"I think this team is special and I wouldn't say that if I didn't mean it”: Maddie Mercado stays in Seattle to continue her NWSL journey

Seattle Reign forward Maddie Mercado has been one of the most exciting breakout stories in NWSL this season.

Mercado started her journey with the club after being selected 27th overall during the 2024 NWSL Draft – but that was only the beginning.

On Tuesday, the team’s leading scorer had her player option for the 2027 NWSL season exercised. But to truly understand the significance of Mercado’s extension, you must go back a few years.

During her rookie season in 2024, she made five appearances and added one goal, which came in the Reign’s final match of the season against the Orlando Pride. The following season, Mercado made the decision to go on loan to Carolina Ascent FC of the Gainbridge Super League and it transformed her career.

“I think my first year, year and a half were great for my development in a lot of ways, you know, the adjustment from college. Pro seasons are longer and a lot more intense, so I think your body and mind need time to sort of get in that rhythm. I did [get] some opportunities, which was great to get my feet wet,” said Mercado.

She quickly rose to notoriety within the league as she scored four goals in her six starts for Carolina, including the fastest goal in league history when she found the back of the net just 43 seconds into her debut.

“The loan was really great for me because I hadn't consistently played games in a while. It was something that I felt was important to get myself back into form because I knew I could contribute, especially around the 18, scoring goals, whatever that looked like.”

Mercado continued, “I was there for a total of six or seven weeks, which was really short, but it was really great for me. I had a great experience at Carolina, and everyone was really welcoming. I came back and I was fit again. I was in form and then from there, it was just important to continue that momentum into the season.”

And she did just that as she began the 2026 season. This year, the 25-year-old has proven to be one of the Reign’s strongest offensive threats. Not only is she one of two players to appear in every match for the Reign this season, but she leads the team in goals scored, shots and shots on target.

“I’m a really competitive person but I also think that there’s times when that can inhibit you, I guess,” said Mercado. “For me, it’s finding that balance of being myself on the field and having fun but also having that competitive edge and always striving to be better.”

“This is mindset I’ve had my whole life but when [you] become a professional, it’s a little bit different. You have to hone it in because it’s a different level than you’ve ever played in your life. I’m just happy that I’m at a point where I get to be myself and express myself on the field.”

She’s spent this season pushed higher up the field and scored her first goal of the campaign when the team played its first three home matches at ONE Spokane Stadium on the east side of Washington. Captain Sofia Huerta assisted the goal as Mercado headed the ball into the back of the net – a sight the team has now gotten used to.

She scored one more goal for Seattle before the NWSL observed a break from play in the month of June. She entered the month-long break tied for the team’s leading scorer and returned to play without missing a beat.

Since play resumed in July, she has been on an unmatched tear, recording at least one goal contribution in seven of 10 matches and is one of eight NWSL players to score in at least eight different matches this season. She now has eight goals on the year and has also added an assist to complement her offensive prowess.

Though she has cemented her spot in the Reign’s lineup and on the scoresheet, her ambition is unrelenting, both for herself and for the entire team. As the squad eyes the rest of the season and a push for playoff qualification, Mercado has her eyes locked on the ultimate prize.

“This team and this club has the potential to be a championship club. I know this club has been very successful in the past, but I think this team's special, and I wouldn't say that if I didn't mean it. I think we have a lot of key pieces and people that complement each other really well. This team is just going to continue to get better. And it's very exciting to be a part of and I think for me individually, it's just continuing to help create and finish chances.”