-D): Seattle Reign FC:1-1-0 (5th place), San Diego Wave FC: 0-1-0 (13th place) 

Key Points Ahead of the Match: 

1. LAST MEETING – Seattle and San Diego last went head-to-head in the 2023 NWSL Playoffs. At Snapdragon Stadium in San Diego, the Reign took down the Wave in the semifinal thanks to a 47th minute goal from forward Veronica Latsko. Latsko skillfully dribbled the ball to the endline, before lofting it across the face of goal to the back post, where it hit the woodwork and found the back of the net. 

The all-time head-to-head series between the two teams has featured four regular season matches, one playoff match and four Challenge Cup matches, leaving the Reign with a record of seven wins, two draws and zero losses and 14 goals scored. 

2. SCOUTING SAN DIEGO – As previously noted, the Wave have only played one regular season match in 2024, as they opened the year with a non-regular season Challenge Cup match against NJ/NY Gotham FC. In that match, San Diego prevailed, as newly added midfielder Savannah McCaskill and forward Alex Morgan combined to score the 88th minute game winner. 

In the club’s only 2024 regular season match, the Wave hosted the Kansas City Current at Snapdragon Stadium and fell 2-1 to open the season. San Diego scored first in the 18th minute of the match, but Kansas City leveled the score just before halftime. In the second half, the Current won a penalty kick and captain Lo’eau LaBonta stepped up to the spot, finding the back of the net to take the lead and ultimately three points for Kansas City. 

“I think honestly every time we play them, they come out really fast and aggressive and try and get at us early and I think it always tends to be a bit of tactical chess match initially to find out what each team is doing and how we can expose each other,” said Seattle Reign FC Head Coach Laura Harvey. 

“I think for us, it's about making sure that we do the things that we know are our strengths and try to minimize theirs as much as possible and obviously in recent years, we've done a good job of that. I think in some games we maybe came away with points that maybe we didn't deserve, but like I said before, I think that's where - when you can do those things, it's the sign of a good team.” 

3. WHAT TO EXPECT – As the teams have not yet met this season, it’s hard to know exactly what can be expected from this match-up. For the Reign, the focus is on executing their own game plan. As defender Phoebe McClernon notes, the team has prepared for the challenges San Diego may produce in this match but has also spent time focusing on how to create challenge for San Diego. 

“I think that they have a ton of talent on their team and I don't think we are surprised or unprepared for that. I think that we need to make the adjustments for ourselves and put ourselves in the best position because we also are a fantastic team and have so many weapons and are so capable of creating attack as well as defending the best in the world, so I'm looking forward to the matchup,” said McClernon. 

Harvey also noted in this week’s Pre-Match Press Conference, that the Wave had made a slight shift in their game from last season, opting to play less direct in general and maintain possession of the ball, as seen in their match against the Current, where they earned 66% of possession. 

MultiCare Availability Report: 

OUT  

Jess Fishlock (excused absence) 

Sam Meza (illness) 

Quinn (concussion) 

QUESTIONABLE 

Veronica Latsko (leg)