Seattle Reign FC

"Seattle Reign" redirects here. For the former professional basketball team, see Seattle Reign (basketball).

Seattle Reign FC
FoundedNovember 21, 2012 (2012-11-21)[1]
StadiumLumen Field
Seattle, Washington
Capacity10,000[i]
OwnerThe Carlyle Group (majority)
Seattle Sounders FC
GovernorAdrian Hanauer
Head coachLaura Harvey
LeagueNational Women's Soccer League
2023Regular season: 4th
Playoffs: Runners-up
Challenge Cup: Semifinals
Websitehttps://www.reignfc.com/
Current season
Seattle
Reign FC
Women's
NWSL		 Seattle
Sounders FC
Men's
MLS		 Tacoma
Defiance
Men's Reserves
MLS Next Pro

Seattle Reign FC is an American professional women's soccer team based in Seattle, Washington. Founded in 2012, it was one of eight inaugural members of the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) and continues to play in the league. Since June 2024, the Reign are owned by the private equity firm Carlyle Group and the Major League Soccer club Seattle Sounders FC.[3]

In 2020, OL Groupe, the parent company of French clubs Olympique Lyonnais and Olympique Lyonnais Féminin, became the team's majority owner and the team played as OL Reign from 2020 to 2023.[4][5] Laura Harvey is the team's head coach; she led the team to two consecutive NWSL Shield wins in 2014 and 2015 and a third in 2022.[6]

Seattle Reign FC has played its home matches at Lumen Field since 2022. The team previously played at Starfire Sports Complex in Tukwila (2013), at Memorial Stadium (2014–18), and at Cheney Stadium in Tacoma (2019–21).

History

[edit]

Establishment

[edit]

Although Seattle never had a professional women's soccer team in the Women's United Soccer Association nor Women's Professional Soccer (WPS) during either league's existence, the city was home to Seattle Sounders Women, a USL W-League team mainly composed of amateur players that was affiliated with Seattle Sounders FC of Major League Soccer; following news of the imminent demise of WPS in January 2012, a handful of players from the United States women's national soccer team (USWNT) joined the Sounders Women for part of the 2012 W-League season. The Athletic cited the resulting close relationship between the Sounders Women and the United States Soccer Federation (USSF) in conditioning the USWNT players, along with significant fan interest generated during their stint with the team, as major factors that led the USSF to consider Seattle as a viable candidate for a team in a new professional league.[7]

See also: National Women's Soccer League § Founding

In response to the demise of WPS, the USSF announced in June that it would found a new professional women's soccer league (later named National Women's Soccer League) and invite prospective team owners to submit applications.[8] Bill Predmore, founder and CEO of Seattle-based digital marketing agency, POP, submitted his application pitch for a team tentatively named Seattle Sirens FC.[9] In November 2012, it was confirmed that Predmore's application had been accepted and there would be a Seattle-based women's professional soccer team in 2013.[1][10] On December 19, 2012, the team name was unveiled as Seattle Reign FC, named in honor of the 1990s Seattle Reign women's basketball team.[11] Amy Carnell, a former general manager of the Sounders Women and Sounders FC's director of youth programs, was named general manager of the Reign.[12]

2013: Inaugural season

[edit]
Main article: 2013 Seattle Reign FC season
Goalkeeper Hope Solo makes a save during a match against the Chicago Red Stars on July 25, 2013, at Starfire Stadium in Tukwila, Washington.

On December 21, 2012, the team announced Laura Harvey as its first head coach. Harvey was head coach of Arsenal L.F.C. from 2010–2012 after serving as an assistant for two years, assisted and then coached Birmingham City L.F.C. from 2002–2008, and served as an assistant coach for England's U-17, U-19 and U-23 women's national teams from 2005–2011.[13] Before the regular season, Harvey took over as general manager after Amy Carnell resigned.[14]

On January 11, 2013, Kaylyn Kyle, Teresa Noyola, Megan Rapinoe, Amy Rodriguez, Jenny Ruiz, Hope Solo, and Emily Zurrer were named to the team as part of the NWSL Player Allocation.[15][16][17] On January 18, the Reign selected Christine Nairn, Mallory Schaffer, Kristen Meier, and Haley Kopmeyer at the 2013 NWSL College Draft.[18][19] On February 4, 2013, it was announced that the team had signed four free agents: Kate Deines, Jess Fishlock, Tiffany Cameron, and Lindsay Taylor.[20] During the 2013 NWSL Supplemental Draft, the team selected Nikki Krzysik, Lauren Barnes, Laura Heyboer, Liz Bogus, Michelle Betos and Kaley Fountain.[21]

Seattle Reign FC posed for a photo before a match against the Chicago Red Stars on July 25, 2013.

Leading into the preseason, it was learned that the Reign would be without all of their American allocated players for almost half of the season. Amy Rodriguez announced she was pregnant with her first child and would not be playing during the inaugural season.[22] Hope Solo would be away for the first part of the season after recovering from wrist surgery and Megan Rapinoe had already signed with French club Olympique Lyonnais from January to June and would miss at least nine games.[23][24] After traveling to Japan in the preseason to play matches against defending L. League champion INAC Kobe Leonessa, Fukuoka J. Anclas, and Nojima Stella Kanagawa,[25] the Reign faced their first regular season match against the Chicago Red Stars at Benedictine University, in which Seattle's first college draft pick Christine Nairn scored the Reign's first goal of the season via a header off an assist from Liz Bogus.[26] The point that Seattle earned in the game would be its only for the next nine games.[27]

In June 2013, head coach Laura Harvey began making some trades and signing new international players. With the trades and the return of Solo and Rapinoe, the Reign began to turn the season around with a 1–1 tie against the Western New York Flash.[28] The game would be the first of a six-game undefeated streak for the Reign with two ties and four wins.[29] After losing to regional rival Portland Thorns FC 2–1 in the season finale in front of a sold-out crowd of 3,855, the Reign ended the 2013 NWSL season seventh in the league with a 5–14–3 record.[30]

2014–18: Seattle years

[edit]

2014 season

[edit]
Main article: 2014 Seattle Reign FC season

During the 2014 season, the Reign set a league record unbeaten streak of 16 games. During the 16-game stretch, the Reign compiled a 13–0–3 record. The streak came to an end July 12, 2014, in a match against the Chicago Red Stars that ended 1–0 in favor of the Red Stars.[31] The team finished first in the regular season clinching the NWSL Shield for the first time.[32] After defeating the Washington Spirit 2–1 in the playoff semifinals, the Reign was defeated 2–1 by FC Kansas City during the championship final.[33] Following the regular season, the team earned several league awards. Kim Little won the Golden Boot[34] and Most Valuable Player awards;[35] Laura Harvey was named Coach of the Year;[36] Kendall Fletcher, Jess Fishlock, Little and Nahomi Kawasumi were named to the NWSL Best XI team while goalkeeper Hope Solo and defenders Lauren Barnes and Stephanie Cox were named to the Second XI team.[37]

2015 season

[edit]
Main article: 2015 Seattle Reign FC season

The Reign finished the 2015 season in first place clinching the NWSL Shield for the second consecutive time.[38] After defeating the Washington Spirit 3–0 in a playoff semifinal, the Reign was defeated 1–0 by FC Kansas City during the championship final in Portland.[39] Following the regular season, the team earned several league award nominations. Kim Little, Jess Fishlock, and Bev Yanez were nominated for league Most Valuable Player, Laura Harvey was nominated for Coach of the Year; and Lauren Barnes and Kendall Fletcher were nominated for Defender of the Year.[40]

Laura Harvey was ultimately named Coach of the Year for a second consecutive year.[41] Barnes, Little, Yanez, and Fishlock were named to the NWSL Best XI team while Kendall Fletcher, Stephanie Cox, Megan Rapinoe, and Keelin Winters were named to the Second XI team.[42]

2016 season

[edit]
Main article: 2016 Seattle Reign FC season

The Reign finished the 2016 season in fifth place with a 8–6–8 record, narrowly missing a playoff spot by two points.[43] The season was complicated by a number of players being unavailable during the early part of the season due to injury including Manon Melis,[44] Jess Fishlock[45] and Megan Rapinoe.[46] In early July, Nahomi Kawasumi returned to the Reign for the first time since the 2014 season and scored a brace in her first match with the team.[47] Rachel Corsie and Haley Kopmeyer suffered injuries during a match in July against the Western New York Flash that was controversially played on a baseball field.[48][49] Schedule changes from previous years were announced in February that resulted in an imbalance amongst team matchups.[50]

In late August, the Reign announced that Hope Solo was taking a leave of absence for the remainder of the season after being suspended from the U.S. national team.[51] In September, four-year team captain Keelin Winters announced her retirement for the end of the season.[52] On October 17, midfielder Kim Little announced that she would leave the Reign and return to Arsenal. Harvey said Little was given an "incredible offer" of a multi-year contract, though no other details were disclosed.[53]

2017 season

[edit]
Main article: 2017 Seattle Reign FC season
Seattle Reign forwards Beverly Yanez and Megan Rapinoe in a match against the Chicago Red Stars, June 28, 2017.
Seattle Reign forwards Beverly Yanez and Megan Rapinoe in a match against the Chicago Red Stars, June 28, 2017.

