Match Forecast: Reign FC Hosts Queen’s Match Against North Carolina Courage
Seattle Reign FC hosts the North Carolina Courage at Lumen Field this Friday, October 2, at the club’s annual Queen’s Match. Off the pitch, fans are invited to take part in celebrating club legend Jess Fishlock and the undeniable impact she has made throughout her career.
On the pitch, the Reign will look to continue their winning ways at home and pick up an important three points against a strong Courage side. Every point matters as Seattle looks to solidify their position in the NWSL standings as the playoffs loom.
WHEN AND WHERE: Kickoff is at 7:00 p.m. PT at Lumen Field in Seattle, Washington.
WHERE TO WATCH: Fans can tune in to the match on NWSL+ or explore ticket options to catch all the action in person here.
2026 NWSL REGULAR SEASON RECORDS AND STANDINGS (W-L-D): Seattle Reign FC: 12-10-4 (40 points, 8th place), North Carolina Courage: 12-11-3 (39 points, 9th place)
Key Info Ahead of the Match:
1. LAST MEETING – The Reign and Courage last met on July 4 in their first match back from the long summer break. Sally Menti recorded the first goal in the 19th minute, but North Carolina mounted a comeback on their home pitch, scoring one goal in the first half to level the score and two goals in the second half to earn all three points in the match. Ashley Sanchez netted both run of play goals for the Courage and Riley Jackson capitalized on a penalty kick.
Across all competitions, the Reign have six wins, 12 losses and three draws against the Courage but are unbeaten in seven consecutive home matches against the team, dating back to August 2018.
2. SCOUTING NORTH CAROLINA – Most recently, North Carolina fell 2-1 to the Utah Royals. The match marked the third consecutive loss for the team, but prior to that, the Courage downed the Chicago Stars 6-0.
Utah scored first in the match on Lacasse header from the back post, but Ashley Sanchez scored the lone goal for the Courage in the 37th minute from the penalty spot, marking her 20th goal of the season, tying the NWSL single-season scoring record. In the second half, Utah retook the lead as Cece Delzer found the back of the net. That goal would prove decisive in match, though North Carolina never took their foot off the gas as they searched for an equalizer.
3. LUMEN FIELD MAGIC – The Reign had another strong showing at Lumen Field last Friday against Boston Legacy FC, winning 2-0 to continue not only their home win streak and home shutout streak, but their goalscoring streak. They now have seven home wins and five home shutouts in a row and have scored in 17 consecutive matches.
This match is extra special, as it marks the second-ever Queen’s Match. This match was established in 2025 as a celebration of the soccer history and rich legacy of this city and spotlights the women that left an indelible mark on the game. The first match honored the 1985 United States Women’s National Team, but this year, the Reign honors club legend Jess Fishlock.
Learn more about everything happening at the match here.
4. PLAYERS TO WATCH – Reign FC forward Maddie Dahlien has been making waves from her spot out wide, using her speed and skill to slice through opponents. She now has three goals and four assists on the season, as she set up one of Jess Fishlock’s goals against Boston on Friday.
Midfielder Jess Fishlock recorded a brace with a goal in each half, tying and then surpassing Megan Rapinoe for the most regular season goals in club history with 52. The veteran player has proved that no matter how many minutes she gets, she’ll make an impact on the pitch.
For North Carolina, Ashley Sanchez is a clear threat in the attack as she has netted 20 goals on the season. Twelve of the 20 goals she has scored this season either tied the match or put the Courage ahead, the most tying or go-ahead goals scored by a player in a single season in NWSL history.
In the backline, Ryan Williams has been a stalwart for the Courage, playing 26 matches this season. In addition to strong defense, she’s scored a goal this season and added four assists.