Match Recap: Reign FC Opens 2025 with Draw Against NJ/NY Gotham FC
In front of a home crowd of 8,467 fans, Seattle Reign FC battled to a 1-1 draw with NJ/NY Gotham FC. In classic Seattle fashion, the rain poured as the Reign worked their way back from a 1-0 deficit to salvage a point in their home opener.
The Reign got off to a quick start, sending a warning sign to Gotham in just the second minute of the match. Defender Jordyn Bugg and forward Jordyn Huitema connected on a through ball, setting Huitema up to dish a ball to midfielder and captain Jess Fishlock, who fired off the first shot of the match from just inside the 18-yard box. Though it didn’t make past Gotham goalkeeper Ann-Katrin Berger, it set the tone for match.
Though the Reign dominated possession in the opening minutes, Gotham settled into play and began to build attacking opportunities of their own as the match progressed. Reign goalkeeper Claudia Dickey was called upon in the ninth minute when Gotham’s newcomer Gabi Portilho got into the box and struck a shot toward goal.
Just one minute later, Dickey made easy work of another Gotham chance, this time from forward Esther. She continued to weather the storm, as rookie Sarah Schupansky fired a shot from distance, but directed it straight to Dickey’s hands.
The Reign got back into the attack in the 21st minute of the match, when rookie Maddie Dahlien had the ball at her feet just inside the box and elected to slice a cutting cross to the right side of the field instead of taking it to goal herself, nearly setting up a goalscoring chance for the Reign.
Through the end of the first half, second-year defender Madison Curry impressed in the backline, making two critical interceptions to shut down Gotham’s direct play. To close out the half, Dickey stepped in again, nabbing a dangerous cross from Portilho out of the air.
It was a difficult start to the second half as Gotham opened the scoring. The Reign half-cleared a corner kick to the top of the 18-yard box, where Portilho struck a volley into traffic that deflected past Dickey.
The 69th minute brought a flurry of substitutes for the Reign, bringing midfielder Maddie Mercado and forward Emeri Adames on for midfielder Angharad James-Tuner and Dahlien respectively.
Making an immediate impact, Adames found an equalizer for the Reign in 71st minute, on just her fourth touch of the match.
Berger deflected a cross but failed to fully clear it from danger. Mondesir followed up with a shot, which once again popped out into the center of the box, creating a chaotic scramble to gain possession of the ball. At the end of the play, it was Adames, who took two touches before using her third to poke the ball into the back of the net.
With both teams vying for a game-winning goal, the physicality increased, with 14 total fouls in the second half.
The Reign continued to build, forcing Gotham onto the back foot repeatedly. Tensions rose as the 87th minute of the match produced a red card, issued to defender Mandy Freeman after video review took a look back at her foul on forward Nerilia Mondsir.
Up a player for the rest of the match, the Reign forged forward, pushing for a game-winning goal but falling just short. At the final whistle, the scoreline remained level and each team took home a point in their debut match of the 2025 season.
MATCH NOTES
REIGN FC DEBUTS: Two players made their club debuts tonight against Gotham FC. Madison Curry, who joined the club this past offseason as a free agent, was named to the Starting XI, alongside first-year forward Maddie Dahlien. Additionally, Sam Meza made her regular season debut tonight.
STARTING STRONG: Reign FC now holds a 4-3-5 record in NWSL season-opening matches, earning points in nine of the 12 games.
EMERI ADAMES: Emeri Adames entered the match in the 69th minute and scored two minutes later in the 71st minute scored the game-tying goal. The 18-year-old attacker now has two goals in her NWSL career.
JESS FISHLOCK: Jess Fishlock, who served as the captain tonight, made her 199th regular-season appearance and led the team with three shots, adding five duels won.
SERIES: Following the result, Reign FC is now 12-10-9 against Gotham FC across all NWSL competitions.
UP NEXT: Seattle begins a two-game road stretch next week in North Carolina, as Reign FC (0-0-1) prepares to take on the Courage (0-0-1) on Saturday, March 22 (4:00 p.m. PT / NWSL+).
MATCH SUMMARY
Seattle Reign FC 1 – NJ/NY Gotham FC 1
Saturday, March 15, 2025
Venue: Lumen Field
Referees: Alexandra Billeter
Assistants: Tiffini Turpin, Art Arustamyan
Fourth Official: Benjamin Meyer
VAR: Patricia McCracken
Attendance: 8,467
Weather: 42 degrees and heavy rain
SCORING SUMMARY
NJ/NY – Gabi Portilho 47’
SEA – Emeri Adames 71’
MISCONDUCT SUMMARY
NJ/NY – Gabi Portilho (caution) 38’
SEA – Jordyn Huitema (caution) 42’
SEA – Jordyn Bugg (caution) 52’
NJ/NY – Sarah Schupansky (caution) 66’
NJ/NY – Jaelin Howell (caution) 74’
NJ/NY – Mandy Freeman (ejection) 87’
LINEUPS & STATS
Seattle Reign FC – Claudia Dickey; Phoebe McClernon, Jordyn Bugg, Madison Curry, Shae Holmes; Angharad James-Turner (Maddie Mercado 69’); Jess Fishlock (c), Ji So-Yun (Sam Meza 90’); Maddie Dahlien (Emeri Adames 69'), Ana-Maria Crnogorčević (Nérilia Mondesir 58’), Jordyn Huitema
Substitutes not used: Cassie Miller, Lauren Barnes, Emily Mason, Ainsley McCammon
Total shots: 7
Shots on goal: 1
Fouls: 14
Offside: 1
Corner-Kicks: 3
Saves: 3
NJ/NY Gotham FC – Ann-Katrin Berger; Jess Carter, Tierna Davidson (c), Emily Sonnett, Mandy Freeman; Nealy Martin, Sarah Schupansky (Lilly Reale 90'), Jaelin Howell; Ella Stevens, Gabi Portilho (Cece Kizer 73’), Esther González (Mckenna Whitham 90+3')
Substitutes not used: Shelby Hogan, Taryn Torres, Ryan Campbell, Khyah Harper, Stella Nyamekye
Total shots: 11
Shots on goal: 4
Fouls: 11
Offside: 1
Corner-kicks: 5
Saves: 0