Following the loss of core players Kim Little and Keelin Winters following the 2016 season, the Reign faced a bit of re-structuring for the 2017 season. Three 2017 NWSL College Draft rookies were signed including defender Maddie Bauer, forward Katie Johnson, and midfielder Kristen McNabb. With Kim Little moving back to Arsenal, the Reign re-signed attacking midfielder Christine Nairn, who had played for the team during its inaugural season.[54] The team also signed Canadian international Diana Matheson and Australian international Larissa Crummer, though they spent the majority of the season injured, as well as New Zealand international defender Rebekah Stott.[54] The Reign finished in fifth place for the second consecutive season narrowly missing a playoff spot after losing 1–0 to Kansas City.[55][56] Megan Rapinoe was the team's leading scorer (and league's third highest) with 12 goals.[57][56] Her season performance contributed to her nomination as FIFA World Player of the Year the following year.[58]

2018 season

[edit]
Main article: 2018 Seattle Reign FC season

After two consecutive seasons of fifth-place finishes and thus outside of the playoffs, head coach and general manager Laura Harvey stepped down and was replaced by former rival Vlatko Andonovski as new head coach of the team.[59] The amicable transition nonetheless led to new vision for the team and new players, with Andonovski bringing in 11 new players on the season-opening roster. Notably, Andonovski traded for US international Allie Long and Australian international Steph Catley, while English international Jodie Taylor and Danish international Theresa Nielsen joined on free transfers from abroad. The refreshed team performed well throughout the season and remained largely in second place behind a dominant North Carolina Courage team, until a loss to Cascadia rival Portland Thorns FC at the end of the regular season dropped it to third place. This set up a semi-final rematch with the Thorns FC away from home, which the team lost 2–1. Despite the late slide, Andonovski led the team back to the playoffs for the first time since 2015 in his first season in charge.

2019–2021: Relocation to Tacoma

[edit]

On January 30, 2019, the team announced that it would relocate to Cheney Stadium in Tacoma for the 2019 season and re-brand itself as Reign FC.[60] This relocation, as well as two new minority ownership groups (Mikal Thomsen, owner of the Tacoma Rainiers and Adrian Hanauer, owner of the Seattle Sounders FC, as well as his mother, philanthropist Lenore Hanauer),[61] secured the team's long-term future by addressing long-standing stadium issues.[62] A new soccer-specific 5,000 capacity stadium that would host Reign and Tacoma Defiance games was planned adjacent to Cheney Stadium.[63]

2019 season

[edit]
Main article: 2019 Reign FC season

In their first season playing in Tacoma, the Reign finished 4th in the regular season, to qualify for the NWSL Playoffs but were knocked out by the North Carolina Courage in the semi-final.

2020 season

[edit]
Main article: 2020 OL Reign season

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the regular season was cancelled in 2020. Instead, the newly renamed OL Reign took part in the 2020 NWSL Challenge Cup and the NWSL Fall Series.

2021 season

[edit]
Main article: 2021 OL Reign season

Head coach Farid Benstiti resigned in July for undisclosed reasons; a joint investigation by the league and the players' association in December 2022 found that he abused players by "weight-shaming" them.[64] OL Reign finished 2nd in the regular season, led first by interim coach Sam Laity and then by Laura Harvey after her return. They fell once again in the semi-final, this time to the eventual champions Washington Spirit.

2022–present: Return to Seattle

[edit]

2022 season

[edit]
Main article: 2022 OL Reign season

The club announced in December 2021 that it would be returning to Seattle with Lumen Field as their new home stadium while continuing to train and operate out of Tacoma.[65] In the Challenge Cup, the Reign finished first in the West Division and earned the top seed overall but lost in the semifinal against the Washington Spirit in a penalty shoot-out. The team also won the mid-season invitational Women's Cup final against Louisville. In their final regular-season match, the Reign won the 2022 NWSL Shield, the team's third.[6]

2023 season

[edit]
Main article: 2023 OL Reign season

The Reign moved their training facility to Starfire Sports.[66] The club will become Starfire's main soccer tenant and operate out of there in 2024, after Seattle Sounders FC moves to their own facility.[67] The team finished the 2023 season as runners-up in the NWSL Championship, losing 2–1 to NJ/NY Gotham FC. At the end of this season, forward Megan Rapinoe announced her retirement after eleven seasons with the club.[68]

Colors and badge

[edit]
Historical badges
2013–18 (primary)
2020–23 (primary)

On December 19, 2012, the team's name was unveiled as Seattle Reign FC. The team's colors were announced as white, platinum, royal blue and midnight black along with a neon green away colors[11] The name was selected in part as homage to the first professional women's sports team in Seattle, the Seattle Reign, a defunct professional basketball team in the American Basketball League.[11] That team was in turn named after its location in King County, and as a pun alluding to Seattle's rainy climate. In conjunction with the colors, the team also released its primary and alternate badges: the primary badge features a queen wearing a platinum crown (in a reference to the team name), while the alternate badge is monochrome and foregrounds the crown itself.[69]

Owner Bill Predmore stated, "Today's announcement is the result of a thoughtful process to identify the name that best represents the values of our club, articulates our long-term ambitions and celebrates the community within which our supporters live. Reign FC meets all of those objectives and at the same time honors the legacy of professional women's sports in Seattle. Like the Seattle Sounders, whose fans selected a name that honored those who pioneered the sport of soccer in Seattle in the early 1970s, Seattle Reign FC was, in part, selected to pay homage those visionaries – the leaders and players of the Seattle Reign women's basketball team – who pioneered professional women's sports in Seattle."[69]

On January 30, 2019, it was announced that the team would relocate to Tacoma, Washington and rename as simply Reign FC. As part of the rebrand, the team released a slightly modified visual identity and a new primary team badge that removed the word "Seattle" from the original badge.[70]

Following the acquisition of the team by OL Groupe in January 2020, the team announced another rebrand on March 6, 2020, as OL Reign, with new primary colors of blue, white, and gold to match those from Olympique Lyonnais and a new team badge that includes the lion as a symbol for Lyon.[5]

The team returned to its original name of Seattle Reign FC on January 9, 2024, with a modified version of the original crest.[71] The crest remains primarily blue and black with gold used for the crown to symbolize the team's NWSL Shields.[72]

Sponsorship

[edit]

In April 2013, Moda Health was announced as the team's jersey sponsor.[73] The company remained the jersey sponsor for the 2014 and 2015 seasons. In 2016, Microsoft was named as the new jersey sponsor and "presenting partner".[74] The team also uses Microsoft technology on and off the pitch as part of the partnership.[74]

In January 2019, Seattle-based online retailer Zulily was announced as the team's new presenting partner and third-ever jersey sponsor.[75] On the same day, Seattle Sounders FC also announced Zulily as its new jersey partner, making it the first time that both men's and women's professional soccer teams in Seattle share the same jersey sponsor and Seattle only the second-ever American city to hold this distinction.[76] Despite the new jersey sponsor, Microsoft remains the team's technology partner and will continue to provide sports analytics to the coaching staff.[77] During an unveiling event for the new secondary jersey in April 2019, aerospace corporation Boeing was announced as a kit sponsor for a slot on the back of both jerseys.[78] The jersey partnership with Zulily concluded after the 2020 season.[79]

Heading into the 2021 season, OL Reign elected to feature the Black Future Co-op Fund on the front of their jerseys until a new presenting sponsor is secured.[80] At the start of the 2022 regular season, Tacoma-based healthcare group MultiCare Health System was announced as a back-of-kit sponsor alongside the existing jersey sponsors Black Future Co-op Fund and Boeing.[81]

