Goalkeeper Neeku Purcell Named to United States U-23 Roster

Seattle Reign FC goalkeeper Neeku Purcell has been named to the United States Under-23 National Team roster for the first training camp of 2026. Camp is set to take place in South Florida and includes 24 players – 19 NWSL players, two USL Super League Players and three college players. 

The training camp will culminate with two matches against the Mexico U-23 National Team, on March 3 and March 6. The matches, which will be played at the FIU Soccer Stadium in Miami, are free and open to the public. 

Purcell, a product of Seattle Reign Academy, has tirelessly built a strong foundation for success at the youth and collegiate level. Following her time in the Reign’s Academy, she made 27 appearances for UCLA and conceded just 13 goals, while making 33 saves.  

The 22-year-old made her professional debut with Brooklyn FC in the Gainbridge Super League before she first signed with the Reign as a short-term replacement player in June 2025, and earned a full contract ahead of the 2026 season. 

Though the Seattle native has not made her NWSL debut just yet, she’s made a strong impression on all of those at the Reign – and on the international stage. In November, she was one of two goalkeepers called into the U.S. U-23 Women’s National Team training camp in Europe, alongside Reign FC teammates Emeri Adames and Maddie Dahlien, who are spending this international window with the U-20 squad and senior USWNT squad, respectively. 

The U.S. U-23 team had a highly successful year in 2025, as 14 players who saw minutes with U-23s eventually earned their full USWNT call-ups. Purcell, a player who provides consistency and resilience on the pitch, is one of eight players on the U-23 roster that has represented the USA in the FIFA Women’s World Cup at the youth level. 

As evident by her performance in preseason training and her call-up to the U-23 squad, Purcell is continuing down a path of long-term development that will fuel not only her career, but the overall success of the Reign. She continues to progress in Seattle’s first-team environment, she remains a key part of the Reign’s solid goalkeeping union.