OL Reign Extends Contract of Forward Elyse Bennett

OL Reign announced today that the club has extended the contract of forward Elyse Bennett through the 2024 NWSL season, with an additional year in option. Per league and club policy, financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.

"I'm grateful for the opportunity to continue my professional journey with OL Reign," said Elyse Bennett. "Coming back to where I played collegiately has been a special experience, and I look forward to growing and working alongside my incredible teammates, coaches and staff.”

Bennett has played in every regular-season game except one since entering the league in 2022, earning 30 appearances (eight starts) and recording four goals and three assists.

After acquiring Bennett through a trade with the Kansas City Current ahead of the 2023 NWSL Draft, the second-year forward has contributed in all 12 matches for the Reign across all competitions, making her one of three players on the team to do so.

The 23-year-old is one of four players on the Reign with at least one goal and one assist and is tied for fifth on the team in shots during the 2023 regular season. Bennett recorded her first goal with the Reign in the club’s most recent match of the regular season, against Angel City FC on May 27.

Selected as the seventh overall pick by the Current in the 2022 NWSL Draft, the Washington State University graduate appeared in 21 of 22 regular season games of the 2022 NWSL season, recording three goals and two assists. Bennett also appeared in all three of Kansas City’s playoff matches, including the 2022 NWSL Championship.

As a Cougar at Washington State University, Bennett played in 93 games, the second-most appearances in program history, and provided her team with 26 goals and 12 assists. She ended her fifth year with a career-best 10 goals and was named a Second Team All-American, First Team All-Region and All-Pac-12.

“Elyse has been a great contributor for us this season, adding more quality to the depth of our roster,” head coach Laura Harvey said. “She has been settling well with the team and finding a good rhythm. We’re happy to extend her contract and watch her continue to make an impact on the Reign.”