Seasons Jersey manufacturer Presenting sponsor
2013–2015 Nike Moda Health
2016–2018 Microsoft
2019–2020 Zulily
2021– Black Future Co-op Fund

Stadium

[edit]
See also: NWSL stadiums
Seattle Reign FC have played their home matches at Lumen Field on a regular basis since 2022

During the inaugural season of the NWSL, Reign FC played at Starfire Stadium in Tukwila, Washington.[82] The stadium is located approximately 12 miles from downtown Seattle and is the training facility for Seattle Sounders FC, as well as where the Sounders play their U.S. Open Cup matches. With a seating capacity for 4,500 spectators, the stadium also features a press box with full scoreboard and sound system capabilities. The pitch features FieldTurf.[83]

In February 2014, it was announced that the team would be moving to Memorial Stadium, located at the Seattle Center, for at least the 2014 and 2015 seasons;[84] the Reign chose to remain there beyond the originally intended two seasons. The stadium features an artificial turf pitch that was installed in 2013 and a seating capacity of 12,000 spectators, although seating capacity was set at 6,000 for the beginning of the 2014 season.[85] The stadium was the previous home of the Seattle Sounders from 1974–1975 when the team played in the North American Soccer League (NASL) and from 1995 to 2002 when the new incarnation of the team played in the A-League.[85]

In late 2017, the team's future in Seattle beyond 2018 was seen as uncertain due to issues with Memorial Stadium. The facility does not meet league standards for playing surfaces set to be enforced in 2019. Additionally, the stadium is owned by the Seattle School District, which has announced plans to build a new high school in that area of the city, with the stadium being the most likely site. The Reign were seen by national soccer media as lacking viable options for a replacement—other possible venues in the region are problematic due to size, location, or ancillary facilities.[86] Reign FC owner Bill Predmore initially responded that, despite these challenges, the team would remain at Memorial Stadium for 2019.[87] However, newly enforced standards by U.S. Soccer and NWSL made this untenable, and the team relocated to Tacoma, Washington in January 2019.[77] Reign planned to play temporarily at Cheney Stadium while a soccer-specific stadium shared with Tacoma Defiance was constructed. The new venue was originally set to open in 2021, but has since been delayed indefinitely due to feasibility issues caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.[88] During their time in Tacoma, OL Reign leased a practice field from Bellarmine Preparatory School and shared space with Foss High School.[89][90]

In December 2021, OL Reign announced that Lumen Field will become its home stadium beginning in 2022.[65] Lumen Field has a capacity of 68,740; standard configuration for Reign games seats 10,000 but can expand based on demand for individual games.[2] With the move back to Seattle, the team also exited the planned soccer-specific stadium project in Tacoma.[88] OL Reign moved their practice facilities to Starfire Sports prior to the 2023 season; the team were allocated a new field that would be used until they replaced the Sounders, who plan to move to a new facility in 2024.[90]

Broadcasting

[edit]
See also: National Women's Soccer League § Broadcasting

As of 2020, NWSL matches are broadcast on CBS Sports Network and Paramount+. International viewers can watch on nwslsoccer.com. In 2023, the league announced additional international streaming deals with DAZN and Tigo.[91]

From 2013 to 2016, Seattle Reign games were streamed live by Bootstrapper Studios via YouTube. The broadcasts were called by KOMO News Radio Sports Director, Tom Glasgow, with color commentary provided by Lesle Gallimore, head coach of the Washington Huskies.[92] During the 2013 season, a select number of league games were broadcast on Fox Sports.[93] During the 2014 season, several league games were broadcast by ESPN.[94]

In March 2015, the team became one of the first sports teams to use the newly released app Periscope to stream a preseason friendly against the Portland Pilots.[95] In 2015, six select regular season games and the playoff matches were broadcast by Fox Soccer.[96] The playoff final featuring Reign FC and FC Kansas City set what was then a league record, averaging 167,000 viewers on Fox Sports 1 – an increase of 7 percent compared to the 2014 final broadcast on ESPN2.[97] That record stood until the 2016 NWSL finals between Western New York and Washington, which averaged more than 180,000 viewers.[98]

In 2017, Reign games were streamed exclusively by Go90 for American audiences and via the NWSL website for international viewers.[99] As part of a three-year agreement with A&E Networks, Lifetime broadcasts one NWSL Game of the Week on Saturday afternoons.[100][101] For the 2017 season, the Reign were featured in nationally televised Lifetime NWSL Game of the Week broadcasts on May 27, July 8, August 26, and September 9, 2017.[102] During the 2018 season, Lifetime match broadcasts featuring Seattle include May 5, July 21, and August 11, 2018.[103]

In 2024, 11 Reign games will be available on KONG-TV through a local broadcast partnership with KING 5 Media Group.[104]

Supporters

[edit]

The first supporters group formed for the Reign is the Royal Guard. Founded by Matt Banks and Kiana Coleman in April 2013, the group became the first organized supporters group for a women's professional sports team in Washington state's history.[105][106][107] Other supporters groups for the team have included Fortune's Favourites and Queen Anne Collective.[108][109]

Rivalries

[edit]
Rivalry match against Portland Thorns FC at Lumen Field in August 2021

Like the Seattle Sounders FC rivalry with the Portland Timbers, the Reign has a long-standing regional rivalry[110] with Portland Thorns FC.[111] In May 2015, a match between the two teams in Portland set a new attendance record with 21,144 fans cheering in the stadium.[112] Their August 29, 2021, meeting was played at Lumen Field in Seattle as part of a doubleheader with the Sounders and Timbers, drawing 27,248 spectators to break the league's attendance record.[113]

After losing twice to FC Kansas City during the NWSL championship final in 2014 and 2015 despite winning first place in the league, the Reign also considered FC Kansas City to be a rival.[114][115] However, Kansas City folded after the 2017 season, with their head coach Vlatko Andonovski joining the Reign.

An expansion team returned to the Kansas City area in 2021, and the rivalry was revived in 2022 when the Kansas City Current won the playoff semifinal in front of a record-breaking crowd of 21,491 in Seattle.[116] A team from Kansas City has eliminated the Reign in the playoffs in all three of the club's Shield-winning seasons.[117]

Ownership and management

[edit]

OL Reign was wholly owned by Bill and Teresa Predmore from its establishment until January 2019.[60] Bill Predmore was a co-founder and the CEO of POP, a Seattle-based digital marketing agency.[118] Prior to the start of the first season, Predmore stated, "Ultimately, my goal is to build the best women's club in the world. That won't happen tomorrow or this year, but in 10 years or 20 years that's where we want to be."[119] Predmore's wife, Teresa, played college soccer at Oregon State University and soccer is one of her lifelong passions.[119]

Leading up to the inaugural season of the NWSL, Amy Carnell was named general manager for the team. Within a week of regular season play, Carnell resigned from her position citing "personal reasons" and head coach Laura Harvey assumed the role – a setup similar to what she was used to as coach of the Arsenal L.F.C. in England.[14][120][121]

Following the 2017 season, Laura Harvey resigned as general manager and head coach of the team, and Vlatko Andonovski was hired from FC Kansas City as the new head coach.[59] Andonovski and Harvey had been the two most successful coaches in NWSL history, with three Coach of the Year awards and four trophies between them, and Andonovski was the only replacement Harvey endorsed.[122] Andonovski further complimented Harvey's positive impacts and committed to continue playing a "beautiful game" with the Reign.[123]

Before the 2018 season, the team announced an agreement with Force 10 Sports Management, LLC, for it to manage ticket sales and services.[124] Force 10 Sports Management owns and operates the Seattle Storm, a standalone professional women's basketball team in the WNBA, much like the Reign.[125]

On January 30, 2019, the Reign announced that it would move to Tacoma, Washington.[60] As part of the move, the team announced two new minority owners: the Baseball Club of Tacoma LLC (the owner and operator of the Tacoma Rainiers, led by Mikal Thomsen), as well as Seattle Sounders FC majority owner Adrian Hanauer and his mother Lenore Hanauer. Bill and Teresa Predmore remained the team's majority owners, and Bill the team president, after the additional investments. The relocation also brought previous management agreement with Force 10 Sports Management to an end, with the Tacoma Rainiers taking over similar responsibilities at Cheney Stadium.[70]

