Preview: USWNT to take on Japan at Lumen Field tonight
After nearly a decade away, the United States Women’s National Team returns to Seattle to take on Japan today April 14 at 7:00 p.m. PT. This can’t-miss match features the best of the best, right here in our own backyard. After an intense 2-1 win on Saturday, the fixture is sure to bring an electric matchday to the Emerald City.
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 TNT, truTV and HBOMax in English, Universo and Peacock in Spanish. Learn more about tune in options on U.S. Soccer’s website.
HEAD-TO-HEAD RECORD (USA W-L-D): 33-2-8
Key Storylines Ahead of the Match
WE MEET AGAIN – The match in Seattle is the second of three total friendly matches the United States Women’s National Team will play against Japan this month. To start off the series, the two sides went head-to-head in San Jose on Saturday. Reign FC’s own Claudia Dickey earned a start in the 2-1 win for the Stars & Stripes. The back-and-forth match featured an exciting glimpse at what the teams have to offer.
USWNT veterans Rose Lavelle and Lindsey Heaps led the team to victory backed by their goals in the 9th and 48th minutes of the match, respectively. Japan pulled a goal back in the 61st minute, courtesy of Riko Ueki. Throughout the match, Dickey made five saves, including a stop from close-range on a Japan corner kick in the second half and a headed shot on the final play of the game to secure the win.
“When you have a three-game window, it's not all about feeling good about yourself. We can play plenty of football matches where you do that. I want us to feel stretched and I want the whole group to experience the highest, highest level game. So what a great situation we're in to be able to put another team out tomorrow to get that exposure against one of the best sides of the world because you cannot close gaps until you identify what they are and you can't do that when you're comfortable, and you absolutely can't do that when you're always the dominant side,” said USWNT Head Coach Emma Hayes.
PNW PRIDE – Seattle is set to break another record at Lumen Field for this highly anticipated match. Previously, the attendance record for a standalone women’s soccer match in Seattle was 34,130 for Megan Rapinoe’s retirement celebration, but Lumen Field is ready to host 35,000+ fans as the Stars & Stripes are in town for the first time in almost nine years.
“I know that football is pretty dominant in this part, and nothing gives the team greater joy than being able to get around the country to different places and this was one that we were particularly excited for,” said USWNT Head Coach Emma Hayes.
Reign FC has one player named to this roster in Claudia Dickey. Fearless in net, she has taken 2026 by storm in the few games the Reign have played this season, breaking not only the club’s record for career shutouts, but the club record for career saves as well, surpassing Reign FC and USWNT legend Hope Solo.
ROOTS RUN DEEP – This will be the third match the USWNT has played at Lumen Field, but the first since 2017 when the team took on Australia in the Tournament of Nations. Prior to that, the USWNT made their Lumen Field debut in October 2015 against Brazil, claiming a 1-1 draw to open their account at the stadium, which now features a newly laid grass surface ahead of the 2026 FIFA Men’s World Cup.
Though the team may be relatively new to Lumen Field, they are no strangers to the Emerald City. In 2002, the U.S. played two matches at T-Mobile Park, then SAFECO Field where the team scored 16 goals across the two matches.
As displayed last season as the club recognized the 1985 U.S. Women’s National Team, the roots of the nation’s soccer excellence run deeply through Seattle, as many key players, as well as the head coach of that squad, hail from Washington.
SCOUTING JAPAN – Japan entered the three-match series off a strong run in the 2026 AFC Asian Women’s Cup, where they won all six matches they played en route to qualifying for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Brazil. Across those six matches, Japan conceded just one goal and scored 29. 14 different players scored for the nation in their dominant display.
Riko Ueki, who scored Japan's lone goal against the United States on Saturday, led the tournament in scoring six goals, while Kiko Seike added four goals and Maika Hamano and Hinata Miyzawa scored three apiece.
“When you play a team like Japan that has clarity and methodology, along with the ability to pull you apart because their rotations, their opposite movements, their attention to detail, technically and tactically, is so superior that you get stretched in a way that on a physical level, it might show that you're having to maybe do a little bit more high-speed work because you're getting pushed,” shared Hayes.
“But at this level, if you don't take your chances, that's the difference between winning and losing. But also, you're going to expect them to create chances, so you're going to have to defend your goal well enough. I think this is exactly what we need.”