Reign FC Continues to Build Young Core with Addition of Fishel
It’s an exciting time to be a Seattle Reign FC fan.
The club announced the signing of Chelsea FC and U.S. Women’s National Team forward Mia Fishel on a 4.5 year contract on Thursday morning. Beyond adding a thrilling attacking talent to the Reign’s promising core of young players, Fishel’s signing signals a statement of intent for the club.
“It’s going to push me as a player,” said Fishel. “It’s going to help ultimately push this whole team to winning a championship because you know how competitive the games are in the league as well.
Fishel brings an elite pedigree to the Reign attack, boasting a proven track record in some of the top leagues in the world during her stints with Tigres UANL and Chelsea FC. And at just 24 years old, she is poised to inject an attacking dynamism to an already talent-laden roster.
“I have a hold up play game that I can do to help connect the build up with the midfielders or even the outside backs, the backline,” said Fishel. “I feel like I can dissect defensive backs through runs, possessive runs, as well as my finishing, crossing and finishing, heading and quick shots. I feel like there's so many tools I have in my game that can definitely be used to help this team win games.”
The addition of Fishel to the club hasn’t happened in a vacuum. Prior to the start of the 2025 season, the Reign acquired all-team leading NWSL scorer and U.S. Women’s National Team star Lynn Biyendolo to join a veteran group with the likes of Lu Barnes, Ji So-Yun, Jess Fishlock, Phoebe McClernon and Angharad James-Turner.
The club supplemented that proven group with the promotion of a young, top-level players that have the potential to be the future stars of NWSL. Dahlien has become one of the most exciting attacking talents in the league, posting the fifth-most shots on target in the league and notching three goals and two assists. Sam Meza has emerged as one of the best two-way midfielders in the NWSL, parlaying her performances at club level into a recent U.S. Women’s National Team call-up, while Sally Menti has broken out as a steady, high-upside midfielder in her rookie season.
Fishel will also have the opportunity to link up with two of the top young talents in the league in Jordyn Bugg and Emeri Adames, both of whom were named to the NWSL Best XI for the month of June. Anchoring this group of rising stars is goalkeeper Claudia Dickey, who has burst onto the scene as one of the top goalkeepers in the league and a contender for the starting spot with the U.S. Women’s National Team.
“I know that they'll push me in ways and help me get to speed up with how they play and how the league is and I think that they’ll just add more body to my game,” said Fishel. “I feel like I've kind of been a sponge in Mexico and learned their ways and now at Chelsea, I learned their ways and how that game is different, I think that this can help me add another layer to my game with how they play and how this league is kind of set up to be very successful.”
The 2025 Reign FC roster is filled to the brim with veterans who possess the knowledge of what it takes to win championships and young talents eager to reach the highest level. By adding a player of Fishel’s caliber and capabilities, the club is demonstrating its commitment to compete for titles for years to come.
“I'm very excited to see and meet all of [the fans] at Lumen Field and to entertain them with my football and how I play and how it goes with the Seattle Reign team and as well, make great memories with them, and hopefully one of them is one of them is bring the Championship trophy back to Seattle,” said Fishel.
Reign FC returns to action at Lumen Field on Sunday, July 20 as the team takes on Urawa in an international friendly match. Single match tickets for the fixture as well as an exclusive pickleball promo are available now.
The Reign continues its summer of soccer in Seattle with its annual Pride Match on Friday, August 1 against Angel City and the new Queen’s Match, honoring the legendary 1985 national team against Chicago Stars FC on Monday, August 18.