After winning the 2019 NWSL Coach of the Year award, head coach Vlatko Andonovski resigned to manage the United States women's national soccer team on October 28, 2019.[126] As his departure had been anticipated, co-owner and president Bill Predmore had already begun the search for Andonovski's successor since early September.[127]

On November 25, 2019, majority owner Bill Predmore announced his entry into exclusive negotiations to sell the team to OL Groupe, the parent company of French clubs Olympique Lyonnais and Olympique Lyonnais Féminin.[128] Jean-Michel Aulas, president of OL Groupe, had been public about his desire to acquire an NWSL team as part of Lyon's international ambitions.[129] After the sale was completed, previous majority owners Bill and Teresa Predmore retained a minority stake in the team, while previous minority owners Adrian Hanauer and Tacoma Soccer Ventures no longer had ownership positions.[128] On December 19, 2019, the team announced that the parties entered into a definitive agreement for the sale to be completed in January 2020.[130] The team's total assets were valued at $3.51 million,[4] and OL Groupe would pay $3.145 million to acquire an 89.5 percent ownership stake in the team.[131] It was also announced on the same day that French basketball player Tony Parker, a business partner of OL Groupe, would also pay to acquire a 3% ownership stake, that Aulas would become chairman of the team's board of directors, and that a chief operating officer would be appointed to support the CEO Bill Predmore.[130] OL Groupe executive Vincent Berthillot was later appointed as the COO.[132]

On January 17, 2020, French coach Farid Benstiti was announced as the third head coach in team history.[133] This was followed by the announcement that the team would rebrand as "OL Reign" as part of the takeover.[5] Gérard Houllier was appointed the team's technical director in November 2020,[134] but he died a month later.[135] Benstiti resigned on July 2, 2021.[136] On July 15, 2021, the team announced that Laura Harvey would return as head coach after the Tokyo Olympics.[137]

On September 30, 2021, CEO Bill Predmore confirmed that he asked for former head coach Farid Benstiti's resignation after a player reported inappropriate comments made by Benstiti.[138] Despite a formal complaint being made to the NWSL, Predmore did not disclose details behind Benstiti's resignation at the time.[136] Benstiti was initially hired despite allegations of similar behavior in the past,[139] and Predmore's withholding of information continues a pattern of institutional failure in the NWSL where coaches and personnel under investigation for misconduct were allowed to leave quietly and take up other positions where they could still do harm.[138][140]

In February 2022, club founders Bill and Teresa Predmore announced that they would step down from their operational roles as club CEO and president of the club's youth academy, respectively, while remaining as the club's minority owners.[141] Former COO Vincent Berthillot succeeded Bill Predmore as the club's CEO, while a general manager dedicated to soccer operations would be appointed.[142] Later that month, the club announced Nick Perera, captain of the United States men's national beach soccer team, as the new general manager after serving as executive director of Washington Youth Soccer.[143] Perera departed the club in March 2023.[144]

In April 2023, Washington Spirit owner Michele Kang announced plans to purchase a majority stake in OL Féminin. As both OL Reign and OL Féminin are owned by OL Groupe, Kang's plans would create a conflict of interest between the Reign and the Spirit.[145] As a result, OL Groupe announced its intent to sell OL Reign and hired the investment bank Raine Group to organize the sale process.[146] While the sale process is ongoing, OL Reign announced Lesle Gallimore as the club's new general manager in May 2023.[147] In October 2023, OL Groupe also announced that it had bought out Bill and Teresa Predmore's 7.5% ownership stake for $2 million at some point after June 30, 2023.[148] Although OL Groupe still retained its ownership, the team's affiliation with Olympique Lyonnais and OL Féminin ended after December 31, 2023.[149] The team subsequently returned to its original name of Seattle Reign FC on January 9, 2024,[71] while the sale process continued as of February 8, 2024.[150]

On March 17, 2024,[151] it was announced that the private equity firm Carlyle Group, in collaboration with Seattle Sounders FC, had reached a deal to purchase OL Groupe's 97% stake in Seattle Reign for $58 million; the purchase is subject to approval from the NWSL and MLS.[152] The transaction was finalized on June 17, 2024,[3] with Tony Parker's 3% stake included in the transaction as well.[153] While the Carlyle Group is the majority owner, the Sounders are the Reign's managing owner and Adrian Hanauer is representing the team on the league's board of governors.[154]

Ownership history

[edit]
Tenure Owners Ref.
Founding – January 29, 2019 Bill and Teresa Predmore [60]
January 30, 2019 – January 2020 Bill and Teresa Predmore (majority) [60]
Adrian and Lenore Hanauer
The Baseball Club of Tacoma LLC/Tacoma Soccer Ventures
January 2020 – 2023[a] OL Groupe (89.5%) [130]
Bill and Teresa Predmore (7.5%)
Tony Parker (3%)
2023[a] – June 16, 2024 OL Groupe (97%) [148]
Tony Parker (3%)
June 17, 2024 – present The Carlyle Group (majority) [3]
Seattle Sounders FC
  1. ^ a b In 2023, OL Groupe bought out Bill and Teresa Predmore's ownership stake at some point between June 30, when its 2022–23 fiscal year ended, and October 31, when it published its 2022–23 fiscal year annual report.[148][155]

Executive history

[edit]

This table lists only the highest-level executive at the club at any given time during the club's history.

Name Tenure Title Ref.
Amy Carnell Founding – April 7, 2013 General manager [156]
Laura Harvey April 8, 2013 – November 6, 2017 General manager [59]
Bill Predmore November 7, 2017 – January 2020 President [59]
January 2020 – February 1, 2022 Chief executive officer [128][141]
Vincent Berthillot February 2, 2022 – June 16, 2024 Chief executive officer [141]
Maya Mendoza-Exstrom June 17, 2024 – present Chief business officer [3]

Players and staff

[edit]
See also: List of Seattle Reign FC players

Squad

[edit]
As of September 13, 2024.[157]
No. Pos. Player Nation
1 GK Claudia Dickey  United States
3 DF Lauren Barnes (captain[158])  United States
5 MF Quinn  Canada
6 MF Angharad James-Turner  Wales
7 MF Nikki Stanton  United States
9 FW Jordyn Huitema  Canada
10 MF Jess Fishlock  Wales
12 MF Olivia Athens  United States
13 DF Julia Lester  United States
16 MF Jaelin Howell  United States
18 GK Laurel Ivory  United States
21 DF Phoebe McClernon  United States
22 DF Ryanne Brown  United States
23 FW Tziarra King  United States
24 FW Veronica Latsko  United States
25 DF Shae Holmes  United States
27 MF Maddie Mercado  United States
28 GK Maia Pérez  United States
30 FW Nérilia Mondésir  Haiti
31 DF Hanna Glas  Sweden
32 DF Jordyn Bugg  United States
33 MF Olivia Van der Jagt  United States
34 FW Ana-Maria Crnogorčević  Switzerland
46 MF Ainsley McCammon  United States
47 FW Emeri Adames  United States
91 MF Ji So-yun  South Korea

Out on loan

[edit]
No. Pos. Player Nation
11 DF Sofia Huerta (at Lyon until June 30, 2025[159])  United States
17 DF Lily Woodham (at Crystal Palace until January 31, 2025[160])  Wales
20 MF Sam Meza (at Dallas Trinity until December 31, 2024[161])  United States
26 FW McKenzie Weinert (at Spokane Zephyr until December 31, 2024[162])  United States

Staff

[edit]
As of October 9, 2024.[157][154][163][164]
Governance
Governor Adrian Hanauer
Alternate governor Alex Popov
Executive
Chief business officer Maya Mendoza-Exstrom
Chief legal officer Christine Masse
Chief revenue officer Courtney Carter
General manager Lesle Gallimore
Associate general manager Santiago Gallo
Coaching
Head coach Laura Harvey
Head assistant coach Scott Parkinson
Assistant coach Kate Norton
Assistant coach and head of goalkeeping Lloyd Yaxley
Medical and Performance
Video analyst Kevin Pineda
High performance director Michael Minthorne
Sports dietician Bethany Chapman
Medical director Emily Fortunado
Physical therapist Dr. Bethany Diamond
Head athletic trainer Dr. Jordan Carmosino
Assistant athletic trainer Kevin Orozco
Clinical and sports psychologist Dr. Mariah Bullock
Massage therapist Heidi Henderson
Chiropractor Endeah Hardesty

Captains

[edit]
Captain Tenure Ref.
Keelin Winters 2013–2016 [165][166]
Jess Fishlock 2017 [166]
Megan Rapinoe 2018–2022 [167][168]
Lauren Barnes 2017– [166][158][169]

Head coaches

[edit]
As of November 22, 2023.
Head coach Nat. Tenure Matches[a] Win Draw Loss Pts/M Ref.
Laura Harvey December 21, 2012 – November 6, 2017 110 51 26 33 1.63 [170]
Vlatko Andonovski November 7, 2017 – October 28, 2019 48 21 16 11 1.65 [126]
Farid Benstiti January 17, 2020 – July 1, 2021 7 2 1 4 1.00 [133][136]
Sam Laity (interim) July 2 – August 8, 2021 6 4 0 2 2.00 [136][171]
Laura Harvey August 9, 2021 – 55 27 14 14 1.73 [137][171]
  1. ^ Regular-season matches only.

