The Right Move: Welcoming Jordyn Bugg and Ainsley McCammon to Seattle Reign FC

Today, Seattle Reign FC officially announced the signing of two U-18 players – defender Jordyn Bugg and midfielder Ainsley McCammon. For both young players, signing their first professional contract was not a decision taken lightly, but they feel confident that coming to Seattle was the right move. From the training environment to the support of players and staff, the new additions are already making Seattle home. 

Bugg, a two-time ECNL Southwest All-Conference First Team honoree and experienced U.S. Women’s Youth National Team player, is just 17 years old, hailing from El Cajon, California. 

“It was a hard decision to make," admitted Bugg. "I think it was the best option for me to go ahead and be in a pro environment right away. I love it up here in Seattle. I know it was the right decision for my personal goals and to work toward earning a spot on the senior national team.” 

Both Bugg and McCammon have had a positive start to their time with the Reign, meshing well with their teammates and staff from the start. This was critical for McCammon, who at 16 years and 335 days, is the youngest signing in Reign history and the seventh youngest player to sign a contract in the NWSL. 

“It was clear that everyone was committed to making the transition as smooth as possible for us, immediately,” said McCammon. 

She continued, “Laura Harvey is one of the best in the game, so I felt like this was an opportunity to really develop and reach the goals that I have set for my future. It was definitely a hard decision to make, but I’m confident I found the right place for me. Seattle in general, but especially the sports community here, is really unique and special. Being in a place where all the fans show up for the teams and are so involved in the community was a really high point for me. 

Though Bugg and McCammon have not yet played a match at Lumen Field, both players have had the opportunity to experience the Seattle community firsthand. 

“I think one of my favorite memories with the team so far is when we went to the Seattle Storm game as a group. We got to sit up above the fans and just see everything happening and all of the support. It was really cool,” said Bugg. 

As two players with experience in the United States Women’s Youth National Team system, the opportunity to play professionally in a domestic league and embrace the NWSL’s support of young players was a priority for both players. 

“The competition is really growing here and developing in a way that allows young players to thrive. I knew from the beginning that I could see myself enjoying this environment and really growing,” said McCammon, a Bedford, Texas native. 

“This is the most competitive league,” added Bugg. “You see people coming from many places overseas just to play here, so I knew that I wanted to play in this league. It’s home for me.” 

Bugg and McCammon are also excited by the chance to learn from and play alongside some of the NWSL greats, especially midfielder Jess Fishlock and defender Lu Barnes.  

"Everyone on the team has been very welcoming and the coaches are the same – they’ve all gone out of their way to make us feel welcome in Seattle. Bugg laughed, “And I love that it's very green up here.” 

“It is really easy to like it here. The facilities are world class, from the fields to the indoor portions. The staff are unbelievable and have gone out of their way to make us feel welcome here. I’m really just ecstatic. I honestly can't wait to meet all of the fans and start to engage with the community. It’s really important to me so I’m super excited,” concluded McCammon.