Honors

[edit]
See also: NWSL awards, NWSL Player of the Week, and NWSL Player of the Month

NWSL Championship

NWSL Shield

The Women's Cup

Records

[edit]

Season records

[edit]
Main article: List of Seattle Reign FC seasons
See also: National Women's Soccer League attendance
Seattle Reign FC seasons[172]
Season NWSL regular season Playoffs Challenge
Cup 		Top
scorer[a] 		Goals[a] Attendance[b]
P W L D GF GA Pts. Pos. Avg. High Total
2013 22 5 14 3 22 36 18 7th DNQ Not held United States Megan Rapinoe 5 2,306 3,855 25,365
2014 24 16 2 6 50 20 54 Shield Runners-up Scotland Kim Little 17♦ 3,632 5,957 43,581
2015 20 13 3 4 41 21 43 Shield Runners-up Scotland Kim Little
United States Bev Yanez 		10 4,060 6,303 40,595
2016 20 8 6 6 29 21 30 5th DNQ Netherlands Manon Melis 7 4,602 5,888 46,018
2017 24 9 8 7 43 37 34 5th DNQ United States Megan Rapinoe 12 4,037 6,041 48,449
2018 24 11 5 8 27 19 41 3rd Semifinal England Jodie Taylor 9 3,824 5,251 45,885
2019 24 10 6 8 27 27 38 4th Semifinal United States Bethany Balcer 6 5,213 7,479 62,551
2020 Canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic 7th[c] Quarterfinal United States Bethany Balcer 3 Behind closed doors
2021 24 13 8 3 37 24 42 2nd Semifinal Group stage United States Bethany Balcer 9 5,240 27,278 62,885
2022 22 11 4 7 32 19 40 Shield Semifinal Semifinal United States Bethany Balcer 9 6,844 10,744 75,289
2023 22 9 8 5 29 24 32 4th Runners-up Semifinal United States Bethany Balcer
Canada Jordyn Huitema 		7 13,609 42,054 149,704
♦ League most for season
bold Club record
  1. ^ a b All official competitions.
  2. ^ Attendance from NWSL regular-season matches only.
  3. ^ Results from the 2020 NWSL Fall Series.

Player records

[edit]
Further information: List of Seattle Reign FC players
As of November 12, 2023.[173] Current players in bold. Statistics are updated once a year after the conclusion of the NWSL season.

Retired jersey numbers

[edit]

Most appearances

[edit]
# Player Tenure NWSL Playoffs Other cups Total
1 United States Lauren Barnes 2013– 211 11 16 238
2 Wales Jess Fishlock 2013– 180 10 15 205
3 United States Megan Rapinoe 2013–2023 115 11 6 132
4 United States Bev Yanez 2014–2019 123 6 0 129
5 United States Bethany Balcer 2019– 88 6 23 117
6 United States Kristen McNabb 2017–2021 74 2 11 87
United States Keelin Winters 2013–2016 83 4 0
8 United States Sofia Huerta 2020– 59 5 21 85
9 United States Elli Burris 2013–2017, 2022 77 3 0 80
10 United States Alana Cook 2020– 56 5 12 73
Scotland Kim Little 2014–2016, 2022 69 4 0

Top scorers

[edit]
# Player Tenure NWSL Playoffs Other cups Total
1 United States Megan Rapinoe 2013–2023 52 3 0 55
2 Wales Jess Fishlock 2013– 42 0 1 43
3 United States Bethany Balcer 2019– 28 0 6 34
4 Scotland Kim Little 2014–2016, 2022 32 1 0 33
5 United States Bev Yanez 2014–2019 24 1 0 25
6 Japan Nahomi Kawasumi 2014, 2016–2018 18 0 0 18
7 England Jodie Taylor 2018–2020 14 0 0 14
8 Canada Jordyn Huitema 2022– 7 0 2 9
9 United States Veronica Latsko 2022– 5 2 1 8
United States Rose Lavelle 2021–2023 6 1 1
France Eugénie Le Sommer 2021 7 1 0

See also

[edit]

Notes

[edit]
  1. ^ Lumen Field has a capacity of 68,740; standard configuration for Reign games seats 10,000 but can expand based on demand for individual games.[2]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b "Seattle Club Selected as Founding Member of New Women's Professional Soccer League". The Seattle Times. Archived from the original on February 1, 2016. Retrieved December 19, 2012.
  2. ^ a b Rantz, Susie (December 15, 2021). "OL Reign's move to Lumen Field, explained". Sounder At Heart.
  3. ^ a b c d "Sounders, Carlyle Group complete purchase of Seattle Reign". Sounder at Heart. June 17, 2024.
  4. ^ a b Levine, Matthew. "OL Groupe to become majority owner of National Women's Soccer League's Reign FC". NWSL. Retrieved December 19, 2019.
  5. ^ a b c "REIGN FC REVEAL NEW NAME AND BRAND IDENTITY". OL Reign. March 6, 2020. Retrieved March 6, 2020.
  6. ^ a b "Match Recap: OL Reign Wins 2022 NWSL Shield". OL Reign. October 1, 2022. Retrieved October 4, 2022.
  7. ^ Pentz, Matt (October 1, 2020). "How a group of USWNT stars found a temporary home on a Seattle amateur team". The Athletic. Retrieved June 9, 2023.
  8. ^ Kassouf, Jeff (June 29, 2012). "New women's soccer league in the works for 2013 following meeting in Chicago". The Equalizer. Retrieved April 13, 2013.
  9. ^ Kassouf, Jeff (May 20, 2020). "NWSL Beginnings: Calling off the Sirens on account of Reign". The Equalizer. Retrieved May 20, 2020.
  10. ^ "A stop and chat with Bill Predmore, owner of the new women's pro team in Seattle". The Seattle Times. Archived from the original on February 1, 2016. Retrieved December 19, 2012.
  11. ^ a b c Mayers, Joshua. "Seattle's professional women's soccer team will be called Reign FC". The Seattle Times. Retrieved December 19, 2012.
  12. ^ "Amy Carnell, the Sounders FC Director of Youth Programs since 2008, has helped build the largest youth camp system in Major League Soccer". Seattle Sounders FC. Retrieved December 19, 2012.
  13. ^ Mayers, Joshua. "Reign FC hires Laura Harvey of the Arsenal Ladies as its first head coach". The Seattle Times. Retrieved December 21, 2012.
  14. ^ a b "Amy Carnell out as Seattle Reign GM, Laura Harvey assumes role". Sounder at Heart. April 8, 2013. Retrieved August 22, 2013.
  15. ^ "NWSL allocation easier said than done". ESPN. Archived from the original on January 15, 2013. Retrieved January 12, 2013.
  16. ^ "Player distribution sees NWSL take shape". FIFA. Archived from the original on January 15, 2013. Retrieved January 12, 2013.
  17. ^ "New Women's League Allocates Players". The New York Times. January 11, 2013. Retrieved January 25, 2013.
  18. ^ "Penn State women's soccer star Christine Nairn drafted by National Women's Soccer League's Seattle Reign". Philadelphia Daily News. January 19, 2013. Retrieved August 22, 2013.
  19. ^ "NWSL College Draft, results: Red Stars pick Zakiya Bywaters No. 1". SB Nation. January 18, 2013. Retrieved August 22, 2013.
  20. ^ "Seattle Reign sign four free agents: Kate Deines, Jess Fishlock, Tiffany Cameron, Lindsay Taylor". Sounder at Heart. February 4, 2013. Retrieved February 5, 2013.
  21. ^ "NWSL Supplemental Draft results". The Equalizer. February 7, 2013. Retrieved February 7, 2013.
  22. ^ "Amy Rodriguez to Miss 2013 Reign Season to Have a Child". Sounder at Heart. January 29, 2013. Retrieved August 22, 2013.
  23. ^ "Seattle Reign's Hope Solo will miss 3–4 months after wrist surgery". Sounder at Heart. March 9, 2013. Retrieved August 22, 2013.
  24. ^ Borden, Sam (April 10, 2013). "A U.S. Soccer Star's Declaration of Independence". The New York Times. Retrieved August 22, 2013.
  25. ^ Bird, Liviu (February 14, 2013). "Seattle Reign FC trip to Japan indicative of global ambition". Equalizer Soccer. Retrieved August 22, 2013.
  26. ^ "RED STARS TIE REIGN FC 1–1 IN HOME OPENER". NWSL. Archived from the original on March 8, 2014. Retrieved August 22, 2013.
  27. ^ "Seattle Reign finally get their first win". The Seattle Times. June 26, 2013. Retrieved September 25, 2018.
  28. ^ "Seattle Reign FC sign Australian WNT co-captain Emily Van Egmond". NWSL News. Retrieved August 22, 2013.
  29. ^ "Reign FC's unbeaten streak ends at six following 2–0 loss to FC Kansas City". The Seattle Times. Retrieved August 22, 2013.
  30. ^ "Reign FC closes first NWSL season with loss to Portland, finishes with 5–14–3 record". The Seattle Times. Retrieved August 22, 2013.
  31. ^ "Seattle Reign FC sees unbeaten streak end at 16". The Seattle Times. July 12, 2014. Retrieved November 12, 2014.
  32. ^ "Reign Dominate Dash to Clinch Shield". Sounder at Heart. July 30, 2014. Retrieved January 21, 2015.
  33. ^ Bird, Liviu (August 31, 2014). "FC Kansas City beats Seattle Reign to win NWSL championship". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved January 21, 2015.
  34. ^ Kirkpatrick, Sarah (August 21, 2014). "Reign FC midfielder Kim Little awarded NWSL Golden Boot". Seattle Post-Intelligencer. Retrieved January 21, 2015.
  35. ^ Pentz, Matt (August 28, 2014). "Reign's Kim Little is named league MVP". The Seattle Times. Retrieved January 21, 2015.
  36. ^ Pentz, Matt (August 27, 2014). "Seattle's Laura Harvey named NWSL coach of the year". The Seattle Times. Retrieved January 21, 2015.
  37. ^ "NWSL Announces 2014 Best XI". National Women's Soccer League. August 29, 2014. Archived from the original on January 23, 2015. Retrieved January 21, 2015.
  38. ^ "SEATTLE REIGN WIN NWSL SHIELD FOR 2ND STRAIGHT SEASON". ESPN. August 27, 2015. Retrieved October 10, 2015.
  39. ^ Goldberg, Jamie (October 1, 2015). "NWSL Championship Game: FC Kansas City 1, Seattle Reign 0 – Live chat and updates recap". The Oregonian. Retrieved October 10, 2015.
  40. ^ "Seattle Reign represented heavily in NWSL Awards". Sounder at Heart. September 9, 2015. Retrieved October 10, 2015.
  41. ^ Pentz, Matt (September 18, 2015). "Reign FC's Laura Harvey named NWSL Coach of the Year for second straight season". The Seattle Times. Retrieved October 10, 2015.
  42. ^ "Four Seattle Reign players make NWSL Best XI squad". Sounder at Heart. September 24, 2015. Retrieved October 10, 2015.
  43. ^ "2016 NWSL". Soccer Way. Retrieved October 4, 2016.
  44. ^ Rantz, Susie (May 20, 2016). "Seattle Reign's Manon Melis suffers tibia fracture". Sounder at Heart. Retrieved October 4, 2016.
  45. ^ Rantz, Susie (April 28, 2016). "Jess Fishlock out 4–6 weeks with tibia fracture". Sounder at Heart. Retrieved October 4, 2016.
  46. ^ "One Day at a Time". Megan Rapinoe. June 10, 2016. Retrieved October 4, 2016.
  47. ^ Gowdy, Kristen (July 2, 2016). "Nahomi Kawasumi scores two goals in return as Seattle Reign beats Boston Breakers, 2–0". The Seattle Times. Retrieved October 4, 2016.
  48. ^ "Narrowing the field: NWSL game played on 58-yard wide pitch". ESPN. July 9, 2016. Retrieved October 4, 2016.
  49. ^ Cristobal, Jacob (July 9, 2016). "Seattle Reign Players Sound Off on Playing On 'Unacceptable' Field". Sounder at Heart. Retrieved October 4, 2016.
  50. ^ "NWSL reveals 2016 schedule with slight imbalance". The Equalizer. February 18, 2016. Retrieved October 4, 2016.
  51. ^ "Hope Solo takes leave of absence from Seattle Reign in wake of U.S. Soccer suspension". Los Angeles Times. August 27, 2016. Retrieved October 4, 2016.
  52. ^ "Seattle Reign captain Keelin Winters to retire at the end of this NWSL season". The Seattle Times. September 10, 2016. Retrieved October 4, 2016.
  53. ^ Matt Pentz (October 17, 2016). "Kim Little transfers from Seattle Reign to Arsenal Ladies". The Seattle Times. Retrieved November 1, 2016.
  54. ^ a b "Reign FC Finalize Roster for 2017 NWSL Season". Reign FC. April 10, 2017. Retrieved March 3, 2019.
  55. ^ "Reign eliminated from playoffs after 1–0 loss to FC Kansas City". The Seattle Times. September 24, 2017. Retrieved September 25, 2018.
  56. ^ a b "Summary – NWSL – USA – Results, fixtures, tables and news – Women Soccerway". Soccerway. Retrieved September 25, 2018.
  57. ^ "Seattle Reign FC Team Awards 2017: Golden Boot". Reign FC. October 3, 2017. Retrieved March 3, 2019.
  58. ^ "Megan Rapinoe nominated for FIFA Women's Player of the Year". Sounder At Heart. Retrieved September 25, 2018.
  59. ^ a b c d "Laura Harvey Steps Down as Head Coach and GM; Vlatko Andonovski Named Head Coach of Reign FC". Reign FC. November 7, 2017. Retrieved March 3, 2019.
  60. ^ a b c d e Purdy, Jacqueline (January 30, 2019). "Big moves for Reign FC: New venue, new city, new minority owners". NWSL. Retrieved January 31, 2019.
  61. ^ "Seattle venture capitalist joins Reign FC ownership group as soccer team announces move to Tacoma and new stadium plans". GeekWire. January 31, 2019. Retrieved March 17, 2019.
  62. ^ "NWSL's Seattle Reign FC relocating to Tacoma". espnW. January 31, 2019. Retrieved March 17, 2019.
  63. ^ Reichard, Kevin (January 30, 2019). "Seattle Reign FC to Tacoma; Tacoma Defiance New USL Brand". Soccer Stadium Digest. Retrieved March 17, 2019.
  64. ^ Evans, Jayda (December 14, 2022). "NWSL's Joint Investigation Team finds leaguewide systemic abuse, includes offenses by OL Reign". The Seattle Times. Retrieved December 14, 2022.
  65. ^ a b "OL Reign Returns Home to Seattle". OL Reign.
  66. ^ "OL Reign to Begin Training at Starfire Sports in 2023". OL REIGN: WE ARE THE BOLD.
  67. ^ Cristobal, Jacob (October 20, 2022). "OL Reign have found their training facility in Starfire Sports Complex". Sounder At Heart.
  68. ^ Goff, Steven (November 11, 2023). "Gotham takes NWSL title after Reign star Megan Rapinoe's farewell is cut short". The Washington Post. Retrieved November 17, 2023.
  69. ^ a b "Seattle's NWSL team will be named Seattle Reign FC". Sounder at Heart. December 19, 2012. Retrieved January 12, 2013.
  70. ^ a b Rantz, Susie (January 30, 2019). "Reign FC move to Tacoma for 2019 season, and beyond". Sounder at Heart. Retrieved January 31, 2019.
  71. ^ a b Evans, Jayda (January 9, 2024). "OL Reign transform to Seattle Reign FC in throwback to original name and crest". Retrieved January 9, 2024.
  72. ^ "Seattle Reign FC Makes Triumphant Return Ahead of 2024 Season" (Press release). Seattle Reign FC. January 9, 2024. Retrieved January 9, 2024.
  73. ^ Ruiz, Don (April 11, 2013). "Reign names jersey sponsor as opener nears". The News Tribune. Retrieved March 26, 2017.
  74. ^ a b Soper, Taylor (April 7, 2016). "Microsoft inks deal with Seattle Reign soccer team for jersey sponsorship". Geekwire. Retrieved March 26, 2017.
  75. ^ "Reign FC Announces Zulily as Presenting Partner". Reign FC. January 17, 2019. Retrieved March 3, 2019.
  76. ^ "Sounders FC announces groundbreaking multi-year jersey rights partnership with Seattle-based online retailer Zulily". Seattle Sounders FC. January 18, 2019. Retrieved January 18, 2019.
  77. ^ a b Predmore, Bill; Predmore, Teresa (January 30, 2019). "An Open Letter to the Fans and Supporters of Seattle Reign FC from the owners". Sounder at Heart. Retrieved January 31, 2019.
  78. ^ "Reign FC Unveil New Secondary Kits, Announce New Partnership With Boeing" (Press release). Reign FC. April 11, 2019. Retrieved April 12, 2019.
  79. ^ Rantz, Susie (February 4, 2021). "OL Reign end partnership with Zulily". Sounder At Heart. Retrieved February 4, 2021.
  80. ^ "OL REIGN UNVEIL 2021 JERSEYS FEATURING BLACK FUTURE CO-OP FUND". OL Reign. April 14, 2021. Retrieved April 15, 2021.
  81. ^ "OL Reign and MultiCare Partner for Back-Of-Kit Partnership". OL Reign.
  82. ^ Bird, Liviu (January 23, 2013). "Seattle Reign FC announces Starfire Stadium as home venue". Equalizer Soccer. Retrieved January 23, 2013.
  83. ^ "Outdoor Turf Fields". Starfire Sports. Retrieved January 23, 2013.
  84. ^ Oshan, Jeremiah (February 6, 2014). "Reign will play home games at Memorial Stadium in 2014 and beyond". Sounder at Heart. Retrieved February 6, 2014.
  85. ^ a b Mayers, Joshua (February 6, 2014). "Reign FC confirms its new home will be Seattle Memorial Stadium". The Seattle Times. Retrieved April 10, 2014.
  86. ^ Farley, Richard (September 27, 2017). "Will Reign FC thrive, or just survive? The NWSL's cloudy future in Seattle". FourFourTwo. Retrieved November 27, 2017.
  87. ^ Cristobal, Jacob (August 16, 2018). "Seattle Reign FC will remain at Memorial Stadium for 2019 NWSL season". Sounder at Heart. Retrieved January 31, 2019.
  88. ^ a b Kassouf, Jeff (December 15, 2021). "Reign move to Lumen Field for home games to settle in Seattle, once and for all – Equalizer Soccer".
  89. ^ Kirschman, Lauren (April 30, 2021). "OL Reign partners with Bellarmine Prep to share practice field". The News Tribune. Retrieved May 19, 2023.
  90. ^ a b Evans, Jayda (January 25, 2023). "OL Reign eager to get going on new turf". The Seattle Times. Retrieved May 19, 2023.
  91. ^ "National Women's Soccer League Announces International Streaming Details". National Women's Soccer League. March 23, 2023. Retrieved June 1, 2023.
  92. ^ "Reign FC Home Opener Tonight". Our Sports Central. May 4, 2013. Retrieved August 22, 2013.
  93. ^ "NWSL, FOX Sports announce TV deal". Fox Sports. Retrieved August 22, 2013.
  94. ^ "NWSL and ESPN Announce National Broadcast Agreement". National Women's Soccer League. May 28, 2014. Retrieved March 31, 2015.
  95. ^ Pramuk, Jacob (March 30, 2015). "What Meerkat, Periscope mean for sports broadcasts". CNBC. Retrieved March 31, 2015.
  96. ^ "NWSL and Fox Sports Announce National Broadcast Deal". National Women's Soccer League. June 30, 2015. Retrieved October 10, 2015.
  97. ^ Kennedy, Paul (October 7, 2015). "TV Report: NWSL viewers up for final, down for season". Soccer America. Retrieved October 10, 2015.
  98. ^ "Ratings Roundup: NHL Opening Night, WNBA Finals, NWSL Final". Sports Media Watch. October 13, 2016. Retrieved November 1, 2016.
  99. ^ "NWSL, go90 announce exclusive streaming partnership". Black and Red United (SBNation). April 13, 2017. Retrieved April 14, 2017.
  100. ^ "Lifetime To Air National Women's Soccer League Games As A+E Networks Kicks in For Equity Stake". Deadline Hollywood. February 2, 2017. Retrieved February 3, 2017.
  101. ^ "A+E Networks, National Women's Soccer League Ink Major Deal". Variety. February 2, 2017. Retrieved February 3, 2017.
  102. ^ Forrester, Nick (March 30, 2017). "NWSL announces 2017 broadcast schedule on Lifetime". Excelle Sports. Retrieved April 27, 2017.
  103. ^ "2018 NWSL Game of the Week Broadcast Schedule | Lifetime". Lifetime. Retrieved April 4, 2018.
  104. ^ "Seattle Reign FC and KING 5 Media Group Announce Broadcast Partnership for 2024 Season". Seattle Reign FC.
  105. ^ "Royal Guard's first decree: supporting Seattle Reign FC". Goal WA. May 7, 2013. Retrieved August 22, 2013.
  106. ^ "North American Supporters Group Archive: NWSL". Major League Soccer. Retrieved November 20, 2013.
  107. ^ Brown, Julian (July 23, 2013). "Rapinoe Shines in Reign Home Debut in 3–1 Victory". The Soccer Desk. Retrieved November 20, 2013.
  108. ^ "7 reasons you should attend a Seattle Reign match". Sounder at Heart. July 14, 2015. Retrieved October 10, 2015.
  109. ^ "Your 2015 NWSL Championship Matchday Guide". Queen Anne Collective. September 29, 2015. Retrieved October 10, 2015.
  110. ^ "Thorns-Reign: A rivalry by any other name". Portland Thorns FC. April 19, 2013. Retrieved March 26, 2017.
  111. ^ Blue, Molly (May 12, 2016). "Tobin Heath out, Christine Sinclair in for Portland Thorns vs. Seattle Reign". The Oregonian. Retrieved March 26, 2017.
  112. ^ "Reign-Thorns draws NWSL-record crowd of 21,144". ESPN. July 22, 2015. Retrieved March 26, 2017.
  113. ^ Evans, Jayda (August 29, 2021). "Megan Rapinoe scores a brace to lead OL Reign past Portland before an NWSL-record crowd". The Seattle Times. Retrieved September 4, 2021.
  114. ^ Murray, Caitlin (October 1, 2015). "NWSL final: Seattle Reign hope ruthlessness can kill off FC Kansas City". The Guardian. Retrieved March 26, 2017.
  115. ^ Ridgway, Martha (May 1, 2016). "Seattle Reign FC and FC Kansas City Team up for Athlete Ally's EveryFan Campaign". Athlete Ally. Retrieved March 26, 2017.
  116. ^ "Match Recap: OL Reign Falls 2–0 in NWSL Semifinal". OL REIGN: WE ARE THE BOLD.
  117. ^ @JeffKassouf (October 24, 2022). "Kansas City, in every iteration, is the Reign's bogey team. FC Kansas City won NWSL titles in 2014 and 2015, defeating the Reign in both finals. Kansas City Current defeat Reign to make 2022 final vs. Portland. Those are the Reign's three Shield-winning years" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  118. ^ Cook, John (January 16, 2013). "Advance Publications buys Seattle digital agency POP". Geek Wire. Retrieved January 18, 2016.
  119. ^ a b "Bill Predmore: 'My goal is to build the best women's club in the world'". The Seattle Times. Retrieved August 22, 2013.
  120. ^ "Reign FC general manager Amy Carnell resigns". The Seattle Times. Retrieved August 22, 2013.
  121. ^ "Tom Glasgow, Sports Director". KOMO News. Retrieved August 22, 2013.
  122. ^ "Laura Harvey and Vlatko Andonovski Discuss the Future of Reign FC". Reign FC. November 7, 2017. Retrieved March 3, 2019.
  123. ^ "Vlatko Andonovski Welcomes New Challenge". Reign FC. November 7, 2017. Retrieved March 3, 2019.
  124. ^ "Seattle Reign FC Partners with Force 10 Sports Management to Manage Ticket Sales and Service". Reign FC. February 5, 2018. Retrieved March 3, 2019.
  125. ^ Glass, Alana. "The Female Entrepreneurs Who Are The Seattle Storm's Driving Force". Forbes. Retrieved September 25, 2018.
  126. ^ a b "ANDONOVSKI DEPARTS REIGN FC; NAMED USWNT HEAD COACH". Reign FC. October 28, 2019. Retrieved October 28, 2019.
  127. ^ Cristobal, Jacob (October 28, 2019). "Vlatko Andonovski departs Reign FC to become new USWNT head coach". Sounder at Heart. Retrieved October 28, 2019.
  128. ^ a b c "Reign FC Has Entered into Exclusive Negotiations to Sell the Club to OL Groupe" (Press release). Reign FC. November 25, 2019. Retrieved November 25, 2019.
  129. ^ Karell, Darren (October 11, 2019). "Lyon planning to purchase NWSL franchise". Yahoo! Sports. Retrieved November 25, 2019.
  130. ^ a b c "REIGN FC ACQUIRED BY OL GROUPE". Reign FC. December 19, 2019. Retrieved December 19, 2019.
  131. ^ "JEAN-MICHEL AULAS : "WE WILL BRING OUR EXPERTISE AND OUR PASSION TO THIS PROJECT"". Olympique Lyonnais. December 19, 2019. Retrieved December 20, 2019.
  132. ^ Voght, Steve (January 21, 2020). "Evolution, not wholesale change, as Reign FC becomes part of OL Groupe family". Sounder at Heart. Retrieved January 21, 2020.
  133. ^ a b "FARID BENSTITI APPOINTED HEAD COACH OF REIGN FC". Reign FC. January 17, 2020. Retrieved January 17, 2020.
  134. ^ Kidd, Robert (November 24, 2020). "Interview: The Olympique Lyon-strategy behind the purchase of a US women's team". Off the Pitch. Retrieved November 28, 2020.
  135. ^ "Gerard Houllier: Former Liverpool manager dies aged 73". BBC Sport. December 14, 2020. Retrieved December 14, 2020.
  136. ^ a b c d "FARID BENSTITI RESIGNS AS HEAD COACH OF OL REIGN". OL Reign. July 2, 2021. Retrieved July 2, 2021.
  137. ^ a b "LAURA HARVEY RETURNS AS HEAD COACH OF OL REIGN". OL Reign. July 15, 2021. Retrieved July 15, 2021.
  138. ^ a b "NWSL players speak out amid abuse claims: 'Burn it all down' – The Washington Post". The Washington Post.
  139. ^ Voght, Steve (September 30, 2021). "New details emerge on Farid Benstiti's sudden departure from OL Reign". Sounder At Heart.
  140. ^ Linehan, Meg. "'This guy has a pattern': Amid institutional failure, former NWSL players accuse prominent coach of sexual coercion". The Athletic.
  141. ^ a b c "Teresa and Bill Predmore Stepping Down from Operating Roles with OL Reign – Vincent Berthillot Appointed New CEO". OL Reign.
  142. ^ Cristobal, Jacob (February 2, 2022). "OL Reign founders Teresa and Bill Predmore to step down". Sounder At Heart.
  143. ^ "OL Reign Names Nick Perera General Manager". OL Reign.
  144. ^ "General Manager Nick Perera Departs OL Reign". OL Reign.
  145. ^ Dixon, Ed (May 17, 2023). "Washington Spirit owner Michele Kang acquires Lyon Féminin to form multi-club soccer group". Sports Pro Media. Retrieved October 16, 2023.
  146. ^ Kassouf, Jeff; Vincent, Taylor; Munson, Bella (April 12, 2023). "Reign for sale, Michele Kang to take over Lyon women: What it could mean for Spirit, Reign, Lyon and NWSL – Equalizer Soccer".
  147. ^ "OL Reign Appoints Lesle Gallimore as General Manager". OL Reign.
  148. ^ a b c "DOCUMENT D'ENREGISTREMENT UNIVERSEL 2022–2023" (PDF) (in French). OL Groupe. October 31, 2023. p. 201. Retrieved November 9, 2023. La société a procédé à l'acquisition de 7,5 % des actions d'OL Reign auprès de Bill PREDMORE pour un montant de 2 M$, soit de 1,9 M€. Le pourcentage de détention d'OL Reign passe de 89,5 % à 97 %.
  149. ^ "Washington Spirit owner Y. Michele Kang officially adds OL Féminin to ownership group". The District Press. February 11, 2024.
  150. ^ "While OL Feminin's sale is final, Reign sale still in final stages". Sounder at Heart. February 8, 2024.
  151. ^ "Seattle Reign FC Acquisition by Seattle Sounders and Carlyle Nears Completion". Seattle Reign FC.
  152. ^ Novy-Williasm, Eben (March 18, 2024). "Carlyle, Sounders reach deal to buy NWSL's Reign for $58 million". Sportico. Retrieved March 18, 2024.
  153. ^ Novy-Williams, Eben (June 17, 2024). "Sounders, Carlyle Close on $58M Deal for NWSL's Seattle Reign".
  154. ^ a b "Seattle Reign FC Stays Rooted in the PNW". Seattle Reign FC.
  155. ^ "Olympique Lyonnais Groupe – Rapports annuels". investisseur.olympiquelyonnais.com.
  156. ^ Bird, Liviu (April 8, 2013). "Reign FC general manager resigns as club finalizes season preparations". Soccer Wire. Retrieved November 13, 2017.
  157. ^ a b "Roster and Technical Staff". OL Reign. Retrieved January 4, 2021.
  158. ^ a b "LAUREN BARNES ON LEADERSHIP AND THE VALUE OF EXPERIENCE". OL Reign. August 9, 2019. Retrieved February 27, 2021.
  159. ^ "Seattle Reign FC Loans Defender Sofia Huerta to Olympique Lyonnais". Seattle Reign FC.
  160. ^ "Seattle Reign FC Loans Defender Lily Woodham to Crystal Palace F.C." Seattle Reign FC.
  161. ^ "Seattle Reign FC Exercises Option for Midfielder Sam Meza, Loans Meza to USL Super League's Dallas Trinity FC". Seattle Reign FC.
  162. ^ "Seattle Reign FC Extends Forward McKenzie Weinert, Loans Weinert to USL Super League's Spokane Zephyr FC". Seattle Reign FC.
  163. ^ "Seattle Reign FC and Seattle Sounders FC Appoint Hollywood Executive Courtney Carter to Chief Revenue Officer". Seattle Reign FC.
  164. ^ "Seattle Reign FC and Seattle Sounders FC Name Christine Masse as Chief Legal Officer". Seattle Reign FC.
  165. ^ "The Captain: Keelin Winters". Medium.com. Reign FC. September 11, 2016. Retrieved February 27, 2021.
  166. ^ a b c "Jessica Fishlock and Lauren Barnes Named Co-Captains". Medium.com. Reign FC. April 6, 2017. Retrieved February 27, 2021.
  167. ^ "NAHOMI KAWASUMI DEPARTS AFTER FOUR SEASONS WITH REIGN FC". OL Reign. January 14, 2019. Retrieved February 27, 2021.
  168. ^ "OL Reign Re-Signs Forward Megan Rapinoe Through 2023 Season". OL REIGN: WE ARE THE BOLD.
  169. ^ "OL Reign Re-Signs Captain Lu Barnes Through 2024 Season". OL REIGN: WE ARE THE BOLD.
  170. ^ "Laura Harvey Leaves Legacy with Reign FC". Reign FC. November 7, 2017. Retrieved March 3, 2019.
  171. ^ a b "Laura Harvey Extends Contract Through 2023 Season". OL Reign.
  172. ^ "OL Reign Stats and History". FBref. Sports Reference. Retrieved October 20, 2023.
  173. ^ "OL Reign Stats and History". FBref.com.
  174. ^ "Seattle Reign FC to Retire Megan Rapinoe's #15 Jersey on August 25". Seattle Reign FC.
[edit]
Wikimedia Commons has media related to OL Reign.
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Seattle_Reign_FC&oldid=1254690885"